Robustness assessment of the biological processor using hyperellipsoids

V okviru diplomske naloge predstavimo postopek analize robusnosti modelov sintetičnih bioloških gradnikov. Postopek analize demonstiramo na primeru modela biološkega procesorja. Robustnost ocenimo na podlagi volumna prostora dopustnih parametrov v visokodimenzionalnem prostoru. Ta volumen izračunamo z uporabo genetskih algoritmov, metode glavnih komponent, nazadnje pa z metodo Monte Carlo. V diplomski nalogi demonstriramo pomembnost učinkovitega reduciranja omejujočega prostora možnih Monte Carlo vzorčenj za pridobitev natančnejšega rezultata z manj ponovitvami. Namesto hiperkvadra predlagamo uporabo hiperelipsoidov. Implementiramo metodo naključnega enakomernega vzorčenja znotraj danega hiperelipsoida. Primerjamo tudi dva pristopa za računanje omejujočega hiperelipsoida s čim manjšim volumnom. Z uporabo teh metod demonstriramo prednosti in slabosti uporabe hiperelipsoidov kot alternativi hiperkvadra pri izbiri omejujočih teles. Pri nekaterih množicah dopustnih parametrov vodi manjši volumen omejujočega hiperelipsoida k redukciji potrebnih vzorčenj Monte Carlo za več kot magnitudo.As part of this thesis, we present extentions of the current methods for the analysis of the robustness of synthetic biological systems. We demonstrate the new methods on a proposed programmable biological processor. The robustness is calculated using the volume of the body of viable parameters in high dimensional space. This volume is estimated using a genetic algorithm, principal component analysis and lastly Monte Carlo method. We demonstrate the importance the minimum enclosing body has on the efficiency of our method. Thus we focus our attention on improving the fitting of the enclosing body around the viable points. Instead of hypercuboids we demonstrate the advantages of the usage of hyperellipsoids as a viable alternative. For this purpose, a method for random uniform sampling inside of hyperellipsoid is implemented. Two competing methods of finding the minimum volume enclosing ellipsoids are also compared. We demonstrate the usefulness of the hyperellipsoid methods over the hypercuboid approach using the data provided by the biological processor model. In some cases, the ellipsoid approach is shown to reduce the number of required samplings by almost a magnitude

A Comparative Study of MSc Degree in Library and Information Science Curriculum in Selected Countries and Suggesting Up-to-date Courses with Medical Orientation

Introduction: The goal of this study was the comparative review of MSc syllabus in librarianship and information science in selected countries and presentation of an updated medical curriculum. Methods:  This applied research is of descriptive type reviewing the websites of universities using Delphi technique, which was conducted in two phases with checklist and questionnaire as data collection tools. In the first phase, the curricula of selected universities were collected. In the second phase, the summarized curricula were sent to faculty members of Department of Library and Information Science at MOHME in the form of a questionnaire in two rounds of Delphi. Results: The results indicated that 98% of the professors participating in Delphi agreed to update the curriculum. Moreover, majors such as advanced scientometrics, familiarity with evidence-based medicine and its databases, clinical librarianship, advanced health research methodology, and familiarity with the basic concepts of source finder, and crucial indicators in evaluating information resources were their recommended majors to be included in the suggested syllabus in addition to those extracted from universities’ websites, which were subject to survey by professors in the second round.  Conclusion: The findings of this research suggest that the views of professors participating in Delphi on curricula were largely aligned with those extracted from websites of the universities under study. Finally, the proposed syllabus was designed considering the review results of curricula and opinions of faculty members. The findings of this thesis can be a guide for curriculum planners at the Ministry of Health and Medical Education

3 MONT - System for Energy Saving in Building

One of the main goals of the European Union is to reduce energy consumption and to increase energy efficiency on buildings. More than 40 % of prime energy in EU is consumed in buildings. Because of that EU has introduced legislation to ensure that they consume less energy. The key part of this legislation is energy performance of buildings directive, EPBD. EPBD requires from all EU countries to enhance their building regulations and to introduce energy certification schemes for buildings. Just through windows and doors, which are part of the exterior wall of a building, we can lose more than 20 % of all energy for heating. In order to achieve better heat insulation, it is very important not just to replace old windows with new better-insulated ones, but also how we install them. According to new demands the junction between construction wall and window must be airtight, resistant to different types of weather and flexible because of the construction movement. Using only classical polyurethane foam for energy efficient installation of windows is not sufficient any more. Using 3MONT system for energy efficient installation of windows and exterior doors developed in TKK Srpenica we can achieve ten times better air tightness according to classical polyurethane foam. The whole system is fully elastic and resistant to heavy weather. It fulfills all new standards of energy efficient installation by demonstrating certificates of four recognized institutes

A SUSTAINABLE APPROACH TO IMPROVEMENT OF CORROSION PROTECTION COATINGS FOR STEEL STRUCTURES

            Corrosion is a primary factor compromising the safety and service life of steel structures. Corrosion protection coatings are generally employed for protection of the steel structures that are exposed to different aggressive environments. This research evaluated the use of biobased ion exchangers as a sustainable means of improving corrosion protection coatings. Two base polymer coatings (vinyl and coal-tar epoxy) were considered.  The following types and dosages of biobased ion exchangers were evaluated in these coatings: (i) strong-base ion exchange cellulose in OH, PO4, SiO3, BO3, NO2, SO4 and NO3 forms at 1% by weight of resin; (ii) weak-acid starch citrate ion exchanger in H form at 1 wt.%; and (iii) strong-base ion exchange cellulose in OH form at 2 wt.%. In addition, a strong-base ion exchange resin in OH form was considered at 1 and 2 wt.% as control.  Different coating formulations were evaluated based on the outcomes of salt-fog corrosion, moisture resistance, pull-off strength, and abrasion resistance tests. The introduction of certain biobased ion exchangers in protective coatings was found to be an effective means of achieving improved levels of corrosion resistance, adhesion capacity, moisture stability and abrasion resistance

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS AND POST-TRAUMATIC GROWTH IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Background: Post-traumatic growth (PTG) refers to the process of attributing meaning to traumatic events and positive changes in life after facing trauma. A number of studies have already demonstrated that demographic- and coping-approaches related variables predict PTG, yet little is known about whether PTG may be predicted by family processes such as flexibility, cohesion, communication and satisfaction. The main purpose of the study therefore was to determine whether family-related factors predict PTG above and beyond demographic variables and coping related processes. Subjects and methods: The study included 190 women, breast-cancer patients, aged 31 to 83 years. Their educational level was representative of the educational level in the population of this age range. The Participants were members of the Oncology Patients Society. Post traumatic growth index, FACES-IV - family relationships scale, coping response inventory, demographic, and illnessrelated questionnaires were administered after informed consent was obtained. The PTG index was used as an outcome measure. Results: Congruent with previous findings, analyses yielded weak correlations between demographic- and illness-related variables, and PTG. Also congruent with previous findings, approach related coping strategies were found to predict PTG, R squared =0.16, p<0.001. In addition to previous findings, family related factors predicted unique proportion of variance on PTG, p<0.05, with communication having positive and satisfaction negative load on PTG. Conclusions: Results showed that family related factors predicted PTG above and beyond coping-related strategies and demographics. Communication, however, seems to mediate the association between satisfaction and PTG. Theoretical concerns and practical implications are discussed

The Prevalence of Acute Kidney Injury in Neonates with Asphyxia

Introduction: Asphyxia is a common cause of mortality and morbidity among neonates. Following severe asphyxia and ischemia, reperfusion occurs which damages vital organs like the kidneys. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of AKI based on the definition of a serum creatinine level higher than 1.5 mg/dL, in neonates with asphyxia.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was performed in Ali-Asghar and Shahid-Akbar-Abadi Hospitals, Tehran, Iran in a period of one year. The medical documents of all newborns diagnosed with asphyxia were studied. The asphyxia grade was determined according to the asphyxia Sarnat criteria. The kidney function was evaluated based on the serum creatinine level.Results: Thirty-eight cases met the inclusion criteria. There were 13 Sarnat grade-1 cases (34.2%), 19 grade 2 cases (50%), and 6 grade 3 patients (17.6%).  Three (7.8%) patients (2 patients in grade 3 and one patient in grade 2 of the Sarnat grading scale) developed AKI. AKI was detected in 33% of the patients in grade 3 and 5.2% of the patients in grade 2 of the Sarnat grading scale. Nine patients (23%) died, of whom 83% were in grade 3 and 16.9% in grade 2 of asphyxia.Conclusions: AKI developed in 7.8% of the cases, of whom 33% were in grade 3 and 5.2% were in grade 2 of the Sarnat grading scale. The low rate of AKI development in our study might be duo to the small sample size and patient mortality in the first 3 days of life.Keywords: Acute kidney injury; Neonates; Asphyxia

Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase inhibitors in immunochemotherapy of breast cancer: challenges and opportunities

Trafficking of macromolecular immunotherapy agent into the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a challenging issue. In the TME, cancer cells exploit indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO), as a cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the L-tryptophan (Trp) through the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway, which could negatively regulate the activity of T cells. Thus, Trp/Kyn pathway, can be targeted with novel treatment modalities such as IDO1 inhibitor to benefit patients with aggressive solid tumors

The Effect of Collaborative Care Model-Based Intervention on Hope in Caregivers and Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Multiple Sclerosis can affect the patients’ and their families’ life. In this regard, the collaborative care model could be useful. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the collaborative care model on hope in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and their family caregivers. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in May to September 2015 on 60 patients with MS referring to the MS Society of Khuzestan province and 60 family caregivers. After block randomization, the intervention groups (patients and caregivers) received 8 intervention sessions based on collaborative care model over 12 weeks. The data were collected using Snyder’s adult hope scale and a demographic questionnaire at baseline and 12 weeks after the beginning of the intervention. Data analysis was conducted through SPSS, version 19, using frequency, mean, Chi-square, independent, paired t-tests and Fisher’s exact test (P˂0.05). Results: The results of independent t-test before the intervention showed no significant differences between the patients in the intervention (42.76±8.75) and control groups (43.13±7.20) (P=0.86) and caregivers in the intervention (50.26±5.79) and control groups (49.23±6.71) (P=0.52), regarding the score of hope. However, a significant difference was found in this regard 12 weeks after the beginning of the intervention, between the patients in the control (43.63±6.97) and intervention groups (47.96±8.72) (P=0.03), and caregivers in the control (50.66±5.79) and intervention groups (53.80±4.71) (P=0.02) Conclusion: The collaborative care model promoted hope in patients with MS and their family caregivers. Hence, this model can be used by healthcare personnel for promoting hope among patients and caregivers. Trial Registration Number: IRCT2015051121474N

Etična občutljivost študentov zdravstvene nege

Uvod: Etična občutljivost je pomemben dejavnik pri zagotavljanju kakovostne zdravstvene oskrbe. Namen raziskave je bil preučiti etično občutljivost študentov zdravstvene nege. Metode: Uporabljena je bila kvantitativna metodologija raziskovanja z metodo anketiranja. Anketiranje je potekalo na priložnostnem vzorcu 126 dodiplomskih študentov zdravstvene nege. Podatki so bili zbrani na podlagi prevedenega in prilagojenega »Vprašalnika za merjenje etične občutljivosti med študenti zdravstvene nege« (ang. Ethical Sensitivity Questionnaire for Nursing Students). Za statistično analizo so bile uporabljene naslednje metode: osnovna deskriptivna statistika ter neparametrični Mann-Whitneyjev U-test in Kruskal- Wallisov H-test. Rezultati: Rezultat notranje konsistentnosti za celoten vprašalnik je pokazal dobro stopnjo zanesljivosti (Cronbach α = 0,711). Anketirani študenti zdravstvene nege na dodiplomskem študiju so prikazali zmerno stopnjo etične občutljivosti (  = 33,50, s = 5,615). Rezultati so pokazali statistično značilne razlike v stopnji etične občutljivosti med rednimi študenti dodiplomskega študija zdravstvene nege in študenti izrednega študija (p = 0,025). Diskusija in zaključek: Ugotovljeno je bilo, da obstajajo možnosti za izboljšanje etične občutljivosti študentov zdravstvene nege. Na podlagi ugotovitev so potrebne nadaljnje raziskave o etični občutljivosti v povezavi z delovno otopelostjo v zdravstvenem sistemu. Smiselno bi bilo raziskati tudi dejavnike, ki vplivajo na etično občutljivost in primerjati etično občutljivost med študenti zdravstvene nege in zaposlenimi medicinskimi sestrami