Anti-Candida activity of ethanolic extracts of Iranian endemic medicinal herbs against Candida albicans

It has long been known that herbs and their extracts have antimicrobial activities. Heracleum lasiopetalum Boiss., Satureja bachtiarica Bunge., Thymus daenensis Celak., Echiophora platyloba L., Dracocephalum multicaule Benth., Kelussia odoratissima Mozaff. and Achillea kellalensis Boiss. are Iranian endemic plant species that have been traditionally used as medicinal herbs and spices in different regions of Iran especially Central Zagross. Seven ethanolic extracts of endemic medicinal herbs and one extract of native medicinal herb (Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl.) collected from Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province of Iran were assayed for the in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans (ATCC1023), using agar dilution methods. Most of the extracts showed relatively high anti-Candida activity against the tested fungi with the diameter of inhibition zone ranging between 8 and 17 mm. The extracts of S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis exhibited high inhibitory effect against C. albicans. The extracts of S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis were characterized using HPLC, the major components of S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis were carvacrol and thymol, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for active extract range between 25 and 50 µg/ml. In conclusion, it can be said that the extract of some of the Iranian endemic medicinal plants (S. bachtiarica and T. daenensis) could be used as natural anti-Candida

A novel TOPSIS–CBR goal programming approach to sustainable healthcare treatment

Cancer is one of the most common diseases worldwide and its treatment is a complex and time-consuming process. Specifically, prostate cancer as the most common cancer among male population has received the attentions of many researchers. Oncologists and medical physicists usually rely on their past experience and expertise to prescribe the dose plan for cancer treatment. The main objective of dose planning process is to deliver high dose to the cancerous cells and simultaneously minimize the side effects of the treatment. In this article, a novel TOPSIS case based reasoning goal-programming approach has been proposed to optimize the dose plan for prostate cancer treatment. Firstly, a hybrid retrieval process TOPSIS–CBR [technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) and case based reasoning (CBR)] is used to capture the expertise and experience of oncologists. Thereafter, the dose plans of retrieved cases are adjusted using goal-programming mathematical model. This approach will not only help oncologists to make a better trade-off between different conflicting decision making criteria but will also deliver a high dose to the cancerous cells with minimal and necessary effect on surrounding organs at risk. The efficacy of proposed method is tested on a real data set collected from Nottingham City Hospital using leave-one-out strategy. In most of the cases treatment plans generated by the proposed method is coherent with the dose plan prescribed by an experienced oncologist or even better. Developed decision support system can assist both new and experienced oncologists in the treatment planning process

Disaster relief operations: past, present and future

The aim of the preface is to introduce the scope of this special issue (SI). We explain our editorial approach and summarise our findings based on articles included in this SI. Finally, we outline future research questions which stemmed out of the discussions of this SI

16-Element MIMO Array

The uploaded data of research of MIMO array are deposited

Broadband Printed Slot Antenna Fed by CPW Loaded by Planar Artificial Magnetic Conductor for X-Band Operation

A low profile printed slot antenna (PSA) backed by broadband planar artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) is introduced in this study. Firstly, a suggested PSA with the radiating tapered slots excited by coplanar-waveguide (CPW) is used to expand the bandwidth in the measured range of 9-11 GHz (S11≤ -10 dB). Then, the suggested planar AMC surface as the ground plane of the antenna is inserted into the PSA to gain improved radiation efficiency. The realized result from the PSA with the 9×9 planar AMC array exhibits -10 dB measured impedance bandwidth from 6.63 to 13.73 GHz (70%). The suggested PSA with AMC compared to the PSA without AMC exhibits a size reduction of 60%, enhanced bandwidth of 50%, and excellent impedance matching with a minimum value of almost -40 dB. The novel AMC unit cell is realized to operate at 10.14 GHz with an AMC bandwidth of 8-12.35 GHz (43.1%) for X-band operation. Besides, by loading a periodic AMC unit cells into PSA, a high gain of more than 11 dBi with uni-directional radiation patterns is achieved

16-Element MIMO Array with AMC

The uploaded data of the research for Radio Science journal are deposited

16-Element MIMO Array

The uploaded data of research of MIMO array are deposited.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

16-Element MIMO Array with AMC

The uploaded data of the research for Radio Science journal are deposited.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV

MIMO Array Data- Final

The uploaded data of printed antenna with AMC surface for vehicular MIMO systems are deposited.THIS DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV