Using the Fuzzy Grey Relational Analysis Method in Wastewater Treatment Process Selection

Due to the variety of treatment processes, the decision to choose the best treatment process is difficult. This paper describes a fuzzy grey relational analysis (GRA) method for selection of the optimal wastewater treatment process. The rating of all alternatives and the weight of each criterion is described by linguistic variables, which can be expressed in triangular fuzzy numbers. Then, a vertex method is used to calculate the distance between two triangular fuzzy numbers. According to the concept of the GRA, a fuzzy relative relational degree is defined to determine the ranking order of all alternatives by calculating the degree of fuzzy grey relational coefficient to both the fuzzy positive ideal solution (FPIS) and fuzzy negative ideal solution (FNIS) simultaneously. Furthermore, a case study is carried out and solved by both methods (i.e., GRA and fuzzy GRA) to show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. In the case study, five anaerobic wastewater treatment alternatives are evaluated and compared against technical, economic, environmental and administrative criteria and their sub-criteria. Finally, the related results of ranking alternatives from two methods are compared with each other's. By using both Fuzzy GRA and GRA, ABR process has been selected as the first priority and the best anaerobic process. The frequency count assessment of the Iran's industrial parks' WWTPs which have used this method and their performance, proved the priority of this method

Obesity paradox versus frailty syndrome in first-ever ischemic stroke survivors

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Hepatitis C Seroprevalence and Risk Factors in Adult Population of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province of Iran in 2013.

INTRODUCTION Hepatitis C is the second leading viral infectious disease worldwide. In Iran, hepatitis C is the most important and prevalent reason for chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis in the multi transfused population. AIM This study was conducted to determine seroprevalence and burden of hepatitis C in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province and to plan for controlling it. MATERIALS AND METHODS For this analytical, population-based study, 3000 samples were older than 15 years old and were enrolled from urban and rural areas of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, southwest Iran per cluster sampling. Written informed consent was obtained from the participants and the demographic data, transmission route and risk factors were collected after blood sample taking. Hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab) and western blotting were consecutively run. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Data analysis was done by SPSS 19 using descriptive statistics, and chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression Ap value of 0.05 was considered as the level of significance. RESULTS The prevalence of HCV Ab was obtained 1.4% (95% CI, 0.95-1.7) and that of positive hepatitis C by western blotting 0.9% (95% CI, 0.65-1.3). The prevalence in men (1.2%) was obtained two times higher than women. The highest prevalence was obtained in 35 to 44-year-old population (2%). The prevalence was higher in married individuals and less in higher educated. History of hospital stay, first degree relatives infected with HCV, jaundice, history of blood transfusion, tattoo, outpatient surgery, imprisonment, contact with the infected, intravenous (IV) drug abuse, and smoking had significant association with disease prevalence (p<0.05). The highest odds ratio was obtained for history of IV drug abuse (OR=38.2, 95% CI, 14.06-103.9) followed by imprisonment (OR=8.9, 95% CI, 2.97-26.6). However, by logistic regression only history of IV drug abuse was obtained as significant (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Hepatitis C is growing and emerging as the most prevalent chronic, viral hepatic disease, so further consideration of risk factors and routes of transmission is crucial for appropriate planning for, and preventing, treating, and controlling hepatitis C. IV drug abusers as the most important group need special consideration and surveillance in order to cut infection chain and decrease the disease incidence

Frequency and severity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and efficacy of mental health intervention in children and young adults from a rural region in Chaharmahal and Bakhtyari Province, Safilan

چکیده: زمینه و هدف: بلایا و حوادث همه ساله منجر به ایجاد معلولیت، صدمات مالی و مرگ در بسیاری از افراد می گردد. تلفات انسانی پس از حوادث غیر مترقبه منجر به ایجاد آثار روانی مانند استرس، اضطراب و شکایات جسمی می گردد. اختلال فشار روانی آسیب زاد یا اختلال پس از ضربه (PTSD) از جمله این آثار است که در پی مواجهه با فشار آسیب زای شدید ایجاد می گردد. از جمله حوادث تأسف بار در ایران می توان به واقعه آتش سوزی مدرسه ابتدایی روستای سفیلان از توابع استان چهارمحال و بختیاری اشاره نمود. پژوهش اخیر با هدف بررسی فراوانی و شدت عوارض روانی ناشی از حادثه در کودکان و نوجوانان روستا و تأثیر مداخلات روانی در آنان انجام گرفت. روش بررسی: در یک مطالعه نیمه تجربی کلیه کودکان 15-5 ساله روستای سفیلان (41 نفر) که در هنگام حادثه در روستای سفیلان حضور داشتند انتخاب شدند. از طریق مصاحبه چهره به چهره با والدین کودکان پرسشنامه اطفال یول (Yoll) بلافاصله بعد از واقعه آتش سوزی تکمیل و سپس مداخلات بهداشت روان شامل تشکیل گروههای کاری، بازگویی روانشناختی، شناخت افکار اجتماعی و راهکارهای درمانی به مدت دو هفته و طی 4 جلسه صورت پذیرفت. مجدداً پنج ماه بعد از حادثه و مداخله بهداشت و روان پرسشنامه مذکور تکمیل و داده ها از طریق آزمون های آماری t زوجی، t مستقل و آنالیز واریانس یک طرفه تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: در سنجش نوبت اول میانگین نمره PTSD 03/15±14/61 و در نوبت دوم 6/9±19/48 بود (001/0

Use of Hypertonic Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration to Control Intracranial Hypertension in an End-Stage Renal Disease Patient

Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) using solutions designed to maintain hypernatremia is described in an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patient with cerebral edema (CE) due to an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Hypernatremia was readily achieved and maintained without complication. CVVHDF should be considered as an alternative treatment option in ESRD patients with cerebral edema who require hypertonic saline therapy

The Protective Role of Zinc Sulfate in Temporary Noise-induced Threshold Shift: a Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Background: Exposure to excessive sound leads to hearing loss. Temporary threshold shifts are defined as threshold shifts that return to baseline levels in the hours to weeks after excessive sound exposure. Aim: This study aimed to examine the zinc sulfate protective effect following noise exposure. Methods: Fifty-two participants with normal audiograms at baseline were randomly assigned to control and intervention groups. First, a distortion product otoacoustic emission test (DPOAEs) was carried out as the baseline assessment, then the intervention group received zinc sulfate supplement capsules for one month and placebo capsules were given to controls. To induce a transient hearing shift, an ABR test was performed. The ABR test was done with 90 dB of sound stimuli for each ear. This input stimulus was a noise exposure that induces a temporary reduction in hearing, in fact, a transient hearing shift has occurred. Then, both groups had a DPOAE test and a follow-up assessment. Signal/noise ratio and DP (distortion product) levels were measured to evaluate the effect of zinc supplement use on transient hearing shift. Results: Comparing the results of the distortion product otoacoustic emission test before and after the auditory brainstem response testing showed significant differences between intervention and control groups (p&nbsp;&lt;0.05). Moreover, the differences in signal/noise ratio between the intervention group before and after ABR testing and also in the control group were significant (p&nbsp;&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Daily zinc sulfate supplement might protect against the transient hearing shift

Investigation on chemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties of essential oil from Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss

Background: Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss is a herb with wide-spread applications. Lorestan traditional healers have applied it for the treatment of rheumatoid diseases and stomach disorders.Materials and methods: Hydrodistillation process was used for essential oil extraction, the extracted essential oil was then analyzed through combination of capillary GC–FID, GC–MS and RI. The in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of this essential oil were examined. Results indicate that the essential oil has a broad range of antimicrobial activity against all of the tested microorganisms.Results: The 50% of cytotoxic concentrations was 26.4 μg/ml and 4266.7 μg/ml for Hela cells and human lymphocytes, respectively. The oil cytotoxicity against the human tumor cell line was far higher than the amount required for human healthy cells. Conversely, the essential oil’s IC50 value of 49.2 μg/ml in the DPPH assay, could be regarded as its strong antioxidant potential.Conclusion: According to the data obtained, it can be concluded that D. kotschyi essential oil could be applied as a safe antibacterial and antioxidant agent for food and pharmaceutical purposes.Keywords: Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Dracocephalum kotschyi Boiss, Cytotoxicity, Essential oi

The role of people systems in lean production in enhancing performance perceptions and work-related attitudes

The purpose of this research is to study which people systems of lean production can have an influence on performance, the perceptions of department performance, and work-related attitudes. A model was developed suggesting that people systems will predict department performance, perception of department performance, and work-related attitudes. Two manufacturing facilities from the automotive industry participated in the study. A total of 100 employees provided survey data. The responses to this survey were used as a measure of people systems of lean production. A total of 40 supervisors provided survey data regarding perceived department effectiveness attributable to the implementation of lean production. Department performance measures included the number of employees to make at least one suggestion for the 2012 calendar year by department and shift as suggestion participation rate. The results of this study suggest that people systems predict work-related attitudes and influence perceptions of department performance by employees. Specifically, people systems were significantly related to commitment to lean strategy, job satisfaction, learning environment, and team efficacy. The people systems composite was significantly related to employee perceptions of department performance, but not people systems lean training. In contrast, the reverse relationship was shown for management perception of department performance