Application of Fuzzy Expert Systems to Manage the Projects Time in Iranian Gas Refineries

The National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC) is one of the top ten gas companies in the gas industry in the Middle East and is comprised of 7 gas refineries. So this company needs to apply the most optimum time management methods to achieve its goals. Custom scheduling calculation of project planning uses the Critical Path Method (CPM) as a tool for Planning Projects activities. CPM is now widely used in planning and managing projects but in spite of its wide application, this method has a critical weak point of not taking into account the uncertainties in scheduling calculation. This article aims to present a precise method based on the application of Fuzzy Expert Systems in order to improve the Time Estimation Method in construction projects and in this regard, reviews the results of the implementation of this method in construction projects of Iranian Gas Refineries. The results show that the proposed method increases the accuracy of time estimation about 7 to 22 percent

Isolation of Taxol-producing endophytes fungi from Iranian yew (Taxus baccata L.)

زمینه و هدف: تاکسول یکی از مهمترین داروهای ضد سرطان و منبع اولیه تهیه آن گیاه سرخدار است و با توجه به محدود بودن تعداد این درختان جایگزینی روش های دیگر تولید به جای استخراج از پوست گیاه امری ضروری به نظر می رسد. با توجه به اینکه تاکنون تحقیقات گسترده و جامعی بر روی قارچ های تولید کننده تاکسول در داخل کشور انجام نشده، لذا این مطالعه با هدف بررسی روی فلور طبیعی ایران به منظور جداسازی قارچ های اندوفایت و بررسی تولید تاکسول در این قارچ ها انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی - تحلیلی نمونه های ساقه گیاهان سرخدار مناطق جنگلی شمال کشور به منظور جداسازی قارچ های اندوفایت جمـــع آوری شد. پس از استریل کردن سطحی نمونه های گیاهی، نمونه های مورد نظر بر روی محیط Potato dextrose agar کشت داده شدند. پس از گذشت چند روز قارچ های رشد یافته جداسازی شده و برای اطمینان از خلوص هر کلنی، عمل ایزوله کردن قارچ های حاصل 3 بار تکرار شد. بررسی حضور تاکسول در قارچ های اندوفایت جدا شده، بوسیله تکنیک کروماتوگرافی مایع با عملکرد بالا (HPLC) و با استفاده از ستون کروماسیل C18 انجام پذیرفت. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون آماری دانکن تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: تعداد 80 ایزوله قارچ اندوفایت از سرخدار بومی ایران جداسازی شد. بررسی های انجام شده تولید تاکسول را در 5 ایزوله جدا شده نشان داد در میان قارچ های تولید کننده تاکسول، ایزوله TbPm4 با بیشترین میزان تولید، قادر به تولید متوسط L/gµ 74/21 تاکسول بود. نتیجه گیری: جداسازی 80 ایزوله قارچ اندوفایت در این پروژه از سرخدار بومی ایران و قابلیت تولید تاکسول در 5 ایزوله جدا شده نشان داد که این ایزوله ها پتانسیل قابل قبولی جهت تولید تاکسول را دارا می باشند.

The Serum Changes of Neuron-Specific Enolase and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in Patients With Diffuse Axonal Injury Following Progesterone Administration: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background: Improvement of neurologic outcome in progesterone-administered patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI) has been found in a recent study. Also, there has been interest in the importance of serum parameters as predictors of outcome in traumatic brain injury. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of progesterone administration on serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in clinical DAI. Patients and Methods: In this study, the serum levels of ICAM-1 and NSE of 32 male DAI patients (18 - 60 years of age, a Glasgow coma scale of 12 or less, and admitted within 4 hours after injury) who were randomized for a controlled phase II trial of progesterone were analyzed. The analysis was performed between the control and progesterone groups at admission time, and 24 hours and six days after DAI, respectively. Results: A reduction in the serum level of ICAM-1 was noticed in the progesterone group 24 hours after the injury (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the serum level of NSE between the study groups during evaluation. At 24 hours after the injury, the level of ICAM-1 in the control group was higher than that at admission time (P < 0.05). The lowest level of NSE in the two groups was seen six days after DAI (P < 0.01). Conclusions: In summary, progesterone administration reduced serum ICAM-1, and whereby may attenuate blood brain barrier disruption, the latter needs further investigation for confirmation

Rectal wall sparing effect of a rectal retractor in prostate intensity-modulated radiotherapy

Purpose: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a rectal retractor (RR) designed to protect rectal tissue in intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) by pushing rectal wall (RW) away from the prostate. Materials and Methods: Twelve patients with localized prostate cancer were enrolled into this study. Patients underwent two computed tomography (CT) scans without and with RR. A prescription of 80 Gy in 40 fractions was planned on CT scans with and without RR. This study evaluates the ability of the RR in RW dose reduction, in particular reduction of the RW V70Gy= 25 in comparison with the plan without RR dose-volume histograms were generated with and without RR. The patient's tolerance was assessed by patient-reported outcomes. Results: The planning target volume coverage was equal for both without and with RR (P = 0.155). The mean dose to the RW was statistically significantly lower for the plan with RR than that for the plan without RR, a mean reduction of 5.8 Gy (P = 0.003). Significant relative reductions in rectal dose-volume parameters whether in absolute volume (cc) or as a percentage of contoured RW were detected. A relative reduction more than 25 in RW V70Gy() in 100 of patients was achieved. The rectal retraction resulted in a significant increase in the prostate to the rectum space at the prostate midgland level, an absolute increase of 2.7 mm. The retraction of the rectum induced a mean (±standard deviation) pain score of 2.7 (±1.3) according to the visual analog score. Conclusion: The application of a RR showed a remarkable rectal sparing effect during prostate IMRT. This may lead to reduced acute and late rectal toxicities in prostate IMRT. © 2021 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics | Published by Wolters Kluwer-Medknow

Protective effects of boron and vitamin E on ethylene glycol-induced renal crystal calcium deposition in rat

Objectives. Kidney stone disease is a common form of renal disease. Antioxidants, such as vitamin E (Vit E) and boron, are substances that reduce the damage caused by oxidation. Methods. Adult male rats were divided into 5 groups (n=6). In group 1, rats received standard food and water for 28 days (control group); in group 2, standard rodent food and water with 0.75 ethylene glycol/d (dissolved in drinking water) (EG Group); in group 3, similar to group 2, with 3 mg of boron/d (dissolved in water) (EG+B Group); in group 4, similar to group 2, with 200 IU of vitamin E injected intraperitoneally on the fi rst day and the 14th day, (EG+Vit E Group); in group 5, mix of groups 3 and 4, respectively (EG+B+Vit E Group). Results. Kidney sections showed that crystals in the EG group increased signifi cantly in comparison with the control group. Crystal calcium deposition score in groups of EG+B (160), EG+Vit E, and EG+B+Vit E showed a significant decrease compared to EG group. Measurement of the renal tubules area and renal tubular epithelial histological score showed the highest signifi cant dilation in the EG group. Tubular dilation in the EG+B+Vit E group decreased compared to the EG+B and EG+Vit E groups. Conclusions. Efficient effect of boron and Vit E supplements, separately and in combination, has a complimentary effect in protection against the formation of kidney stones, probably by decreasing oxidative stress. � 2016, De Gruyter Open Ltd. All Rights Reserved

Fiducial markers in prostate cancer image-guided radiotherapy

Background: Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) is recommended to reduce the risk of geometrical miss when modern radiotherapy technologies with high grades of conformity are used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fiducial markers (FMs) for electronic portal imaging in prostate cancer radiotherapy in term of evaluating the complications associated with FMs implantation, quantifying inter-fraction prostate motion, and determination of optimal planning target volume (PTV) margins. Methods: In this single institution, prospective, consecutive study, 27 patients underwent implantation of three-gold seed FMs into the prostate gland before prostate radiotherapy. Prior to computed tomography planning, all patients were asked to report any complication associated with FMs implantation that have experienced to date. Daily pre-treatment electronic portal images were captured, and prostate position errors were corrected if they were greater than 2 mm along three translational directions. Optimal PTV expansions were computed using van Herk formula PTV-margin= 2.5Z + 0.7a. Results: FMs implantation was successful with an acceptable toxicity profile in all patients. Without IGRT, margins of 5.4 mm, 5.8 mm and 5.5 mm, in vertical, longitudinal and lateral directions, respectively, are needed for a 95% confidence level of complete clinical target volume (CTV) coverage in each treatment session. The PTV margins of 3.0 mm, 3.3 mm and 4.0 mm in corresponding directions were calculated when FMs based electronic portal imaging was applied. Conclusion: FMs based electronic portal imaging is an effective tool for prostate cancer IGRT. © Iran University of Medical Sciences

Magnetic resonance imaging radiomic feature analysis of radiation-induced femoral head changes in prostate cancer radiotherapy

Background and Purpose: As a feasible approach, radiotherapy has a great role in prostate cancer (Pca) management. However, Pca patients have an increased risk of femoral head damages including fractures after radiotherapy. The mechanisms of these complications are unknown and time of manifestations is too long; however, they may be predicted by early imaging. The main purpose of this study was to assess the early changes in femoral heads in Pca patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) radiomic feature analysis. Materials and Methods: Thirty Pca patients treated with IMRT were included in the study. All patients underwent two mpMRI pre- and postradiotherapy. Thirty-four robust radiomic features were extracted from T1, T2, and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) obtained from diffusion-weighted images. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed to assess the significance of the change in the mean T1, T2, and ADC radiomic features postradiotherapy relative to preradiotherapy values. The percentage change values were normalized based on the natural logarithm base ten. Features were also ranked based on their median changes. Results: Sixty femoral heads were analyzed. All radiomic features have undergone changes. Significant postradiotherapy radiomic feature changes were observed in 20 and 5 T1- and T2-weighted radiomic features, respectively (P < 0.05). ADC features did not vary significantly postradiotherapy. The mean radiation dose received by femoral heads was 40 Gy. No fractures were observed within the follow-up time. Different features were found as high ranked among T1, T2, and ADC images. Conclusion: Early structural change analysis using radiomic features may contribute to predict postradiotherapy fracture in Pca patients. These features can be identified as being potentially important imaging biomarkers for predicting radiotherapy-induced femoral changes. © 2019 Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow