Quality of Life and Related Factors Among People With Spinal Cord Injuries in Tehran, Iran

Background: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is one of the biggest health problems. Disabilities resulting from injuries such as spinal disability requires special attention because of their potential reduced to cause adverse effects in different systems of the body. Today, improving the Quality of Life (QOL) in patients with SCIs is an important goal of treatment. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the QOL and related factors among people with SCIs. Patients and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 106 patients with SCI were selected through sampling based on census. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a Short-Form 36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire for measuring the QOL among patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS 14 software and descriptive and inferential statistics. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean QOL in these patients was 37.1 ± 1.7 years (21 - 65 years) and mean disease duration was 7.3±6 years. The most common injury was paraplegia. Most of the patients have moderate QOL (54.7 %). The results showed a significant relationship between QOL and marital status and employment status (P < 0.05). Also, results showed a significant relationship between QOL and education levels (P = 0.002), age (P = 0.001), and duration of illness (P = 0.001).The highest and lowest scores were 64 ± 7.1 and 36 ± 5.3 for understanding General Health (GH) and role physical, respectively. Conclusions: The results show that patients with SCI have a moderate health-related QOL Determining the QOL is needed to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of patients with spinal cord injuries. Planning principles is recommended in order to reform the disability

Cyber security for smart grid: a human-automation interaction framework

Abstract-- Power grid cyber security is turning into a vital concern, while we are moving from the traditional power grid toward modern Smart Grid (SG). To achieve the smart grid objectives, development of Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and computer based automation is necessary. This development makes the smart grid more prone to the cyber attacks. This paper presents a cyber security strategy for the smart grid based on Human Automation Interaction (HAI) theory and especially Adaptive Autonomy (AA) concept. We scheme an adaptive Level of Automation (LOA) for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems. This level of automation will be adapted to some environmental conditions which are presented in this paper. The paper presents a brief background, methodology (methodology design), implementation and discussions. Index Terms—smart grid, human automation interaction, adaptive autonomy, cyber security, performance shaping facto

Loss of vision after transurethral resection of prostate: A case report

The overall complication rate of Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) is about 11.1. Amongst all complications, ocular complications are one of the rarest. In this paper, we present a case of vision loss due to paradoxical embolism as a rare complication following TURP. Ocular complications are very rare in urological surgeries but can happen due to paradoxical embolism following patent foramen ovale. Therefore, we recommend the early diagnosis and treatment of PFO prior to this type of surgery. © 202

The effect of galega officinalis on hormonal and metabolic profile in a rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome

Objectives: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been considered as one of the most common endocrine diseases among the females in their regenerative age with a prevalence range of 5 to 21. However, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of Galega officinalis on metabolic as well as hormonal parameters in a rodent model of PCOS. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two Wistar female rats were used (n=8/group) in the study consisting of healthy control and experimental groups. The experimental groups were divided into 3 subgroups, including rats with PCOS which received no treatment (G1), PCOS group in which G. officinalis extract was administered daily at a dose of 200 mg/kg/orally (G2) for 2 weeks, and PCOS group in which G. officinalis extract was administered daily at a dose of 400 mg/kg/orally (G3) for 2 weeks. In all experimental groups, a single intramuscular injection of estradiol valerate led to inducing PCOS. After the end of treatment period, rats in all of the studied groups were anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine (5/1 mg/kg), then the blood samples obtained and their serum samples were applied for testing the fasting blood sugar (FBS), insulin, aromatase, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, and estrogen. The ovaries of rats were removed and fixed for histopathological examinations. Results: The serum levels of FBS, insulin, LH, FSH, and testosterone significantly increased in G1 in comparison to healthy rats (P < 0.05), while they were all significantly decreased in the treated groups received G. officinalis extract compared to rats affected by PCOS (P < 0.05). Moreover, the serum level of estrogen and the serum activity of aromatase were both significantly decreased in G1 in comparison to healthy rats (P < 0.05), while in treated groups, they were significantly increased compared to G1 which received no treatment (P < 0.05). Moreover, the number of follicles in ovaries affected by PCOS decreased, while both concentrations of G. officinalis extract could prevent this phenomenon. Conclusions: It seems that the extract of G. officinalis has a beneficial effect on the levels of the LH, FSH, testosterone, estradiol, aromatase, FBS, and insulin in alleviating the complications of PCOS. © 2018 The Author (s)

Regularity of Edge Ideals and Their Powers

We survey recent studies on the Castelnuovo-Mumford regularity of edge ideals of graphs and their powers. Our focus is on bounds and exact values of $\text{ reg } I(G)$ and the asymptotic linear function $\text{ reg } I(G)^q$, for $q \geq 1,$ in terms of combinatorial data of the given graph $G.$Comment: 31 pages, 15 figure

Residual Stress Relaxation Induced by Mass Transport Through Interface of the Pd/SrTiO3

Metal interconnections having a small cross-section and short length can be subjected to very large mass transport due to the passing of high current densities. As a result, nonlinear diffusion and electromigration effects which may result in device failure and electrical instabilities may be manifested. Various thicknesses of Pd were deposited over SrTiO3 substrate. Residual stress of the deposited film was evaluated by measuring the variation of d-spacing versus sin2ψ through conventional X-ray diffraction method. It has been found that the lattice misfit within film and substrate might be relaxed because of mass transport. Besides, the relation between residual intrinsic stress and oxygen diffusion through deposited film has been expressed. Consequently, appearance of oxide intermediate layer may adjust interfacial characteristics and suppress electrical conductivity by increasing electron scattering through metallic films

The Study of Correlation between Spiritual well-being and Hope in Cancer Patients Referring to Seyyedo Shohada Training-Therapy Center of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2010, Isfahan, Iran

Background and Objectives: Religious and spiritual resources are important coping resources for cancer patients during the process of disease that can be used to improve the psychological problems such as despair. This research tries to study the correlation between spiritual well-being and hope in cancer patients.Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study with demographic questionnaire, Ellison and Palutzian’s spiritual well being and Snyder’s hope questionnaire, 300 cancer patients who referred to training-therapy center of Isfahan university of medical sciences were selected with Available sampling. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical and Spearman and Pearson tests and the significant level equal to 0.05 was considered.Results: The findings of this research showed that there was direct and significant correlation between spiritual well-being and hope (r=0.27) (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Treatment staff can provide opportunities to identify spiritual needs of cancer patients to promote their spiritual health and hope among them. Thus it is recommended in order to maintain health and increase hope among patients, the important role of spiritual health in nursing care of life-threatening diseases such as cancer take into more consideration

The Study of Correlation between Spiritual well-being and Hope in Cancer Patients Referring to Seyyedo Shohada Training-Therapy Center of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, 2010, Isfahan, Iran

Background and Objectives: Religious and spiritual resources are important coping resources for cancer patients during the process of disease that can be used to improve the psychological problems such as despair. This research tries to study the correlation between spiritual well-being and hope in cancer patients. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study with demographic questionnaire, Ellison and Palutzian’s spiritual well being and Snyder’s hope questionnaire, 300 cancer patients who referred to training-therapy center of Isfahan university of medical sciences were selected with Available sampling. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistical and Spearman and Pearson tests and the significant level equal to 0.05 was considered.   Results: The findings of this research showed that there was direct and significant correlation between spiritual well-being and hope (r=0.27) (p<0.0001).   Conclusion: Treatment staff can provide opportunities to identify spiritual needs of cancer patients to promote their spiritual health and hope among them. Thus it is recommended in order to maintain health and increase hope among patients, the important role of spiritual health in nursing care of life-threatening diseases such as cancer take into more consideration

Effect of Digital Storytelling on Anxiety in Patients Who Are Candidates for Open-Heart Surgery

BACKGROUND: Open-heart surgery in persons with cardiovascular disease is associated with high levels of anxiety. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the effect of digital storytelling on anxiety in patients who were candidates for open-heart surgery. METHODS: In this quasi-experimental study, 80 patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups. The intervention group received routine training and digital storytelling. In each group, anxiety was measured by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory anxiety scale before surgery and 5 days after surgery. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software V18. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the anxiety of both groups during the 2 days before the surgery (P = .40). After the surgery, the mean of anxiety scores in the intervention group was lower than that of the control group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Digital storytelling is an effective method to reduce anxiety in patients who are candidates for open-heart surgery

Development of reinforced polyester/graphene nanocomposite showing tailored electrical conductivity

Production process was chosen in order to be readily scalable at the industrial level. The resin/graphene mixture was prepared through high shear mixing at six different weight concentrations between 0% and 10%. Samples were subsequently produced by compression molding. The electrical properties were measured both in-the-plane and across-the-plane using, respectively, a four-point probe and a two-electrode system. The two-electrode system was a dielectric spectrometer, and accordingly, the across-the-plane measurements were conducted in the frequency-domain. Mechanical measurements were conducted using conventional three-point bending and impact setups. The percolation threshold was found to be in the range of 3\u20135 wt.% concentration, for which the conductivity showed a 7 orders of magnitude increase. These results were quite similar to the samples containing around 50 wt.% of glass fibers. Surprisingly, the in-the-plane conductivity was found to be lower than the bulk conductivity, contrary to what was found with the same filler for thermoplastic composites prepared by melt compounding. No significant increase in mechanical properties as a function of filler loading was observed, except maybe a slight increase in the material toughness