Development of a hybrid system of artificial neural networks and artificial bee colony algorithm for prediction and modeling of customer choice in the market

With the increasing growth of technology and the emergence of various industries, numerous manufacturers have entered this field. In today's world, sellers and manufacturers find themselves among a vast number of competitors. Therefore, they need to adopt a variety of policies and strategies for their own survival and profitability. Companies should identify their customers’ needs and adopt their own policies based on customers’ purchase behaviors. To this end, attempts have been made to identify the customer choice model since the past decades. These models aim at modeling and predicting customer choice among several brands. Traditional models were of interest for many years and these methods were frequently used with the advent of artificial intelligence and machine learning systems. They could demonstrate very good results. In this study, it has been attempted to present a new method for the modeling and prediction of customer choice in the market using the combination of artificial intelligence and data mining. Indeed, the new model is to be applied in helping managers with decision-making. Hence, probabilistic neural networks have been combined with artificial bee colony algorithm.  The proposed model was tested in a real market and its efficiency and accuracy were finally compared with those of other models, including neural network trained with back-propagation, probabilistic neural networks, and the neural networks trained with genetic algorithm. The results reveal that the hybrid model shows better performance than the other models.Keywords: Consumer Choice Model, Data Mining, Artificial Intelligence, modeling, predicting, probabilistic neural network, artificial bee colony algorith

Investigating the Influence of Penetration Length of Cut-off Wall on its Dynamic Interaction with Core and Foundation of Earth Dam

Seepage and flow of water in the soil is one of the most important issue and effective elements in designing embankment dams. One of the methods to control seepage in alluvial foundation of earth dams is to use a plastic concrete cutoff-wall. For better seepage control, the cutoff-wall extends inside the clayey core as the one of common method of connection of cut-off wall and the core. Due to the stiffness difference of the core material and cutoff-wall, and also due to geological situation, physical and mechanical properties of rock and foundation, interaction of core and foundation with cut-off wall in different static and dynamic load cases is very considerable. Failure of cut-off wall occurs in cut-off wall and core joint.  So the study of their interaction, especially during an earthquake is very important. Karkheh dam cut-off wall with an area of about 150000 m2 is chosen for this study. FLAC software has been used to study the effect of cutoff-wall penetration length variation, inside the clay core of Karkheh earth dam under dynamic loading.  In numerical analysis of Karkheh earth dam model, all construction stages and seepage through dam are modelled. The model is first calibrated according to the results obtained from the dam instrumentations. After calibrating, according to available seismic studies of region, a suitable acceleration was selected and applied to the model. In this research, in order to find the optimum length, the effect of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 meters penetration length of cut-off wall in aforementioned conditions has been investigated. The results of the numerical study showed that the horizontal displacement and the maximum shear strain in the cutoff-wall is occurred adjacent to the clay core and the interface of core and foundation is a critical point for the cut-off wall, and also the stress in cut off wall joint increases with the elongation of penetration depth of the wall

Intravenous Pamidronate for Refractory Lymphedema

Background: Based on beneficial reports of pamidronate use for reflex sympathetic dystrophy in reduction of pain and swelling, this drug can be studied as a novel treatment for refractory lymphedema. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of pamidronate on lymphedema and its possible side effects. Methods: Twelve cases of lower limb refractory lymphedema were enrolled. They received intravenous pamidronate monthly for 3 consecutive months and were followed by measuring any discomfort with visual analog scale (VAS) and physician global assessment, based on objective signs of limb volume and circumference. Results: The limb volume, circumference, and satisfaction of the patients improved significantly. Conclusion: Pamidronate when is added to conservative treatments may reduce lymphedema and improve the patient's comfort. © Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Inoculation on Redroot Pigweed on Sesame under salt stress

The aim of this research was investigated of arbuscula rmycorrhizal fungi (Glomus mossea) on redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) andSesame (Sesamum indicum) Darab cultivar competition under salt stress The greenhouse experiment was laid out as a factorial based on randomized complete design with three replications at Faculty of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran in 2015. The treatments were consisted of salt stress (S0=water as control, S1=0.8, S2= 7 and S3=14 ds/m Of NaCl+CaCl2), fungi (F0: control without inoculation, F1: inoculation with Glomus mossea) and redroot pigweed (W0: weed free, w1: weedy). The results showed that interactions effect of different levels of salt stress, mycorrhizal fungi and weed on Sesame physiological traits was significant (P<0.01). Mean comparison showed that increasing of salt stress decreased grain yield, plant height and leaf area index significantly. Maximum value of all traits achieved by S1F1W0 treatment. Application of 14 ds/m salt stress stopped redroot pigweed growth, while this treatment increased inoculation of Sesame root with mycorrhizal fungi under severe salinity. Thereby, it showed a better performance on all traits. In general, it seems that application of mycorrhizal fungi can improve morphological and agronomic characteristics of Sesame by increasing nutrient uptake comparison with redroot pigweed. Mycorrhizal fungi inoculation showed significantly increased on all traits compared to non-inoculation plants under different salinity levels. Therefore, the highest biomass and plant height in Sesame were obtained from the inoculation with Glomus mossea. Results also indicated that weed biomass and height decreased by increasing salinity stress in non-inoculated treatments. Based on our results, mycorrhizal fungi can decrease the negative effects on weed competition in Sesame through increasing of plant growth under salinity stress conditions

