Computer Generation of Metal Components by Simultaneous Deposition of Mould, Cores and Part

A new solid freeforming method based on co-delivery of mould powder materials and part powder materials using vibration-controlled, dry powder valves is presented in this paper. Thin layers of stainless steel powder are delivered to the forming area according to the cross-section of the CAD file to produce the component. Mould powder which has low sinterability is delivered to the non-forming areas of the same layer. All powders are delivered by computer-controlled, acoustic powder valves. The flow rate and switching of the valves provides the composition and shape control during fabrication. The stacked layers of loose powder are then sintered in a conventional furnace. The mould materials are removed after sintering. This method avoids the high thermal stress problem in selective laser sintering, avoids high capitalisation, makes use of conventional furnaces and allows for the incorporation of three dimensional function gradients. Test pieces including step wedge and Spierpinski’s cube were fabricated. Advantages, limitations and problems are discussed.Mechanical Engineerin

Prevalence of smoking among the students resided at dormitories in Golestan university of medical sciences, Iran

Introduction: Cigarette smoking leads to harmful physical and emotional problems and also is a predisposed factor for the addiction. The aim of this study was an attempt to determine the rate of prevalence and causes of smoking among the students of Golestan University of Medical Sciences who resided in the dormitories. Material & Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study conducted among the resident students of dormitories in 2010. The sample size consisted of all the university dormitory students. The data gathered using a validated and reliable questionnaire. The data analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests including Chi-square, Logistic regression and Independent t-test. Results: Of 669 students, 538 (80%) of them filled out the questionnaires completely. 67.3% (362 subjects) were female. 6.1% (33 students) were smoker and 83.5% of them had experiences of cigarette smoking. The most important reasons for the smoking tendency were “having a smoker friend in 33%, a personal interest 27% and as hobby in 24% of the cases”. There were significant relation between “age, sex, region and year of education” with smoking (P0.05). Conclusion: The results indicated low prevalence of cigarette smoking among the students. However, preventive measures should be taken to conduit youth toward healthier behaviors. It seems parental control and monitoring children’s friend finding are crucial issue. © 2014, Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. All rights reserved

Relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis in an Iranian patient with neurofibromatosis type I

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is a common hereditary neurocutaneous disease, with known gene mutations, that mainly involves the skin and nervous system. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an acquired inflammatory disease in which the myelin of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord is damaged. These two disease do not share any apparent pathological similarities. We herein present a 32-year-old woman with definite NF-1, who has recently been diagnosed with MS, which to the best of our knowledge is a rare co-occurrence. Though there are often neurologic sign and symptoms in patients with NF-1, they should not always be considered as the natural history of the disease, and other overlapped pathologies should be kept in mind, in order to not miss or postpone the efficient treatment. © N. Mohebi et al., 2015

Change in bone mineral density in post menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Low bone mass is a serious complication of post menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis. We determined the Change in Bone Mineral Density in postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was carried out on consecutive postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis who were referred to the Azar 5th teaching hospital affiliated to Golestan University of Medical Sciences, North of Iran in 2009. The required data were gathered from the patients' medical records. The data were analyzed using SPSS software and statistical tests. Results: We studied 98 postmenopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis. Mean number of years since menopause and mean duration of disease were 9.39 and 5.13 respectively. T Score mean in femoral neck and lumbar spines was -1.45±1.26 and -2.45±1.44 respectively. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck was 13.3. We have found a significant correlation between age, duration of disease, duration of menopause and bone mineral density (P-Value<0.01). Conlusion: Our results indicate a negative effect of age, number of years since menopause and duration of disease on bone mineral density. So, BMD should be measured in high risk women prior to the implementation of any treatment or prevention program

The gross anatomy of the male reproductive system of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus Europaeus)

