On quantifying fault patterns of the mesh interconnect networks

One of the key issues in the design of Multiprocessors System-on-Chip (MP-SoCs), multicomputers, and peerto- peer networks is the development of an efficient communication network to provide high throughput and low latency and its ability to survive beyond the failure of individual components. Generally, the faulty components may be coalesced into fault regions, which are classified into convex and concave shapes. In this paper, we propose a mathematical solution for counting the number of common fault patterns in a 2-D mesh interconnect network including both convex (|-shape, | |-shape, ý-shape) and concave (L-shape, Ushape, T-shape, +-shape, H-shape) regions. The results presented in this paper which have been validated through simulation experiments can play a key role when studying, particularly, the performance analysis of fault-tolerant routing algorithms and measure of a network fault-tolerance expressed as the probability of a disconnection

Analytic height correlation function of rough surfaces derived from light scattering

We derive an analytic expression for the height correlation function of a rough surface based on the inverse wave scattering method of Kirchhoff theory. The expression directly relates the height correlation function to diffuse scattered intensity along a linear path at fixed polar angle. We test the solution by measuring the angular distribution of light scattered from rough silicon surfaces, and comparing extracted height correlation functions to those derived from atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results agree closely with AFM over a wider range of roughness parameters than previous formulations of the inverse scattering problem, while relying less on large-angle scatter data. Our expression thus provides an accurate analytical equation for the height correlation function of a wide range of surfaces based on measurements using a simple, fast experimental procedure.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, 1 tabl

Comparing Cognitive Failures and Metacognitive Beliefs in Mild Traumatic Brain Injured Patients and Normal Controls in Kashan

Background: Head trauma is associated with multiple destructive cognitive symptoms and cognitive failure. Cognitive failures include problems with memory, attention and operation. Cognitive failures are considered as a process associated with metacognition. Objectives: This study aimed to compare cognitive failures and metacognitive beliefs in mild Traumatic Brain Injured (TBI) patients and normal controls in Kashan. Patients and Methods: The study was performed on 40 TBI patients referred to the Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan city and 40 normal controls in Kashan. Traumatic brain injured patients and normal controls were selected by convenience sampling. Two groups filled out the demographic sheet, Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and Meta-Cognitions Questionnaire 30 (MCQ-30). The data were analyzed by the SPSS-19 software with multivariate analysis of variance. Results: The results of this study showed that there were no significant differences between TBI and controls in total scores and subscales of CFQ and MCQ (F = 0.801, P = 0.61). Conclusions: Based on these findings, it seems that mild brain injuries don't make significant metacognitive problems and cognitive failures

A study of the time of hospital discharge of differentiated thyroid cancer patients after receiving iodine-131 for thyroid remnant ablation treatment

The aim of this study was to measure the radiation exposure rate from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients who had received iodine-131 (131I) treatment, and to evaluate hospital discharge planning in relation to three different sets of regulations. We studied 100 patients, 78 females and 22 males, aged 13 to 79 years (mean 44.40±15.83 years) with DTC, in three Groups who were treated with 3.7, 5.5 or 7.4GBq of 131I, respectively. The external whole-body dose rates following oral administration of 131I were measured after each one of the first three hospitalization days. A multivariant linear analysis was performed, considering exposure rates as dependent variables to the administered dose for treatment, age, gender, regional and/or distant metastases, thyroglobulin (Tg), antibodies to Tg and thyroid remnant in the three dose groups. We found that the exposure rates after each of the three first days of hospitalization were 30, 50 and 70μSvh-1 at 1m. All our DTC patients had an acceptable dose rate on days 2 and 3 that allowed their hospital discharge. After only 1 day of hospitalization, just 3/11 cases showed not permissible exposure rates above 70μSvh-1. In conclusion, it is the opinion of the authors that after measuring the exposure rates, most treated, DTC patients could be discharged after only one day of hospitalization, even some of those treated with high doses of 131I (7.4GBq). Patients, who received the higher doses of 131I, should not be released before their individual exposure rate is measured