Insights into the magnetic dead layer in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 thin films from temperature, magnetic field and thickness dependence of their magnetization

Experimental investigations of the magnetic dead layer in 7.6 nm thick film of La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) are reported. The dc magnetization (M) measurements for a sample cooled to T = 5 K in applied field H = 0 reveal the presence of negative remanent magnetization (NRM) in the M vs. H (magnetic field) measurements as well as in the M vs. T measurements in H = 50 Oe and 100 Oe. The M vs. T data in ZFC (zero-field-cooled) and FC (field-cooled) protocols are used to determine the blocking temperature TB in different H. Isothermal hysteresis loops at differ- ent T are used to determine the temperature dependence of saturation magnetization (MS), remanence (MR) and coercivity HC. The MS vs. T data are fit to the Bloch law,MS (T)=M0 (1–BT 3/2),showingagoodfitforT \u3c100Kandyieldingthe nearest-neighbor exchange constant J/kB 18 K. The variations of TB vs. H andHC vs. T are well described by the model often used for randomly oriented mag- netic nanoparticles with magnetic domain diameter ≈ 9 nm present in the dead-layer of thickness d =1.4 nm. Finally, the data available from literature on the thickness (D) variation of Curie temperature (TC) and MS of LSMO films grown under 200, 150, and 0.38 mTorr pressures of O2 are analyzed in terms of the finite-size scaling, with MS vs. D data fit to MS (D) = MS(b)(1-d/D) yielding the dead layer thickness d = 1.1 nm, 1.4 nm and 2.4 nm respectively

Therapeutic potentials of curcumin in the treatment of glioblstoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a greatly aggressive malignancy of the brain, is correlated with a poor prognosis and low rate of survival. Up to now, chemotherapy and radiation therapy after surgical approaches have been the treatments increasing the survival rates. The low efficacy of mentioned therapies as well as their side-effects has forced researchers to explore an appropriate alternative or complementary treatment for glioblastoma. In experimental models, it has been shown that curcumin has therapeutic potentials to fight against GBM. Given that curcumin has pharmacological effects against cancer stem cells, as major causes of resistance to therapy in glioblastoma cells. Moreover, it has been showed that curcumin exerts its therapeutic effects on GBM cells via affecting on apoptosis, oxidant system, and inflammatory pathways. Curcumin would possess a synergistic impact with chemotherapeutic agents. Herein, we summarized the current findings on curcumin as therapeutic agent in the treatment of GBM. © 2020 Elsevier Masson SA

Application of Wavelet Analysis on Transient Rlectivity in Ultra-thin Films

Applications of wavelet analysis in ultra-thin film transient reflectivity (TR) measurements have been investigated. Advantages of utilizing different localized wavelet bases, in position and time, have been addressed on the residual TR signals. Morse wavelets have been used to obtain information from the abrupt oscillatory modes in the signal, which are not distinguishable with conventional methods such as Fourier transforms. These abrupt oscillatory modes are caused by the surface, interface, or any short-lived oscillatory modes which are suppressed in the TR signal in ultra-thin films. It is demonstrated that by choosing different Morse wavelets, information regarding different oscillatory modes in the TR signal of a heterostructure thin film is achievable. Moreover, by performing wavelet analysis on multiferroic heterostructures, oscillatory modes with very close energy ranges are easily distinguishable. For illustration, residuals of the TR signals have been obtained by a pumpprobe setup in reflectivity mode on La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrTiO3 and BaTiO3/La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/SrTiO3 samples, where sufficient signal to noise ratios have been achieved by taking multiple scans. The residual signals have been analyzed with Morse wavelets, and multiple oscillatory modes with close energy ranges have been observed and distinguished. This approach can isolate the location of various oscillatory modes at the surface, interface and in the bulk of the heterostructure sample

Effects of endometriosis on sleep quality of women: Does life style factor make a difference?

Background: This study aimed to compare the lifestyle factors and SQ between women with and without endometriosis. Also in this essay, the influence of food intake, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics on sleep quality of women with endometriosis was determined. Methods: Of the 156 infertile women approached for the study, 78 women had endometriosis and 78 were included in the control group. At first, each participant completed a checklist including questions about demographics, physical activity, reproductive and menstrual status. SQ was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Dietary data were collected using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative FFQ. Results: Irregular menstrual status, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, history of abortion, family history of endometriosis were associated with endometriosis risk (P < 0.05). In women with physical activity more than 3 h per week, high consumption of the dairy product, and fruit endometriosis is less common (P < 0.05). The total PSQI score, and the scores for subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep disturbance domains were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). In women with endometriosis, poor SQ was associated with dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, dyspareunia, physical activity, and low consumption of the dairy product, fruit, and nut (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In endometriosis women, SQ was lower than healthy individuals. Lifestyle factors can effect on SQ of these patients. © 2020 The Author(s)