Proceedings of the Conference on Human and Economic Resources

Climate change is one of the main challenges in agro-meteorological researches. In recent years, high temperature and moisture stresses caused a reduction in crop yield at some regions of Iran. In present study the climate change of Moghan plain located at the north-west of Iran was investigated using the meteorological data from 1986 to 2000. Results showed that annual total precipitation and average temperature were as 258.9 mm and 14.99 °C, respectively. The minimum and maximum temperatures were occurred in January and July and high variation was for February. From year to year, the minimum, mean and maximum temperature varied slightly. Total precipitation was increasing in months of a year. The high variation belonged to October with trend slope of 2.95 and indicating an increasing about 3 mm to the annually total precipitation. The maximum and minimum of precipitation occurred for autumn and spring seasons and were as 81.83 and 40.59 mm, respectively.climate change, Moghan plain, Iran

Evaluation of false-twist textured yarns by image processing

A new method has been introduced to determine the crimp features of false twist textured yarns by applying computer vision and image processing method. Hence, the test results, with accuracy, are achieved more quickly than by the other exciting method. The mean angle of filament orientation in false twist textured yarns with different texturizing variables (heater temperature, texturizing speed and twist) is determined. Similarly, the direct tracking algorithms to achieve a good correlation with crimp contraction are also used. The results show that by this new method a correlation coefficient of more than 95% is achieved between mean orientation angle and crimp contraction.

Nanofibers-based piezoelectric energy harvester for self-powered wearable technologies

The demands for wearable technologies continue to grow and novel approaches for powering these devices are being enabled by the advent of new energy materials and novel manufacturing strategies. In addition, decreasing the energy consumption of portable electronic devices has created a huge demand for the development of cost-effective and environment friendly alternate energy sources. Energy harvesting materials including piezoelectric polymer with its special properties make this demand possible. Herein, we develop a flexible and lightweight nanogenerator package based on polyvinyledene fluoride (PVDF)/LiCl electrospun nanofibers. The piezoelectric performance of the developed nanogenator is investigated to evaluate effect of the thickness of the as-spun mat on the output voltage using a vibration and impact test. It is found that the output voltage increases from 1.3 V to 5 V by adding LiCl as additive into the spinning solution compared with pure PVDF. The prepared PVDF/LiCl nanogenerator is able to generate voltage and current output of 3 V and 0.5 µA with a power density output of 0.3 µW cm−2 at the frequency of 200 Hz. It is found also that the developed nanogenerator can be utilized as a sensor to measure temperature changes from 30◦C to 90◦C under static pressure. The developed electrospun temperature sensor showed sensitivity of 0.16%/◦C under 100 Pa pressure and 0.06%/◦C under 220 Pa pressure. The obtained results suggested the developed energy harvesting textiles have promising applications for various wearable self-powered electrical devices and systems

Cementitious composites reinforced with polypropylene, nylon and polyacrylonitile fibres

This paper compares the adhesion strength between three polymeric fibres (polypropylene (PP), nylon66 (N66) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN)) embedded in a cement paste. The specimens were prepared at a water to cement ratio (w/c) of 0.5, and tested after 7, 14 and 28 curing days. It was found that although the adhesion between the polymeric fibres to the cement matrix is an important factor, the energy absorption capacity or energy dissipation ability of the fibres plays a more important role in the improvement of the cementitious composites fracture toughness. Scanning electron micrographs was used to characterize the fibres surface before and after the Pullout tests

Evaluation of adhesion in polymeric fibre reinforced cementitious composites

In this study adhesion of some polymeric fibres to a cement matrix was evaluated both by a theoretical and by an experimental approach. In common methods adhesion of the fibres to the cementitious materials is determined by pull-out test. This test evaluates the energy failure during the fibre drawing out. This paper analyzes the adhesion theory for fibre reinforced cementitious composites to separate the share of the chemical and mechanical adhesion expressing new parameters, which are effective in the adhesion behaviour. Explanations about how the different fibres, matrix properties, test factors and environmental conditions can affect the adhesion results are given. It was found that for fibre/cement composites the fracture energy due to the interfacial interactions is for several orders of magnitude smaller that the polymeric fibre losses function. By employing adhesion theory, fibre/cement interac- tions are better described by a simple relationship of their surface free energy. Determination of the loss function (energy dissipation) leads us to predict the fibre behaviour in the cement matrix and the selection of the appropriate reinforcement

Splenic Trauma: WSES Classification and Guidelines for Adult and Pediatric Patients