Laboratory investigation of the impact of air pollution on partial discharge inception voltage of insulators in a specific region

Studying the discharge characteristics of transmission line insulators in the presence of pollution, particularly when the contaminated layer is wet by rain, fog or condensation, is necessary for selecting the proper insulation. Therefore, identifying the major air pollutants as well as the most effective ones on the discharge performance of outdoor insulators is mandatory. A systematic approach has been proposed to evaluate the impact of dominant air pollutants of an area on partial discharge (P.D) inception voltage of specimen insulators. Based on the suggested method, determining the pollution constituents, defining the dominant pollutant of the area, finding the most commonly used insulators for medium and above distribution voltages within the geographical boundaries of the Central Province of Iran, as well as examining the effect of dominant air pollutant of the region on partial discharge inception voltage of designated insulators by laboratory measurements, are the necessary steps toward a comprehensive study of the subject

Relapse coping strategies in young adults addicts: A quantitative study in Iran

Background: Cognitive-behavioral coping approach is known as an effective strategy to preventing relapse. Its goal is to forget incompatible behaviors and replaces them with the compatible answers. Objectives: This study examines relapse coping strategies in young adults in selected substance abuse treatment centers in Iran. Patients and Methods: The present is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 70 self-referred young addicts (18-24 years). Adolescence Relapse Coping Questionnaire was used to assess relapse coping strategies. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. Results: The findings revealed that 71.2 have experienced a relapse totally. It was hard to control the hypothetical high risk situation and they greatly wanted to use the substance (mean 7.39 of 10). Addicts have used of all three coping skills in »definitely would do» level. Conclusion: Enhancing self-efficacy through training coping skills, especially abstinence - focused coping skills to react properly in high risk situation can be useful. © 2016 Indian Psychiatric Society | Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow

Leucine-rich amelogenin peptide (LRAP) as a surface primer for biomimetic remineralization of superficial enamel defects: An in vitro study

This study was carried out to obtain more information about the assembly of hydroxyapatite bundles formed in the presence of Leucine-Rich Amelogenin Peptide (LRAP) and to evaluate its effect on the remineralization of enamel defects through a biomimetic approach. One or 2 mg/mL LRAP solutions containing 2.5 mM of Ca+2 and 1.5 mM phosphate were prepared (pH = 7.2) and stored at 37 °C for 24 h. The products of the reaction were studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Vickers surface microhardness recovery (SMR) of acid-etched bovine enamel, with or without LRAP surface treatment, were calculated to evaluate the influence of peptide on the lesion remineralization. Distilled water and 1 or 2 mg/mL LRAP solution (pH = 7.2) were applied on the lesions and the specimens were incubated in mineralization solution (2.5mM Ca+2, 1.5mM PO4 -3, pH = 7.2) for 24 h. One-way ANOVA and Tukey's multi-comparison tests were used for statistical analysis. The pattern of enamel surface repair was studied using FE-SEM. AFM showed the formation of highly organized hierarchical structures, composed of hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals, similar to the dental enamel microstructure. ANOVA procedure showed significant effect of peptide treatment on the calculated SMR (p < 0.001). Tukey's test revealed that peptide treated groups had significantly higher values of SMR. In conclusion, LRAP is able to regulate the formation of HA and enhances the remineralization of acid-etched enamel as a surface treatment agent. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Comparison of domestic violence and its related factors in pregnant women in both urban and rural population in Zarand city, 2014

Background and aims: Domestic violence is a public cultural and health-related problem that its prevalence varies among different societies and affects pregnancy outcomes in direct and indirect fashions. The aim of this study was to compare domestic violence and its related factors in rural and urban pregnant women in Zarand. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 400 pregnant women referred to Zarand’s urban and rural healthcare centers during 2014 were included by simple (convenient) sampling method. Demographic and CTS-2 questionnaires were given to the samples. Data was analyzed by means of the independent t-test, Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman’s statistical tests. Results: The study results showed that domestic violence the mean of violence in urban and rural pregnant women was 1.82±2.86 and 1.00±1.60 in physical domain, 2.93±1.61 and 2.04±1.46 in psychological domain, 3.87±2.93 and 1.99±2.89 in sexual domain, and 1.43±1.89 and 2.29±2.36 in injury-resulted violence, respectively. A significant difference between urban and rural groups in physical, psychological and sexual violence was observed (P<0.01), but there was no statistically significant difference in injury-resulted violence between two groups. Woman’s age, spouse’s age and education level, economic (financial) status, number of pregnancies and children, marriage duration and spouse’s addiction (drug/substance abuse) were significantly related to the types of domestic violence (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to project results about high domestic violence, it is recommended screening violence in the all health and therapy centers

