Estimating Greenhouse Gases Emissions from Karun-4 Water Reservoir by Applying G-res Model

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RAZVOJ 3D NUMERIČKOGA MODELA ZA SIMULACIJU SUSTAVA ŠIRENJA UDARNOGA VALA S OBZIROM NA POLOŽAJ BUŠOTINE I IN SITU DISKONTINUITETE

Blasting operations are one of the most important parts of geotechnical and mining projects. Most rocks naturally have a series of discontinuities that significantly affect their responses to blast waves. In this paper, the propagation of a blast wave in one intact rock and four rocks with different joint conditions are simulated by a 3-dimensional distinct element code. The results showed that the joint in the model acted as a wave barrier and passed part of the waves, absorbed a portion, and reflected the remaining part into the model. In other words, a discontinuity reduces the energy of the wave and causes more wave attenuation. In addition, a shorter distance between the joint and the hole causes slower wave propagation and greater damping. Moreover, the results showed that the smaller the angle between the discontinuity and axis of the blast holes, the more stress occurs in the rock bench.Proces miniranja jedan je od najvažnijih dijelova geotehničkih i rudarskih projekata. Većina stijena prirodno ima niz diskontinuiteta koji znatno utječu na njihovu postojanost na udarne valove. U ovome radu širenje vala miniranja u jednoj neoštećenoj stijeni i četiri stijene s različitim uvjetima pukotina simulirano je trodimenzionalnom metodom diskretnih elemenata. Rezultati su pokazali da pukotina u modelu djeluje kao valna barijera i propušta dio valova, dio apsorbira, a drugi dio reflektira u model. Drugim riječima, diskontinuitet smanjuje energiju vala i uzrokuje veće slabljenje vala. Osim toga, kraća udaljenost između pukotine i bušotine uzrokuje sporije širenje valova i veće prigušivanje. Štoviše, rezultati su pokazali da što je manji kut između diskontinuiteta i osi bušotina, to se više naprezanja javlja u stijeni

The higher education management in medical universities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The use of electronic technology plays a key role in the change in higher education management. This study aimed to assess the necessity of adaptation of electronic learning systems management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The present study was mixed research. Its statistical population in the qualitative section included 50 experts in higher education management of medical universities. The statistical population in the quantitative section included 242 department heads of 65 medical universities selected according to Morgan's table. Purposeful sampling was used in the qualitative section and cluster random in the quantitative section. The interview was used in the qualitative section and a researcher-made questionnaire was used in the quantitative section. Qualitative data analysis was performed with MAXQDA 2019 software and quantitative data analysis was performed with SPSS software. Results: In the qualitative section, 9 general categories were obtained. In the quantitative section, the results of the one-sample t-test in the dimensions of development of technology and electronic service, expansion of virtual and integrated education, enhancing the quality of learning, expanding research, access to scientific resources, the efficiency of the educational system and optimization of capital and financial affairs of the current status of higher education management in medical universities were determined. Conclusion: For the development of e-learning at the university level during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to know the motivating factors and barriers well and use the gained experience to select appropriate strategies to accelerate the development process of e-learning

Epigenetic effects of Bisphenol A on granulosa cells of mouse follicles during in vitro culture: An experimental study

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic endocrine-disrupting chemical, is a reproductive toxicant. Granulosa cells have significant roles in follicle development, and KIT ligand (KITL) and Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) are essential biomolecules produced by them during folliculogenesis. Objective: Due to the widespread use of BPA and its potential epigenetic effects, this study examined the impact of BPA on promoter methylation of amh and kitl genes in mouse granulosa cells. Materials and Methods: Preantral follicles were isolated from ovaries of immature mice and cultured for eight days. Then, follicles were treated with 50 and 100 μM of BPA, and 0.01% (v/v) ethanol for 24 and 72 hr. Growth and degeneration of follicles and antrum formation were analyzed. The granulosa cells were isolated mechanically, and their extracted DNA was treated with sodium bisulfite. The promoter regions of the amh and kitl were analyzed with PCR and sequencing. Results: BPA did not change follicle survival and antrum formation significantly (p = 0.41). However, the culture in the presence of 100 μM BPA had an inhibitory effect on growth. Before BPA treatment, the CpG of the kitl and amh promoters were unmethylated and partially methylated, respectively. While the percent of 5mC in the amh promoter reduced at 100 μM of BPA, it did not alter the kitl promoter methylation. Conclusion: BPA at higher concentrations has an inhibitory effect on follicle growth. Moreover, it seems that the epigenetic impact of BPA restricts to the demethylation of CpG sites. Key words: Bisphenol A, DNA methylation, Granulosa cells

Zika virus: A review of literature

AbstractZika virus (ZIKV) has two lineages: African and Asian. Mosquito-borne flaviviruses are thought to replicate initially in dendritic cells and then spread to lymph nodes and the blood stream. Risk for infection through blood transfusion, sexual practices and perinatal transmission exists. The possible routes of perinatal transmission are during delivery, breastfeeding and by close contact between the mother and her newborn. Also, mucocutaneous exposures to the virus by infected blood or monkey bite, organ transplantation or hemodialysis are the other routes of ZIKV transmission. There are two types of ZIKV infection; Zika fever and congenital infection. Clinical presentation of Zika fever varies from asymptomatic infections to a self-limiting febrile disease with low grade fever, conjunctivitis, maculopapular rash, headache, retro-orbital pain and arthritis/arthralgia with periarticular edema, myalgia, vertigo, vomiting and asthenia. This clinical feature could be mistaken for dengue or chikungunya fevers. Microcephaly is the most important and frequently reported clinical picture of suspected congenital Zika syndrome. Laboratory tests are needed for diagnosis of ZIKV infection, because there is no known pathognomonic clinical, biochemical or radiological features. RT-PCR is the most well-liked assay. Serum samples are tested by immunoglobulin G ELISA with ZIKV antigen. Samples are also tested by immunoglobulin M ELISA. There is no certified vaccine or therapeutic medication. In asymptomatic or uncomplicated patients, treatment is not necessary

