Optimum drilled flange moment resisting connections for seismic regions

Extensive damage in welded unreinforced flange (WUF) connections in previous earthquakes has led to the idea of using reduced beam section (RBS) connections to prevent brittle failure modes in welded joints. Using a similar concept, drilled flange (DF) moment resisting connections are established by a series of holes drilling on the top and the bottom flanges of the beam to create an intentional weak area to shift nonlinear deformations. DF connections are very easy-to-construct and they can also prevent the premature local buckling modes in the reduced section of RBS connections. This study aims to improve the performance of DF connections to make them viable alternatives to RBS connections for ductile steel frames in seismic regions. A wide range of experimentally validated non-linear FE models are used to investigate the effects of different design parameters such as drilled flange hole locations, hole configurations, panel zone shear strength ratio and doubler plate thickness. The results indicate that there is an optimum location and configuration for the drilled flange holes, which can reduce by up to 40% the maximum Equivalent Plastic Strain and Rupture Index of DF connections. It is shown that using strong panel zones can also improve the seismic performance of DF connections by reducing stress concentrations at the CJP groove weld lines. The results of this study are used to develop optimum design solutions for DF connections, which should prove useful in practical applications

Comparison of SPECT bone scintigraphy with MRI for diagnosis of meniscal tears

BACKGROUND: Scintigraphy has been considered as competitive to MRI, but limited data are available on the accuracy of single photon emission tomography (SPECT) compared with MRI for the assessment of meniscal tears. Our objective was to assess the value of SPECT in comparison to MRI. METHODS: Between January 2003 and March 2004, sixteen patients were studied with both modalities and the accuracy rates of SPECT scan results, and MRI findings in the diagnosis of meniscal tears were compared. Arthroscopy was the gold standard. RESULTS: The respective sensitivity rate, specificity rate, and positive and negative predictive accuracies of MRI were 89%, 94%, 93%, and 79% and for SPECT those were 78%, 94%, 94%, and 88%. There was good agreement on the presence or absence of tears between two modalities (κ statistic = 0.699). CONCLUSION: SPECT and MRI are both valuable imaging techniques. SPECT is a useful alternative when MRI is unavailable or unsuitable and it is beneficial when more possible accuracy is desired (such as when MRI results are either inconclusive or conflict with other clinical data)

A comparative study of business skill indices in iran, germany and india with the emphasis on business index

The world assembly of economy has reported a report to evaluate the elimination of the business barriers and facilitation of business in different countries. The performance of countries is evaluated via trade capability index. This study attempts to have a descriptive-analytic design by valid documents and reports of global economy assembly and global database and evaluates business skill index with emphasis on business index during 5 years (2011-2015). Thus, the condition of two Asian countries, Iran and India and a European country, Germany is compared with similar conditions in terms of colonialism, war, revolution, etc. Finally, it is concluded that as Iran enjoys some advantages as natural resources, minerals, population, etc., Iran has no good trade index compared to these two countries and some solutions are proposed to improve the existing conditions

Management of Students\' Happiness in Dormitories of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences

Introduction: Happiness is the most fundamental concept in positive-oriented psychology. Students are influential and generating forces that need happy environment and mood. This Study aimed to determine factors affecting happiness of students who live in dormitories of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Methods: This Study was conducted on 120 male and female students living in dormitories using an open questionnaire. Data were coded and categorized and reported as frequency and percentage. Results: Results showed that the most important factors affecting students' happiness before entering the university, were sports (26/4%), television (13/05%), and walking (11/86%). the most recreation programs after entering university were sports (22/9 %), television and video room (12/84 %), computer and internet (8/33 %). Students suggested some programs to improve conditions and increase the happiness. They were providing some inside and outside camps (15/21%), improving beautify of campus (12/64%) and providing recreational facilities and sports competitions (10/5 %). Conclusion: The findings of this research aimed improving students' happiness can be considered by officials and policy makers of dormitories. This aim will be achieved through expansion of existing facilities and purposeful long-term plannin

Focal hot spot induced by a central subclavian line on bone scan

The diagnostic accuracy of nuclear medicine reporting can be improved by awareness of these instrument-related artifacts. Both awareness and experience are also important when it comes to detecting and identifying normal (and abnormal) variants. We present a case of hot spot on the upper right chest in the region of right subclavicular region resulting from injection of radiotracer from central subclavian line. A 52-year-old woman with a history of left breast cancer and recent bone pain was referred to our nuclear medicine department for skeletal survey. Anterior views of chest show a focus of increased radiotracer uptake corresponding to anterior arch of one of the right second rib. The nuclear physician reported it as a focal rib bony lesion and recommended radiological evaluation. As technician later explained, physicians realized that injection site was a central subclavian line on the right side and hot spot on that region is due to injection site. The appearance of both skeletal and soft-tissue uptake depends heavily on imaging technique (such as the route of radiotracer administration) and the interpreting physicians should be aware of the impact of technical factors on image quality

Determination of organ absorbed doses in patients following bone scan with using of MIRD method

Background: Bone scintigraphy is the most commonly performed procedure in nuclear medicine departments. Radiation risk estimates and optimal use of various radiodiagnostic techniques require accurate dosimetry for representative groups of patients. The aim of the present study was to determination of organ absorbed doses in patients following bone scan with using of MIRD method. Material and Methods: In this study, each patient was injected 25 mCi of mTc-MDP99. Patients were imaged with a gamma camera. Whole-body images from patients were acquired at 10, 60, 90, 180 minutes after mTc-MDP99 injection. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn around organs for count per minute calculation. Count per minute was converted to activity using the conjugate view counting method. Results: The mean uptake activity was measured in different time periods after injection of mTc-MDP99 for each organ. The absorbed doses per unit injected activity (mrad/mCi) for liver, bladder, spleen, right and left kidney were 7.78, 8.17, 7.96, 30.0 and 30.9 mrad/mCi, respectively. Conclusion: In this study the kidneys and liver received maximum and minimum absorbed doses, respectively. These results were consistent with other studies

Effect of Vitamin D Supplement Consumption on Muscle Strength, Muscle Function and Body Composition in Vitamin D-deficient Middle-aged Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and Objectives: Sarcopenia is explained as the loss of muscle strength and muscle mass with aging&sbquo; and is one of the major risk factors for metabolic diseases. Cross-sectional studies demonstrate that vitamin D is associated with sarcopenia in both men and women. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplement consumption on muscle strength, muscle function and body composition in middle-aged women. Materials and Methods: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 71 women aged 40-55 years old, with the serum 25(OH)-D <25 ng/ml, were divided in two groups randomly, and received a 1000 IU vitamin D tablet (n=37) or a placebo (n=34), daily for 12 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of the study, dietary intake, anthropometric indices, muscle strength and function, serum 25(OH)-D, physical activity level and sun exposure were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 20. Results: A significant difference in serum 25(OH)-D was found between the intervention and placebo groups at the end of the study (P<0.001). In the vitamin D group, handgrip strength was improved, while hand grip strength (P=0.233) and knee extension strength (P=0.337) between the two groups did not differ significantly after 12 weeks. The mean of timed get up and go test, decreased significantly in the vitamin D group compared to the controls (P<0.001). Within the intervention group, body fat content decreased significantly after 12 weeks (P<0.001), but did not result a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.051). Conclusions: It seems in this vitamin D-deficient middle-aged women group, 1000 IU vitamin D consumption daily for 12 weeks resulted in improvement of muscle function and body composition, but had no significant effect on muscle strength. Keywords: Vitamin D, Muscle strength, Muscle function, Middle-aged wome

The Effect of Simultaneous Oral Consumption of Camel Milk and Urine on Cirrhosis Liver Model Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Male Rats

Background and Objectives: Special features of camel urine and milk have caused their wide consumption in Islamic and traditional medicine as an anti-microbial, antioxidant, and liver protective substance. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of camel urine and milk in carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced cirrhosis.   Methods: Twenty-four male rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (control, received olive oil, CCL4, camel milk treated, camel urine treated, and camel urine-milk treated). The CCL4-induced cirrhosis model in groups 3 to 6, was intraperitoneal injection of CCL4. Rats in control, olive oil, and CCL4 groups, intraperitoneally received CCL4 to induce cirrhosis. In the treatment groups, camel milk, urine, and their combination were gavaged respectively. Initial and final body weight as well as serum levels of AST, ALT, ALP, albumin and triglyceride and total cholesterol, were measured in all groups. Liver morphology was assessed using Hematoxellin-Eosin (H&E) staining. Data statistical analysis was carried out using one way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc (in case of significance) tests.   Results: In this study, Serum level of AST, ALT and ALP significantly increased in the CCL4 group compared to the control group, there was no significant difference in the body weight among most groups; but only the simultaneous consumption of camel’s milk and urine in cirrhotic rats decreased the serum levels of ALT, ALP, and triglyceride compared to the CCL4 group.   Conclusion: the findings of the present study indicated that simultaneous consumption of camel urine and milk improve cell damage induced by CCL4