LNG Safety Research: FEM3A Model Development

This quarterly report for DE-FG26-04NT42030 covers a period from July 1, 2004 to September 30, 2004. Activity during this period included preparation of a CD containing the FEM3a FORTRAN code for distribution and organization of an LNG safety workshop. Contract negotiation between GTI and University of Arkansas continued

The association between serum selenium and gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Results of the studies about association between serum selenium concentration and gestational hyperglycemia are inconsistent. Some studies have demonstrated that women with gestational diabetesmellitus (GDM) have lower Se concentrations while contrary results are reported in other studies. Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the serum Se concentration in women with GDM and normoglycemic pregnant women via a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A computerized literature search on four databases (PubMed, Cochrane register of control trials, Scopus and Google scholar) was performed from inception through August 2013. Necessary data were extracted and random effects model was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Results: Six observational studies (containing 147 women with GDM and 360 normoglycemic pregnant women) were found, which had compared serum Se concentration in women suffering from GDM with normal pregnant ones. Our meta-analysis revealed that serum Se concentration was lower in women with GDM compared to normoglycemic pregnant women (Hedges = −1.34; 95% CI: −2.33 to −0.36; P < 0.01). Stratified meta-analysis demonstrated that concentration of Se in the sera of women with GDM was lower than normal pregnant women both in second and third trimesters, but the result was not significant in second trimester (second trimester: Hedges = −0.68; 95% CI: −1.60−0.25; P = 0.15, third trimester: Hedges = −2.81; 95% CI: −5.21 to −0.42; P < 0.05). It was also demonstrated that serum Se status was lower in pregnant women with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) compared to normoglycemic pregnant women (Hedges = −0.85; 95% CI: −1.18 to −0.52). Conclusion: The available evidences suggest that serum Se concentration is significantly lower in pregnant women with gestational hyperglycemia compared to normal pregnant women

LNG Safety Research: FEM3A Model Development

The initial scope of work for this project included: (1) Improving the FEM3A advanced turbulence closure module, (2) Adaptation of FEM3A for more general applications, and (3) Verification of dispersion over rough surfaces, with and without obstacle using the advanced turbulence closure module. These work elements were to be performed by Chemical Hazards Research Center (CHRC), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Arkansas as a subcontractor to Gas Technology Institute (GTI). The tasks for GTI included establishment of the scientific support base for standardization of the FEM3A model, project management, technology transfer, and project administration. Later in the course of the project, the scope of work was modified by the National Energy Technology Laboratories (NETL) to remove the emphasis on FEM3A model and instead, develop data in support of NETL's FLUENT modeling. With this change, GTI was also instructed to cease activities relative to FEM3A model. GTI's technical activities through this project included the initial verification of FEM3A model, provision of technical inputs to CHRC researchers regarding the structure of the final product, and participation in technical discussion sessions with CHRC and NETL technical staff. GTI also began the development of a Windows-based front end for the model but the work was stopped due to the change in scope of work. In the meantime, GTI organized a workshop on LNG safety in Houston, Texas. The workshop was very successful and 75 people from various industries participated. All technical objectives were met satisfactorily by Dr. Jerry Havens and Dr. Tom Spicer of CHRC and results are presented in a stand-alone report included as Appendix A to this report

The epidemiological investigation of traumatic corneal laceration in the Resalat Hospital, Shahrekord

Lacerating injury of the cornea is an important cause of ocular morbidity and children are the main victims of this disorder. In order to evaluate corneal rupture prevalence and promote its prevention, this study was carried out. This survey was performed on the patients undertaken operation for corneal perforation from Oct 1994 to Oct 1996 in the Resalat Hospital of Shahrekord. Investigated parameters were age, sex, causative agent and complications. The age range was 1-75 years, and 66 out of 90 patients (73.3%) were males and 24 (26.7%) were females. The number of patients was significantly higher in the pediatric group (74.4%) than the adult group (25.6%). Penetrating trauma was the most common cause of corneal perforation and trauma by woods was the most prevalent one. Iris prolaps (43.3%) and cataract (38.9) were the most common complications. Compared to other reports and test books, corneal perforations in our patients occurred in younger age groups and had different causes. Previous investigations reported that corneal perforation occurred mostly in young adults and the major causes were air gun bullets, car accidents, and assaults, but in our study woods and other sharp instruments were the most common causes of the corneal perforation in children’s eyes

Laser Drilling - Drilling with the Power of Light

Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has been the leading investigator in the field of high power laser applications research for well construction and completion applications. Since 1997, GTI (then as Gas Research Institute- GRI) has investigated several military and industrial laser systems and their ability to cut and drill into reservoir type rocks. In this report, GTI continues its investigation with a 5.34 kW ytterbium-doped multi-clad high power fiber laser (HPFL). When compared to its competitors; the HPFL represents a technology that is more cost effective to operate, capable of remote operations, and requires considerably less maintenance and repair. Work performed under this contract included design and implementation of laboratory experiments to investigate the effects of high power laser energy on a variety of rock types. All previous laser/rock interaction tests were performed on samples in the lab at atmospheric pressure. To determine the effect of downhole pressure conditions, a sophisticated tri-axial cell was designed and tested. For the first time, Berea sandstone, limestone and clad core samples were lased under various combinations of confining, axial and pore pressures. Composite core samples consisted of steel cemented to rock in an effort to represent material penetrated in a cased hole. The results of this experiment will assist in the development of a downhole laser perforation or side tracking prototype tool. To determine how this promising laser would perform under high pressure in-situ conditions, GTI performed a number of experiments with results directly comparable to previous data. Experiments were designed to investigate the effect of laser input parameters on representative reservoir rock types of sandstone and limestone. The focus of the experiments was on laser/rock interaction under confining pressure as would be the case for all drilling and completion operations. As such, the results would be applicable to drilling, perforation, and side tracking applications. In the past, several combinations of laser and rock variables were investigated at standard conditions and reported in the literature. More recent experiments determined the technical feasibility of laser perforation on multiple samples of rock, cement and steel. The fiber laser was capable of penetrating these materials under a variety of conditions, to an appropriate depth, and with reasonable energy requirements. It was determined that fiber lasers are capable of cutting rock without causing damage to flow properties. Furthermore, the laser perforation resulted in permeability improvements on the exposed rock surface. This report has been prepared in two parts and each part may be treated as a stand-alone document. Part 1 (High Energy Laser Drilling) includes the general description of the concept and focuses on results from experiments under the ambient lab conditions. Part 2 (High Energy Laser Perforation and Completion Techniques) discusses the design and development of a customized laser pressure cell; experimental design and procedures, and the resulting data on pressure-charged samples exposed to the laser beam. An analysis provides the resulting effect of downhole pressure conditions on the laser/rock interaction process

Investigation of the impact of IT on knowledge sharing among Ahwaz City University Librarians

ABSTRACT The present research aims to investigate the role of IT in reducing barriers ahead of knowledge sharing. Research methodology was descriptive-survey. Statistical population of the present research included all librarians in Ahwaz City. They were 40 people in number. Research instrument was a questionnaire designed by the authors. It was actually a combination of standard knowledge sharing questionnaire and IT dimensions. Results of the research showed that women comprise a majority of statistical population. Individuals who have bachelor degree were significantly more than other degrees. From librarians&apos; viewpoint, individual barriers ahead of knowledge sharing were reduced significantly after application of IT in Ahwaz universities libraries. Therefore, IT is effective on removing individual barriers ahead of knowledge sharing. Further, research hypothesis was verified and application of IT reduces individual and organizational barriers ahead of knowledge sharing. Moreover, results showed that the influence of IT on reducing barriers in individual and organizational levels is the same and impacts of IT on facilitation of individual and organizational barriers were not significantly different. KEYWORDS: knowledge sharing, IT, individual barriers ahead of knowledge sharing, organizational barriers ahead of knowledge sharing

THE EFFECT OF FRESH GARLIC ON THE LIPID PROFILE AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS DEVELOPMENT IN MALE RATS FED WITH A HIGH GHEE DIET

Objective: Garlic has a protective effect against hyperlipidemia and ghee in diet is considered as a risk factor for hyperlipidemia. We examined the effects of fresh garlic administration on body weight, lipid profiles and plaque formation in the male rats fed with a high ghee diet.Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 8. The control group consumed an ordinary diet, Group 2 received the 31% ghee pellets (high ghee diet) and group 3 received the 8% garlic+31% ghee pellets. After 9 mo, serum levels of triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and atherosclerotic index (AI) were examined. Changes in body weight, daily food intake and plaque formation also were assayed in this survey.Results: The high ghee diet induced the significant increase (P&lt;0.05) in serum concentrations of TC, TG and HDL-C, and a decrease in LDL-C concentration (group 2). While fresh garlic increased TG (P&lt;0.05) and HDL-C levels and declined TC and LDL-C in treated rats (group 3). Meanwhile, ghee and garlic showed a favorable effect in reducing AI (P&lt;0.05). No histopathological changes were observed in the Aorta of the rats.Conclusion: Evidence obtained from this study indicates that ghee and fresh garlic has potential effects in the prevention and control of hyperlipidemia complications and are beneficial when taken as a dietary supplement.  Â

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Simultaneous Head and Neck Mass Surgery

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) and cancer have common risk factors. According to the necessity of mass resection in patients with CAD at the same time, we decided to do neck and head mass resection and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) simultaneously and assess the results.Methods: The current study was done on patients who were candidates for simultaneous head and neck mass resection and CABG. The patients’ files were extracted, the information and complications were recorded in a questionnaire, and then necessary data were extracted.Results: Totally 9 patients (3 females and 6 males) with a mean age of 69.11 ± 6.67 standard deviation years were studied. The most common site of squamous cell carcinoma in this study was tongue. Infection occurred in three patients, two of which (66.66%) died. Side effects occurred in four patients.Conclusions: It seems that, according to the anatomical position of neck mass, proximity to the airways and large blood supply in that area, and also because of inappropriate access to the anatomical zones, the survival rate and complications in this surgical setting (simultaneous surgeries) are different from that of other studies. It seems that further studies are needed to be done with the subject of concomitant head and neck mass surgery and CABG this time with a larger number of patients

Survey the Relationship Between Attachment Style and General Self Efficacy with Homesickness Among College Students

AbstractGoal: study of effective factors on the Homesickness of college students is the one of important discussion in psychology and the extent domains of it. Then the goal of this research was to investigate the relation between Attachment Style and General Self Efficacy with Homesickness. Method: to this end, a clustered multistage random sampling of 150 students was selected and implemented the Homesickness questionnaire, Attachment style questionnaire and General Self Efficacy questionnaire. The gathered data were analyzed through stepwise regression and Pearson correlation by Spss software. Finding: the results indicated that significant correlation observed between factors. Between General Self Efficacy and Homesickness(r=-0.55 p<0.001), between Secure Attachment Style and Homesickness (r=-0.51 p<0.001), and between Anxious Attachment Style and Homesickness (r=0.48 p<0.001). Stepwise regression analyze indicated that Secure and Anxious Attachment Style and Genera self efficacy could predicate Homesickness. Result: the finding of present study on the whole, suggest that self efficacy and secure internal working model training and for new arrived college students could prevent of homesickness

A molecular study of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in cats in Iran

BackgroundThree feline hemoplasma species are recognized: Mycoplasma haemofelis, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum', and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis'. These species can cause anemia in cats and have a worldwide distribution. ObjectivesThere was no previous information on hemotropic mycoplasma spp in cats in Iran and the Middle East. Accordingly, we investigated the molecular presence, and clinical signs and hematological profile in cats infected with these microorganisms in Iranian cats. MethodsPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and cytology were performed on 100 blood samples collected from Iranian Shorthair cats. ACBC and case history were also collected for each sample. ResultsBy PCR, 22 (22%; 14-30%, 95% CI) samples were positive. The prevalence of M haemofelis, Ca M haemominutum', and Ca M turicensis' was 63.63% (14/22), 54.54% (12/22), and 18.18% (4/22), respectively. Some double and triple co-infections were also found. Using PCR as the reference method, cytology had poor sensitivity (27%) and reasonable specificity (89.74%). Male cats were at a higher risk of infection (P=.001). Cats older than 8years were more frequently infected than the younger cats (P=.0018). Lower HCT (P=.018), RBC count (P=.028) and HGB concentration (P=.003) were also associated with hemoplasma PCR-positive status. ConclusionsBased on this study, the most prevalent feline hemoplasma species in Iranian cats was M haemofelis, but double and triple co-infections are also documented. Age and sex, as well as reduced RBC parameters, were predisposing factors for hemoplasma infection