Multi-Phase Nano Fluid Natural Convection in A Partially Divided Cavity for Cooling of Radioactive Waste Containers

The innovation of this investigation is fins arrangement effects on Al2O3-water Nano fluid natural convection in a partially divided cavity for energy storage systems and cooling of radioactive waste containers.  Simulation of fluid velocity and temperature fields done based on the Lattice Boltzmann Model using the D2Q9 and D2Q5 methods, respectively. Streamline, isotherm, Nusselt number, velocity and temperature fields have been studied for different shapes of fins. In this investigation, we surveyed 4 shape of fins that arranged in three cases; case 1: yL=0.25 L, yR=0.75 L, case 2: yL=0.5 L, yR=0.5 L and Case 3: yL=0.75 L, yR=0.25 L. The results illustrated, assuming case 2: yL=0.5 L, yR=0.5 L is base case, so with changing arrangement of fins for case 1: yL=0.25 L, yR=0.75 L, rate percentage of average Nusselt number for cavities arranged with rectangular, circle, vertical and horizontal Ellipse fins were %26, %8, %4 and %8, respectively. Furthermore, with changing arrangement of fins to case 3: yL=0.75 L, yR=0.25 L, these percentages were %62, %24, %14 and %22

Multi-Phase Nano Fluid Natural Convection in A Partially Divided Cavity for Cooling of Radioactive Waste Containers

The innovation of this investigation is fins arrangement effects on Al2O3-water Nano fluid natural convection in a partially divided cavity for energy storage systems and cooling of radioactive waste containers.  Simulation of fluid velocity and temperature fields done based on the Lattice Boltzmann Model using the D2Q9 and D2Q5 methods, respectively. Streamline, isotherm, Nusselt number, velocity and temperature fields have been studied for different shapes of fins. In this investigation, we surveyed 4 shape of fins that arranged in three cases; case 1: yL=0.25 L, yR=0.75 L, case 2: yL=0.5 L, yR=0.5 L and Case 3: yL=0.75 L, yR=0.25 L. The results illustrated, assuming case 2: yL=0.5 L, yR=0.5 L is base case, so with changing arrangement of fins for case 1: yL=0.25 L, yR=0.75 L, rate percentage of average Nusselt number for cavities arranged with rectangular, circle, vertical and horizontal Ellipse fins were %26, %8, %4 and %8, respectively. Furthermore, with changing arrangement of fins to case 3: yL=0.75 L, yR=0.25 L, these percentages were %62, %24, %14 and %22

How can statistical and artificial intelligence approaches predict piping erosion susceptibility?

It is of fundamental importance to model the relationship between geo-environmental factors and piping erosion because of the environmental degradation attributed to soil loss. Methods that identify areas prone to piping erosion at the regional scale are limited. The main objective of this research is to develop a novel modeling approach by using three machine learning algorithms—mixture discriminant analysis (MDA), flexible discriminant analysis (FDA), and support vector machine (SVM) in addition to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images to map susceptibility to piping erosion in the loess-covered hilly region of Golestan Province, Northeast Iran. In this research, we have used 22 geo-environmental indices/factors and 345 identified pipes as predictors and dependent variables. The piping susceptibility maps were assessed by the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Validation of the results showed that the AUC for the three mentioned algorithms varied from 90.32% to 92.45%. We concluded that the proposed approach could efficiently produce a piping susceptibility map.</p

Down-Regulation of Ribosomal S6 kinase RPS6KA6 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Patients

Objective Signaling pathways such as extracellular regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) have increased activity in leukemia. Ribosomal 6 kinase (RSK4) is a factor downstream of the MAPK/ERK pathway and an important tumor suppressor which inhibits ERK trafficking. Decrease in RSK4 expression has been reported in some malignancies, which leads to an increase in growth and proliferation and eventually poor prognosis. In this study we measured RSK4 expression rate in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2013-2014 at Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran, on 40 AML patients and 10 non-AML patients as the control group. The expression rate was measured by real-time polymerase change reaction (PCR) and employing the ΔΔCT method. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney and Spearman tests using SPSS (version 11.5). Results Expression rate of RSK4 was significantly decreased in the AML group in comparison with the non-AML group (P<0.001). There was also a significant decrease in RSK4 expression in AML with t(15;17) in comparison to other translocations (P=0.004). Conclusion We detected a down-regulation of RSK4 in AML patients. This may lead to an increase in the activity of the ERK/MPAK pathway and exacerbate leukemogenesis or the prognosis of the patients

The effect of levamisole on mortality rate among patients with severe burn injuries

Background: Burn injuries are one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity throughout the world and burn patients have higher chances for infection due to their decreased immune resistance. Levamisole, as an immunomodulation agent, stimulates the immune response against infection. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in Motahari Burn Center, Tehran, Iran. Patients who had second- or third-degree burn with involvement of more than 50% of total body surface area (TBSA) were studied. The levamisole group received levamisole tablet, 100 mg per day. Meantime, both the levamisole and control groups received the standard therapy of the Burn Center, based on a standard protocol. Then, the outcome of the patients was evaluated. Results: 237 patients entered the study. After excluding 42 patients with inhalation injury, electrical and chemical burns, and the patients who died in the first 72 h, 195 patients remained in the study, including 110 patients in the control group and 85 in the treatment group. The mean age of all patients (between 13 to 64 years) was 33.29 ± 11.39 years (Mean ± SD), and it was 33.86 ± 11.45 years in the control group and 32.57 ± 11.32 years in the treatment group. The mean percentage of TBSA burn was 64.50 ± 14.34 and 68.58 ± 14.55 for the levamisole and control groups, respectively, with the range of 50-100% and 50-95% TBSA. The mortality rate was 68 (61.8%) patients in the control group and 50 (58.8%) patients in the treatment group (P = 0.8). Conclusion: According to this study, there was no significant relationship between improvement of mortality and levamisole consumption

Amplatz versus Balloon for Tract Dilation in Ultrasonographically Guided Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Purpose. To compare balloon with Amplatz for tract dilation in totally ultrasonographically guided PCNL (UPCN). Methods. We randomized 66 patients candidate for sonographically guided PCNL in the flank position in two study groups. In the first group, we used single step Amplatz dilation (AG) technique in which the 28- or 30-French Amplatz dilator is used for tract dilation. In the other group, we dilated the tract using balloon dilator (BG). We compared procedure time, success rate of dilation, and postoperative clinical outcomes and cost between two groups. Results. The rate of short dilation was higher in the Amplatz group (57.6%) compared with Balloon group (36.4%) (P=0.08). When using Amplatz for lower pole access, short dilation occurred in 81% of cases compared with 44% in the BG (P=0.02). Overall operation was longer in the AG (80±21 versus 65±20 minutes P=0.02). Stone free rate was 87.9% in the AG compared with 72.7% in the BG (p=0.12). Mean cost of the surgery was 603±85 USD and 718±78 USD in the AG and BG, respectively (P=0.0001). Hemoglobin drop, transfusion rate, renal function alteration, duration of hospitalization, and complication rate based on Clavien classification were similar in both groups. Conclusions. AG showed a higher rate of short dilation compared with BG; consequently, overall operating time was significantly longer in the AG whereas BG was significantly more expensive than AG. Bleeding and other complications were similar in two groups. We observed an advantage for balloon dilation over Amplatz when approaching the lower pole calyxes