Optimal time repair of ventricular septal rupture post myocardial infarction

Ventricular septal rupture (VSR) is an uncommon complication of myocardial infarction (MI). The mortality rate of VSR is high. The management of VSR is including the stabilization of the hemodynamic status and surgical closure of the rupture. In spite of the agreement of experts on the necessity of surgical repair, the timing of VSR repair management remains unclear. In this review article, we evaluate the optimal time repair of VSR. To collect the data, Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Registry databases were searched for potentially suitable studies. Search terms were including “Ventricular Septal Rupture”, “Myocardial Infarction”, “Timing”, and “MI”. According to the result of the studies, it seems that the time between VSR detection and its repair is a determining factor in the survival or mortality of patients in post-myocardial infraction VSR. Studies showed that earlier surgical repair in VSR increases the risk of mortality, because in the early phase after MI, infarcted myocardium is very fragile, and it is very difficult surgical repair and increases the risk of recurrent septal defects. The longer time is needed for the heart and different body systems to adapt to the hemodynamic results of the abrupt left to right shunt. It seems that the best time for the operation is after the maturation of VSR with scarring at the edges of the defect. Moreover, in a large number of patients, it is not possible to delay the operation since they are at risk of severe heart failure and organ dysfunction. In these cases operation immediately after diagnosis of VSR is recommended to prevent further hemodynamic deterioration. In hemodynami-cally compromised patients, it may be considered to use a ventricular assist device, requiring an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) preoperative to postpone the operation which leads to higher survival in post-MI-VSD

Preoperative 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and concomitant nodular goiter: Comparison of SPECT-CT, SPECT, and planar imaging

Background: Investigations using a hybrid single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT-CT) scanning technique have been carried out in limited studies and have shown mixed results. However, the assessment of this technique for the detection of parathyroid adenoma in patients with a nodular goiter was performed in only one study with a small sample size. The aim of this prospective study was to assess the role of Tc-sestamibi parathyroid SPECT-CT scans for localization of parathyroid adenomas with a concomitant nodular goiter using Tc-methoxyisobutyl isonitrile (MIBI) scintigraphy and to compare it with SPECT and planar imaging. Methods: This study was conducted on 48 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and nodular goiter, who were candidates for parathyroid surgery and had been referred for parathyroid scintigraphy. The patients underwent an early set of planar Tc-MIBI scanning procedures first, followed by SPECT and CT scannings, and finally a delayed set of planar Tc-MIBI scannings. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values, and accuracy were determined on a per-parathyroid-gland basis for each scanning method, as defined by histology and follow-up. Results: The surgery was successful in 48 out of 50 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism concomitant with thyroid nodularity, and data were completed for 80 sites in 48 patients. The accuracy of SPECT-CT in correctly identifying a parathyroid adenoma was 85.00, versus 75.00% for SPECT (P=0.01, significant). The sensitivity and specificity for SPECT-CT were 77.55 and 96.77%, respectively, versus 67.34 and 87.09%, respectively, for SPECT (P=0.12 and 0.12, not significant). There were nine sites that showed better localization on SPECT-CT scans relative to SPECT images, of which five sites were located in the ectopic regions. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate that SPECT-CT is more accurate than sestamibi planar imaging and SPECT for the preoperative identification of parathyroid lesions in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism concomitant with thyroid nodularity. Also, we would recommend the use of SPECT-CT for a workup of all patients with ectopic glands who are scheduled for minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins