Measuring the performance of FCM versus PSO for fuzzy clustering problems

Clustering cellular manufacturing plays an important role in many industrial engineering problems. This paper investigates the performance of two methods of heuristic and metaheuristics fuzzy clustering. The proposed method investigates heuristic well-known FCM and particle swarm optimization (PSO) on some well-known benchmarks. We use two criteria of J(P) as well as Xie-Beni to compare the results. Three parameters of PSO method is tuned using design of experiment and then the results of PSO are compared versus FCM method in terms of two mentioned criteria. The proposed models are run for each instance 10 different times and, using ANOVA test, the means of two methods are compared. While the results of ANOVA do not indicate any meaningful difference between PSO and FCM in terms of J(P), we have found some meaningful differences between PSO and FCM in terms of Xie-Beni criterion. In other words, PSO performs better than FCM in terms of Xie-Beni

A Study of Users’ Motivation in using Information Services of Regional Information Center for Science and Technology

Abstract Objective: The objective of this research is studying users’ motivation in using information service of regional information center for science and technology based on expectancy theory. Methodology: The methodology is Analytical survey with correlation approach, and statistical population of this research includes users of regional information center for science and technology. Data was collected by the researcher-made questionnaire and was analyzed by SPSS software. Findings: Findings of research showed that accessibility to useful information (mean=4), facilities to use information service (mean 3.95), usefulness of information service (mean 3.93), familiarity with center and satisfaction from its information service (mean=3.89), convenience of condition and manner of using information service (mean=3.88), varieties of information service (mean=3.7), and uniqueness of information service (mean 3.43) were the most important and effective factors on users’ motivation in using information service. In addition, results of hypotheses test showed the significant relationship between users’ motivation in using information service and their awareness in results value of information service (r=0.762). Moreover, there is significant relationship between users’ motivation in using information service and their perceptions about accessibility to information services (r=0.680). Conclusion: Attention to motivator factors of behavior in using information service can leads to purposefulness of satisfaction service

The Persian Light Verb dādan 'to give': Causation and More

This paper aims to investigate the light verb constructions (LVCs) formed with the light verb dādan ‘to give’ in Persian by employing the principles of cognitive lexical semantics. It examines the semantic relationships between the heavy verb dādan and its uses as LVCs. The analysis of attested examples reveals that the use of dādan as a light verb (LV) is a function of the semantic structure of its simple verb counterpart. This suggests that its lightness status is highly systematic and can be explained in terms of cognitively driven motivations. In addition, a significant number of the LVCs express certain causation meanings, suggesting that Persian speakers tend to use the LV dādan to convey causative notions as newly emerged LVCs. This stance will constitute our line of argument to analyze the data in this study. By presenting a cognitive configuration of LVCs in Persian, the current paper can pave the way for a fine-grained theorization of typological aspects of LVCs in some other languages

Rzadki przypadek współwystępowania nadczynności przytarczyc i zespołu Turnera - opis przypadku

Przedstawiony przez autorów opis przypadku zawiera ocenę kliniczną, wyniki badań laboratoryjnych, radiologicznych, patomorfologicznych 37-letniej kobiety, u której początkowo rozpoznano osteomalację przebiegu zespołu Turnera i zastosowano suplementację wapnia i witaminy D. Ze względu na szybką progresję Ca we krwi rozszerzono diagnostykę, rozpoznając dodatkowo nadczynność przytarczyc spowodowaną gruczolakiem tego narządu.We present the clinical, laboratory, radiological and pathological findings in the case and review the literature. Our patient, a 37-year-old woman of short stature, was referred because of musculoskeletal pain. After primary evaluation, she underwent treatment with calcium and vitamin D supplement with the diagnosis of osteomalacia in Turner’s syndrome. The rise of serum calcium during medical therapy, which was an unusual finding, attracted the clinician’s attention to another underlying disorder. Further evaluation revealed primary hyperparathyroidism due to an adenoma of the parathyroid gland. Even though this is a rare diagnosis, its presence should be considered in any patient with Turner’s syndrome presenting with severe osteoporosis and a rise in serum calcium during treatment

The Effect of Treatment with an Herbal Formulation of Salvia hydrangea, Citrus aurantium, Lipia citriodora, and Elm Bark on the Intensity of Tinnitus: A Clinical Trial