Spleen injuries are among the most frequent trauma-related injuries. At present, they are classified according to the anatomy of the injury. The optimal treatment strategy, however, should keep into consideration the hemodynamic status, the anatomic derangement, and the associated injuries. The management of splenic trauma patients aims to restore the homeostasis and the normal physiopathology especially considering the modern tools for bleeding management. Thus, the management of splenic trauma should be ultimately multidisciplinary and based on the physiology of the patient, the anatomy of the injury, and the associated lesions. Lastly, as the management of adults and children must be different, children should always be treated in dedicated pediatric trauma centers. In fact, the vast majority of pediatric patients with blunt splenic trauma can be managed non-operatively. This paper presents the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) classification of splenic trauma and the management guidelines

The Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery: Defining a Model for Antimicrobial Stewardship-Results From an International Cross-Sectional Survey

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been promoted to optimize antimicrobial usage and patient outcomes, and to reduce the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. However, the best strategies for an ASP are not definitively established and are likely to vary based on local culture, policy, and routine clinical practice, and probably limited resources in middle-income countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate structures and resources of antimicrobial stewardship teams (ASTs) in surgical departments from different regions of the world. METHODS: A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in 2016 on 173 physicians who participated in the AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections) project and on 658 international experts in the fields of ASPs, infection control, and infections in surgery. RESULTS: The response rate was 19.4%. One hundred fifty-six (98.7%) participants stated their hospital had a multidisciplinary AST. The median number of physicians working inside the team was five [interquartile range 4-6]. An infectious disease specialist, a microbiologist and an infection control specialist were, respectively, present in 80.1, 76.3, and 67.9% of the ASTs. A surgeon was a component in 59.0% of cases and was significantly more likely to be present in university hospitals (89.5%, p \u3c 0.05) compared to community teaching (83.3%) and community hospitals (66.7%). Protocols for pre-operative prophylaxis and for antimicrobial treatment of surgical infections were respectively implemented in 96.2 and 82.3% of the hospitals. The majority of the surgical departments implemented both persuasive and restrictive interventions (72.8%). The most common types of interventions in surgical departments were dissemination of educational materials (62.5%), expert approval (61.0%), audit and feedback (55.1%), educational outreach (53.7%), and compulsory order forms (51.5%). CONCLUSION: The survey showed a heterogeneous organization of ASPs worldwide, demonstrating the necessity of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach in the battle against antimicrobial resistance in surgical infections, and the importance of educational efforts towards this goal

Determining the best form factor formula for Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations at the age of 18, in Guilan- northern Iran

In order to determine the best form factor formula for Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations in Talesh (Western Guilan province-Iran), a number of 110 trees were selected based on their distribution in diameter classes, from 12 to 34 cm (in a two- cm diameter interval). First, several quantitative factors including diameter at breast height, diameter at 0.65 m of height, and diameter at stump were measured using a diameter tape, just before the trees being felled. After cutting the trees, the heights and diameter from breast height up to the height where diameter is 5 cm was measured using a diameter tape in a two meter interval. Finally, diameter at 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 meter of the total height was measured respectively. As a consequent, each tree's volume was precisely calculated as the real volume. Next, the real form factor was calculated and its average was statistically compared to the averages of Natural , Artificial , and Hohenadl?s form factors using pair sample T-test. Results showed that there is no significant difference between the averages of real and Hohenadl?s form factors (at = 0.01 level). Furthermore, the averages of real and artificial form factors were not significantly different. Hence, both artificial and Hohenadl?s form factors are capable to replace the real form factor of Loblolly Pine over the study area

Unusual Presentation of a Rare Tumor of the Dorsal Surface of the Foot

Calcifying aponeurotic fibroma (CAF) was originally described by Keasbey in 1953 as juvenile aponeurotic fibroma, most commonly occurring in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet in children and adolescents. It usually presents as a firm, painless mass without preceding trauma. We report a case of this rare condition with an unusual presentation in a 60-year-old woman affecting the dorsal surface of the foot. It is a relatively benign condition with a good prognosis following complete surgical excision. It may have a slightly increased incidence in males. The accurate diagnosis is based only on histology but it is essential to differentiate it from other sinister lesions such as fibrosarcoma that may lead to amputation

Non-integrability of the mixmaster universe

We comment on an analysis by Contopoulos et al. which demonstrates that the governing six-dimensional Einstein equations for the mixmaster space-time metric pass the ARS or reduced Painlev\'{e} test. We note that this is the case irrespective of the value, $I$, of the generating Hamiltonian which is a constant of motion. For $I < 0$ we find numerous closed orbits with two unstable eigenvalues strongly indicating that there cannot exist two additional first integrals apart from the Hamiltonian and thus that the system, at least for this case, is very likely not integrable. In addition, we present numerical evidence that the average Lyapunov exponent nevertheless vanishes. The model is thus a very interesting example of a Hamiltonian dynamical system, which is likely non-integrable yet passes the reduced Painlev\'{e} test.Comment: 11 pages LaTeX in J.Phys.A style (ioplppt.sty) + 6 PostScript figures compressed and uuencoded with uufiles. Revised version to appear in J Phys.