Seismic pounding mitigation by using viscous and viscoelastic dampers

This paper examines the effects of viscous and viscoelastic dampers as an efficient technique for seismic pounding mitigation. To aim that, 15 steel frame models with different numbers of stories and bays and also with different types of ductility were analyzed under 10 different earthquake records for assigned values of link damping and stiffness and the most suitable values of damper parameters (damping and stiffness) are presented. Moreover, it is demonstrated that viscous dampers can perform as efficiently as viscoelastic alternative with a more economical aspect for pounding mitigation purposes.Keywords: Adjacent buildings;Viscous and Viscoelastic links;Separation distance;Poundingmitigatio

Study of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in VLBW Neonates Admitted in Al-Zahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran

Introduction and Aim: Intra-ventricular hemorrhage (IVH) is an important predictor of adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. IVH risk factor identification may conduct improvement of quality of care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The aim of the current study was to determine possible risk factors associated with IVH in VLBW neonates admitted in our hospital. Patients and Methods: All neonates with birth weight below 1500 gr admitted to NICU. Cranial ultrasonography was done for premature neonates weighed <1000 g in 3 to 5 days and in 1 month again. In premature infants weighed >1000 g, sonography was done in 7 days and 30 days of life respectively. If there is any conditions such as apnea, seizure, significant decrease in level of hemoglobin, increased head circumference, increased oxygen consumption, and other significant changes another sonography was done again. Exclusion criteria were cerebral malformations, metabolic disturbances, chromosomal anomalies, central nervous system infection, and genetic syndromes. Data was analyzed by SPSS ver 16.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA) Results: In this study 64 cases with IVH and 110 without IVH were included. Mean of gestational age was 28.78±2.08. From neonates, 54.6% were boys and 45.4% were girls. Vaginal delivery and cesarean section was done in 56 (32.2%) and 118(67.8%) cases respectively. Mean±SD of pH in cases with IVH and without IVH was 7.19±0.22 and 7.30±0.12 respectively(p=0.001). Mean ±SD of pco2 in cases with IVH and without IVH was 65.15±29.89 and 49.88±40.89 respectively(p=0.001). Mean of 5th min APGAR score in patients required CPR was 7.36±1.57 and in patients without CPR was 8.68±1.25(P=0.001). From cases with IVH, hydrocephaly was detected in 20 cases. From cases without IVH, hydrocephaly was detected in 6 cases. Result of chi-square showed significant correlation between IVH and prematurity( X2=21.94, df=1, P<0.001). From cases with IVH, 18 cases (28.1%) expired. From cases without IVH, 11 cases(10%) expired(X2=9.398, df=1, P=0.002). Results of chi-square test showed that there were a correlation between IVH and PDA, pressure support, surfactant therapy, inotrop drug administration, vaginal delivery, neonatal resuscitation, and antenatal corticosteroid therapy(p<0.05). Hyaline membrane disease, history of preclampsia in mother was significantly higher in cases without IVH(Chi-square, p<0.05). Conclusion: PDA, pressure support, surfactant therapy, inotrop drug administration, vaginal delivery, neonatal resuscitation, and antenatal corticosteroid therapy were significantly higher in cases with IVH. Hyaline membrane disease and preeclampsia in mother was significantly higher in cases without IVH.Keywords: Intraventricular hemorrhage, APGAR, low birth weight, hyaline membrane disease, corticosteroid, surfactant, inotrop, pre-eclampsi

Halal dating: changing relationship attitudes and experiences among young British Muslims

Young Muslims in the UK are making space to gain greater control over their personal lives through the diction of ‘halal’ and ‘haram’ when reflecting on and negotiating personal relationships. This article explores the significance of ‘halal dating’ within the lived experiences and sexual relationships of young British Muslims. It draws upon 56 in-depth interviews conducted with young (16–30 years) British Muslims of Pakistani heritage. This research shows that, contrary to popular stereotype and widespread expectations, many young British Muslims do date, or have dated. By entertaining the idea that certain forms of dating may be halal, these young Muslims are finding and claiming agency to make relationship choices of their own

IJMC The Maximal Total Irregularity of Some Connected Graphs

ABSTRACT The total irregularity of a simple graph is defined as , where denotes the degree of a vertex ∈ ( ). In this paper by using the Gini index, we obtain the ordering of the total irregularity index for some classes of connected graphs, with the same number of vertices

A comparison between the pregnancy outcome in women both with or without threatened abortion

Objective: To evaluate the pregnancy outcome in pregnancies with threatened abortion (miscarriage). Material and method: A prospective cohort study was performed on 1000 pregnant women.500 women (case group), had a history of vaginal bleeding during the first half of pregnancy and the other 500 women (control group), did not have this history.Both groups of women were monitored from 20. weeks of pregnancy up to delivery. Results: The women of the 2 groups did not have any significant differences according to age, parity or body mass index (BMI).Spontaneous preterm delivery 126 cases (25.2%) vs. 47 cases (9.4%), P=0.001, adj RR=1.4, CI 95%=1.2-1.5, PROM 51 cases (10.2%) vs. 24 cases (4.8%), P=0.02, adj RR=2.1, CI95%=1.2-2.3, placental abruption 20 cases (4%) vs. 7 cases (1.4%) P=0.01, adj RR=1.1, CI 95%=1.01-1.2, were more in the case group.There were no differences between the 2 groups with regard to Preeclampsia, small for gestational age (SGA), and cesarean deliveries.Neonatal weight (in term pregnancies) in the case group was lower than in the control group (3046.4±560.8g vs. 3317.6±432g, P=0.001).There was a significant relationship between the number of bleeding episodes, spontaneous preterm delivery and placental abruption and there was also a significant relationship between the amount of bleeding and placental abruption. Conclusion: Threatened abortion increases the rate of spontaneous preterm delivery, PROM and placental abruption, and decreases the neonatal weight.Therefore threatened abortion indicates a high risk pregnancy and, as such, demands more serious prenatal care. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd

Evaluation of Histopathological Changes of Oral Mucosa and Salivary Glands in Model of Demyelination (Multiple Sclerosis) in C57BL/6 Mouse

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized by multifocal demyelination of axons in the CNS. Complications due to the disease, as well as the use of immunosuppressive drugs, antidepressants, etc., lead to some abnormalities. These drugs predispose to oral bleeding and are particularly susceptible to infection. The main side effects of drugs in the oral cavity are stomatitis, ulcers, gingivitis, candidiasis, and some opportunistic infections (such as herpes simplex). Dentists should also be aware of the importance of the disease in the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of some lesions as well as its specific conditions. Hence, in this study, the histopathological changes of the oral mucosa and salivary glands were studied on C57BL/6 demyelination mice (multiple sclerosis model).Material & method: The histological changes in parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands were studied in both control (intact) and demyelination models of mice. The present study, 20 mice C57BL/6 were divided into two groups: 1) sham group (fed regular chow); 2) demyelination group (received rodent chow mixed with 0.2 cuprizone for 12 weeks). Seven weeks after demyelination inflammation (Hematoxylin-eosin), fibrosis (Masson's Trichrome), and mast cells granulation (toluidine blue) were examined. Result: Our results demonstrated inflammation in the major salivary gland 12 weeks after demyelination. Also, the increase in fibrosis and decrease in vascularization was observed in buccal mucosa of different areas (P<0.05). The keratinization reduced in demyelination group (P<0.05). The expression of GFAP in the major salivary gland was significantly decreased in the demyelination group (P<0.05). Conclusions: MS may be a risk factor for oral lesions such as inflammation, fibrosis, and ulcer. These data present the pathological effect of demyelination on acini and ductal region in salivary glands