Effect of Probiotics on Infantile Colic Using the Quadratic Inference Functions

Background: Infantile colic is defined as episodes of extreme and excessive crying due to unknown causes. Various results have been reported regarding the management of colic with probiotics in terms of effectiveness, with no side effects or health risks in the infants. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of probiotics on the infants with colic using the quadratic inference functions (QIF).Methods: This single-blind, randomized, clinical trial was conducted on 98 infants admitted to the pediatric gastroenterology clinic of Bu Ali Sina Hospital in Sari, Iran. The neonates were diagnosed with infantile colic by a pediatric gastroenterologist. Patients were randomly divided into two groups (49 subjects per each). In the control group, the infants received placebo, and in the case group, the neonates were administrated with BioGaia probiotic oral drops for 21 days. The QIF method was fitted to analyze the influential factors in the improvement of infantile colic.Results: According to the QIF results in data analysis, mean duration of crying had a significant difference between the infants in the case and control groups (

Generation of Large-Scale Vorticity in a Homogeneous Turbulence with a Mean Velocity Shear

An effect of a mean velocity shear on a turbulence and on the effective force which is determined by the gradient of Reynolds stresses is studied. Generation of a mean vorticity in a homogeneous incompressible turbulent flow with an imposed mean velocity shear due to an excitation of a large-scale instability is found. The instability is caused by a combined effect of the large-scale shear motions (''skew-induced" deflection of equilibrium mean vorticity) and ''Reynolds stress-induced" generation of perturbations of mean vorticity. Spatial characteristics, such as the minimum size of the growing perturbations and the size of perturbations with the maximum growth rate, are determined. This instability and the dynamics of the mean vorticity are associated with the Prandtl's turbulent secondary flows. This instability is similar to the mean-field magnetic dynamo instability. Astrophysical applications of the obtained results are discussed.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, REVTEX4, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Un radioprotecteur non toxique et actif par voie orale le : « shir-khecht »

Le Shir-Khecht est une manne récoltée dans les environs de Téhéran. Ce produit, utilisé soit brut, soit après hydrolyse, purifié ou non par dialyse, présente une réelle activité radioprotectrice. Si on l’administre à des rats irradiés à dose létale, on peut observer un pourcentage de survie pouvant atteindre 50%. L’effet protecteur est également observable à dose sublétale. Le grand intérêt du Shir-Khecht réside dans le fait qu’il constitue un radioprotecteur d’origine naturelle, non toxique et qu’il est actif par voie orale

Évaluation biochimique de la propriété radioprotectrice du « shirkhesht »

Dans le cadre de recherches sur l’action radioprotectrice du « Shirkhesht », substance naturelle non toxique, on a fait une évaluation biochimique du complexe DNP chez les animaux irradiés dont un lot a reçu le produit et l’autre n’en a pas reçu. La sensibilité du complexe désoxyribonucléoprotéidique (complexe DNP) à l’irradiation a fait l’objet de recherches. Les résultats obtenus confirment :

Identifying and Measuring Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) Key Performance Indicators and Management Strategies

Delay and cost overrun in construction projects are two widespread problems that arouse practitioners’ and scholars’ concern. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in each of Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) phases separately and then calculate the weight impact that is associated with each of identified KPIs. Additionally, this study aimed to find the most appropriate Best Practices (BPs) for the identified phase-based indicators. Through a review of existing literature, a survey was developed to collect data from the completed construction projects. Various statistical methods, including two sample T-test and Kruskal-Wallis test, were utilized to analyze the data. Subsequently, Epsilon-Squared effect size method was applied to prioritize the identified KPIs. Since the lack of communication and slowness in decision making were found as the primary schedule Performance Indicators, schedule performance was identified to be highly affected by managerial approaches and actions. In addition, clients play a decisive role, because owner-driven change orders were found as the most crucial cost performance indicator affecting the performance of the engineering and construction phases. The outcome of this study helps practitioners and scholars to understand the phase-based cost and schedule KPIs, and appropriate mitigating strategies to improve the construction performance in EPC phases and save time and money

Dégradation des désoxyribopolynucléotides dans les tissus lymphatiques du rat après irradiation et action radioprotectrice du shirkhesht

Dans le cadre de recherches sur l’action radioprotectrice du « Shirkhesht », substance naturelle non toxique, on a étudié la sensibilité à l’irradiation du complexe DPN (désoxyribopolynucléotides). Une évaluation biochimique de ce complexe dans des tissus lymphatiques de rats irradiés, protégés ou non par le shirkhesht, a été faite