73 research outputs found

    Optimal Design of Passive and Active Control Systems in Seismic-excited Structures Using a New Modified TLBO

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    Vibration control devices have recently been used in structures subjected to wind and earthquake excitations. The optimal design problems of the passive control device and the feedback gain matrix of the controller for the seismic-excited structures are some attractive problems for researches to develop optimization algorithms with the advancement in terms of simplicity, accuracy, speed, and efficacy. In this paper, a new modified teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm, known as MTLBO, is proposed for the problems. For some benchmark optimization functions and constrained engineering problems, the validity, efficacy, and reliability of the MTLBO are firstly assessed and compared to other optimization algorithms in the literature. The undertaken statistical indicate that the MTLBO performs better and reliable than some other algorithms studied here. The performance of the MTLBO will then be explored for two passive and active structural control problems. It is concluded that the MTLBO algorithm is capable of giving better results than conventional TLBO. Hence, its utilization as a simple, fast, and powerful optimization tool to solve particular engineering optimization problems is recommended

    The comparison of psychological and social adaptation below elbow amputation men using a mechanical and myoelectric prosthesis by using of TAPES questionnaire

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    Design and manufacturing of the Myoelecterical prosthesis in compared to Mechanical prosthesis must also effectively, smart, light, strong and permanence. It is time consuming and expensive that ultimately leads to significant increases in the price of Myoelecterical prosthesis. Therefore, considering the high cost of these prostheses, hence, assessment of psychological and social adaptation between two groups must be clear and explicit. In this regards, present study was conducted on this topic. In this descriptive cross-sectional analytical study, two groups compared to each other from quality of life, participants was two groups of 20 below elbow amputation veterans that use from Mechanical or Myoelectrical prosthesis that refer to central technical orthopedic Kosar. For gathering the data we use TPEAS questionnaire. This questionnaire evaluates participants from 3 items: psychosocial adaptation, functional limitation and satisfaction of life. For data analysis use to t independent and ANOVA test. This research showed that there are significant differentiations in psychosocial adaptation between two groups. The findings identified that Myoelecterical group higher psychosocial and social adaptation in compare to Mechanical group. So that the hypothesis of this research in terms of higher psychological and social adaptation in the Myoelecterical group was accepted. Keyvani Hafshejani mA, Javanshir M, Kamali M., Ghasemi MS, Emami M, Esmaeeli SA, Langari A., Sattari Naeini M. The comparison of psychological and social adaptation below elbow amputation men using a mechanical and myoelectric prosthesis by using of TAPES questionnaire. Life Sci J 2012;9(4):5583-5587] (ISSN: 1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 82

    The Interacting Role of University Ranking and Globalization of Education

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    Background: Based on the plan of revolution and innovation in medical education that was issued by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education, and the extensive role of such programs in the qualitative promotion of universities, The academic ranking of world universities is of great importance, since the qualitative and quantitative implementation of academic ranking can influence the realization of the university’s goals. Hence, the current study aimed at collecting data about the academic ranking of world universities as well as its criteria and indices and their relationship with globalization. Methods: To gain access to reputable databases in university ranking, an extensive search was performed in Google Scholar. Thereafter, after getting access to reputable databases such as Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Times higher education world University ranking (THE), Quacquarelli Symonds world University rankings (QS), Webometric, and Islamic world science citation center (ISC), data were collected and classified. Results: Based on the collected data, the history of university rankings and ranking systems, as well as criteria and indices pertaining to the academic ranking of world universities, was derived, and the specificities of the criteria and indices were discussed. Conclusions: University rankings are usually performed on a combination of performance-associated indices and criteria. Efforts to achieve a desirable position based on the criteria and indices of the ranking system play an important role in the promotion of educational quality and globalization. Keywords: International Ranking System, Universities, Index, Globalizatio

    Detailed analysis of total colectomy on health-related quality of life in adult patients with ulcerative colitis

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    The aim of this study was to explore the quality of life (QoL) in a group of patients who had an intractable disease on medical therapy including biologics and underwent surgery

    The effect of arbuscular mycorrhiza, rice husk compost and biochar on Iranian borage Echium amoenum Fisch & C. A. Mey and post-harvesting soil properties

