Analysis of water absorption of bean and chickpea during soaking using Peleg model

AbstractPeleg model was used to determine the instance moisture content of three varieties of bean (Talash, Sadri and Mahali Khomein) and three varieties of chickpea (Desi, small Kabuli and large Kabuli) during soaking. The experiments were carried out at three different temperatures (5, 25 and 45°C) in triplicate using distilled water. The moisture content versus time curves were plotted at different experimental temperatures, for six varieties. The results indicated that water absorption increased as the temperature increased. The obtained Peleg model constants were investigated relative to temperature. Activation and free activation energy, as well as entropy and enthalpy changes for the three studied varieties of both chickpea and bean were calculated at three temperatures using Peleg model constants and regression analysis. In the case of bean, the results showed a linear decrease in the coefficients k1 and k2. Furthermore for chickpea, the coefficient of k1 decreased linearly and the effect of temperature on the coefficient k2 was partial and decreasing. Likewise, the results indicated that the seeds enthalpy enhanced significantly as soaking temperature increased from 5 to 45°C, the raising trend in entropy and released energy was not significant, however (P<0.05). Maximum and minimum free activation energy in soaking process were observed in chickpea variety of Chico (301.28kJmol−1) and bean variety of Mahali Khomein (86.77kJmol−1), respectively. In addition, negative values of enthalpy changes of varieties demonstrated that the changes in moisture content during soaking process were associated with exothermic and energetically favorable transformation

The Relation Between Residential Self-Selection and Urban Mobility in Middle Eastern Cities: the Case of Alexandria, Egypt

The present paper attempts to fill a part of the gap in the studies on residential location choices and their relations to urban mobility, socio-economics, and the built environment by presenting the results of a study on Alexandria, Egypt, by analysing the results of a survey in eight neighbourhoods undertaken in 2015. Four questions were answered in this study: (i) “How are the main drivers behind residential location choices in Alexandria connected to various socio-demographic groups or people with different availability to urban and built environments?”, (ii) “How are the main residential self-selections in Alexandria associated with one another and which are the most important?”, (iii) “How are the housing location-related decisions of Egyptians similar to or different from international decisions?”, and (iv) “How can planners and decision-makers use the knowledge produced by this study for urban planning and housing in Egypt?”. Library work and the results of a Χ2 test of independence show that availability of transportation modes, nice neighbourhoods, and affordability are the strongest motives behind decisions. However, socio-economic factors are generally stronger than urban mobility and spatial issues. These findings are partly different from those of high-income countries

Mergers and Acquisitions in Blood Banking Systems: A Supply Chain Network Approach

Blood banking systems in the United States over the past decade have been faced with a volatile demand for blood, specifically, a decrease in demand for red blood cells, for a variety of reasons. This change in the blood supply chain landscape, accompanied by an increasing emphasis on cost efficiency, is a driver of Mergers & Acquisitions between blood banks. In this paper, we first present supply chain network optimization pre- and post-merger models. The models handle perishability of the life-saving product of blood, include both operational and discarding costs of waste, capture the uncertainty associated with the demand points, as well as the expected total blood supply shortage cost and the total discarding cost at demand points. They also incorporate capacities on the links. Their solution yields the optimal path and link flows plus the frequencies of activities associated with blood collection, shipment, testing and processing, storage, and distribution, and incurred total costs. We provide a cost efficiency (synergy) measure associated with a merger or acquisition in the blood banking industry, as well as measures capturing the expected supply shortage and surplus. The methodological framework and its applicability are then illustrated via a large-scale blood supply chain network example inspired by a pending merger in the real-world in both status quo and disaster scenarios

TRANSFER LEARNING METHOD FOR SLEEP STAGES CLASSIFICATION USING DIFFERENT DOMAIN

Sleep stages classification using the signal analysis includes electroencephalogram (EEG), Electrooculography (EOG), Electromyography (EMG), Photoplethysmogram (PPG), and electrocardiogram (ECG). In this study, the proposed method using transfer learning to sleep stages classification. First, we have used the PPG and ECG signals, because they are less complex. This signal has the least complexity, and in this article we used this signal for transitional learning. n this study, we extracted 52 features from two signals and prepared for the classification stage. This method includes two steps, (a) Train data PPG and Test data ECG, (b) Train data ECG and Test data PPG. Results proved that our method has acceptable reliability for classification. The accuracy of 95.25% and 94.63% has been reached

Surveillance for foodborne disease outbreaks in Iran, 2006-2011

Background: The outbreaks of foodborne diseases is a major health problem and occur daily in all countries, from the most to the least developed. This study is the first report of foodborne outbreaks in Iran that carried out from 2006 to 2011. Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal study carried out using foodborne disease national surveillance system data from 2006-2011, which have been reported by all provincial health centers to the Center for Communicable Disease Control. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 18 software. Results: Since 2006 to 2011, a total of 2250 outbreaks were reported in Iran. Analyzed data showed that the outbreak rate has increased from 0.07/100000 in 2006 to 1.38/100000 population in 2011. Khuzestan, Kermanshah and Qazvin were three provinces that reported more outbreaks than nationally expected outbreak incidence rate during 2011. Analysis of epidemiological characteristics of foodborne outbreaks during 2011 indicated that the numbers of outbreaks were highest in warm months, e.g. 17.8 of total outbreaks was just reported in August. Females and age group of 16-30 years old were more affected and 55 of cases occurred in rural area. Among 684 human samples which have been tested, E. coli, Shigella, Hepatitis A and Vibrio cholera were predominant etiologic agents respectively. Conclusion: Increasing the detection rate of foodborne outbreaks imply the expansion of surveillance activities and improved primary health care in Iran in recent years. Foodborne disease surveillance system is a new program in Iran that should be continued and strengthened including diagnostic laboratory capacities

Utility of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Inhibitors in the Treatment of Ovarian Cancer: From Concept to Application

Despite recent advances in the management of ovarian cancer, it remains the most lethal gynecologic malignancy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play a pivotal role in the progression of ovarian cancer leading to the eventual development of malignant ascites. On this basis, agents rendering VEGF ineffective by neutralizing VEGF (bevacizumab), blocking its receptors (aflibercept), or interfering with the postreceptor signaling pathways (sunitinib) provide us with the rational treatment options. These agents are generally used in combination with the standard chemotherapeutic drugs. Here, we discuss the basis of and the logic behind the use of these agents in the treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer, as well as their evaluation in different preclinical and clinical studies

Modified Heider Balance on Sparse Random Networks

The lack of signed random networks in standard balance studies has prompted us to extend the Hamiltonian of the standard balance model. Random networks with tunable parameters are suitable for better understanding the behavior of standard balance as an underlying dynamics. Moreover, the standard balance model in its original form does not allow preserving tensed triads in the network. Therefore, the thermal behavior of the balance model has been investigated on a fully connected signed network recently. It has been shown that the model undergoes an abrupt phase transition with temperature. Considering these two issues together, we examine the thermal behavior of the structural balance model defined on Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random networks. We provide a Mean-Field solution for the model. We observe a first-order phase transition with temperature, for both the sparse and densely connected networks. We detect two transition temperatures, $T_{cold}$ and $T_{hot}$, characterizing a hysteresis loop. We find that with increasing the network sparsity, both $T_{cold}$ and $T_{hot}$ decrease. But the slope of decreasing $T_{hot}$ with sparsity is larger than the slope of decreasing $T_{cold}$. Hence, the hysteresis region gets narrower, until, in a certain sparsity, it disappears. We provide a phase diagram in the temperature-tie density plane to observe the meta-stable/coexistence region behavior more accurately. Then we justify our Mean-Field results with a series of Monte-Carlo simulations.Comment: 10 Pages, 5 Figure

Nemo-like kinase regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) lein alveolar epithelial cells

The canonical Wnt signaling can be silenced either through β-catenin-mediated ubiquitination and degradation or through phosphorylation of Tcf and Lef by nemo-like kinase (NLK). In the present study, we generated NLK deficient animals and found that these mice become cyanotic shortly before death because of lung maturation defects. NLK-/- lungs exhibited smaller and compressed alveoli and the mesenchyme remained thick and hyperplastic. This phenotype was caused by epithelial activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) via recruitment of Lef1 to the promoter of VEGF. Elevated expression of VEGF and activation of the VEGF receptor through phosphorylation promoted an increase in the proliferation rate of epithelial and endothelial cells. In summary, our study identifies NLK as a novel signaling molecule for proper lung development through the interconnection between epithelial and endothelial cells during lung morphogenesis

Methanol mass poisoning in Iran: Role of case finding in outbreak management

Background There are no guidelines addressing the public health aspects of methanol poisoning during larger outbreaks. The current study was done to discuss the role of active case finding and a national guideline that organizes all available resources according to a triage strategy in the successful management of a methanol mass poisoning in Rafsanjan, Iran, in May 2013. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed reviewing the outbreak Emergency Operation Center files. The objectives were to describe the characteristics, management and outcome of a methanol outbreak using Active Case Finding to trace the victims. Results A total of 694 patients presented to emergency departments in Rafsanjan after public announcement of the outbreak between 29th May and 3rd June 2013. The announcement was mainly performed via short message service (SMS) and local radio broadcasting. A total of 361 cases were observed and managed in Rafsanjan and 333 were transferred to other cities. Seventy-five and 100 patients underwent hemodialysis (HD), retrospectively. The main indication for HD was refractory metabolic acidosis. Eight patients expired due to the intoxication. Except for the deceased cases, no serum methanol level was available. Conclusion In developing countries, where diagnostic resources are limited, use of active case finding and developing national guidelines can help in the management of large outbreaks of methanol poisonings. © 2014 The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected]