Data-driven framework for modeling deterioration of pavements in the state of Iowa

Highway networks serve the public by providing access to critical facilities such as hospitals, schools, and markets. Although maintenance and rehabilitation resemble a burden on transportation agencies, postponing required road maintenance can result in even higher direct and indirect costs (Burningham, 2005). Developing a robust and accurate pavement management system (PMS) is the key to supporting decision-makers at local and state highway agencies. One of the most important components of pavement management systems is predicting the deterioration of the network through performance models. In this research, two major objectives were investigated. In the first part, the process and outcome of deterioration modeling for three different pavement types in the state of Iowa was described. Pavement condition data is collected by the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) and stored in a Pavement-Management Information System (PMIS). Typically, the overall pavement condition is quantified using the Pavement Condition Index (PCI), which is a weighted average of indices representing different types of distress, roughness, and deflection. Deterioration models of PCI as a function of time were developed for the different pavement types using two modeling approaches. The first approach is the Long/Short Term Memory (LSTM), a subset of a recurrent neural network. The second approach, used by the Iowa DOT, is developing individual regression models for each section of the different pavement types. A comparison is made between the two approaches to assess the accuracy of each model. The results show that while the individual regression models achieved higher prediction accuracy with respect to asphalt pavements, the LSTM model achieved a higher prediction accuracy over time for concrete and composite pavement types. In the second part, describes how the accuracy of prediction models can have an effect on the decision-making process in terms of the cost of maintenance and rehabilitation activities. The process is simulating the propagation of the error between the actual and predicted values of pavement performance indicators. Different rate of error was added into the result of prediction models. The results showed a strong correlation between the prediction models\u27 accuracy and the cost of maintenance and rehabilitation activities. Also, increasing the rate of error contribution to the prediction model resulting in a higher benefit reduction rate

Is Steering Practice Task Dependent?

A driving simulation experiment was conducted to examine the performance improvement of participants while conducting a lane keeping task and two lane changing tasks on a straight road. Forty-four participants, sixteen females and twenty-eight males, drove one of three driving conditions. The data was analyzed to test whether 1) practice is better than no practice; 2) practicing a less challenging but similar steering task is good practice for a more challenging steering task; and 3) practicing a more challenging but similar steering task is good practice for a less challenging steering task. The results indicate that practicing the more challenging lane changing task had a significant impact on the performance of the subsequent, less challenging but similar task.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/u_poster_2014/1021/thumbnail.jp

Case Report Peripheral Edema Occurring during Treatment with Risperidone Combined with Citalopram

An 80-year-old female presented with symptoms of depression, worthlessness, hopelessness, loss of energy, insomnia, impatience, and forgetfulness associated with persecutory delusion that had begun about one year before her visit. She was diagnosed with major depression with psychotic signs and began treatment with risperidone (2 mg/night) and citalopram (20 mg/day). After 20 days, she returned and reported partial improvement in her symptoms, although she had developed severe swelling of the hands and feet. The results of liver and renal function tests and rheumatologic tests were found to be within normal limits. Risperidone was discontinued for a week, and the swelling resolved completely. Risperidone was then administered again, and the swelling returned so that the patient had to discontinue taking the drug. The reappearance of edema on rechallenge is strong evidence implicating risperidone as the cause of the swelling

Profile of Cigarette and Drug Use Status in Population of Tabari Cohort Study

Background: The study of the smoking and drug use profile of the Tabari cohort enrolment phase, the outcomes of which will be evaluated in the coming years, has proper comprehensiveness. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the cigarette and drug use status in the population of the Tabari cohort study (TCS).Methods: In this study, the profile of cigarette and drug use in the TCS was evaluated. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 24 using percentage, mean, and standard deviation, chi-square, and independent t test.Findings: The frequency of daily smoking in the entire population was 9.1%, and the frequencies in men and women were 21.5% and 0.6%, respectively (P<0.001). The frequency of exposure to smoking in the home, at present or in the past, in the entire population was 30.5%, and in the populations living in urban and mountainous areas were 35.4% and 19.8%, respectively (P<0.001). The mean age at first use of cigarettes in the entire population was 20.50±7.61, whereas the mean age of regular smoking was 23.19±8.02. Furthermore, the frequency of experiencing drug abuse in the total population was 6.1%, and the frequencies in men and women were 14.1% and 0.7%, respectively.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, cigarette smoking and drug use are significant in men, and overall exposure of the Tabari cohort population to tobacco and drugs in the home is high. If effective prevention is not on the agenda, a significant proportion of the future outcomes in this population may be attributable to these risk factors