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    In einem Gewächshausversuch wurde der Einfluss von Bio-Düngern, wie vesikulär-arbuskulärer Mykorrhiza, Compost und Biochar aus Azolla-Algen auf Ertrag, Ertragsstruktur sowie die Aufnahme an Haupt- und Spurenelementen von iranischem Gurkenkraut geprüft. Gegenstand der Untersuchung war auch der Nährstoffgehalt der Böden nach der Ernte, sowie deren biologische Aktivität. Alle geprüften Behandlungen zeigten im Vergleich zu den Kontrollen signifikante Effekte auf Ertrag und Nährstoffaufnahme. Höhere Bodenatmung und eine höhere mikrobielle Biomasse indizieren eine Steigerung der Fruchtbarkeit der Böden durch die Behandlungen. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2019.01.02, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2019.01.02This study was conducted to investigate the effect of rice husk compost (RHC), rice husk biochar (RHB) and mycorrhization (MY) on some properties of Iranian Echium amoenum Fisch & C. A. Mey and also on some selected post-harvesting soil properties. A completely randomized design experiment was conducted with six treatments and six replications. Treatments comprised T1: control, T2: MY, T3: RHC, T4: RHB, T5: RHC + MY and T6: RHB + MY. Studied parameters included; shoot and root fresh weights, root and leaf length, shrub height, leaf number, shoot and root NPK content, shoot and root Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn concentration, root colonization percentage, soil NPK status, soil micronutrients concentrations, soil respiration and microbial biomass. Results revealed that application of RHC, RHB and MY individually or in combination with other treatments significantly affected studied parameters. In all cases except for root colonization, combined application (T5 and T6) had more satisfied impacts compared with a single application of treatments. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2019.01.02, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2019.01.0

    Impacts of PGPR, compost and biochar of Azolla on dry matter yield, nutrient uptake, physiological parameters and essential oil of Rosmarinus officinalis L.

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    In einem Gewächshausversuch wurde der Einfluss von Bio-Düngern wie PGPR, Compost und Biochar aus Azolla-Algen auf Ertrag, Nährstoffaufnahme und diverse Inhaltstoffe der Gewürzpflanze Rosmarin geprüft. Alle Behandlungen zeigten im Vergleich zu den Kontrollen sig­nifikante Effekte auf Ertrag, Nährstoffaufnahme und Gehalte an Chlorophyll, Carotinoiden, Flavonoiden, Kohlenhydraten, Prolin und essentielle Ölen. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2019.01.01, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2019.01.01Rosemary is one of the most important medicinal plants. In order to study the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Azolla compost and Azolla biochar on dry matter, nutrient uptake, physiological parameters and essential oil of rosemary, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with 6 replications. Treatments consisted of T1 (control), T2 (1% (1 g 100 g-1 dry soil) Azolla compost), T3 (1% Azolla biochar), T4 (PGPR (P. fluorescens)), T5 (1% compost + PGPR) and T6 (1% biochar + PGPR). Results indicated a significant enhancement of dry matter, nutrient uptake, photosynthetic pigments, carbohydrate, flavonoid and essential oil contents of rosemary influenced by organic fertilizers compared to control, particularly with co-appli­cation of PGPR + compost or biochar. Proline content decreased in all treatments in comparison with control. Results indicated positive impacts of PGPR, compost and boichar of Azolla on rosemary production by increasing nutrient uptake and protecting chlorophyll from degradation and enhancing its content in leaves. DOI: 10.5073/JfK.2019.01.01, https://doi.org/10.5073/JfK.2019.01.0

    Influence of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, rice-husk-drived biochar and compost on dry matter yield, nutrients uptake and secondary metabolites responses of Iranian borage Echium amoenum Fisch & C. A. Mey

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    In einem Gewächshausversuch wurde der Einfluss von Bio-Düngern wie vesikulär-arbuskulärer Mykorrhiza, Biochar aus Reisspreu und Biokompost auf Ertrag, Nährstoffaufnahme und sekundäre Inhaltstoffe der Medizinalpflanze Echium amoneum; Fisch & C. A. Mey (iranisches Gurkenkraut) geprüft. Die Varianten waren komplett randomisiert. Alle Behandlungen zeigten signifikante Effekte auf Trockenmasse, Nährstoffaufnahme und Gehalte an Chlorophyll, Carotinoiden, Prolin, Anthocyanen, Flavonoiden, Schleimstoffen und Kohlenhydraten.This study was carried out to investigate the effect of bio-fertilizers including mycorrhiza (MY), rice husk compost (RHC), and biochar (RHB) on dry matter yield, nutrients uptake and some secondary metabolites of the medicinal plant Echium amoenum Fisch & C. A. Mey. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design and executed with six treatments and six replications. Treatments comprised of T1: control, T2: MY, T3: RHC, T4: RHB, T5: RHC+MY and T6: RHB+MY. The following parameters were studied: leaf dry weight, macro and micro nutrient uptake, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, proline, anthocyanin, flavonoid, mucilage and carbohydrate content. The results show that application of RHC, RHB and MY individually or in combination significantly affected the studied parameters in comparison with the control treatment. In all cases, combined appli­cation of bio-fertilizers together with mycorrhiza application (T5 and T6) had a more positive impact on the studied parameters compared to the application of each treatment alone

    A Short Communication: Non-acid Nucleic Blood Multi-Factors Panels for Primary Breast Cancer Detection - A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

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    This study aimed to compare the non-acid nucleic blood multi-factor panels together and with mammography in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in primary breast cancer detection (I, II, III, and IV). We systematically reviewed studies assessing non-acid nucleic blood tumor markers panels’ diagnostic value in both healthy women and patients (before any anticancer treatment) for the detection of primary breast cancer. Out of the 2358 titles initially identified, 12 studies and 9 panels were included in the network meta-analysis. Panels I (MSA + B2m) and J (GATA3 + E-cadherin) had the highest sensitivity in all stages of primary breast cancer but had no significant difference with mammography. Panels L (MSA + CA15–3) and B (M-CSF + CA15–3) had the highest specificity in all stages compared to other panels but no remarkable difference with mammography. Panels J (GATA3 + E-cadherin) and I (MSA + B2m) respectively had the highest accuracy in primary breast cancer detection but no considerable difference with mammography in terms of accuracy. Panel J, including GATA3 + E-cadherin, demonstrated a higher diagnostic value for primary breast cancer detection (I, II, III, and IV) than the rest of the panels

    The unfinished agenda of communicable diseases among children and adolescents before the COVID-19 pandemic, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

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    BACKGROUND: Communicable disease control has long been a focus of global health policy. There have been substantial reductions in the burden and mortality of communicable diseases among children younger than 5 years, but we know less about this burden in older children and adolescents, and it is unclear whether current programmes and policies remain aligned with targets for intervention. This knowledge is especially important for policy and programmes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to use the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 to systematically characterise the burden of communicable diseases across childhood and adolescence. METHODS: In this systematic analysis of the GBD study from 1990 to 2019, all communicable diseases and their manifestations as modelled within GBD 2019 were included, categorised as 16 subgroups of common diseases or presentations. Data were reported for absolute count, prevalence, and incidence across measures of cause-specific mortality (deaths and years of life lost), disability (years lived with disability [YLDs]), and disease burden (disability-adjusted life-years [DALYs]) for children and adolescents aged 0-24 years. Data were reported across the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and across time (1990-2019), and for 204 countries and territories. For HIV, we reported the mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR) as a measure of health system performance. FINDINGS: In 2019, there were 3·0 million deaths and 30·0 million years of healthy life lost to disability (as measured by YLDs), corresponding to 288·4 million DALYs from communicable diseases among children and adolescents globally (57·3% of total communicable disease burden across all ages). Over time, there has been a shift in communicable disease burden from young children to older children and adolescents (largely driven by the considerable reductions in children younger than 5 years and slower progress elsewhere), although children younger than 5 years still accounted for most of the communicable disease burden in 2019. Disease burden and mortality were predominantly in low-SDI settings, with high and high-middle SDI settings also having an appreciable burden of communicable disease morbidity (4·0 million YLDs in 2019 alone). Three cause groups (enteric infections, lower-respiratory-tract infections, and malaria) accounted for 59·8% of the global communicable disease burden in children and adolescents, with tuberculosis and HIV both emerging as important causes during adolescence. HIV was the only cause for which disease burden increased over time, particularly in children and adolescents older than 5 years, and especially in females. Excess MIRs for HIV were observed for males aged 15-19 years in low-SDI settings. INTERPRETATION: Our analysis supports continued policy focus on enteric infections and lower-respiratory-tract infections, with orientation to children younger than 5 years in settings of low socioeconomic development. However, efforts should also be targeted to other conditions, particularly HIV, given its increased burden in older children and adolescents. Older children and adolescents also experience a large burden of communicable disease, further highlighting the need for efforts to extend beyond the first 5 years of life. Our analysis also identified substantial morbidity caused by communicable diseases affecting child and adolescent health across the world. FUNDING: The Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Centre for Research Excellence for Driving Investment in Global Adolescent Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

    The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

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    Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe
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