APPRAISAL OF TAKAGI–SUGENO TYPE NEURO-FUZZY NETWORK SYSTEM WITH A MODIFIED DIFFERENTIAL EVOLUTION METHOD TO PREDICT NONLINEAR WHEEL DYNAMICS CAUSED BY ROAD IRREGULARITIES

Wheel dynamics play a substantial role in traversing and controlling the vehicle, braking, ride comfort, steering, and maneuvering. The transient wheel dynamics are difficult to be ascertained in tire–obstacle contact condition. To this end, a single-wheel testing rig was utilized in a soil bin facility for provision of a controlled experimental medium. Differently manufactured obstacles (triangular and Gaussian shaped geometries) were employed at different obstacle heights, wheel loads, tire slippages and forward speeds to measure the forces induced at vertical and horizontal directions at tire–obstacle contact interface. A new Takagi–Sugeno type neuro-fuzzy network system with a modified Differential Evolution (DE) method was used to model wheel dynamics caused by road irregularities. DE is a robust optimization technique for complex and stochastic algorithms with ever expanding applications in real-world problems. It was revealed that the new proposed model can be served as a functional alternative to classical modeling tools for the prediction of nonlinear wheel dynamics

Association of helicobacter pylori infection with serum magnesium in kidney transplant patients.

INTRODUCTION Few studies are available regarding the various promoting factors of H. pylori infection in kidney disease patients especially renal transplant individuals. OBJECTIVES This study was therefore conducted to examine the association of serum magnesium with H. pylori infection among kidney transplant patients. This cross-sectional investigation was conducted on a group of stable kidney transplant patients. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis after an overnight fast, Also urea breath test (UBT) was conducted for patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 50 cases was enrolled to the study. Mean serum magnesium value of the patients was 1.98 ± 0.62 mg/dl. Serum magnesium level in positive H. pylori patients was more than negative H. pylori patients (p=0.0005). In this study population, there was no significant difference in serum intact PTH, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, albumin levels and body mass index (BMI) between males and females or H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative subjects (p>0.5). CONCLUSION It is possible that, magnesium aggravates H. pylori infection in kidney transplant patients through the mechanisms like hemodialysis, which we had reported previously. However, more studies are necessary to prove the association of magnesium with H. pylori infection in renal transplant patients and finding the clinical relevance of our findings

Effect of niacin on phosphorus, calcium, parathormone and vitamin D levels in hemodialysis patients; a double-blinded randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Electrolyte abnormalities are one of the most common problems in hemodialysis patients. Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of niacin on the levels of sodium, phosphorus, calcium, intact parathormone (iPTH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and vitamin D in hemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods: In the present double-blinded randomized clinical trial, hemodialysis patients with phosphorus of more than 4.5 mg/dL were included in the study and were treated with niacin. The dose of niacin was increased from 50 mg to 100 mg/d in two stages on a monthly basis. Tests related to the levels of phosphorus, sodium, vitamin D, and calcium were determined before and after the intervention, and the side effects of the treatment were recorded accordingly. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 16. Results: After the intervention, the serum levels of calcium, vitamin D, and sodium increased significantly (P0.05). There was no significant difference in the serum levels of calcium, phosphate, vitamin D, sodium, iPTH, and ALP during the intervention in the both men and women (P>0.05). Side effects were not reported in any of the patients. Conclusion: Niacin can increase vitamin D, sodium and calcium and decreased serum levels of phosphate and iPTH in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, it can be administered as an effective and safe supplement in the hemodialysis patients. Trial Registration: This trial protocol was approved by the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (identifier: IRCT20190702044076N2; https://en.irct.ir/trial/66567, ethical code #IR.SKUMS. REC.1400.079)

Design and development of pumps for power plant and cars

The development of the automobile industry in Malaysia has been very encouraging in the past years. Anyhow, this industry is confined to technology follower rather than technology leader. Thus the purpose of the project is to contribute positively to the whole process of automotive development in Malaysia. The advancement of automobile has continuously demanded more engine power requirement and thus, has increased the thermal load of the cooling system. In response to this, concern has been given to the cooling system efficiency improvement. To understand the effects of cooling system on the performance of the engine, the heat characteristics of cooling system were studied with different cooling temperatures. This range of temperatures, results in variations of engine performance, particularly the engine emission level. Engine hydrocarbon emissions increased as the coolant temperature decreases and therefore the importance of coolant temperature on the engine performance could not be neglected. As for the cooling system study, new cooling pump impellers have been designed. Series of experiments were carried out to determine the performance of the impellers as part of a water pump and also its influence to the engine performance. The new impellers produced 17% increase in the water pump efficiency. Since cooling water pump is operated by the engine itself, the efficiency improvement will therefore increase the engine efficiency by 6% or approximately 0.85kW in power gain for a 1.5 litre engine. Manufacturing study was also carried out to ensure the cost of the new impellers is within the marketing value, thus to improve its demand over conventional impeller

Tauhidunomics: Religious Ethics and Economic Growth in Tasikmalaya

This research aims to analyze the concept of Tauhidunomics used by Muslim entrepreneurs in Tasikmalaya. The method used is qualitative, with interview techniques from sources scattered in the city center and Tasikmalaya. The findings of this study indicate that Tauhidunomics is a concept of trading that Muslim entrepreneurs carry out by holding on to norms (the holy book-sunnah) and religious religiosity (the role of religious leaders and communities). The concepts and values of Tauhidunomics are individual honesty, hard work, frugality, commitment, openness, and calculation, and the social as diligent giving, providing guarantees and advancing fellow employees

