Antibiotic prophylaxis during extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the prevention of urinary tract infections in patients with sterile urine before the procedure

Introduction: There are controversies in the literature regarding the need and the duration of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), who had a negative urine culture before the operation. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with proven sterile urine before they underwent ESWL. Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial, 150 patients with renal or urethral stones and sterile urine were examined for bacteriuria (positive urine culture) following ESWL. These patients were classified into 3 groups which received either a single dose of oral co-trimoxazole (Tab, 400/80 mg)- group A, a single dose of nitrofurantoin (Tab:100mg) -group B and no treatment- group C. Patients were followed with urine analysis and urine culture after two weeks. Results: The occurrence of post-ESWL urinary infections (positive urine culture) was 14% in group A, 10% in group B and 14% in group C. The complications among the groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The incidence of urinary tract infections after ESWL is extremely low, provided that in patients who had sterile urine before ESWL, prophylaxis antibiotics do not seem to be necessary

The effect of thickness and power on the Hayward variety in drying process of kiwifruit using microwave

In this study, the rate of microwave drying method kiwifruit (Hayward variety) was studied. Samples in a completely randomized design with three different thicknesses of 4, 6 and 8 mm and weight of 15 g and three power of 200, 300 and 400W, with three replications, were dried in the microwave dryer. The samples were weighed every 30 seconds, and then moisture ratio was obtained. According to the results of experiments with different thicknesses Kiwifruit by increasing power, drying time decreased. The amount of effective moisture diffusion coefficient of kiwifruit slices with thickness of 4, 6 and 8 (mm), 3.25×10-9 to 6.49×10-9 (m2/s) and 3.65×10-9 to 1.83×10-8 (m2/s) and 1.29×10-8 to 3.25×10-8 (m2/s) was changed. The value of the effective activation energy and constant moisture with thickness of 4, 6 and 8 mm, -18.1(w/g) and  , -43.1 (w/g) and 9×10-8 and -25.1 (w/g) and 9×10-8 were obtained, respectively.

CRITICIZING THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL PLURALISM BASICS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON THE HOLY QURAN’S AYAT

Abstract. Understanding of the religious texts and the emergence process of various interpretations areamongst the challenging topics in the present era. Epistemological pluralism is amongst the notions proposed in the rea of Holy Quran understanding and interpretation. The theory is a form of epistemological relativism that realizes the cognizance or verity as relative based on time, place, society, culture, inheritance and belief in such a way that the thing that is considered as cognizance depends on the value or the importance of one or several of the abovementioned variables. The necessity of epistemological pluralism is the closing of the perception and conversation while the canonical ruler intends a special purpose of offering a text and pours his intention within the cast of words. The most important basics of the theory are: human cognizance relativity, originality of senses and human’s materialism, non- specification of a text’s meaning. The present writing aims at investigation of the foundations of epistemological pluralism and it has been carried out based on an analytical-descriptive method from n intra-religion standpoint and takes advantage of the holy Quran’s AYAT to criticize and challenge the issue.Keywords: epistemological pluralism, relativity of cognizance, originality of sense, semantic specification

USE OF MICROPHONE DIRECTIVITY FOR THE LOCALLIZATION OF SOUND SOURCES

In a recent paper [1] the proof-of-concept of a novel approach for the localization of sound source was demonstrated. The method relies on the use of unidirectional microphones and amplitude-based signals' features to extract information about the direction of the incoming sound. By intersecting the directions identified by a pair of unidirectional microphones, the position of the emitting source can be identified.In this study we expand the work presented in that paper by assessing the effectiveness of the approach for the localization of an acoustic source in an indoor setting. As the method relies on the accurate knowledge of the microphones directivity, analytical expression of the acoustic sensors polar pattern were derived by testing them in an anechoic chamber. Then an experiment was conducted in a classroom-type environment by using an array of three unidirectional microphones. The ability to locate the position of a commercial speaker placed at different position is discussed.It is believed that this method may pave the road toward a new generation of reduced size sound detectors and localizers

Microphones’ Directivity for the Localization of Sound Sources

In a recent paper [P. Rizzo, G. Bordoni, A. Marzani, and J. Vipperman, “Localization of Sound Sources by Means of Unidirectional Microphones, Meas. Sci. Tech., 20, 055202 (12pp), 2009] the proof-of-concept of an approach for the localization of acoustic sources was presented. The method relies on the use of unidirectional microphones and amplitude-based signals’ features to extract information about the direction of the incoming sound. By intersecting the directions identified by a pair of microphones, the position of the emitting source can be identified. In this paper we expand the work presented previously by assessing the effectiveness of the approach for the localization of an acoustic source in an indoor setting. As the method relies on the accurate knowledge of the microphones directivity, analytical expression of the acoustic sensors polar pattern were derived by testing them in an anechoic chamber. Then an experiment was conducted in an empty laboratory by using an array of three unidirectional microphones. The ability to locate the position of a commercial speaker placed at different positions in the room is discussed. The objective of this study is to propose a valid alternative to the common application of spaced arrays and therefore to introduce a new generation of reduced size sound detectors and localizers. The ability of the proposed methodology to locate the position of a commercial speaker placed at different positions in the room was evaluated and compared to the accuracy provided by a conventional time delay estimate algorithm

Effect of irrigation regimes and the plant density on shear strength and physical properties of Azivash (Corchorus Olitorius) stem

Three irrigation regimes, 6, 12 and 18 days, the distance between seeds in four levels: 5,10, 15 and 20 cm (density, respectively, 80, 40, 27 and 20 plants per m2) and a row spacing of 25 cm was considered that was tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The results showed that the effect of irrigation on cutting force, shear strength and energy per unit area was meaningful at 5% level and the effect of plant density on cutting force was meaningful at 1% level, but was not meaningful on shear strength. Also showed interaction between irrigation and plant density on cutting force, shear strength and energy per unit area is not meaningful. It was observed that the effect of irrigation and plant density on the length, diameter and stem weight was meaningful at 1% level. The interaction between irrigation and plant density on stem weight was meaningful at 1% level, respectively. The maximum weight value of stems in irrigation of every 6 days in density of 20 plants per m2 has been made to 0.73 g and the minimum weight value of stems in irrigation of 18 days and a density of 80 plants per m2 was obtained of 0.16 g

A Comparative Review of the Interpretation of the Verse of Ulel- Amr in Al-Mizan and Al-Minar Commentaries

The present paper seeks to compare Al- Minar Commentary by 'Abduh and Al-Mizan Commentary by Allamah Tabatabaii in terms of their interpretation of the verse 59 in Chapter 4 (Al-Nisa'- The Women), known as the verse of "Ulel-Amr". For Tabatabaii, the referents of Ulel-Amr are infallible Imams, who should be obeyed unconditionally and absolutely as the Holy Prophet, which proves their infallibility. He believes that the repetition of the imperative verb "Obey" indicates the difference in the domain of obedience not emphasis, and the pronoun "you" in verse which says "then if you quarrel about anything" refers not to Ulel-Amr but to Muslims. In Al-Minar, Abduh accepts the command of absolute obedience to the Holy Prophet and Ulel-Amr, necessitated by their infallibility. However, he believes that the instances of Ulel-Amr are people of hal and 'Aqd (those whose opinions are what count) whose consensus is correct. Rashid Reza, however, does not regard such a consensus as infallible, as he believes that the pronoun "you" refers to Ulel-Amr as well. The paper compares aforementioned commentaries to extracts several mistakes taken by Abduh in Al-Minar, and resolves the doubts he cast on Shia interpretations

Removal of organics from treated palm oil mill effluent (POME) using powdered activated carbon (PAC)

Millions of tonne of treated palm oil mill effluent (POME) discharged into the water body in Malaysia after the anaerobic-aerobic treatment as ‘clean’ waste. However, treated POME potentially can become the alternative of water resource for reclamation and reuse on-site. Therefore, further treatment is needed due to high organic content in treated POME. The removal of organics in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS)were studied using the commercial powdered activated carbon (PAC) as adsorbent in a batch process. This study shows the effect of process conditions such as PAC dosage, agitation and contact time influenced the removal of COD and TSS in treated POME with equilibrium values of 3.00 g, 150 rpm and 15 minutes respectively. The COD and TSS adsorption was suit with the Freundlich isotherm model with R2values 0.9812 and 0.9362 respectively

Effects of an Exercise-Oriented Rehabilitation Program on Mechanical Efficiency and Aerobic Capacity in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

AbstractObjectiveChildren suffering from Cerebral Palsy (CP), exhibit movement limitations and physiological abnormalities as compared to normal individuals.The objective of this study was to assess mechanical efficiency and certain cardiovascular indices before and after an exercise-rehabilitation program in children with dipelegia spastic cerebral palsy (experimental group) in comparison with able-bodied children(controls). Material and MethodsIn this study, 15 spastic cerebral palsy (dipelegic) children participated in an exercise-rehabilitation program, three days a week for three months with an average 144bpm of heart rate. The mechanical efficiency (net, gross), rest and submaximal heart rate and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) were measured before (pretest) and after (posttest) exercise program on the cycle ergometer according to the Macmaster ergometer protocol. Then control group, of 18 normal children underwent the exercise program and were assessed, following which results of the 2 groups were compared using SPSS for statistical analysis (P<0.05). ResultsMechanical efficiency (net, gross) increased significantly in CP patients after the exercise-rehabilitation program; reults did not alter significantly for the controls.Rest and submaximal heart rate in CP patients decreased significantly after exercise program. Maximal oxygen consumption, which remained unchanged in patients following the exercise program, was similar in patients and controls after the program. ConclusionCerebral palsy patients, because of their high muscle tone, severe degree of spasticity, and involuntary movements are physically more incapacitated and need more energy than normal able-bodied individuals. Rehabilitation and aerobic exercise can be effective in improving their cardiovascular fitness and muscle function and increasing their mechanical efficiency

Effect of Combined Subsurface Structures and Steps on Hyporheic Exchange

The deployment of artificial structures in streambeds has been proposed as a way to enhance hyporheic exchange, and numerical models can be used to quantify their effects. In this study, combinations of different structures—that is, boxes, steps and a new type of subsurface structure (L-shaped structure)—were considered to evaluate their potential applicability on river restoration. Flow-3D and COMSOL were applied to simulate surface and subsurface flow, respectively. The performance of the structures was evaluated on the basis of hyporheic flow and residence time distributions. For the structure sizes here considered, results showed for steps (single step, combination of two steps) and L-shaped structures (single L-shaped structure, combination of two L-shaped structures) most hyporheic flowpaths return to the stream after 5 and 2.5 hr, respectively. Instead, shorter residence times (<0.25 hr) were found for boxes (single box, combination of two boxes). For combinations of steps and permeable boxes, the values of hyporheic flow per unit width are higher (0.35 and 0.3 m2/hr, respectively) than for the combination of L-shaped (0.06 m 2/hr). As a result, the combinations of steps and boxes are more effective in increasing hyporheic flow. However, when subsurface structures are combined with steps the resulting hyporheic exchange is dominated by the steps. Therefore, the combined use of in-stream and subsurface structures separately may increase their benefits for hyporheic exchange, but when steps are the other subsurface structures provide minor advantages