Prognosis of Mechanical Ventilation in Very Low Birth Weight Neonates: A Single-Center Study in Tehran.

Background and Aims: Approximately 4–7 percent of all live births are led to a very low birth weight (VLBW) situation where the morbidity and mortality rate are very high. A large number of VLBW newborns in intensive care unit (ICU) require mechanical ventilation due to various conditions. To reduce mortality in this group, identification of risk factors is important. This study aimed to determine the prognosis of mechanical ventilation in VLBW neonates at Mahdiye hospital in Tehran. Materials and Methods: This study is a prospective cohort study. VLBW neonates who consecutively were put on mechanical ventilation during the study period were enrolled.&nbsp; Then, the enrolled neonates were divided into two groups: neonates who died after implementing the ventilator were in group-I and neonates who survived after receiving mechanical ventilation were in group-II. Demographic, clinical and paraclinical variables were gathered to find out the predictors of mortality of ventilated neonates. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21. Results: During the study period, a total of 177 neonates were ventilated due to different causes. 56% were male with a male to female ratio 1.27:1. Mean birth weight and gestational age were 1024.8 ± 247.5 grams and 27.9±2.2 weeks respectively. Out of 177 mechanically ventilated VLBW neonates enrolled for this study, 53% died. Significant factors determining mortality rate were mean weight, mean gestational age, pulmonary hemorrhage, advance resuscitation and duration of hospital stay (p&lt;0.05). APGAR score, gender, Pneumothorax, IVH&gt;II, Sepsis and Maternal Disease were not significantly associated with mortality in VLBW neonates requiring mechanical ventilation (P&gt;0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that among the analyzed factors weight &lt;1000gm, gestation &lt;28weeks, pulmonary hemorrhage and complications during ventilation were the most significant predictors of mortality in ventilated VLBW neonates in the intensive care unit

Efficient Deployment of Small Cell Base Stations Mounted on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the Internet of Things Infrastructure

In the Internet of Things networks deploying fixed infrastructure is not always the best and most economical solution. Advances in efficiency and durability of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) made flying small cell base stations (BS) a promising approach by providing coverage and capacity in environments where using fixed infrastructure is not economically justified. A key challenge in covering an area with UAV-based small cell BSs is optimal positioning the UAVs to maximize the coverage and minimize the number of required UAVs. In this paper, we propose an optimization problem that helps to determine the number and position of the UAVs. Moreover, to have efficient results in a reasonable time, we propose complementary heuristic methods that effectively reduce the search space. The simulation results show that our proposed method performs better than genetic algorithms

Cardioprotective Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background: We assessed the potential efficacy of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Methods: Seventy STEMI patients who presented ≤12 hours after the onset of symptoms and were scheduled for PPCI were randomly assigned to the standard treatments plus CoQ10 or placebo. In the intervention group, CoQ10, as an oral capsule at a dose of 400 mg, was loaded immediately before PPCI and continued at 200 mg twice daily for 28 days. The control group received a matching placebo, similarly. The study endpoints were the proportion of patients with complete myocardial reperfusion, defined as thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow and myocardial blush grade (MBG) 3 at the end of PPCI, the proportion of patients with complete ST-segment elevation resolution (≥70%) assessed 60 minutes after PPCI, the plasma levels of creatine kinase myocardial band isoenzyme (CK-MB) and troponin I (TnI) at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after PPCI, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at day 28. Results: The study groups were comparable regarding baseline clinical and procedural characteristics. The proportion of patients with TIMI flow grade 3, MBG 3, and complete ST resolution after completion of PPCI was similar between the groups. Whereas at all-time points after PPCI (12, 24, 48, and 72 hours), the plasma levels of CK-MB and TnI were significantly lower in the CoQ10 group than in the control group. Further, at day 28, CoQ10-treated patients exhibited better LVEF than placebo-treated patients, and the proportion of patients with LVEF less than 50% was lower in the intervention group than in the control group. Conclusion: Our study provided evidence that CoQ10 supplementation might reduce myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury after PPCI and help to preserve left ventricular function. However, further studies are required to validate these results

