Modelling of the effect of a thin stiffener on the boundary of a nonlinear thermoelastic plate

We consider a dynamic nonlinear model for a heterogeneous thermoelastic plate consisting of a thin highly rigid body of high thermal conductivity perfectly glued on a portion of the boundary of an elastic plate. This model, which describes the nonlinear oscillations of a plate subjected to thermal effects is referred to as the “full von Karman thermoelastic system”. Our aim is to model this junction and reproduce the effect of the thin body by means of approximate boundary conditions, obtained by an asymptotic analysis with respect to the thickness of this body. First published online: 14 Oct 201

Production of Probiotic Drink Using Pussy willow and Echium amoenum Extracts

Background and Objective: Nowadays, due to the lack of lactose and cholesterol, demand for consumption of non-dairy probiotic products is increasing. Probiotic drinks mixed with medicinal plant have great beneficial effect on human health. The main problems of non-dairy probiotic drinks are lack of nutrients for the growth of probiotics and bad taste of the product. The aim of this study was to produce a probiotic medicinal plant drink with favorable physicochemical, viability and sensory properties.Material and Methods: Probiotic drink prepared by Pussy willow and Echium amoenum extract (0.5 % w v-1, for each extract or together), Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (108 CFU ml-1), individually and their combination. Glucose and whey powder (0.2%) were used as a source of nutrition for the probiotics, and apple juice (20 and 30%) was added to improve the taste of drink. The level of glucose was adjusted to reach the brix of 13 g100 g-1. Ascorbic acid (0.05%) was used to improve micro-aerophilic conditions. The pH, acidity, glucose and viability of probiotic bacteria as well as the sensory properties of the prepared drink were investigated during 28 days at 4°C.Results and Conclusion: Based on the results, the treatment containing L. casei, Pussy willow, Echium amoenum and 30% apple juice due to the highest probiotic viability and the treatment containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Pussy willow, Echium amoenum and 30% apple juice because of higher total acceptance score, proper pH and acidity values were selected as the best treatments.Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

INTEGRATING BIOPHILIA IN ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN EDUCATION: AN EXAMINATION OF ITS IMPACT ON STUDENTS' CREATIVITY

Architecture, as a continuously evolving creative field, constantly adapts to the changing needs of our society and environment. A significant educational trend that has emerged over the past few decades is the integration of biophilia into architectural education. This approach provides an innovative framework for stimulating the creativity of future architects. This article focuses on exploring how second and third-year architecture students approach the concept of biophilia integrated into the curriculum of their second-semester architectural design studies. The research methodology combines quantitative and qualitative approaches, involving a comparison of data before and after the integration of biophilia in architectural design education. This study, conducted at the University of Sétif 1 in Algeria, involved second and third-year architecture students during the 2022-2023 academic year. The research aimed to assess the impact of this integration on students' creativity using pre- and post-integration surveys involving a sample of 287 students. Additionally, the study analyzed and evaluated 53 student projects by tutors, based on criteria established by Kellert and Calabrese in their work (The Practice of Biophilic Design). The study sought to understand how teaching biophilia influences students' perception of creativity and the quality of their architectural projects. The results of this study revealed a growing awareness of the positive impact of integrating biophilia into architectural education on students' creativity. It also enhanced their motivation to explore innovative architectural solutions in their design projects. Keywords: Architectural Design, Biophilia, Creativity and Environment, Education, Biophilia Receptivit

Exploring the factors affecting the motivation for learning from the perspective of public health students: A qualitative study

Objective. Despite the significant role of motivation in achieving success among public health students, students often do not demonstrate adequate motivation for learning and education. This study was performed to determine factors affecting the motivation for learning from the perspective of public health students via content analysis approach. Methods. This qualitative study was conducted at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in Sanandaj, Iran in 2017. 15 students were included in the study by using purposive sampling. Data were collected through personal interviews, group discussions, and field notes, and they were analyzed through conventional content analysis. Several parameters were taken into account to support the accuracy and the strength of the data: acceptability, confirmability, and transferability. Results. Five categories were derived from the data analysis, including “University Policy”, “Health Status”, “Teacher’s Role”, “Student-Related Factors” and “University Facilities”. Attention to the health status and its priority in the opinion of people, authorities, and educational system were the most important factors involved in the students’ motivation for learning. Conclusions. To increase motivation for learning, students have diverse needs that should be met. Attention to the components of motivation for learning not only enhances academic achievement but also promotes the formation of health behaviors in the society

Provider Fairness and Beyond-Accuracy Trade-offs in Recommender Systems

Recommender systems, while transformative in online user experiences, have raised concerns over potential provider-side fairness issues. These systems may inadvertently favor popular items, thereby marginalizing less popular ones and compromising provider fairness. While previous research has recognized provider-side fairness issues, the investigation into how these biases affect beyond-accuracy aspects of recommendation systems - such as diversity, novelty, coverage, and serendipity - has been less emphasized. In this paper, we address this gap by introducing a simple yet effective post-processing re-ranking model that prioritizes provider fairness, while simultaneously maintaining user relevance and recommendation quality. We then conduct an in-depth evaluation of the model's impact on various aspects of recommendation quality across multiple datasets. Specifically, we apply the post-processing algorithm to four distinct recommendation models across four varied domain datasets, assessing the improvement in each metric, encompassing both accuracy and beyond-accuracy aspects. This comprehensive analysis allows us to gauge the effectiveness of our approach in mitigating provider biases. Our findings underscore the effectiveness of the adopted method in improving provider fairness and recommendation quality. They also provide valuable insights into the trade-offs involved in achieving fairness in recommender systems, contributing to a more nuanced understanding of this complex issue.Comment: FAccTRec at RecSys 202

Postpartum sexual quality of life in two cultures : a qualitative study

Sexuality is a key aspect of human life and has a fundamental role in quality of life and general well-being. Postpartum quality of life comprises health- and non-health-related factors that need to be considered within the cultural context in which the individual lives. Many couples experience childbirth and the transition into parenthood as a stressful time with consequences for both health and quality of life. Sexual activity has been found to be an important factor for postpartum quality of life, which is often negatively affected after a woman has given birth. In this paper we focus on the sexual quality of life experienced after childbirth in Iran and Switzerland

Prenatal and clinical characteristics of pregnant women infected with COVID-19 in Yazd, Iran: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Background: Coronavirus infection has caused widespread concern among mothers and physicians about the health of pregnant women and infants. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and prenatal findings of pregnant women with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) virus. Materials and Methods: The present study was a descriptive study that was conducted in 6 mother and child care centers. In this study, 81 pregnant women with COVID-19 admitted to centers in the period from March 2020-September 2020 were studied. Clinical and prenatal findings of the pregnant mothers were recorded using a data collection form with details of demographic characteristics and these were analyzed. Results: The gestational age of the affected women was between 4 and 40 wk. 48 deliveries were performed and 25% of deliveries were preterm. Coronavirus infection was the cause of termination of pregnancy in 4 cases. The most common symptoms of women when visiting the medical centers were: dry cough (58.0%), muscle pain and myalgia (56.8%) and fever (51.9%). The most common laboratory findings in the women were: increased C-reactive protein (67.90%), lymphopenia (18.51%), decreased white blood cells (27.16%), and increased liver enzymes (18.51%). Regarding the status of the newborns, out of the 33 neonates examined, 3 neonates were diagnosed with COVID-19. Conclusion: The most common symptoms of pregnant women with COVID-19 are similar to those of other adults. In relation to neonatal infection, given that a number of the neonates tested positive, there appears to be evidence of vertical transmission, which requires further investigation. Key words: Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pregnancy, Clinical, Prenatal