Background: Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying medical condition that is associated with hearing loss in humans. It is a subjective disease where patients hear voices that others cannot hear. Increase in noise pollution, growing development of communication devices, and the long-ranging 8-year war in our country have further accelerated the spread of this disorder. Given that no definitive medical or surgical treatment has been confirmed for this condition, new research to improve treatment options is urgent.Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of a formulation prepared from Salvia hydrangea, Citrus aurantium, Lipia Citriodora, and elm bark on the status of tinnitus.Methods: In this single-blind clinical trial, 144 patients with tinnitus were selected based on pre-defined inclusion criteria and then randomly divided into 3 groups: herbal formulation, cinnarizine, and placebo groups, where the frequency and intensity of tinnitus was measured based on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) criteria before and on 28 and 56 days post treatment. Data were analyzed by the statistical software SPSS version 16, repeated measurement, one-way, and X2 for comparison within and among groups, with the significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: comparably, tinnitus based on THI criteria differed among the 3 groups on 28 and 56 days of intervention, where the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). This difference was more significant between the cinnarizine and placebo groups. The mean severity of tinnitus, based on the VAS score, differed among the three groups on 28 and 56 days after intervention, although the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Herbal formulation was effective on tinnitus alleviation, but its effect was not superior to that of conventionally used chemical drug cinnarizine

Examining the jurisprudential ruling on "Astrology and its teaching and learning" from the perspective of contemporary jurisprudence

"Tanjim" means "belief in the effect of the state of the constellations and the movement of stars in human life and terrestrial events" is one of the topics that have long been of interest to humans, including Muslims. The existence of some narrations, for or against this issue, has caused the jurists of Islamic religions to disagree about its permission or sanctity. As far as it is mentioned in Shiite jurisprudential books as one of the forbidden achievements. The issues related to the jurisprudential ruling of Tanjim can be examined in four areas; The principle of entering the discussion of stars and astronomy; Teaching and learning it; Practice it; and acquire it. In this research, in a descriptive-analytical manner, with the information obtained from the library method, and by analyzing the narrations, we examine the arguments of the jurists of the two sects in the second area. Research findings show that; The teaching of astrology is permissible and sometimes recommended if it means astronomy and cosmology. However, it is forbidden if it requires other prohibitions, such as believing in the independent influence of the stars in terrestrial events, or their association with God, lying, or foretelling suspicious matters

Study of fungicidal properties of colloidal silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on trout egg pathogen, Saprolegnia sp.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are known to have bactericidal and fungicidal effects. Since, there is few information available on the interaction of colloidal nanosilver with fish pathogens. Hence, the current study investigated the effects of colloidal AgNPs on the in vitro growth of the fish pathogen Saprolegnia sp.. Before the experiments, various important properties of AgNPs were well-characterized. The antifungal activity of AgNPs was then evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using two-fold serial dilutions of colloidal nanosilver in a glucose yeast extract agar at 22ºC. The growth of Saprolegnia sp. on the AgNPs agar treatments was compared to that of nanosilver-free agar as controls. The results showed that AgNPs have an inhibitory effect on the in vitro growth of the tested fungi. The MIC of AgNPs for Saprolegnia sp. was calculated at 1800 mg/L, which is equal to 0.18 percent. It seems that AgNPs could be a proper replacement for teratogenic and toxic agents, such as malachite green. In addition, the indirect use of AgNPs could be a useful method for providing new antifungal activity in aquaculture systems

Serum Procalcitonin and Lactoferrin in Detection of Acute Appendicitis; a Diagnostic Accuracy Study

Introduction: Finding an accurate diagnostic test can reduce the rate of unnecessary abdominal surgery in cases of suspected acute appendicitis (AA). This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum lactoferrin (LF) and procalcitonin (PCT) in detection of patients with acute appendicitis.Methods: In this diagnostic accuracy study, screening performance characteristics of PCT and LF were calculated in patients suspected with acute appendicitis and healthy volunteers as control group.Results: 131 cases participated (61 as case and 70 as control). The mean serum level of LF (0.9±0.14 vs 0.2±0.13 µg/ml; p 0.0001) and PCT (0.15±0.21 vs 0.11±0.02 ng/dl; p = 0.02) were significantly higher in patients suspected with AA. The AUC of PCT and LF were 0.46 (95% CI: 0.31-0.61) and 0.61 (95%CI: 0.47 - 0.76), respectively. At a 0.90 µg/ml cut-off value, LF had 77% (95 % CI: 63 - 91) sensitivity and 43% (95 % CI: 31 - 55) specificity. Also, at a 0.11 ng/dl cut-off value, PCT had 41% (95 % CI: 26 - 56) sensitivity and 69% (95 % CI: 53 - 85) specificity.Conclusion: Based on the main finding of present study, the overall accuracy of serum PCT and LF in detection of patients with acute appendicitis are in poor to failed range and it seems that they could not be considered as good screening tools for this purpose