Tourists’ route choice behavior analysis in Tabriz historical bazaar

Shopping is one of the most important activities for tourists. The purpose of this study is to describe and predict tourist shopping route choice behavior in Tabriz historical bazaar. A model of tourist shopping behavior is estimated to investigate differences in route choice behavior of various types of tourist shoppers. The results indicate that shopping supply and accessibility, some physical characteristics, and the history of the route followed are important factors influencing route choice behavior. Furthermore, it can be concluded that shopping motivations, familiarity with the area and planning of the route, affect tourist route choice behavior. The model allows investigating the effects of environmental characteristics on route choice behavior and assessing various future planning scenarios, such as changes in physical aspects of links in the downtown area, or changes in supply of shops

Efficacy of combination of Viola odorata, Rosa damascena and Coriandrum sativum in prevention of migraine attacks: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Background: Migraine is the second most common type of headache after tension headaches. In Iranian traditional medicine several herbal drugs are used for the treatment of headache. Including, a product of Iranian traditional medicine, a combination of Viola odorata L. flowers, Rosa damascena L. flowers and Coriandrum sativum L. fruits. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a combination of Viola odorata flowers, Rosa damascene flowers and Coriandrum sativum fruits on severity, duration and frequency of migraine headaches. Methods: This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 88 patients who had migraine and visited Besat Neurology Clinic No. 4 at Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, from September 2016 to march 2017. Patients were randomly divided into the intervention (n=44) or placebo group (n=44). The intervention group received a product of Iranian traditional medicine, a combination of Viola odorata L. flowers, Rosa damascena L. flowers and Coriandrum sativum L. fruits in 500 mg capsules three times a day and propranolol 20mg tablet twice a day, and the control group received placebo capsules (500mg) three times a day and propranolol 20mg tablet twice a day for four weeks. Patients were asked to report the frequency, duration and severity of their headaches in designed forms at home. Then at the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks of treatment, patients were followed for clinical efficacy. Results: In terms of duration, frequency and severity of headaches between the two groups of herbal medicine and placebo, the behavior of the two protocols was changed over time (p<0.001). During the 4 weeks, the time and drug interactions, were significant (p <0.001). In other words, the pattern of changes to the two protocols over time, was different. Also, at the end of the 4th week, there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study findings suggest that the Iranian traditional product combination of Viola odorata flowers, Rosa damascena flowers and Coriandrum sativum fruits may be effective in improving headaches in patients with migraine. Electronic physician Page 6431 Clinical trial registration: The trial was registered at the Iranian registry of clinical trials (IRCT: www.irct.ir) with registered NO. IRCT 2016110830776N1. Funding: The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this articl

Extending Coverage and Lifetime of K-coverage Wireless Sensor Networks Using Improved Harmony Search

K-coverage wireless sensor networks try to provide facilities such that each hotspot region is covered by at least k sensors. Because, the fundamental evaluation metrics of such networks are coverage and lifetime, proposing an approach that extends both of them simultaneously has a lot of interests. In this article, it is supposed that two kinds of nodes are available: static and mobile. The proposed method, at first, tries to balance energy among sensor nodes using Improved Harmony Search (IHS) algorithm in a k-coverage and connected wireless sensor network in order to achieve a sensor node deployment. Also, this method proposes a suitable place for a gateway node (Sink) that collects data from all sensors. Second, in order to prolong the network lifetime, some of the high energy-consuming mobile nodes are moved to the closest positions of low energy-consuming ones and vice versa after a while. This leads increasing the lifetime of network while connectivity and k-coverage are preserved. Through computer simulations, experimental results verified that the proposed IHS-based algorithm found better solution compared to some related methods

Study of the involved vascular territories in patients with ischemic stroke in Kerman, Iran

BACKGROUND: The races show different cerebrovascular involvements, for example, the involvement of intracranial arteries are higher among Asians than Caucasians. The aim of this study was to investigate the cerebrovascular stenosis pattern by computed tomography angiography (CTA), which is unprecedented in Iran. METHODS: In this study, patients with brain stroke (thrombosis), confirmed by CT scanning and cardiac assessments, who referred to Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran, underwent brain and cervical arteries CT angiography to assess involved cerebrovascular territories and also its risk factors from June 2012 to June 2013. RESULTS: We did CTA for 100 patients. Eighty-four cases had cerebral artery stenosis. Intracranial vessel involvement alone was observed in 47.6% of patients, simultaneous intracranial and extracranial artery stenosis in 26.2%, and extracranial artery stenosis in 26.2%. Posterior cerebral artery territory showed the highest degree of vascular stenosis. Posterior cerebral artery stenosis alone was observed in &nbsp;51.3% of the cases; 27.4% of the cases suffered from anterior artery stenosis, and 21.6% had simultaneous anterior and posterior cerebral artery stenosis. Smokers showed higher extracranial artery involvement compared to non-smokers; 44% of smokers and 14% of non-smokers had extracranial vertebral involvement CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that intracranial artery involvement was the most prevalent finding in patients with thrombotic stroke in Kerman. Also posterior cerebral artery stenosis was more prevalent than anterior artery stenosis. Hypertension was the most common risk factor. Furthermore, smoking was considered as an important risk factor for extracranial artery stenosis, especially in the posterior cerebral artery.</p

Association between echocardiographic markers of pulmonary hypertension and short-term prognoses in patients with acute heart failure

Introduction: The prognostic value of pulmonary hypertension (PH) estimated by echocardiography in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is poorly studied. This study aimed to evaluate the association between echocardiographic markers of pulmonary hypertension and short-term prognoses in patients with AHF. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with acute heart failure admitted to Golestan and Imam Khomeini hospitals in Ahvaz, Iran, in 2020.&nbsp; A total of 259 consecutive patients with ADHF underwent an echocardiographic evaluation to assess the probability of PH and right ventricular dysfunction (TAPSE&lt;16 mm). The patients were followed up for six months after hospital discharge, and their outcome was recorded. The probability of PH was estimated based on European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines for echocardiographic evaluation. Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the cumulative survival rate and the Cox regression model to define the hazard ratio. Results: During six months of follow-up, the all-cause mortality rate was 118 (45.55%), including 106 cardiovascular deaths (40.92%).&nbsp

The Effect of Standard and Beveled Heels of Orthopedic Shoe on Vertical Ground Reaction Forces during Walking in Healthy Subjects

Objective: in normal walking, repetitive vertical ground reaction forces are tansformed on musculo-skeletal system. Magnitude of force during impact is major contributor to overuse injuries. Purpose of this study was the evaluate to effect of standard and beveled heel at orthopedic shoe on vertical ground reaction forces during walking in healthy subjects. Materials & Methods: 30 healthy adults (12 male, 18 female) participated in this study by simple impossible sampling. Subjects walked along an 8-m walkway in three different conditions: barefoot, orthopedic shoe with standard heel and orthopedic shoe with beveled heel. Vertical ground reaction force data collected in initial stance phases of walking using Kistler force plate. Results: Results of this study showed significant increasing in impact force in barefoot compared with orthopedic shoe with standard and beveled heels (P˂0.0001). First peak of vertical force and loading rate showed significant reduction in orthopedic shoe with beveled heel compared with orthopedic shoe with standard heel (P˂0.05). Conclusion: using the beveled heel by changing the location of the ground reaction force from the ankle joint axis, facilitated first rocker and reduce first peak of vertical force and loading rate. because of complication of deleterious loads on lower limb during walking, we could use of this type of heel for some of the patient with special orthopedic disease

A comprehensive review of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (nCOVID-19) characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

The outbreak of a pandemic that began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 with the new coronavirus 2019 (nCOVID-19) or severe acute coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) syndrome has created a dangerous and deadly public health issue worldwide. The number of infected cases and mortality continued to rise, and many countries have been forced to adhere to social distancing and quarantine. Epidemiological studies have shown that elderly patients with underlying diseases are more prone to severe forms of the disease, while young people and children have milder symptoms. This study looks at some of the challenges in diagnosing, preventing, and treating coronavirus disease 2019 based on virus features