Degradation of benzo (a) pyrene by photo-fenton oxidation process: Optimization of treatment conditions using experimental design

زمینه و هدف: هیدروکربن‌های آروماتیک چند حلقه‌ای (PAHs)، از جمله آلاینده‌های بسیار سمی، سرطان‌زا و پایدار می‌باشند که از 2 یا چند حلقه بنزنی ساخته شده‌اند؛ همچنین به علت حلالیت پائین و پایداری آن ها در محیط زیست، در دسته آلاینده‌های آلی پایدار (POPs) قرار می‌گیرند. پرخطر‌ترین ترکیب این گروه بنزو (a) پیرن است که سرطان‌زایی آن توسط سازمان بهداشت جهانی تأیید شده است. در این تحقیق میزان تجزیه بنزو (a) پیرن با استفاده از فرآیند اکسیداسیون فتوفنتون و بهینه سازی شرایط تصفیه با استفاده از طراحی آزمایش مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی، اثر غلظت اولیه بنزو (a) پیرن 5/0، 5/1، 5/2، 5/3، 5/4 میلی گرم بر لیتر، pH بهینه 3، زمان تابش 45، 35، 25، 15، 5 دقیقه، مقدار سولفات آهن 05/0، 15/0، 25/0، 35/0، 45/0 میلی مولار و مقدار H2O2 5/0، 5/1، 5/2، 5/3، 5/4 میلی مولار مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. 31 نمونه با استفاده از روش آماری مرکب مرکزی تعیین شد. غلطت بنزو (a) پیرن با استفاده از دستگاه کروماتوگرافی مایع با کارایی بالا (HPLC) مجهز به ستون 18C اندازه گیری شد. تجزیه و تحلیل داده‌ها با استفاده از نرم افزار Design Expert انجام شد. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد که راندمان حذف بنزو (a) پیرن با افزایش مقدار سولفات آهن، H2O2 و زمان تابش افزایش و با افزایش غلظت بنزو (a) پیرن کاهش یافت. حداکثر کارآیی حذف در شرایط 5/3 میلی گرم بر لیتر بنزو (a) پیرن، 35/0 میلی مولار سولفات آهن، 9/2 میلی مولار پراکسید هیدروژن و زمان تابش 45 دقیقه، 93 به دست آمد. نتیجه گیری: طبق نتایج به دست آمده، فرآیند فتوفنتون یک روش موثر در حذف بنزو (a) پیرن از محلول ‌های آبی است و با بهینه سازی عوامل عملیاتی موثر، می‌توان این فرآیند پاک را در مقیا‌س‌ بزرگ ‌تر انجام داد

Clinicopathological correlations in lupus nephritis; a single center experience.

BACKGROUND Renal biopsies play an important role in the diagnosis, management and prognosis of patients with lupus nephritis (LN). OBJECTIVES To determine the correlation between the pathological features of LN and the demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS This retrospective study was conducted from 2008 to 2014 on all consecutive cases of biopsy-proven LN at a nephropathology laboratory in Iran. The demographic, clinical and laboratory data were obtained from patients(') files and the biopsy findings from the original biopsy request forms. RESULTS Of the 84 patients enrolled, 69 (82.2%) were females and 15 (17.8%) males. The mean age was 32.7±12 years. The mean serum creatinine was 1.5±0.94 mg/dl and the mean 24-h proteinuria, 1.6±1.9 grams. The majority of cases belonged to classes III and IV. The extracapillary proliferation was found in 42.86% of biopsies and endocapillary proliferation in 66.67% of biopsies. Patients of class IV-LN had a higher mean serum value of creatinine in comparison to class III-LN (2.19±1.09 versus 1.2±0.56 mg/dl; p= 0.0001). There was no significant difference of 24-h proteinuria between the two classes (p= 0.882). A significant association of serum creatinine with 24-h proteinuria (p= 0.041) was seen. Serum creatinine had significant positive correlation with activity percent (p< 0.001), and chronicity percent (p= 0.006), and also with proportion of glomeruli with crescents (p < 0.001). While there was a significant relationship of proteinuria with chronicity percent (p= 0.001), this association for activity percent was not significant (p= 0.094). Furthermore, the association of proteinuria with totally sclerotic glomeruli and proportion of crescents was not statistically significant (p= 0.186 and p= 0.0145 respectively). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the results from our study on biopsy-proven cases of LN largely concur with the previously reported studies from Iran and other parts of the world

Bright Renoprotective Properties of Metformin Beyond Blood Glucose Regulatory Effects

Metformin, a biguanide drug, is widely prescribed to treat high blood glucose in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a troubling chronic disease and diabetic nephropathy is one of the most important complications of diabetes mellitus. Recent studies suggest that metformin, in addition to its efficacy in treating type 2 diabetes, may also have therapeutic efficacy in other conditions, including diabetic nephropathy or ameliorative property against tubular cell injury. Moreover, metformin significantly decreases albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the exact mechanisms beyond the effect of metformin on blood glucose are still unknown. Recent studies suggest that the therapeutic effect of metformin is mediated by its action on adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in tissues. Various investigations show that metformin decreases intracellular reactive oxygen species. Metformin protects against tubular injury by restoring the biochemical alterations and regulation of oxidative stress on renal tubules. It also protects podocytes in nephropathy of diabetes. These findings can more strongly potentiate the clinical use of metformin in the prevention of nephropathy of diabetes. In this regard, to better understand the metformin nephroprotective properties, more experimental rat models and clinical studies are needed