PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF A TUNNEL STRUCTURE EXPOSED TO FIRE

Behaviour of cut-and-cover tunnels exposed to fire should be analysed by using a realistic structural model that takes account of mechanical and thermal effects on the structure. This has been performed with the aid of Finite Element (FE) software package called SOFiSTiK in parallel, for two types of elements as a scope of research project financed by the German Bundesanstalt für Straßenwesen BAST. Since the stiffness of the structure at elevated temperatures is highly affected, a realistic model of structural behaviour of the tunnel could be only achieved by considering the nonlinear analysis of the structure. This has been performed for a 2–cell cut and cover tunnel by taking account of simultaneous reduction of stiffness and strength and the time-dependent increasing indirect effects due to axial constraints and temperature gradients induced by elevated temperatures. The thermal analyses have been performed and the effects were implemented into the structural model by the multi-layered strain model. The stress–strain model proposed by EN 1992-1-2 is implemented for the elevated temperature. Since there was sufficient amount of Polypropylene fibres in the concrete mixtures, modelling of spalling was excluded from the analysis. The critical corresponding stresses and material behaviour are compared and interpreted at different time stages. The main parameters affecting the accuracy and convergence of the results of structural analysis for the used model are identified: defining a realistic fire action, using concrete material model fulfilling the requirements of fire situation in tunnels, defining appropriate time intervals for load implementations. These parameters along with other parameters, which influence the results to a lesser degree, are identified and investigated in this paper

Nonlinear structural analysis of a 2D cut-and-cover tunnel exposed to fire

Behaviour of cut-and-cover tunnels exposed to fire should be analysed by using a realistic model which takes account ofsimultaneous mechanical and thermal effects acting on the structure.  This has been performed by 2D structural modelsfor a 2-cell tunnel with the aid of FE software package called SOFiSTiK (SOFiSTiK, 2014), in parallel, for two types of elements, beam and plate elements, as a scope of research project financed by BAST. The two considered models were levelled in terms of boundary conditions and the possible mechanical behaviour as well as mesh generation aspects.A nonlinearthermo-mechanical analysis has been performed considering pre-damaged effects on the cross sectionsby taking into account 10 and 15-minute time intervals for a whole duration of 90 minutes. The results of both models are in an acceptable agreement with each other,but they deviate from the simplified, linear-elastic calculation method considering a constant temperature gradient,DTM = 50 K,proposed by ZTV-ING Part 5 (BASt, 2013).To improve this method, a linear interpolation of different DTM-values with respect to the thickness of theconcrete member has been introduced

Efficacy of Topical Liposomal Amphotericin B versus Intralesional Meglumine Antimoniate (Glucantime) in the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background. Topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis is an attractive alternative avoiding toxicities of parenteral therapy while being administered through a simple painless route. Recently liposomal formulations of amphotericin B have been increasingly used in the treatment of several types of leishmaniasis. Aims. The efficacy of a topical liposomal amphotericin B formulation was compared with intralesional glucantime in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods. From 110 patients, the randomly selected 50 received a topical liposomal formulation of amphotericin B into each lesion, 3–7 drops twice daily, according to the lesion's size and for 8 weeks. The other group of 60 patients received intralesional glucantime injection of 1-2 mL once a week for the same period. The clinical responses and side effects of both groups were evaluated weekly during the treatment course. Results. Per-protocol analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.317, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.610 (0.632–4.101)). Moreover, after intention-to-treat analysis, the same results were seen (P = 0.650, 95% CI = 0.1.91 (0.560–2.530)). Serious post treatment side effects were not observed in either group. Conclusions. Topical liposomal amphotericin B has the same efficacy as intralesional glucantime in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis

Optimization of the electrocoagulation process for sulfate removal using response surface methodology

Sulfate concentrations affected on the natural sulfur cycle in the anaerobic treatment, therefore pretreatment of wastewater containing sulfate must be considered. In this work electrocoagulation techniques have considered as an effective and environmentally friendly process for desulfurization from wastewater. Three factors including initial pH, initial sulfate concentration and current density were selected as the effective factors and were optimized using response surface methodology. An initial pH of 8, initial sulfate concentration of80mg/l and current density of12mA/cm(2)were determined to be optimum values by the statistical models. The maximum sulfate removal and minimum sludge generation under optimal conditions were 68.5% and 0.075g, respectively. The kinetics of sulfate removal study investigated the pseudo-first models were better described experimental data and was selected as overall kinetic removal of sulfate

Cytotoxicity and Phototoxicity of Chlorophyll a/Hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin Complex on Leishmania Major Promastigotes

Introduction: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a widespread disease that is epidemic in Iran, too. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an attractive modality to treat cancer and hyper proliferative diseases based on the use of a photosensitizer in the presence of oxygen and proper wavelength of light. In consideration of lesion location, lack of systemic involvement and inefficiency of current treatments, nowadays this modality is purposed for treating Leishmaniasis. In this paper, efficacy of PDT using a natural dye (chlorophyll a) on Leishmania major promastigotes is reported. Material and Methods: The experiments was done on Leishmania major parasites (MRHO/IR/75/ER) in the presence of Chlorophyll a /Hydroxypropyl-γ-cyclodextrin(chl a/CD) complex as a photosensitizer. At first, dye uptake by promastigotes was evaluated via fluorimetric assessments after different incubation periods. Then dye cytotoxicity was evaluated at different concentration after 24 h incubation. Finally PDT experiments were designed with two doses of light and 10 µM of photosensitizer. Considering all possible controls, the percentage of the parasite survival at 24 hours post treatment was assessed by MTS method. All experiments were repeated at least three times. Results: On the basis of the dye uptake data, 24h was considered for incubating of photosensitizer with promastigotes. IC50 of chl a/CD complex was about 42.6 µM. After parasites irradiation by light at 248 j/cm2, more than 50% of cell death was recorded that is significant in comparing with similar groups without dye, without light, and lower dose of light. In these conditions, ED50 of PDT on promastigotes is determined nearly 246 J/cm2. Discussion and Conclusion: Considering low cytotoxicity in darkness and adequate phototoxicity of chl a/CD complex in comparison with other photosensitizers such as AlPhtalocyanine chloride, it can be introduced as a promising candidate for futher use in PDT experiments on amastigotes and Leishmaniasis animal models

Review of Medical Records Documentation in Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward (Data Quantitative Analysis on Obstetrics and Gynecology Ward)

Background and aim : Nursing process is a deliberate problem solving approach for meeting people's healthcare needs .Using nursing process helps to improve the quality of patient care. The aim of this study was todetermine the effect of nursing process implementation on quality of nursing care of patients hospitalized insurgical wards at Shahid Beheshty hospital in Yasuj city in 2012.Method and Material: This was a quasi- experimental study with befor-after design. The sample of theconsisted of 48 nurses working in surgical wards of teaching hospitals affiliated to Yasoj Medical University.The samples were selected by using purposive sampling. The nursing care quality was evaluated by using thequality patient care scale (Qual PacS) checklist, that its validity were determined by face and content validityand its reliability was determined by using inter-observer (ICC=0.86) . Initially the nursing care quality wasevaluated. Nurses participated in an educational program on nursing process and its implementation. Afterone month the quality of nursing care was assessed again. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software andusing paired t-test.Results: This study showed a significant difference between the quality of nursing care in meetingpsychosocial needs (p=0.031) communication needs (p=0.012), physical aspects of care (p=0.047) and theoverall quality of nursing care (p=0.001) before and after implementation of nursing process.Conclusions: The results of this study showed that nursing process implementation can improve the qualityof nursing care of patients in surgical wards.Keywords: Quality of nursing care, Nursing care, Nursing process

Clinical Study Efficacy of Topical Liposomal Amphotericin B versus Intralesional Meglumine Antimoniate (Glucantime) in the Treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background. Topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis is an attractive alternative avoiding toxicities of parenteral therapy while being administered through a simple painless route. Recently liposomal formulations of amphotericin B have been increasingly used in the treatment of several types of leishmaniasis. Aims. The efficacy of a topical liposomal amphotericin B formulation was compared with intralesional glucantime in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods. From 110 patients, the randomly selected 50 received a topical liposomal formulation of amphotericin B into each lesion, 3-7 drops twice daily, according to the lesion's size and for 8 weeks. The other group of 60 patients received intralesional glucantime injection of 1-2 mL once a week for the same period. The clinical responses and side effects of both groups were evaluated weekly during the treatment course. Results. Per-protocol analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.317, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.610 (0.632-4.101)). Moreover, after intention-to-treat analysis, the same results were seen (P = 0.650, 95% CI = 0.1.91 (0.560-2.530)). Serious post treatment side effects were not observed in either group. Conclusions. Topical liposomal amphotericin B has the same efficacy as intralesional glucantime in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis