A Data-Driven Approach to Full-Field Damage and Failure Pattern Prediction in Microstructure-Dependent Composites using Deep Learning

An image-based deep learning framework is developed in this paper to predict damage and failure in microstructure-dependent composite materials. The work is motivated by the complexity and computational cost of high-fidelity simulations of such materials. The proposed deep learning framework predicts the post-failure full-field stress distribution and crack pattern in two-dimensional representations of the composites based on the geometry of microstructures. The material of interest is selected to be a high-performance unidirectional carbon fiber-reinforced polymer composite. The deep learning framework contains two stacked fully-convolutional networks, namely, Generator 1 and Generator 2, trained sequentially. First, Generator 1 learns to translate the microstructural geometry to the full-field post-failure stress distribution. Then, Generator 2 learns to translate the output of Generator 1 to the failure pattern. A physics-informed loss function is also designed and incorporated to further improve the performance of the proposed framework and facilitate the validation process. In order to provide a sufficiently large data set for training and validating the deep learning framework, 4500 microstructural representations are synthetically generated and simulated in an efficient finite element framework. It is shown that the proposed deep learning approach can effectively predict the composites' post-failure full-field stress distribution and failure pattern, two of the most complex phenomena to simulate in computational solid mechanics

Effect of Activated Pozzolan with Ca(OH) 2 and nano-SiO2 on Microstructure and Hydration of High-Volume Natural Pozzolan Paste

The main aim of this study is to investigate the effect of activated pozzolan on hydration and microstructure of high-volume natural pozzolan paste. Thermal activation of natural pozzolan with Ca(OH)2 has been applied with nano-silica (NS) as activator at three different temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), laser particle analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive spectroscopy were employed. In order to analyze the test results, notions of “pre C-S-H” based on XRD and TGA results of activated pozzolan powders has been used. SEM images indicated microstructural improvements of the pastes with activated pozzolans compared to paste with natural pozzolan and natural pozzolan incorporating NS, showing the pore-filling effect of activated pozzolans. The microstructural improvements were proportion to the amount of pre C-S-H formed during the activation of pozzolan

Patient-centered endodontic outcomes: a narrative review.

IntroductionRoot canal treatment (RCT) success criteria inform us of the path to bony healing and of prognostic factors, but tell little about how the patient perceives, feels, or values RCT. Patients choose, undergo, and pay for RCT, they live with the result, and inform their community. The purpose of this narrative review was to appraise patient-centered outcomes of initial non-surgical RCT and nonsurgical retreatment, in adults.Materials and methodsPatient-centered RCT outcome themes were identified in the extant literature: quality of life, satisfaction, anxiety, fear, pain, tooth survival and cost. Narrative review was applied because the disparate themes and data were unsuited to systematic review or meta-analysis.ResultsApplication of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) demonstrated that disease of pulpal origin affects quality of life with moderate severity, primarily through physical pain and psychological discomfort, and that RCT results in broad improvement of quality of life. Satisfaction with RCT is extremely high, but cost is the primary reason for dissatisfaction. Anxiety and fear affect RCT patients, profoundly influencing their behaviors, including treatment avoidance, and their pain experience. Fear of pain is "fair" to "very much" prior to RCT. Pain is widely feared, disliked, and remembered; however, disease of pulpal origin generally produces moderate, but not severe pain. RCT causes a dramatic decrease in pain prevalence and severity over the week following treatment. Survival rates of teeth after RCT are very high; complication rates are low. Cost is a barrier to RCT, but initial costs, lifetime costs, cost effectiveness, cost utility, and cost benefit all compare extremely well to the alternatives involving replacement using implants or fixed prostheses.ConclusionDentists must strive to reduce anxiety, fear, experienced and remembered pain, and to accurately inform and educate their patients with respect to technical, practical and psychosocial aspects of RCT

Digital and Dental Malformation and Short Stature in a Patient with Neurological Problems: A Variant of the Oculodentodigital Dysplasia Syndrome or a New Syndrome?

How to cite this article: Shakiba M, Nejad Biglari H, Alaee MR. Digital and Dental Malformation and Short Stature in a Patient with Neurological Problems: A Variant of the Oculodentodigital Dysplasia Syndrome or a New Syndrome?Iran J Child Neurol Autumn 2012; 6(4): 51-54.  Abstract Several syndromes have been recognized with digital abnormality and CNS involvement such as oculodentodigital dysplasia (ODDD), Mohr syndrome and Joubert syndrome. We report a patient who was referred to us because of the neurological signs suspicious of metabolic disorders. This case was a 22-year-old woman whose problems began 4 years ago with shortening of memory, ataxia, abnormal gait and diplopia which progressed slowly. She consulted many neurologists and was on treatment with the suspicion of vasculitis, but no response was detected. She had severe short stature, hypoplasia of the middle and distal phalanges of the first, second and third fingers, clinodactyly, abnormal toes, abnormal enamel and missing teeth. She had no characteristic faces of ODDD and ophthalmological abnormality. Our patient might be a variant of ODDD or a new syndrome with somatic and neurologic signs.References: Lohmann W, Beitrag zur Kenntnis des reinen Mikrophthalmus. Arch Augenheilkunde.1920;86:136-41.Berliner ML. Unilateral microphthalmia with congenital anterior synechiae and syndactyly. Arch Ophthalm. 1941;26:653-60.Bauer KH. Homoio transplantation von Epidermis bei eineiigen Zwillingen. Beitr Klin Chir. 1927;141:442-7.Pitter J, Svejda J. [The effect of x-rays as a cause of fetal misdevelopment]. Ophthalmologica. 1952 Jun;123(6):386-93.Judisch GF, Martin-Casals A, Hanson JW, Olin WH. Oculodentodigital dysplasia. Four new reports and a literature review. Arch Ophthalmol. 1979 May;97(5):878-84.Reardon W, Harbord MG, Hall-Craggs MA, Kendall B, Brett EM, Baraitser M. Central nervous system malformation in Mohr´s syndrome. J Med Genet. 1989 Oct;26(10):659-63.Ciliz D, Czturk S,Sakman B. Joubert syndrome case presentation. J Neurol Scie. (Turkish) 2010;27:214-8.Loddenkemper T, Grote K, Evers S, Oelerich M, Stogbauer F. Neurological manifestations of the oculodentodigital dysplasia syndrome. J Neurol. 2002 May;249(5):584-95.Aminabadi NA, Pourkazemi M, Oskouei SG, Jamali Z. Dental management of oculodentodigital dysplasia:a case report. J Oral Sci. 2010 Jun;52(2):337-42.

Antioxidant enzyme changes in response to osmotic stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedling

In order to evaluate the effects of osmotic stress on behavioral responses of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), a factorial experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions with three groups of wheat genotypes (tolerant, intermediate and susceptible) and three osmotic stress levels induced by PEG (control, mild and severe). Electrophoretic analyses were performed for three antioxidant enzymes SOD, POX and CAT in shoots of wheat seedlings using 7.5% slab polyacrylamide gels. The activities of GR and APX were determined spectrophotometrically. For SOD, POX and CAT, two, seven and one isozymes were observed, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that osmotic stress has a significant effect on enzymatic activities in wheat seedlings. POX, CAT, GR and APXactivities were increased significantly in the severe stress compared with control condition about 31, 61, 129 and 149 percent, respectively. Whereas, SOD activity increased significantly by 41% in the mild stress compared with control treatment. The highest enzymatic activity was belonged to tolerant group under severe stress conditions for almost all of isozymes and enzymes. Among the antioxidant enzymes, APX activity was increased most drastically in severe stress condition. The extent of damage to the wheat seedlings seems to depend on genotype and severity of osmotic stress

Impact assessment of climate change in Iran using LARS-WG model

Iran is situated in a very diverse environmental area. The climate of the region is varied and influenced by different patterns. In order to best describe the expected climate change impacts for the region, climate change scenarios and climate variables must be developed on a regional, or even site-specific, scale. The weather generator is one of the valid downscaling methods. In the current study, LARS- WG (a weather generator) and the outputs from ECHO-G for present climate, as well as future time slice of 2010-2039 based on A1 scenario, were used to evaluate LARS-WG as a tool at 13 synoptic stations located in the north and northeast parts of Iran. The results obtained in this study illustrate that LARS-WG has a reasonable capability of simulating the minimum and maximum temperatures and precipitation. In addition, the results showed that the mean precipitation decreased in Semnan, the south of Khorasan and Golestan. Meanwhile, the mean temperature during 2010-2039 would increase by 0.5°C, especially in the cold season

Molnupiravir; an effective drug in treating COVID-19?

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Experimental Study on RC Deep Beams with Non-Prestressed Tendons as Main Reinforcement

In the present study, The main purpose is to focus on the applicability of using non-prestressed tendons as the main reinforcement in concrete beams. Therefore, the main reason for the analytical study is to develop a model that can predict the flexural behavior of RC beams with ordinary reinforcements and/or with non-prestressed tendons (cables). An experimental program, as well as a computational program, was designed to see the behavior of such concrete reinforced beams. To do so, 9 beam models of one concrete mix were cast. The beams were cast in accordance with ACI recommendations and all tests were conducted under the same condition. The beams tested include two types of beams with ordinary steel rebar and with cables (tendons). The beams studied in this research are classified as deep beams (L/h<4); so the effect of shear deformations was considered. In addition, test results were compared with the predicted theoretical values. The theoretical model was able to predict the experimental load-deflection curves almost accurately. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the same concepts of the normal reinforced concrete beams can be applied for reinforced concrete beams using tendons as main reinforcement for both stiffness and strength calculations. Also, the same methodology used in concrete beams with steel rebar is applicable to the ones with non-prestressed tendons. The results showed that using the nominal flexural strength equations of regular reinforced concrete beams can accurately predict the strength of the beams with cables

Patient-Centered Endodontic Outcomes: A Narrative Review

Introduction: Root canal treatment (RCT) success criteria inform us of the path to bony healing and of prognostic factors, but tell little about how the patient perceives, feels, or values RCT. Patients choose, undergo, and pay for RCT, they live with the result, and inform their community. The purpose of this narrative review was to appraise patient-centered outcomes of initial non-surgical RCT and nonsurgical retreatment, in adults. Materials and Methods: Patient-centered RCT outcome themes were identified in the extant literature: quality of life, satisfaction, anxiety, fear, pain, tooth survival and cost. Narrative review was applied because the disparate themes and data were unsuited to systematic review or meta-analysis. Results: Application of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) demonstrated that disease of pulpal origin affects quality of life with moderate severity, primarily through physical pain and psychological discomfort, and that RCT results in broad improvement of quality of life. Satisfaction with RCT is extremely high, but cost is the primary reason for dissatisfaction. Anxiety and fear affect RCT patients, profoundly influencing their behaviors, including treatment avoidance, and their pain experience. Fear of pain is “fair” to “very much” prior to RCT. Pain is widely feared, disliked, and remembered; however, disease of pulpal origin generally produces moderate, but not severe pain. RCT causes a dramatic decrease in pain prevalence and severity over the week following treatment. Survival rates of teeth after RCT are very high; complication rates are low. Cost is a barrier to RCT, but initial costs, lifetime costs, cost effectiveness, cost utility, and cost benefit all compare extremely well to the alternatives involving replacement using implants or fixed prostheses. Conclusion: Dentists must strive to reduce anxiety, fear, experienced and remembered pain, and to accurately inform and educate their patients with respect to technical, practical and psychosocial aspects of RCT