Seismic detailing, a compromised principal for seismic design in Malaysia

The main aim of seismic design is to estimate seismic induced actions on structural components and ensure that the seismic resistance systems can cater such actions safely. This has been achieved through either force based concept, practiced in conventional building codes, or performance based seismic design approaches that have been implanted in modern seismic codes. Either of aforementioned methods requires specific structural detailings in order to comply with the expected structural safety levels. Seismic detailing imposes limitaions on the size, shape and reinforcement ratio of concrete beams, columns, shear walls, etc. This study is intended to bring forward some of the important seismic detailings which are neglected in the current construction of buildings in Malaysia. It is shown in this paper that compromise on such important details leads to lower structural performance level even if the seismic actions have been considered in the design. It is also concluded that, a structure which is not designed for seismic actions but has been detailed properly can reach to a significantly safer performance level

FIRST REPORT OF THE GENUS AETHIOPELLA HANDSCHIN, 1942 AND SPECIES FOLSOMIA INOCULATA STACH, 1947 (HEXAPODA, COLLEMBOLA) FROM IRAN

Collembola are a widespread and abundant group of arthropods with distribution all over the world. Collembola fauna is less well-known in the northern districts of Iran. This study was conducted to investigate the Collembola fauna in the forests of Mazandaran province, North Iran, during 2016. During this study, 13 genera and 9 species belonging to 6 families were found. The genus Aethiopella Handschin, 1942 and the species Folsomia inoculata Stach, 1947 are reported for the first time from Iran, with the genus Arrhopalites Börner, 1906 recorded for the first time from Mazandaran province

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasonography and Radiography in Initial Evaluation of Chest Trauma Patients

Introduction: Application of chest radiography for all multiple trauma patients is associated with a significant increase in total costs, exposure to radiation, and overcrowding of the emergency department. Ultrasound has been introduced as an alternative diagnostic tool in this regard. The aim of the present study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of chest ultrasonography and radiography in detection of traumatic intrathoracic injuries. Methods: In the present prospective cross-sectional study, patients with traumatic intrathoracic injuries, who were referred to the emergency department from December 2013 to December 2014, were assessed. The patients underwent bedside ultrasound, radiographic and computed tomography (CT) scan examinations based on ATLS recommendations. Screening performance characteristics of ultrasonography and radiography were compared using SPSS 21.0. Chest CT scan was considered as gold standard. Results: 152 chest trauma patients with a mean age of 31.4 ± 13.8 years (range: 4 ‒ 67), were enrolled (77.6% male). Chest CT scan showed pulmonary contusion in 48 (31.6%) patients, hemothorax in 29 (19.1%), and pneumothorax in 55 (36.2%) cases. Area under the ROC curve of ultrasonography in detection of pneumothorax, hemothorax, and pulmonary contusion were 0.91 (95% CI: 0.86‒0.96), 0.86 (95% CI: 0.78‒0.94), and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.736‒0.88), respectively. Area under the ROC curve of radiography was 0.80 (95% CI: 0.736‒0.87) for detection of pneumothorax, 0.77 (95% CI: 0.68‒0.86) for hemothorax, and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.5‒0.67) for pulmonary contusion. Comparison of areas under the ROC curve declared the significant superiority of ultrasonography in detection of pneumothorax (p = 0.02) and pulmonary contusion (p < 0.001). However, the diagnostic value of the two tests was equal in detection of hemothorax (p = 0.08). Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that ultrasonography is preferable to radiography in the initial evaluation of patients with traumatic injuries to the thoracic cavity

Investigating the effectiveness of emotional regulation techniques along with drug therapy on reducing blood pressure, anxiety symptoms, depression and hostility in patients with hypertension compared to drug therapy alone

Objective: Blood pressure-related diseases are the most influenced by psychological factors. The present study was done with the aim of investigating the effectiveness of emotional regulation techniques along with drug therapy on blood pressure reduction, anxiety symptoms, depression and hostility in patients with hypertension compared to drug therapy alone. Materials and Methods: The present study is a quasi-experimental study with pre-test design, post-test design and control group. The population of this study was men and women between the age of 20 to 70 years with hypertension and resident in Tehran province in 2019. Among patients with hypertension referred to Ayatollah Taleghani Training Center Clinic, 30 persons were selected accessibly and were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention program of cognitive emotion regulation techniques training was done during 8 sessions in the experimental group. The instruments used in this research were Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Spielberger's State-Trait Anger Expression inventory (STAXI). Results: Analysis of covariance showed that there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups after the intervention in the level of blood pressure, anxiety, depression and total anger expression index at p <0.05 level. Effect size was 0.39, 0.26, 0.21, and 0.21 in depression, anxiety, blood pressure, and total anger expression index, respectively. Conclusion: Specialists in cardiovascular diseases and health psychology area can employ cognitive emotion regulation techniques to improve the physical and psychological problems of individuals with hypertension including blood pressure, anxiety, depression and ange

Podoschistus scutellaris (Hym.: Ichneumonidae, Poemeniinae): a genus and species new to Iran

Two species of the subfamily Poemeniinae (Hym.: Ichneumonidae) were collected and identified from Mazandaran province, Iran during 2016 using Malaise traps. Podoschistus scutellaris and Neoxorides collaris are reported for the first time from Iran and Mazandaran province, respectively. Their diagnostic morphological characters and distribution within and outside Iran are provided

Comparison of Stresses Induced by Fiber Post, Parapost and Casting Post in Root Canals by Photoelasticity Method

INTRODUCTION: Many studies have been performed to evaluate the stress distribution around endodontic posts; those which compared posts composed of different materials are rare. The aim of this study was to compare stresses induced in dentin by three structurally different posts using photoelasticity method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine blocks of PSM-5 Photoelastic material with 45×45×10 mm dimension were prepared. In each block, a canal 9 mm in length and 0.8 mm in width was drilled. Blocks were divided into 3 groups of three each. In the first group, the canals were prepared for insertion of Fiber Post with 1.25 mm width. In the second group, the canals were prepared for insertion of ParaPost with 1.25 mm width and the canals in the third group were prepared for casting post similar to the above samples. Casting Post pattern was made by Duralay resin and casted by Ni-Cr alloy. All posts were cemented in canals with Panavia cement. The stresses were evaluated in the polariscope under three different conditions: 1) without load, 2) with 135 N vertical load, and 3) with 90 N oblique load (26° inclination to post long axis). The fringe orders in the cervical, middle and apical regions of the posts were evaluated and compared with each other.RESULTS: Application of the vertical load induced a high stress concentration (FO=4) in the apical region of the ParaPost, while lower stress was observed in the middle (FO=2) and cervical region (FO=2+). Fiber Post and Casting Post showed even stress distribution (FO=2+). High stress concentration was detected with the application of oblique force in the cervical region of ParaPost (FO=5) and Casting Post (FO=3+). Fiber Posts fractured before reaching 90-N loading force. CONCLUSION: The stress distribution around Fiber Post and Casting Post were constant in comparison with ParaPost. Fiber Post with 1.25 mm width was not recommended in situations with high oblique stresses

Levosimendan exerts anticonvulsant properties against PTZ-induced seizures in mice through activation of nNOS/NO pathway: Role for K<inf>ATP</inf> channel

Aims Although approving new anticonvulsants was a major breakthrough in the field of epilepsy control, so far we have met limited success in almost one third of patients suffering from epilepsy and a definite and reliable method is yet to be found. Levosimendan demonstrated neuroprotective effects and reduced mortality in conditions in which seizure can be an etiology of death; however, the underlying neuroprotective mechanisms of levosimendan still eludes us. In the light of evidence suggesting levosimendan can be a KATP channel opener and nitrergic pathway activator, levosimendan may exert antiseizure effects through KATP channels and nitrergic pathway. Main methods In this study, the effects of levosimendan on seizure susceptibility was studied by PTZ-induced seizures model in mice. Key findings Administration of a single effective dose of levosimendan significantly increased seizures threshold and the nitrite level in the hippocampus and temporal cortex. Pretreatment with noneffective doses of glibenclamide (a KATP channel blocker) and L-NAME (a non-selective NOS inhibitor) neutralize the anticonvulsant and nitrite elevating effects of levosimendan. While 7-NI (a neural NOS inhibitor) blocked the anticonvulsant effect of levosimendan, Aminoguanidine (an inducible NOS inhibitor) failed to affect the anticonvulsant effects of levosimendan. Cromakalim (a KATP channel opener) or L-arginine (an NO precursor) augmented the anticonvulsant effects of a subeffective dose of levosimendan. Moreover, co-administration of noneffective doses of Glibenclamide and L-NAME demonstrated a synergistic effect in blocking the anticonvulsant effects of levosimendan. Significance Levosimendan has anticonvulsant effects possibly via KATP/nNOS/NO pathway activation in the hippocampus and temporal corte

Acute Appendicitis in Pregnancy; a Case Study

درد شکم یکی از شایعترین شکایت های دوران بارداری است و بدلیل تشخیص های افتراقی متعددی که به همراه دارد همواره مورد بحث می باشد. هرچند در برخورد با این بیماران تشخیص های مرتبط با شرایط بارداری و پاتولوژی های فضای رحم و اطراف آن در اولویت قرار دارند، ولی هرگز نباید از سایر تشخیص های غیرمرتبط با بارداری که در این دوران تظاهرات متفاوتی از خود نشان می دهند، غافل بود. آپاندیسیت حاد شایعترین عارضه نیازمند جراحی در دوران بارداری است و شیوع آن یک مورد در هر 1500 مورد زن باردار گزارش شده است. به گواه مطالعات موجود آپاندیسیت حاد در دوران بارداری در 35-30 درصد موارد دیر تشخیص داده می شود. این کم توجهی می تواند عوارض وخیمی در پی داشته و موجب مرگ و میر مادر و جنین گردد. ظن بالینی قوی پزشک در کنار استفاده از اقدامات پاراکلینیک مناسب و پیشرفته می تواند از میزان بروز خطا در این زمینه بکاهد. به جهت تاکید بر اهمیت این موضوع به گزارش یک مورد آپاندیست در بارداری پرداخته ایم.Abdominal pain is one of the most common complaints during pregnancy, which is constantly debated due to its numerous differential diagnoses. Acute appendicitis is the most common problem requiring surgery during pregnancy and has a prevalence of 1 in 1500 pregnant women. Existing studies have declared that acute appendicitis during pregnancy is diagnosed with delay in 30 - 35% of cases. This can have severe side effects and may even lead to death of the mother or fetus. Strong clinical suspicion of the physician in addition to taking proper advanced paraclinical measures can reduce errors in this regard. To emphasize the importance of this subject, we have reported a case of appendicitis during pregnancy.

Tullbergiidae fauna (Collembola) in Kermanshah province (Iran) with addition of new records

In this study, the fauna of Tullbergiidae was investigated in different regions of Kermanshah province during 2012-2014. The specimens were collected from the surface layer of soil and leaf litter. Totally 6 species and 3 genera were found. The species Metaphorura denisi (Bagnall, 1935), M. macrochaeta (Rusek, 1976), M. italica (Thibaud, 1996), M. hylophila (Rusek, 1982) and Fissuraphorura duplex (Lucianez & Simon, 1992) are new for the fauna of Iran; it is also the first time that the genera Fissuraphorura (Rusek, 1991) is reported for the fauna of Iran. More ever the species Fissuraphorura duplex is reported for the first time from Asia