Inclusion Matrices and Chains

Given integers $t$, $k$, and $v$ such that $0\leq t\leq k\leq v$, let $W_{tk}(v)$ be the inclusion matrix of $t$-subsets vs. $k$-subsets of a $v$-set. We modify slightly the concept of standard tableau to study the notion of rank of a finite set of positive integers which was introduced by Frankl. Utilizing this, a decomposition of the poset $2^{[v]}$ into symmetric skipless chains is given. Based on this decomposition, we construct an inclusion matrix, denoted by $W_{\bar{t}k}(v)$, which is row-equivalent to $W_{tk}(v)$. Its Smith normal form is determined. As applications, Wilson's diagonal form of $W_{tk}(v)$ is obtained as well as a new proof of the well known theorem on the necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of integral solutions of the system $W_{tk}\bf{x}=\bf{b}$ due to Wilson. Finally we present anotherinclusion matrix with similar properties to those of $W_{\bar{t}k}(v)$ which is in some way equivalent to $W_{tk}(v)$.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series

Nutritional and Bread-Making Quality of Wheat as Influenced by Mineral Fertilization in a Compost-Amended Regosol soil

This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of different levels of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilization on growth, grain yield, nutritional and bread-making quality of wheat in a compost-amended regosol soil. Wheat cultivar Minaminokaori was grown in containers containing a mixture of regosol and aerobic compost (2:1 v/v). This study comprised a non-fertilized control (F1) and six levels of NPK fertilizers: F2 (80 kg N + 40 kg P2O5 +40 kg K2O ha-1), F3 (110 kg N + 60 kg P2O5 + 55 kg K2O ha-1), F4 (140 kg N + 80 kg P2O5 + 70 kg K2O ha-1), F5 (170 kg N + 100 kg P2O5 + 85 kg K2O ha-1), F6 (200 kg N + 120 kg P2O5 + 100 kg K2O ha-1) and F7 (230 kg N + 140 kg P2O5 + 115 K2O kg ha-1). A significant improvement in agronomic performance, grain nutritional and bread-making quality of wheat was observed with the F6 treatment, it increased the grain yield (151.6%), crude protein (65.3%), water-soluble pentosan (40.5%), and dry gluten (4-fold) compared to the control. The F6 treatment also increased grain total N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Zn and inorganic phosphorus contents by 65.2, 33.6, 8.9, 19.7, 165.9, 26.1 and 80.0%, respectively, compared to control. However, it slightly increased grain phytate P content. The results from this study suggest that agronomic performance, grain yield, nutritional and bread-making quality of wheat can be improved with an appropriate dose of NPK in a compost-amended regosol soil

A Model For General Periodic Excitation With Random Disturbance and its Application

Many vibration problems involve a general periodic excitation such as those of a triangular or rectangular waveform. In practice, the periodic excitation may become disordered due to uncertainties. This paper presents a stochastic model for general periodic excitations with random disturbances which is constructed by introducing random amplitude and phase disturbances to individual terms in the Fourier series of the corresponding deterministic periodic function. Mean square convergence of the random Fourier series are discussed. Monte Carlo simulation of disordered sawtooth, triangular, and quadratic wave forms are illustrated. An application of the excitation is demonstrated by vibration analysis of a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) hydraulic valve system subjected to a disordered periodic fluid pressure. In the present study only the phase disturbance is considered. Effects of the intensity of phase modulation on up to fourth order moment response and the convergence rate of the random Fourier series are studied by numerical results. It is found that a small random disturbance in a general periodic excitation may significantly change the response moment

Preliminary Evidence of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Death Anxiety in Iranian Clients Diagnosed with OCD

This study investigated the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on death anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with eight adult females in Iran. The ACT protocol was conducted in 8 weekly solo sessions (45 minutes each). The results were analyzed by visual analysis method and improvement percentage. ACT resulted in decreases in death anxiety (60-80%) and obsessive-compulsive symptoms (51-60%), thereby indicating promise for ACT as a treatment for OCD and death anxiety

