Evaluating strategies for implementing industry 4.0: a hybrid expert oriented approach of B.W.M. and interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy T.O.D.I.M.

open access articleDeveloping and accepting industry 4.0 influences the industry structure and customer willingness. To a successful transition to industry 4.0, implementation strategies should be selected with a systematic and comprehensive view to responding to the changes flexibly. This research aims to identify and prioritise the strategies for implementing industry 4.0. For this purpose, at first, evaluation attributes of strategies and also strategies to put industry 4.0 in practice are recognised. Then, the attributes are weighted to the experts’ opinion by using the Best Worst Method (BWM). Subsequently, the strategies for implementing industry 4.0 in Fara-Sanat Company, as a case study, have been ranked based on the Interval Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy (IVIF) of the TODIM method. The results indicated that the attributes of ‘Technology’, ‘Quality’, and ‘Operation’ have respectively the highest importance. Furthermore, the strategies for “new business models development’, ‘Improving information systems’ and ‘Human resource management’ received a higher rank. Eventually, some research and executive recommendations are provided. Having strategies for implementing industry 4.0 is a very important solution. Accordingly, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods are a useful tool for adopting and selecting appropriate strategies. In this research, a novel and hybrid combination of BWM-TODIM is presented under IVIF information

Established and Future Promising Fertility Preservation Options in Adolescence and Adults

Over the past decades, due to a high number of cancer survivors, the demands for fertility preservation have been raised dramatically, and this might come from recent progress in the cancer prognosis and diagnosis procedures. For those who are involved in cancer diseases, there are multiple options regarding their fertility preservation which can be selected based on patient’s age, the risk of gonadal involvement, the time available and the type of cancer with different advantages and disadvantages. Among all possible options, embryo cryopreservation for females and semen freezing for males are the most applicable method, however other options such as gonadal tissue cryopreservation, and oocyte cryopreservation are other promising options which would be considered if the partner was not available. As conclusion, this is noteworthy that women with cancer must benefit from adequate consultations regarding their possible fertility preservation options and immediate correct consultations definitely can help families to make their mind to choose best available options

The study of potential evapotranspiration in future periods due to climate change in west of Iran

Purpose – This study aims to present the climate change effect on potential evapotranspiration (ETP) in future periods. Design/methodology/approach – Daily minimum and maximum temperature, solar radiation and precipitation weather parameters have been downscaled by global circulation model (GCM) and Lars-WG outputs. Weather data have been estimated according to the Had-CM3 GCM and by A1B, A2 and B1 scenarios in three periods: 2011-2030, 2045-2046 and 2080-2099. To select the more suitable method for ETP estimation, the Hargreaves-Samani (H-S) method and the Priestly–Taylor (P-T) method have been compared with the Penman-Monteith (P-M) method. Regarding the fact that the H-S method has been in better accordance with the P-M method, ETP in future periods has been estimated by this method for different scenarios. Findings – In all five stations, in all three scenarios and in all three periods, ETP will increase. The highest ETP increase will occur in the A1B scenario and then in the A1 scenario. The lowest increase will occur in the B1 scenario. In the 2020 decade, the highest ETP increase in three scenarios will occur in Khorramabad and then Hamedan. Kermanshah, Sanandaj and Ilam stations come at third to fifth place, respectively, with a close increase in amount. In the 2050 decade, ETP increase percentages in all scenarios are close to each other in all the five stations. In the 2080 decade, ETP increase percentages in all scenarios will be close to each other in four stations, namely, Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Khorramabad and Hamedan, and Ilam station will have a higher increase compared with the other four stations. Originality/value – Meanwhile, the highest ETP increase will occur in hot months of the year, which are significant with regard to irrigation and water resources

Fabrication of functionally graded Ni-Al2O3 nanocomposite coating and evaluation of its properties

In this study, functionally graded Ni-Al2O3 composite coating (FGN-A) has been produced from nickel Watt’s bath containing different concentrations of Al2O3 particles. For this, different composite coatings were electroplated in the same bath with different particles concentration to find the optimum concentration of particles in which the maximum content with uniform distribution of Al2O3 particles in the coating can be achieved. So, Al2O3 concentration was continuously increased in the electroplating bath. The composite coatings were characterized by SEM and EDS. Structure and phase composition were identified by XRD analysis. Microhardness of the coatings was evaluated employing Vickers Instrument. Three-point bend test was carried out to compare the adhesion strength of the coatings and dry sliding wear tests were performed using a pin-on-disk wear apparatus. Study on the resulting sample shows that FGN-A by Al2O3 gradient distribution in cross-section is coated successfully. By increasing Al2O3 particles content in Ni matrix, microhardness grows from interface toward the surface of the coating. The result of bending test show that the functionally graded composite coating shows excellent adhesion to substrate compared with the uniformly distributed Ni-Al2O3 (UN-A) on the same substrate. This has been attributed to lower mechanical mismatch between coating and substrate in functionally graded composite coating compared with uniformly distributed one. The results of wear resistance measurements test revealed that wear resistances of functionally graded Ni-Al2O3 is higher than that of ordinary distributed composite coating