Evaluation of parenteral nutritional support in the surgical and medical wards of a referral teaching hospital

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Malnutrition is a common problem in patients who are hospitalized in surgical and medical wards. Surgical patients, geriatric populations and individuals with severe illness are more vulnerable to malnutrition during their hospitalization course. The purpose of this study was evaluation of parenteral nutrition services in a referral teaching hospital, Tehran, Iran. METHOD: Medical records of 72 patients who received parenteral nutrition during one year period in different surgical and medical wards of Imam Khomeini hospital were reviewed retrospectively by clinical pharmacists. Criteria for initiation of parenteral nutrition, selection of appropriate formulation and monitoring parameters were assessed based on the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition recommendations. RESULTS: Based on the patients' anthropometric parameters and serum albumin levels, 4.2%, 75% and 20.8% of the patients were well-nourished, moderately malnourished and severely malnourished respectively at the hospital admission and before nutritional support. Adequate calorie, protein, carbohydrate and lipid supports were achieved in 21.1%, 32.4%, 23.7% and 10.5% of the patients respectively. About 91% of the patients experienced at least one complication of the nutritional support. CONCLUSION: In this evaluation, several errors in assessment, establishing goals, and monitoring of parenteral nutrition regimens have been detected. Approximately all of the patients did not receive to the trace elements supports goals

Out-of-school children: Examining the reasons in semi- urban setting in Pakistan

Globally, 57 million primary age children remain out-of-school. In South Asia, Pakistan has the highest (34%) out-of-primary school age children. This paper highlights the proportion of out-of-school children with reasons and children’s educational attainment in the semi-urban community of Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by using systematic sampling in a semi-urban town in Karachi, Pakistan. Chi-square was used to describe the difference in the educational achievements with age and gender of the children with p-value \u3c 0.05, considered as significant. Among 254 surveyed households, 22.9% of the children (age 3-15 years) were found out-of-school, with no significant gender difference among boys (11.6%) and girls (11.1 %). A large group of young children (3-6 years of age) were found out-of-school with boys 71.6% (n=68) and girls 67.03% (n=61). Children’s lack of interest in education was the major (42%) reason, followed by high school expenses (23%). Children’s educational attainment was significantly (p\u3c0.000) related to age and gender. At the local community level, teachers and Taluka Education Officers have a pivotal role to play towards increasing primary school enrollment and mobilizing the resources to overcome financial hardships faced by the parents for their children’s education in early years. Nousheen Akber Pradhan is a Senior Instructor at the Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakista

The Impact of Supply Chain Capabilities on Logistic Efficiency for the Construction Projects

Rapid technological advancements force organizations to be more proactive and efficient it operations while previous studies revealed that most of the public sector projects go over in term of time and cost. Although extensive literature is available but only for the private sector, the investigations on the public sector are scarce. After plentiful literature, it has found that timely and sage supply chain is a major hurdle. Various strategies and approaches have been proposed to tackle the situation but after a thorough investigation, it was found that flexibility and collaboration are the topmost influencing factors in improving logistic efficiency. Thus the aim of this study is to empirically verify the positive impact of flexibility and collaboration on logistic efficiency. A questionnaire was adopted and distributed by random sampling to the strategic level of the construction projects in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. Multiple regressions were applied through SPSS. The finding of the study revealed that flexibility contributes 33%, collaboration contributes 35.5% in the logistic efficiency. It can be concluded that construction projects must be flexible and force stakeholders for collaboration. This study added in the frame of knowledge as new findings for public sector projects. This study will help the managers in completing their projects timely and accurately

Out-of-School Children: Examining the Reasons in Semi- urban Setting in Pakistan

Globally, 57 million primary age children remain out-of-school. In South Asia, Pakistan has the highest (34%) out-of-primary school age children. This paper highlights the proportion of out-of-school children with reasons and children’s educational attainment in the semi-urban community of Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey was conducted by using systematic sampling in a semi-urban town in Karachi, Pakistan. Chi-square was used to describe the difference in the educational achievements with age and gender of the children with p-value < 0.05, considered as significant. Among 254 surveyed households, 22.9% of the children (age 3-15 years) were found out-of-school, with no significant gender difference among boys (11.6%) and girls (11.1 %). A large group of young children (3-6 years of age) were found out-of-school with boys 71.6% (n=68) and girls 67.03% (n=61). Children’s lack of interest in education was the major (42%) reason, followed by high school expenses (23%). Children’s educational attainment was significantly (p<0.000) related to age and gender. At the local community level, teachers and Taluka Education Officers have a pivotal role to play towards increasing primary school enrollment and mobilizing the resources to overcome financial hardships faced by the parents for their children’s education in early years. Nousheen Akber Pradhan is a Senior Instructor at the Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakista

The importance of customer expectations: An analysis of CSR in container shipping

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been increasingly embraced by corporations to demonstrate effort to reduce negative environmental and social externalities resulting from their business activities. CSR covers a wide range of issues, including environmental concerns, occupational health and safety, local community social-economic welfare and workers' rights and welfare issues. Through a detailed content analysis of the CSR-related documents on the websites of the top container shipping companies in the world, this paper examines CSR adoption in the container shipping business. The analysis reveals that while institutional pressure plays an important role, shipping companies are more sensitive to market demands and their focus on CSR elements is selective depending on anticipated customer expectations