The Effect of Aromatherapy with Lavender on Pain of Needle Insertion and Severity of Restless Legs Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients; a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Pain experienced during the insertion of a catheter into the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) are prevalent issues among Hemodialysis (HD) patients. The primary objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to consolidate the findings from randomized clinical trial (RCT) studies examining the impact of aromatherapy with lavender on the pain associated with AVF catheter insertion and RLS in HD patients. Methods: A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar search engine from inception to August 1, 2022, using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings, such as “Aromatherapy”, “Lavender”, “Arteriovenous fistula”, “Pain”, “Restless legs syndrome”, and “Hemodialysis”. Results: Finally, eleven articles were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The results showed that aromatherapy reduced the average pain of catheter insertion in AVF compared to the control group (Standard Mean Difference: -1.60, 95% Confidence Interval: -2.32 to -0.87, Z=4.32, I2:90.3%, P<0.001). Also, aromatherapy massage reduced the average severity of RLS compared to the control group, which was statistically significant (Weighted Mean Difference: -13.21, 95% Confidence Interval: -17.50 to -8.91, Z=6.03, I2:93.0%, P<0.001). Also, the subgroup analysis showed that lavender in the intervention group significantly decreased the pain intensity compared to the "no intervention" group (P<0.001), yet it was not significant compared to the placebo group (P=0.12). Conclusion: In summary, the findings indicate a notable reduction in catheter insertion pain in AVF and relief from RLS among HD patients through the use of lavender essential oil. As a result, future research is encouraged to include a comparison of lavender's effects with those of a placebo group

COVID‑19 associated rhino‑orbito‑cerebral mucormycosis, risk factors and outcome predictors; a multicentric study

Background Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, an increase in mucormycosis cases has been observed in many countries, including Iran. However, the role of covid-19 and associated risk factors have not been thoroughly investigated. Objective This study is designed to identify epidemiologic characteristics, risk factors, and outcome predictors of Covid-19-Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis (C-ROCM). Methods Data of pathology proven Covid Associated ROCM cases were retrospectively obtained from 7 tertiary care centers throughout Iran from February 20, 2021, to July 22, 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using binary logistic regression to assess the effects of various factors on the outcome. Results A total of 132 patients with C-ROCM were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 61.6 ± 13.9 (60.6% male). In 12 patients (9.1%), both eyes were involved. Diabetes was the mostcommon comorbidity (94.7%). The mortality rate was 9.1%, higher in males (12.5%) than females (3.8%). Severe vision impairment was seen in 58 patients (43.9%). Main factors that had a negative impact on the outcome in the univariate analysis include older age (P < 0.001), higher steroid dosage (P < 0.001), higher HbA1c level (P < 0.001), Covid-19 severity (P < 0.001), and brain involvement (P < 0.001). However, in the multivariate analysis, the effects of age (P = 0.062), steroid dosage (P = 0.226), and Covid- 19 intensity (P = 0.084) decreased, and the difference was no longer statistically significant. CRAO was a predictor of mortality in the univariate analysis (P = 0.008, OR = 4.50), but in the multivariate analysis, this effect decreased and was no longer significant (P = 0.125). Conclusion The risk of C-ROCM and its complications may increase in patients with more severe Covid-19, steroid over-prescription, ICU admission due to Covid-19, and poor glycemic control during and after Covid-19 treatment