Clinical laboratory parameters and comorbidities associated with severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19) dramatically spread worldwide. Considering several laboratory parameters and comorbidities may facilitate the assessment of disease severity. Early recognition of disease progression associated with severe cases of COVID-19 is essential for timely patient triaging. Our study investigated the characteristics and role of laboratory results and comorbidities in the progression and severity of COVID-19 cases. The study was conducted from early-June to mid-August 2020. Blood samples and clinical data were taken from 322 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at Qala Hospital, Kalar, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Biological markers used in this study include complete blood count (CBC), D-dimer, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum ferritin, blood sugar, C-reactive protein (CRP) and SpO2. The sample included 154 males (47.8%) and 168 females (52.2%). Most females were in the mild and moderate symptom groups, while males developed more severe symptoms. Regarding comorbidities, diabetes mellitus was considered the greatest risk factor for increasing the severity of COVID-19 symptoms. As for biological parameters, WBC, granulocytes, ESR, Ferritin, CRP and D-Dimer were elevated significantly corresponding to the severity of the disease, while lymphocytes and SpO2 showed the opposite pattern. Higher RBC was significantly associated with COVID-19 severity, especially in females. Gender, age and diabetes mellitus are important prognostic risk factors associated with severity and mortality of COVID-19. Relative to non-severe COVID-19, severe cases are characterized by an increase of most biological markers. These markers could be used to recognize severe cases and to monitor the clinical course of COVID-19. [Abstract copyright: © 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Estrogen receptor-α gene codon 10 (T392C) polymorphism in Iranian women with breast cancer: a case study

A case study was conducted to establish a database of polymorphisms in Iranian population in order to compare Western and Iranian (Middle East) distributions and to evaluate ESR1 polymorphism as an indicator of clinical outcome. The ESR1 gene was scanned in Iranian patients newly diagnosed invasive breast tumors, (150 patients) and in healthy individuals (147 healthy control individuals). PCR single-strand conformation polymorphism methodology and direct sequencing were performed. The silent single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) was performed, as reported previously in other studies, but at significantly different frequencies, with further increasing predictive accuracy in Iranian population. Data suggest that ESR1 polymorphisms are correlated with various aspects of breast cancer in Iranian ESR1 genotype, as determined during pre-surgical evaluation, might represent a surrogate marker for predicting breast cancer

Comparison of glucose tolerance in renal transplant recipients and hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND: Impaired glucose tolerance is a risk factor for atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients and renal transplant recipients. METHODS: To check the relationship of impaired glucose tolerance with the other atherosclerotic risk factors, fasting blood sugar and the standard two hour glucose tolerance test, serum tryglyceride, serum cholesterol, cyclosporine through level (in renal tranpslant recipients) and hemoglobin A1C were measured in 55 stable renal transplant recipients, 55 hemodialysis patients and 55 healthy controls with similar demographic characteristics. Patients with diabetes mellitus and propranolol consumers were excluded. The mean age and female to male ratio were 39 +/- 7 years and 23/22, respectively. RESULTS: Four of the renal transplant recipients and twelve of the hemodialysis patients had impaired glucose tolerance. Significant linear correlation was observed with body mass index and IGT only in hemodialysis patients (r = 0.4, p = 0.05). Glucose tolerance also had a significant correlation with triglyceride levels (217.2 +/- 55 mg/dl in hemodialysis patients vs. 214.3 +/- 13 mg/dl in renal transplant recipients and 100.2 +/- 18 mg/dl in control groups, p = 0.001). The glucose tolerance had significant relationship with higher serum cholesterol levels only in the renal transplant recipients (269.7 +/- 54 in renal transplant recipients vs. 199.2 +/- 36.6 mg/dl in hemodialysis and 190.5 +/- 34 mg/dl in control groups, p = 0.0001). In the renal transplant recipients, a linear correlation was observed with glucose tolerance and both the serum cyclosporine level (r = 0.9, p = 0.001) and the hemoglobin A1C concentration (6.2 +/- 0.9 g/dl). The later correlation was also observed in the hemodialysis patients (6.4 +/- 0.7 g/dl; r = 67, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that although fasting blood sugar is normal in non-diabetic renal transplant and hemodialysis patients, impaired glucose tolerance could be associated with the other atherosclerotic risk factors