Is opioid dependency related to coping strategies?

Using opioid for recreational purposes has a very long history in Iran. Social influence is a useful framework in understanding how the social environment affects the individual's behavioral choices to use drugs. We compared opioid dependents (n=149) with controls (n=221) on measures of coping strategies using the Jalowiec Coping Scale and some socioeconomic factors. The differences in 10 of 15 coping strategies were significant in the study groups (P<0.05). Although, the combined score of problem-oriented and affective-oriented items did not show any significant difference between the two groups. There was a significant relation between opioid dependence with smoking cigarettes (P<0.001), lower education (P=0.002), being employed (P<0.001), having children (P<0.001), and being married (P<0.001). Educational programs to improve problem solving and coping skills can be helpful to reduce the rate of dependency to opioid and smoking cigarettes. © 2015, Sadeghali Taziki, et al

Efficient adaptive integration of functions with sharp gradients and cusps in n-dimensional parallelepipeds

In this paper, we study the efficient numerical integration of functions with sharp gradients and cusps. An adaptive integration algorithm is presented that systematically improves the accuracy of the integration of a set of functions. The algorithm is based on a divide and conquer strategy and is independent of the location of the sharp gradient or cusp. The error analysis reveals that for a $C^0$ function (derivative-discontinuity at a point), a rate of convergence of $n+1$ is obtained in $R^n$. Two applications of the adaptive integration scheme are studied. First, we use the adaptive quadratures for the integration of the regularized Heaviside function---a strongly localized function that is used for modeling sharp gradients. Then, the adaptive quadratures are employed in the enriched finite element solution of the all-electron Coulomb problem in crystalline diamond. The source term and enrichment functions of this problem have sharp gradients and cusps at the nuclei. We show that the optimal rate of convergence is obtained with only a marginal increase in the number of integration points with respect to the pure finite element solution with the same number of elements. The adaptive integration scheme is simple, robust, and directly applicable to any generalized finite element method employing enrichments with sharp local variations or cusps in $n$-dimensional parallelepiped elements.Comment: 22 page

Generalized Duffy transformation for integrating vertex singularities

For an integrand with a 1/r vertex singularity, the Duffy transformation from a triangle (pyramid) to a square (cube) provides an accurate and efficient technique to evaluate the integral. In this paper, we generalize the Duffy transformation to power singularities of the form p(x)/r α , where p is a trivariate polynomial and α &gt; 0 is the strength of the singularity. We use the map (u, v, w) → (x, y, z) : x = u β , y = x v, z = x w, and judiciously choose β to accurately estimate the integral. For α = 1, the Duffy transformation (β = 1) is optimal, whereas if α ≠ 1, we show that there are other values of β that prove to be substantially better. Numerical tests in two and three dimensions are presented that reveal the improved accuracy of the new transformation. Higher-order partition of unity finite element solutions for the Laplace equation with a derivative singularity at a re-entrant corner are presented to demonstrate the benefits of using the generalized Duffy transformation

Purification and characterization of &#945-galactosidase from Lactobacillus acidofillus

α−Galactosidase (α-D-galactoside galactohydrolase [EC 3.2.1.22]) was obtained from Lactobacillus acidofillus which was grown in modified de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) medium, supplemented with raffinose. α-Galactosidase was released from the cells by ultrasonic treatment, then precipitated by ammonium-sulfate and further purified with Sephadex G-200 and DEAE cellulose chromatography with a 18.5-fold increase in specific activity and 28% recovery. Km and Vmax for this enzyme was determined by p-nitrophenyl-α-D-galactoside as substrate, to be about 0.47 mM, and 17.54 μmol/min per mg of protein, respectively. Maximum enzymatic activity occurred at pH 5.5 and temperature at 45°C. The enzymatic activity was retained at least for 30 min, at temperatures of 25 - 55°C, but there was inactive temperature at about 60°C. Galactose was able to decrease the enzyme activity by a factor of 63%. Among the sugars tested, fructose, glucose, sucrose, lactose and mannose reduced the enzyme activity only slightly (less than 10% of the control). A strong inhibition of α-galactosidase activity was found in the presence of 0.1 mM HgCl.Key words: α-Galactosidase, enzyme purification, Lactobacillus acidofillus, kinetic studies

Life Cycle Assessment of Municipal Waste Management System (Case Study: Karaj, Iran)

LCA has been defined as a tool for evaluating the environmental burdens and potential impacts that can be applied to municipal solid waste management systems for determine the optimum municipal solid waste (MSW) management strategy.To investigate the Waste Management system strategyof Karaj City we used LCA method. Three scenarios were defined and compared based on environmental burden include water pollution, air pollution, consumed energy and waste residues.. For each of these scenarios, an ecological indicator was achieved from checklist values. From the environmental point of view, results show that recycling is one of the best alternatives for Waste Management. Furthermore, composting has an important role in alleviating the load of pollutants and energy usage in the Waste Management system. ©JASEMKeywords: Waste Management system, LCA, Kara

Viscoelastic impact between a cylindrical striker and a long cylindrical bar

International audienceAxial impact between a cylindrical striker of finite length and a long cylindrical bar, both of linearly viscoelastic materials, is considered under uni-axial conditions. General results are derived for the impact force, the particle velocity and the strain in the bar in terms of closed-contour integrals suitable for numerical evaluation. Such results are derived also for the transfer of momentum and energy from the striker to the bar. Numerical results for elastic and viscoelastic impact of a striker and a bar with different cross-sectional areas are compared. In viscoelastic impact, unlike elastic impact, the duration of impact may be finite but larger than two transit times for a wave front through the striker due to the for-mation of a tail after the main pulse. Furthermore, repeated contacts and separations of the striker and the bar may occur within a range of striker-to bar characteristic impedance ratios smaller than one. In viscoelastic impact, the duration of impact is at least as long and the momentum and energy transferred are at most as large as in elastic impact. Strains measured at three locations of a PMMA bar impacted by PMMA strikers of three different lengths agree well with the theoretical results

Numerical Evaluation the Impact of the Inserts Shape on Thermo-Flow Behavior in a Heat Exchanger

The improvement of transfers in a heat exchanger can be achieved either by increasing its coolant thermal conductivity or by modifying its geometrical configuration. In this paper, we will be interested in the latter technique by choosing a three-dimensional configuration represented by a channel of rectangular section, on which solid fins of square, circular, or diamond section (vortex generator) have been transversally mounted, which are moreover adiabatic and non-rotating. A convective and forced airflow traverses the channel, and the study focused in principle on the effects of the shape of the fins on the structure of the flow and the rate of heat transfer. The problem is governed by the Navier-Stokes system, coupled with the energy equation de-scribing the thermal process. The resolution of the equation system governing the hydrodynamic phenomenon is performed numerically in three dimensions. To do this, the governing equations of the thermo-hydrodynamic phenomenon are discretized by a finite volume scheme. As for turbulence, it is modeled using the standard model k-ɛ, and the problem of pressure-velocity coupling is solved by the SIMPLE algorithm (Semi Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equation). The computed results are presented as curves for the Nusselt number, friction factor, thermal enhancement factor, or amount of heat dissipated, and as a map for the contour of the axial velocity norm and the temperature field distribution