Effect of Processing Parameters on Compressive Strength of Metakaolinite Based Geopolymers: Using DOE Approach

AbstractGeopolymers are inorganic materials with a wide variety of potential applications such as fire resistant materials, building materials, cements and concrete, high-tech composites aircraft interior, and etc. Various parameters affect the properties of these materials. This article describes the effects of several factors such as molar ratios of SiO2/Al2O3, Na2O/SiO2, and H2O/Na2O and curing temperature on the compressive strength of metakaolinite based geopolymer bodies (MGBs) by statistical design of experiments (DOE) approach. It was found that the above-mentioned agents play an important role in MGBs’ properties. Also, a model to present the relationship between compressive strength and influential factors was obtained

A case report on an 8-month infant about zona infection in ocular members due to exposure to intrauterine varicella

Background and aims: Primary varicella infection which is rarely seen among infants appears as chicken pox in children and zona in adults due to its reactivation. Considering its rarity in infants, an 8-month case infected with varicella due to reactivation of intrauterine primary infection is reported. Case report: An 8-month infant with 3200gr weight at a vaginal delivery was hospitalized for erythematous lesion around the left eye, diagnosed as orbital cellulitis initially. The lesion spread rapidly to 8×14cm and several fluid -filled vesicules (which then turned into yellow) developed. Referring to case history, the mother was infected to varicella with generalized macrovesicular lesions involving stomach, face, and limbs. Infant tests of varicella zoster virus about the existence of immunoglobulin M were positive. Treatment was done by cephalotine, acyclovir, and sulfacetamide eye drop. The lesions disappeared within one week. Conclusion: In this patient, because of exposure to varicella infection in utero period, reactivation of primary infection after birth in 8-month appeared herpes zoster symptoms. After diagnosis, the treatment was successful

The Effect of Social Media on Iranian Citizens’ Electoral Participation and Political Action

The present age is called the age of communication. Undoubtedly, in all matters of the world, the most incredible information is on the shoulders of the mass media. Today, the media have influenced the identity of contemporary man by expanding geographical, cultural and political boundaries so that the identity of modern man can be called media identity. The increasing role of new means of mass communication in various parts of human life has led to multiple fields. One area that social media have influenced in the present age is political participation. The present paper sought to test the effect of social media on the Iranian citizens’ willingness to electoral participation political actions using the World Values Survey (WVS) wave 7 data release (49 countries/territories). The results show that social media indirectly, through the mediator variable of political trust, reduces the willingness of individuals to participate in elections. Moreover, the results show that social media, both directly and indirectly, increases citizens’ willingness to engage in political protests

Total and acylated ghrelin levels in children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature and poor appetite

Context. Ghrelin is a hormone secreted primarily from stomach that can affect growth by its somatotropic and orexigenic activities. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of ghrelin and growth in children and adolescents with idiopathic short stature. Subjects and Methods. After thorough clinical examination, 56 subjects including 31 with normal weight and height and 25 with short stature were evaluated for fasting total (TG) and acylated (active) ghrelin (AG) levels. All the parameters of growth including growth hormone and IGF-1 levels, bone age and body mass index were also investigated. Appetite was also assessed and all the studied subjects were also divided into two groups, poor or good appetite. Results. TG and AG levels were not significantly different in the two groups. There was not any significant correlation between ghrelin and parameters of growth. On the other hand, TG concentration was significantly higher in subjects with poor appetite, but AG was not significantly different. Conclusions. The results of this study show that ghrelin is not significantly altered in idiopathic short stature. Although TG is increased in children with poor appetite its acylation is not increased concomitantly. © 2015, Editura Academiei Romane. All rights reserved

Study of chemical and physical behavior cotton fabrics treated by corona discharge after several laundering

Cotton fabric because of finishing process has shrinkage behavior after laundering and for improving this problem, chemical agents utilize for anti-shrinkage. This temporary finishing can reduce shrinkagebut has many environmental problems. Corona discharge treatment has been used for cotton fabric, other fibers and polymers. This treatment can reduce costs and environmental impacts. In this study, cotton fabric was treated by corona discharge instrument at 2 - 40 passages and fabrics were washed with laundering method. After four times laundering, shrinkage behavior of corona discharge treated fabric as compared with un-treated fabric decrease. After 10 passages of corona discharge treatment,water, dye absorption and shrinkage are modified but after 14 passages, despite of shrinkage improvement, dyeing properties decrease

Erythrocyte susceptibility to oxidative stress and antioxidant status in patients with type 1 diabetes

