Appropriateness of physicians' lumbosacral MRI requests in private and public centers in Tehran, Iran

Background: Back pain is a common patients' complaint, and its etiology is important because of different potential treatment approaches (based on causes). For a better diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used in clinical settings that may result in inappropriate requests. This study aims to evaluate the appropriateness of the lumbosacral MRI requests in patients with back pain in two public/referral and private imaging centers in Tehran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 279 patients from both centers were recruited in 2014. A checklist was developed based on the internationally recognized clinical guidelines (NICE, and AHRQ) for determining the indications. An expert panel of related specialties finalized them. Patients' demographic and some anthropometric measures, as well as MRI reports, were collected. Results: The mean±SD age of patients was 47.9±14.78 years with a dominance of females (M/F=38.4/61.6). About 77 (n=214) of lumbosacral MRIs were requested in accordance with the guidelines. Indicated MRI requests were significantly higher in the private imaging center (p=0.019, OR=2.087, CI 95: 1.13-3.85). In the private center, 80.6 and in the public center, 70.4 of the MRI requests were in accordance with the guidelines. Conclusion: The proportion of non-indicated MRI requests based on the valid guidelines is about 1/4 of all requests that is compatible with some other studies mostly from developed countries

Dharmagupta's unfinished translation of the Diamond-cleaver (Vajracchedika-Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Albermani, F ORCiD: 0000-0001-8540-1724Experimental and finite element results for buckle interaction in subsea pipelines are presented in this paper. Experimental results for buckle propagation and pure bending of pipes are presented first followed by buckle interaction results. A finite element model, verified against the experimental results, is used to develop buckle interaction envelopes. The analysis is conducted using both transient and steady state conditions. The results highlight the vulnerability of subsea pipelines to buckle interaction particularly in deep waters

L'utopie aux Etats Unis au 20è siécle

The essay describes the presence and types of literary utopias in 20th century America

Interaction between lateral buckling and propagation buckling in textured deep subsea pipelines

Albermani, F ORCiD: 0000-0001-8540-1724Novel analytical solution to lateral buckling of pipelines based on localization of buckle patterns is proposed. Finite element study is conducted on lateral buckling of a full length pipe. Analytical and FE results are compared and advantages of analytical solution to FE model are highlighted. Interaction between lateral buckling and propagation buckling of cylindrical pipe and textured pipe under transient load path are investigated

Propagation buckling in deep sub-sea pipelines

Albermani, F ORCiD: 0000-0001-8540-1724The paper investigates buckle propagation in deep sub-sea pipelines. Experimental results are presented using ring squash tests and hyperbaric chamber tests, and are compared with a modified analytical solution and with numerical results using finite element analysis. The experimental investigation was conducted using commercial aluminium pipes with diameter-to-thickness (D/t) ratio in the range 20–48. In contrast to conventional cylindrical pipe, a faceted cylindrical geometry is also investigated. Preliminary analysis of a faceted pipe shows that a substantial increase in buckling capacity can be achieved for the same D/t ratio.Associated Grant:CSIRO Flagship Collaboration Fun

On collapse of pipe-in-pipe systems under external pressure

This paper presents analytical and numerical models for predicting buckle propagation pressure of Pipe-In-Pipe (PIP) systems. The 2D analytical solution is based on flexural and membrane deformations of the cross section of the PIP system under external pressure. The numerical model uses 3D finite element analysis which is verified against hyperbaric chamber results for a particular PIP system. Results show that the proposed analytical equation provides a lower bound for propagation pressure of PIPs. A parametric study is performed using the FE analysis that shows the significant factors affecting the propagation pressure of PIP systems. The FE models provide valuable information about the buckling modes and progress of the buckle in the carrier and inner pipes

Seismogenic structure behaviour revealed by spatial clustering of seismicity in the Umbria-Marche Region (Central Italy)

Time variations in the spatial distribution of earthquake epicentres are analyzed by application of the fractal correlation dimension method. The zone under investigation is located in Central Italy, bounded in longitude by 12.0 and 14.4 degrees east and in latitude by 42.0 and 43.6 degrees north. From 1st January 1978 to 5th October 1997, 2028 events with a magnitude above Ml= 2.5 constitute the database.Evolution of the spatial fractal dimension Ds permits the identification of seismic cycles that are connected to the occurrence of main earthquakes.In particular, it is possible to recognize a division within each cycle, between a period of random background seismicity and a spatial clustering of events where shocks of magnitude Ml ³occur. Moreover, the decrease in Ds prior to such events, evidences a structural relationship between foreshocks and the occurrence of a main shock, even if not in close territorial proximity.This feature indicates a new, more extensive definition of seismogenic structure which can includes several interconnected structures within a large area

Test procedures for investigating the buckle propagation of pipe-in-pipe systems

This paper investigates the collapse and propagation of buckling along the length of Pipe-in-Pipe system (PIPs). Experimental study has been performed inside a hyperbaric chamber on buckling of aluminum (Al-6060-T5) PIPs with outer and inner pipe diameter to wall-thickness ratios (D/t) of 30 and 25 respectively. A simple testing method known as Ring Squash Test (RST) is proposed for estimating the propagation buckling pressure of PIPs. Full length hyperbaric chamber and RST results are compared against previously reported empirical equations. It has been shown that the proposed RST is a much expedient test to implement in comparison to hyperbaric chamber test and estimates the propagation pressure of PIPs with reasonable accuracy.Associated Grant:Griffith University for the New Researcher Grant financial suppor

The Effects of Combined Atorvastatin and Zinc Oxide on Some Markers of Oxidative Stress in the Hippocampus in Streptozotocin-induced Diabetic Rats

Background & aim: Diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia through enzymatic and non-enzymatic processes causes induction of spontaneous oxidation of glucose and, by stimulating the production of active oxygen and nitrogen components, leading to oxidative stress. Thus, according to the antioxidant effects of atorvastatin and zinc oxide, the aim of this study  was to investigate the combined effect of atorvastatin and zinc oxide on oxidative stress and antioxidants in diabetic rats. Methods: In the present experimental study, 50 female Wistar rats were selected randomly and divided into five groups of 10 (n=10) including : normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), diabetic rats treated with, atorvastatin (20mg/kg daily-orally) (DA), zinc oxide (30mg/kg daily-rally) (DZ) and combination of each drug in half-dose (daily-orally) (DAZ), were each treated separately. Diabetic rats were induced by injection of 60 mg per kg of body weight of streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally.All treatments were dissolved in distilled water for four weeks. After completion of treatment (forth week), weight and blood sugar were measured and then compared with data measured  on weight and blood sugar in the weeks before the start  and second week of the study. The lipid peroxidation level (MDA), the activity of catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as an indicator of oxidative stress were measured in the hippocampus. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: Zinc oxide and atorvastatin alone rather than decrease blood sugar, reduced the complications of diabetes, including oxidative damage and combination  of both reduced levels of diabetic complications led to the significant decrease in blood glucose levels and inhibiting the animal lose weight. Conclusion: It seemed that the combination of atorvastatin and zinc oxide have synergistic benefits to control blood sugar levels and oxidative stress, and also resulting in control  of diabetes