Contrasting the mechanical and metallurgical properties of laser welded and gas tungsten arc welded S500MC steel

S500MC steel is a grade of high-strength low-alloy steel (HSLA) which is widely used in the automotive industry and for agricultural machinery and equipment. Considering properties of this alloy, selection of the welding process and parameters becomes essential to ensure that HSLA assemblies meet specific service requirements. In this work, mechanical and metallurgical properties of S500MC steel produced by autogenous laser beam welding (LBW) and automatic gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) were compared. Tensile testing, metallography, hardness testing, and fractographic analysis were performed on the welded specimens, revealing that the heat input by these welding processes caused significant microstructural changes within the joints. In LBW samples, the heat input about 10 times lower than that in GTAW produced a finer microstructure, narrower fusion zone width, and smaller heat-affected zone. All fractures of the GTAW specimens occurred in the base metal, while all fractures of the LBW specimens occurred in the weld zone, both regardless of the heat input. GTAW joints exhibited higher mechanical properties (even higher than those obtained in the base metal) as compared to LBW joints

Past decade above-ground biomass change comparisons from four multi-temporal global maps

Above-ground biomass (AGB) is considered an essential climate variable that underpins our knowledge and information about the role of forests in mitigating climate change. The availability of satellite-based AGB and AGB change (Delta AGB) products has increased in recent years. Here we assessed the past decade net Delta AGB derived from four recent global multi-date AGB maps: ESA-CCI maps, WRI-Flux model, JPL time series, and SMOS-LVOD time series. Our assessments explore and use different reference data sources with biomass re-measurements within the past decade. The reference data comprise National Forest Inventory (NFI) plot data, local Delta AGB maps from airborne LiDAR, and selected Forest Resource Assessment country data from countries with well-developed monitoring capacities. Map to reference data comparisons were performed at levels ranging from 100 m to 25 km spatial scale. The comparisons revealed that LiDAR data compared most reasonably with the maps, while the comparisons using NFI only showed some agreements at aggregation levels <10 km. Regardless of the aggregation level, AGB losses and gains according to the map comparisons were consistently smaller than the reference data. Map-map comparisons at 25 km highlighted that the maps consistently captured AGB losses in known deforestation hotspots. The comparisons also identified several carbon sink regions consistently detected by all maps. However, disagreement between maps is still large in key forest regions such as the Amazon basin. The overall AAGB map cross-correlation between maps varied in the range 0.11-0.29 (r). Reported AAGB magnitudes were largest in the high-resolution datasets including the CCI map differencing (stock change) and Flux model (gain-loss) methods, while they were smallest according to the coarser-resolution LVOD and JPL time series products, especially for AGB gains. Our results suggest that AAGB assessed from current maps can be biased and any use of the estimates should take that into account. Currently, AAGB reference data are sparse especially in the tropics but that deficit can be alleviated by upcoming LiDAR data networks in the context of Supersites and GEO-Trees

The Effect of Resistance Training Program with Citrulline-Malate on Blood Pressure, Nitric Oxide, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Postmenopausal Women with Prehypertension

Background & Objective: Blood pressure generally increases after menopause. Training modalities with a supplement can influence blood pressure indices. The present study aims at investigating the effect of eight-week resistance training with citrulline-malate consumption on blood pressure, Nitric Oxide (NO), and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in postmenopausal women with prehypertension Materials & Methods: The sample population is postmenopausal women with pre-hypertensive age ranging from 50 to 55 years old divided randomly into six groups, including “training + supplement”, “training + placebo”, “training”, “no training + supplement”, “supplement” and “placebo”. Resistance training was held 3 sessions per week in which the training intensity was 45% to 55% IRM. The supplement included citrulline-malate (8 g) an hour before each training session. Blood pressure, NO, and VEGE were measured using a barometer and kit before and after the training sessions. Two-way analysis of variance test and Tukey’s follow-up test were applied to analyze data. Results: The findings demonstrated that training leads to a decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressures while an increase in NO and VEGF. The results showed that an eight-week period of citrulline-malate supplementation has decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Besides, it was revealed that eight weeks of citrulline-malate administration made NO and VEGF increase. Also, the results indicated that the "exercise + supplement" group has had the greatest effect on increasing NO and VEGF and reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, the findings proved that resistance training with citrulline-malate made systolic and diastolic blood pressures in menopausal women with prehypertension reduce. These effects are accompanied by rising levels of NO and VEGF. Conclusion: The findings revealed that the resistance training, which was applied in the present study, coupled with citrulline-malate supplementation, will improve blood pressure in postmenopausal women with hypertension

Causal model of separation anxiety disorder based on differentiation and empathy of mothers; a mediating role of parent-child relationship: Causal model of separation anxiety disorder based on differentiation and empathy of mothers with the mediating role of parent-child relationship

Introduction:Separation anxiety disorder is relatively common, but has serious repercussions on a child's life, and if left untreated will lead to chronic satiety. The purpose of this research is to determine designing a causal model of separation anxiety disorder according to differentiation and mother's empathy with the mediating role of child- Parent relationship. Method: Research method was descriptive - correlation with structural equation modeling method. The statistical population was all of the Mothers with daughters with separation anxiety disorder syndrome whose child / children in one of the preschool centers in Kermanshah in the academic year 1399-99, and determined 600 people with table's Morgan and selected as sampling by ratio stratified random sampling method. The research data were collected through separation anxiety disorder Hahn, Hajinlian, Eisen, Winder &amp; Pincus (2003), differentiation Drake and Moradi (2015), mother's empathy Baron-Cohen and Wheelwright (2004), child- Parent relationship Pianta (1994) questionnaires. Data analyzed in PLS software with structural equation modeling. Results: The results show that analysis of the paths of the model show that there is significance the direct effect of differentiation and mother's empathy on child- Parent relationship. There is significance the direct effect of child- Parent relationship on separation anxiety disorder. The direct effect of Self-Handicapping and perfectionism on academic Engagement is also significant. &nbsp;Conclusion: There is directly and indirectly significant effect of differentiation and mother's empathy on separation anxiety disorder. Differentiation, mother's empathy, child- Parent relationship can decrease separation anxiety disorder

The effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on the self-care and adherence to treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on self-care and adherence to treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental research with pretest–posttest-follow-up and control group design. The sample of the present study consisted of 30 patients with type 2 diabetes referred to the health network of Asaluyeh city in the first half of the year 2019. The perceived self-efficacy scale for self-care and adherence to treatment questionnaire were used for data collection. Results: The results of the data analysis showed that acceptance and commitment therapy is effective in the self-care and adherence to treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. Conclusion: Based on obtained results, it can conclude that acceptance and commitment therapy as a short term therapy has effective influences on self-care and adherence to treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes

Major dietary patterns and dietary inflammatory index in relation to dyslipidemia using cross-sectional results from the RaNCD cohort study

Abstract Dyslipidemia can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke due to the restriction of blood flow through the blood vessels. Dietary modification is an appropriate approach to reducing this phenomenon. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate major dietary patterns and the dietary inflammatory index (DII) in relation to dyslipidemia. 5954 participants in the Ravansar non-communicable diseases (RaNCD) cohort study were eligible for this study. Dyslipidemia was diagnosed based on the lipid profile under consideration of the RaNCD physician. Dietary patterns were assessed by principal component analysis. The three identified dietary patterns included (1) plant-based pattern; (2) high protein and sugar pattern; and (3) energy-dense dense pattern. DII was also calculated based on the dietary information from a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). We found that higher adherence to DII was significantly associated with increased odds of dyslipidemia after adjusting for age, sex, and physical activity (OR: 1.24; CI 95% 1.09–1.42). Additionally, higher adherence to the high protein and sugar diet and an energy-dense diet was significantly associated with higher odds for dyslipidemia (OR: 1.31; CI 95% 1.16–1.49) and (OR: 1.28; CI 95% 1.12–1.46). Nevertheless, according to our results, following plant-based diet had no association with dyslipidemia in both crude and adjusted models. Our findings revealed that greater adherence to DII, a high-protein, high-sugar diet, and an energy-dense diet can have undesirable effects on dyslipidemia

Social loafing among nurses and its relation with organizational justice

Background and Aims: Social loafing refers to individuals′ tendency to exert fewer efforts when they work in a group than when they work alone. Individuals who feel the injustice in an origination are likelier to tend to this phenomenon. The present study is meant to investigate social loafing and its relation with organizational justice among nurses of Tohid Hospital of Sanandaj. Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive one. The population of this study included all nurses working in the Tohid Educational and Health Center in Sanandaj City. The instrument of collecting data was a questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 (IBM Company, New York, USA) and employing descriptive statistics techniques such as frequency, mean, standard deviation, and inferential ones such as Spearman, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results : On the basis of the findings of the research, among the distributive, interactional, procedural and systemic organizational justice, there is a reverse correlation between distributive component and social loafing (P < 0.05). The obtained results indicate that the mean of social loafing in females is more than that of males (P < 0.05). Further, the variable of years of experience is effective on the mean scores of individuals′ loafing (P < 0.05). Conclusion : The hospital should try reduce the possibility of social loafing in order to prevent the negative effects related to loafing. One-way for attaining this aim is to highlight the importance of the job in such a way that individuals take their tasks and objectives as significant and important; further the nursing role in caring patients should be considered as outstanding

GCPs-Free Photogrammetry for Estimating Tree Height and Crown Diameter in Arizona Cypress Plantation Using UAV-Mounted GNSS RTK

One of the main challenges of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in forest data acquisition is the implementation of Ground Control Points (GCPs) as a mandatory step, which is sometimes impossible for inaccessible areas or within canopy closures. This study aimed to test the accuracy of a UAV-mounted GNSS RTK (real-time kinematic) system for calculating tree height and crown height without any GCPs. The study was conducted on a Cupressus arizonica (Greene., Arizona cypress) plantation on the Razi University Campus in Kermanshah, Iran. Arizona cypress is commonly planted as an ornamental tree. As it can tolerate harsh conditions, this species is highly appropriate for afforestation and reforestation projects. A total of 107 trees were subjected to field-measured dendrometric measurements (height and crown diameter). UAV data acquisition was performed at three altitudes of 25, 50, and 100 m using a local network RTK system (NRTK). The crown height model (CHM), derived from a digital surface model (DSM), was used to estimate tree height, and an inverse watershed segmentation (IWS) algorithm was used to estimate crown diameter. The results indicated that the means of tree height obtained from field measurements and UAV estimation were not significantly different, except for the mean values calculated at 100 m flight altitude. Additionally, the means of crown diameter reported from field measurements and UAV estimation at all flight altitudes were not statistically different. Root mean square error (RMSE &lt; 11%) indicated a reliable estimation at all the flight altitudes for trees height and crown diameter. According to the findings of this study, it was concluded that UAV-RTK imagery can be considered a promising solution, but more work is needed before concluding its effectiveness in inaccessible areas

Negative mood state in Kermanshah population during COVID-19 quarantine linked to low physical activity levels: a cross-sectional online survey study

Abstract One of the most significant consequences of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is the anxiety and stress it causes among the general population, which can be reduced by engaging in regular physical activity. The aim of this study was to estimate the levels of physical activity and mood state during the COVID-19 quarantine among the Kermanshah population. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 2471 subjects (1256 males and 1215 females) were selected in the population of Kermanshah in the west of Iran, using the convenience sampling method. Physical activity levels were assessed using the physical activity (PA) questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF), and mood state was measured by the abbreviated form of the Iranian version of the standard POMS questionnaire (Bill Morgan 1979). Participants completed the online questionnaire between March 28th and May 20th, 2020. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, and percentage), and deductive (Chi-square and Spearman's correlation) were used for data analysis. our study found that the majority of participants reported decreased PA levels during the quarantine period. Specifically, 71.7% reported a decrease in moderate-intensity physical activity, 80.5% reported a decrease in high-intensity PA, and 71.3% reported a decrease in the total volume of PA. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the number of sessions (P=0.001), intensity (P=0.001), and duration of exercise (P=0.001) before and during the coronavirus. There was a significant positive relationship between low (r=0.93; P=0.001) and high (r=0.673; P=0.034) levels of PA and negative mood state. Additionally, there was a positive relationship between moderate PA level (r=0.82; P=0.001) and a positive mood states. The study suggests that the current quarantine has negatively affected the mood states of the participants. Overall, the study recommends regular PA to prevent COVID-19 while adhering to health and safety protocols