In this study, malondialdehyde (MDA) level as an index of erythrocyte susceptibility to oxidative stress and antioxidant defense system (glutathione level (GSH), glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity (GPx) in erythrocytes and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as the total plasma antioxidant capacity were measured in 35 patients with type 1 diabetes and 28 age and sex-matched normal subjects. MDA level was significantly elevated in diabetic patients (650.9 ± 144.3 nmol/g versus 476.5 ± 138.5 nmol/g Hb, P < 0.001). The level of MDA was positively correlated with duration of diabetes (r = 0.29, P < 0.05) and HbA1C (r = 0.39, P < 0.05) and negatively with FRAP (r = -0.3, P < 0.05). The level of GSH and FRAP were lower in patients than controls (7.05 ± 1.6 μmol/g versus 8.24 ± 0.9 μmol/g Hb, and 389.05 ± 82.3 μmol/l versus 520.4 ± 124.1 μmol/l, respectively, P < 0.001). GPx activity was not significantly different between the two groups. GSH and FRAP were negatively correlated with HbA1C (r = -0.334, P < 0.01 and r = -0.5, P < 0.01, respectively). In conclusion, there seems to be an increased susceptibility to oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant defense in patients with type 1 diabetes, which may be due to poor glycemic control. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Acylated ghrelin, growth hormone and IGF-1 levels in the cord blood of small for gestational age newborns

Background: Ghrelin is a pleiotropic hormone that regulates feeding and energy balance and stimulates growth hormone release. Ghrelin also exerts developmental and organizational effects during prenatal life. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine ghrelin levels in cord blood of small for gestational age (SGA) infants and its association with GH (growth hormone) and IGF-1 levels (insulin-like growth factor-1). Methods: Cord blood sample was obtained from 31 SGA and 25 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) infants. Acylated ghrelin, GH, and IGF-1 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: No significant differences were observed in ghrelin and GH concentrations between SGA and AGA infants. However, IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in SGA infants. Cord blood ghrelin was negatively correlated with the infants' birth weight (r = -0.33, P = 0.013); on the other hand, IGF-1 level was positively correlated with birth weight (r = 0.43, P = 0.002). Conclusions: IGF-1 has the most significant effect on intrauterine growth. Acylated ghrelin is detectable in cord blood and correlated with birth weight, suggesting a role in intrauterine development, but its level is not affected by intrauterine growth retardation. © 2016, Iranian Society of Pediatrics

Clinical and hormonal milieu of 9 patients with primary growth hormone insensitivity syndrome and their response to IGF-I generation test

Primary growth hormone insensitivity syndrome (GHIS) is a rare entity which can be due to defects in growth hormone (GH) receptor that is called type 1 Laron syndrome (T1LS) or post receptor defects (type 2 Laron syndrome ). The aim of study was determining the clinical and hormonal milieu of the patients with primary GHIS and their response to IGF-I (insulin like growth factor-I) generation test (IGT). GH, IGF-I, IGF-II, IGF binding protein 1 and 3 (BP-1 and BP-3), GH binding protein (GHBP) and anti-GH antibody were detected by ELISA and RIA methods. IGF-I and BP-3 were measured before and after IGT. Nine patients (8 males, 1 female) (mean age ± SD, 6.4 ± 5 years) with severe short stature and high GH level were studied. Height SDS was - 8.5 ± 2.6. In 7 patients GHBP was zero, IGF-I and BP-3 were low and did not increase after IGT, so they had T1LS. Two brothers did not show the hormonal milieu of GH receptor defect, and were called non Laron syndrome (NLS). Birth weight in patients with T1LS and NLS was 3.65 ± 0.2 Kg and 1.65 ± 0.2 Kg, respectively (P = 0.001). All of the patients had typical clinical feature of GH-deficiency, but nasal bridge depression and microphallus were not seen in NLS. GH treatment of NLS, normalized their growth velocity, but without catch up growth. In conclusion IGT can differentiate Laron syndrome from other types of short stature. GH and IGF-I of fetus have no role in intrauterine growth. © 2006 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

The Influence of Biomedical Research on Future Business Funding: Analyzing Scientific Impact and Content in Industrial Investments

This paper investigates the relationship between scientific innovation in biomedical sciences and its impact on industrial activities, focusing on how the historical impact and content of scientific papers influenced future funding and innovation grant application content for small businesses. The research incorporates bibliometric analyses along with SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) data to yield a holistic view of the science-industry interface. By evaluating the influence of scientific innovation on industry across 10,873 biomedical topics and taking into account their taxonomic relationships, we present an in-depth exploration of science-industry interactions where we quantify the temporal effects and impact latency of scientific advancements on industrial activities, spanning from 2010 to 2021. Our findings indicate that scientific progress substantially influenced industrial innovation funding and the direction of industrial innovation activities. Approximately 76% and 73% of topics showed a correlation and Granger-causality between scientific interest in papers and future funding allocations to relevant small businesses. Moreover, around 74% of topics demonstrated an association between the semantic content of scientific abstracts and future grant applications. Overall, the work contributes to a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the science-industry interface, opening avenues for more strategic resource allocation and policy developments aimed at fostering innovation