The Comparative Efficacy of Tea Tree Oil Body Wash versus Chlorhex-idine Body Wash to Prevent Colonization with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in a Pediatric Unit

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a type of bacteria that is resistant to several antibiotics. Non-intact skin, such as when there are abrasions or incisions, is often the site of an MRSA infection. MRSA has become endemic in hospitals over the past years. The current recommendation for MRSA decolonization is to use a daily chlorohexidine skin wash for five days. Tea Tree Oil (TTO) can also be considered for the eradication of MRSA on the skin. However, no study has evaluated the TTO potential for MRSA decolonization in hospitalized children. Methods:In this single-center, comparative prospective, open-label clinical trial, the effect of TTO body wash on MRSA decolonization was compared to that of chlorhexidine body wash at Loghman-e-Hakim Hospital (Tehran, Iran). Several samples were taken from the catheter sites of children for MRSA detection. Patients were assigned to receive either TTO or chlorhexidine. After five days of applying the solutions, resampling was conducted to assess the colonization of MRSA. Results: Both TTO and chlorhexidine groups showed favorable results for MRSA decolonization. From 382 patients, 91 were MRSA-positive (about 23.82%), and of these 91 patients, 41 (45%) were female and 59 (55%) were male. The mean ± SD of the growth inhibition zone against MRSA was 19.20 ± 3.73 and 33.41 ± 9.53 for chlorhexidine and TTO, respectively. Conclusion: TTO body wash proved to be more effective than chlorhexidine in MRSA decolonization in hospitalized children. Implementation of such decolonization can improve patients’ outcomes and prevent MRSA transmission

Restless leg syndrome severity in young women is associated with neuropsychological performance and menstrual disorders

Background & aim: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a frequent sensory dyskinesia disorder of the nervous system and a cause of disability in several aspects. We aimed to explore the relationship between RLS and mood complications, menstrual patterns and associated symptoms among young women. Methods: This cross-sectional survey undertaken on 118 female university students in Birjand, Iran in 2020 using a multistage cluster sampling method. The degree of RLS was judged using the International RLS Severity Scale. The severity of PMS was characterized via the Premenstrual Syndrome Screening Tool (PSST). Neuropsychological performance was evaluated by standard questionnaires. Results: Of the 118 young women, 29.7%, 32.2%, 27.9% and 10.2% of the participants were not affected by RLS, or had, mild, moderate, or severe types of RLS, respectively. The subjects with RLS had significantly lower duration of their menstruation cycle, and higher PSST scores, compared to those without it. Subjects with different severities of RLS scored higher for severity of depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia and sleepiness than normal women (p<0.01). RLS score was a significant factor related to the scores for: cognitive abilities (β=-0.33; P=0.022), depression (β=0.32; P=0.001), anxiety (β=0.24; P=0.003), stress (β=0.44; P<0.001), quality of life (β=-0.23; P<0.001), insomnia (β=0.21; P=0.001), sleepiness (β=0.15; P=0.014) and PSST (β=0.28; P=0.019). Conclusions: In the absence of health management, RLS potentially associated to depression, anxiety, sleep disruption, cognitive impairment, decreased quality of life and menstrual problem. Future intervention studies is required for support these results

Antimicrobial Features of Cerastoderma and Didacna Double Basins Peptides

Background: In recent years, high attention has been given to the biological activities of natural compounds and their potential antimicrobial properties. Objective: In this study, the antibacterial properties of the extracts from tissue and peptides of Cerastoderma and Didacna were studied. Materials and Methods: samples of Cerastoderma and Didacna were collected and washed. Then, the soft tissues were cut and powdered, and concentrations of 16, 8, 4, 2, 1 and 0.5 of chloroform, ethanol and methanol, and in addition extract of enzymatic hydrolysis were prepared, and their antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella paratyphi were investigated. The disc diffusion method was used for the evaluation of strains susceptibility. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were investigated for bacterial growth inhibition. Results: Methanolic and ethanolic extracts from Cerastoderma demonstrated higher growth inhibitory effects compared to those from Didacna on E. coli and S. paratyphi and exhibited similar activities against S. aureus at concentrations 16 and 8 ug/mL. In addition, chloroform extracts of Cerastoderma and Didacna displayed similar inhibitory effects on S. paratyphi and S. aureus at concentrations 16 and 8 ug/mL which was a suitable effect, and the extract from Cerastoderma was more effective. MIC and MBC of methanolic extracts were at the lowest level, especially against S. aureus. Conclusion: It was revealed that Cerastoderma and Didacna extracts were effective as antibacterial compounds on S. aureus, E. coli and S. paratyphi species as natural agents