Hedgehogs are small spiny-coated insectivores. Due to their low body weight, calm character, and easy maintenance, they are kept as pets. It is therefore worthwhile to care about hedgehogs’ health problems and to provide pet owners with information about their reproduction. Moreover, it is necessary to be familiar with their anatomy so as to satisfy the need to improve nutrition and medical care, even surgery. This study was carried out on five adult male European hedgehogs euthanased in a chloroform chamber. The European hedgehog’s oval testes are invisible in inguinal region because they have no true scrotal sac. The testes are located in the craniocaudal direction with dorsolateral epididymal attachments. The vesicular glands, the European hedgehog’s largest accessory sex glands, are lobulated structures containing dorsomedial and ventrolateral parts on each side. The prostate is an oval gland with right and left lobes. The paired bulbourethral glands are laid on the ischiocavernosus muscle. Histologically the vesicular, prostate gland ducts and ductus deferens as well as urethra separately were discharged in a diverticlum at the level of the pelvic urethra end. A sigmoid flexure exists in the proximal part of shaft body of the penis. There are two retractor penile muscles. In dorsal end of the penile glans, there is a small urethral process with two nail- -like, needle-shaped structures. They are on both sides of the urethral process. Furthermore, there are two intromittent sacs (Sacculus urethralis) in the ventral part of the end of the penis. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 1: 36–43)

Identification of a De novo 3bp deletion in CRYBA1/A3 gene in Autosomal dominant congenital cataract

Autosomal dominant congenital cataract (ADCC) is the most common form of inherited cataracts and accounts for one-third of congenital cataracts. Heterozygous null mutations in the crystallin genes are the major cause of the ADCC. This study aims to detect the mutational spectrum of four crystallin genes, CRYBA1/A3, CRYBB1, CRYBB2 and CRYGD in an Iranian family. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood cells from theproband and other family members. The coding regions and flanking intronicsequences of crystalline genes were analyzed by Sanger sequencing in aproband with ADCC. The identified mutation was further evaluated in available family members. To predict the potential protein partners of CRYBA1/A3, we also used an in-silico analysis. A de novo heterozygous deletion (c.272-274delGAG, p.G91del) in exon 4 of CRYBA1/A3 gene, leading to a deletion of Glycine at codon 91 was found. This genetic variation did not change the reading frame of CRYBA1 protein. In conclusion, we identified a de novo in-frame 3-bp deletion in the proband with an autosomal dominant congenital cataract, but not in her parents, in an Iranian family. This mutation has occurred de novo on a paternal gamete during spermatogenesis. The in-silico results predicted the interaction of CRYBA1 protein with the other CRY as well as proteins responsible for eye cell signaling. � 2016 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Velocity Curve Analysis of the Spectroscopic Binary Stars V373 Cas, V2388 Oph, V401 Cyg, GM Dra, V523 Cas, AB And, and HD 141929 by Artificial Neural Networks

We used an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to derive the orbital parameters of spectroscopic binary stars. Using measured radial velocity data of seven double-lined spectroscopic binary systems V373 Cas, V2388 Oph, V401 Cyg, GM Dra, V523 Cas, AB And, and HD 141929, we found corresponding orbital and spectroscopic elements. Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained by others using more traditional methods.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 14 Table

Application of a New Non-Linear Least Squares Velocity Curve Analysis Technique for Spectroscopic Binary Stars

Using measured radial velocity data of nine double lined spectroscopic binary systems NSV 223, AB And, V2082 Cyg, HS Her, V918 Her, BV Dra, BW Dra, V2357 Oph, and YZ Cas, we find corresponding orbital and spectroscopic elements via the method introduced by Karami & Mohebi (2007a) and Karami & Teimoorinia (2007). Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained by others using more traditional methods.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

Evaluation of SD-208, a TGF-β-RI kinase inhibitor, as an anticancer agent in retinoblastoma

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular tumor in children resulting from genetic alterations and transformation of mature retinal cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of SD-208, TGF-β-RI kinase inhibitor, on the expression of some miRNAs including a miR-17/92 cluster in retinoblastoma cells. Prior to initiate this work, the cell proliferation was studied by Methyl Thiazolyl Tetrazolium (MTT) and bromo-2�-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assays. Then, the expression patterns of four miRNAs (18a, 20a, 22, and 34a) were investigated in the treated SD-208 (0.0, 1, 2 and 3 μM) and untreated Y-79 cells. A remarkable inhibition of the cell proliferation was found in Y-79 cells treated with SD-208 versus untreated cells. Also, the expression changes were observed in miRNAs 18a, 20a, 22 and 34a in response to SD-208 treatment (P<0.05). The findings of the present study suggest that the anti-cancer effect of SD-208 may be exerted due to the regulation of specific miRNAs, at least in this particular retinoblastoma cell line. To the best of the researchers� knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that the SD-208 could alter the expression of tumor suppressive miRNAs as well as oncomiRs in vitro. In conclusion, the present data suggest that SD-208 could be an alternative agent in retinoblastoma treatment. © 2016 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved