Replaceable flexural and shear fuse-type coupling beams are used in hybrid coupled shear wall(HCSW)systems,enabling concrete buildings to be promptly recovered after severe earthquakes.This study aimed to analytically...Replaceable flexural and shear fuse-type coupling beams are used in hybrid coupled shear wall(HCSW)systems,enabling concrete buildings to be promptly recovered after severe earthquakes.This study aimed to analytically evaluate the seismic behavior of flexural and shear fuse beams situated in short-,medium-and high-rise RC buildings that have HCSWs.Three building groups hypothetically located in a high seismic hazard zone were studied.A series of 2D nonlinear time history analyses was accomplished in OpenSees,using the ground motion records scaled at the design basis earthquake level.It was found that the effectiveness of fuses in HCSWs depends on various factors such as size and scale of the building,allowable rotation value,inter-story drift ratio,residual drift quantity,energy dissipation value of the fuses,etc.The results show that shear fuses better meet the requirements of rotations and drifts.In contrast,flexural fuses dissipate more energy,but their sectional stiffness should increase to meet other requirements.It was concluded that adoption of proper fuses depends on the overall scale of the building and on how associated factors are considered.展开更多
Measles,an infectious disease caused by the measles virus,remains a significant public health concern worldwide due to its highly contagious nature and potential for severe complications[1].In addition to symptoms suc...Measles,an infectious disease caused by the measles virus,remains a significant public health concern worldwide due to its highly contagious nature and potential for severe complications[1].In addition to symptoms such as high fever,cough,Koplik spots,and rash,measles can lead to serious complications including pneumonia and myocarditis,particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children[1,2].展开更多
Rationale:Rabies is a zoonotic disease with a high mortality,primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mammals,particularly dogs and cats.Despite being a well-known disease since ancient times,it continues to...Rationale:Rabies is a zoonotic disease with a high mortality,primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mammals,particularly dogs and cats.Despite being a well-known disease since ancient times,it continues to cause a significant number of human deaths worldwide,with approximately 65000 fatalities reported annually.Patient concerns:We present two fatal cases of rabies in a 12-year-old immigrant boy and a 7-year-old boy.The first case was subject to a 24-hour delay in receiving appropriate medical attention and rabies preventive measures due to the lack of awareness among emergency hospital staff,leading to the administration of wound dressing only.The second case received timely rabies immunoglobulin administration;however,there was a 4-day delay in administering the fourth dose of the rabies vaccine,despite presenting evident symptoms of rabies.Diagnosis:Postmortem examination of brain samples from both patients confirmed the presence of rabies virus.Interventions:Post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies.Outcomes:Both patients were admitted to the hospital after the manifestation of rabies-related symptoms,with the 12-year-old child seeking medical care 47 days after the animal bite and the 7-year-old child seeking medical care 58 days after the exposure.Finally,the first patient died after 27 days and the second patient died after 40 days of hospitalization.Lessons:There is an urgent need for heightened awareness and education among both healthcare professionals and the public regarding the urgency of seeking immediate medical attention after potential rabies exposure.Timely recognition and initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis are pivotal in preventing the progression of the disease.Strengthening surveillance and reporting systems,coupled with continuous training for healthcare professionals,can contribute to early detection and management of rabies cases.展开更多
Objective:To determine the global level of knowledge,attitudes,and practices towards dengue fever among the general population.Methods:To complete this systematic review and meta-analysis,a thorough search for pertine...Objective:To determine the global level of knowledge,attitudes,and practices towards dengue fever among the general population.Methods:To complete this systematic review and meta-analysis,a thorough search for pertinent English-language literature was undertaken during the study's extension until October 2023.The search used Google Scholar,Scopus,PubMed/MEDLINE,Science Direct,Web of Science,EMBASE,Springer,and ProQuest.A quality assessment checklist developed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for the cross-sectional study was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the included papers.Inverse variance and Cochran Q statistics were employed in the STATA software version 14 to assess study heterogeneity.When there was heterogeneity,the Dersimonian and Liard random-effects models were used.Results:59 Studies totaling 87353 participants were included in this meta-analysis.These investigations included 86278 participants in 55 studies on knowledge,20196 in 33 studies on attitudes,and 74881 in 29 studies on practices.The pooled estimates for sufficient knowledge,positive attitudes,and dengue fever preventive behaviors among the general population were determined as 40.1%(95%CI 33.8%-46.5%),46.8%(95%CI 35.8%-58.9%),and 38.3%(95%CI 28.4%-48.2%),respectively.Europe exhibits the highest knowledge level at 63.5%,and Africa shows the lowest at 20.3%.Positive attitudes are most prevalent in the Eastern Mediterranean(54.1%)and Southeast Asia(53.6%),contrasting sharply with the Americas,where attitudes are notably lower at 9.05%.Regarding preventive behaviors,the Americas demonstrate a prevalence of 12.1%,Southeast Asia at 28.1%,Western Pacific at 49.6%,Eastern Mediterranean at 44.8%,and Africa at 47.4%.Conclusions:Regional disparities about the knowledge,attitude and preventive bahaviors are evident with Europe exhibiting the highest knowledge level while Africa has the lowest.These findings emphasize the importance of targeted public health interventions tailored to regional contexts,highlighting the need for region-specific strategies to enhance dengue-related knowledge and encourage positive attitudes and preventive behaviors.展开更多
This paper proposes a modified golden jackal optimization(IGJO)algorithm to solve the OCL(which stands for optimal cooling load)problem to minimize energy consumption.In this algorithm,many tools have been developed,s...This paper proposes a modified golden jackal optimization(IGJO)algorithm to solve the OCL(which stands for optimal cooling load)problem to minimize energy consumption.In this algorithm,many tools have been developed,such as numerical visualization,local field method,competitive selectionmethod,and iterative strategy.The IGJO algorithm is used to improve the research capabilities of the algorithm in terms of global tuning and rotation speed.In order to fully utilize the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm,three famous examples of OCL problems in basic ventilation systems were studied and compared with some previously published works.The results show that the IGJO algorithm can find solutions equal to or better than other methods.Underpinning these studies is the need to reduce energy consumption in air conditioning systems,which is a critical business and environmental decision.The Optimal Chiller Load(OCL)problem is well-known in the industry.It is the best method of operation for the refrigeration plant to satisfy the requirement of cooling.In order to solve the OCL problem,an improved Golden Jackal optimization algorithm(IGJO)was proposed.The IGJO algorithm consists of a number of parts to improve the global optimization and rotation speed.These studies are intended to address more effectively the issue of OCL,which results in energy savings in air-conditioning systems.The performance of the proposed IGJO algorithm is evaluated,and the results are compared with the results of three known OCL problems in the ventilation system.The results indicate that the IGJO method has the same or better optimization ability as other methods and can improve the energy efficiency of the system’s cold air.展开更多
The effect of SiC particles reinforcement with average size of 1, 5, 20 and 50 μm and volume fraction of 5%, 10% and 15% on the microstructure and tribological properties of Al-based composite was investigated. Compo...The effect of SiC particles reinforcement with average size of 1, 5, 20 and 50 μm and volume fraction of 5%, 10% and 15% on the microstructure and tribological properties of Al-based composite was investigated. Composites were produced by applying compocasting process. Tribological properties of the unreinforced alloy and composites were studied using pin-on-disc wear tester, under dry sliding conditions at different specific loads. The influence of secondary mechanical processing with different rolling reductions on the dry sliding wear characteristics of Al matrix composites was also assessed. Hardness measurement and scanning electron microscopy were used for microstructural characterization and investigation of worn surfaces and wear debris. The proper selection of process parameter such as pouring temperature, stirring speed, stirring time, pre-heated temperature of reinforcement can all influence the quality of the fabricated composites. The porosity level of composite should be minimized and the chemical reaction between the reinforcement and matrix should be avoided.展开更多
Objective: To check biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii(A. baumannii)clinical isolates and show their susceptibility to different antibiotics and investigate a possible link between establishment of biofilm a...Objective: To check biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii(A. baumannii)clinical isolates and show their susceptibility to different antibiotics and investigate a possible link between establishment of biofilm and multidrug resistance.Methods: This study was performed on clinical samples collected from patients with nosocomial infections in three hospitals of Tehran. Samples were initially screened by culture and biochemical tests for the presence of different species of Acinetobacter. Identifications were further confirmed by PCR assays. Their susceptibilities to 11 antibiotics of different classes were determined by disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The ability to produce biofilm was investigated using methods: culture on Congo red agar, microtiter plate, and test tube method.Results: From the overall clinical samples, 156 specimens were confirmed to contain A. baumannii. The bacteria were highly resistant to most antibiotics except polymyxin B.Of these isolates, 10.26% were able to produce biofilms as shown on Congo red agar.However, the percentage of bacteria with positive biofilm in test tube, standard microtiter plate, and modified microtiter plate assays were 48.72%, 66.66%, and 73.72%, respectively. At least 92% of the biofilm forming isolates were multidrug resistant.Conclusions: Since most of the multidrug resistant strains produce biofilm, it seems necessary to provide continuous monitoring and determination of antibiotic susceptibility of clinical A. baumannii. This would help to select the most appropriate antibiotic for treatment.展开更多
This work studied the effects of tree species composition on soil carbon storage in five mixed stands dominated by oriental beech and grown in the western Caspian region in Guilan province, called Astara, Asalem, Fuma...This work studied the effects of tree species composition on soil carbon storage in five mixed stands dominated by oriental beech and grown in the western Caspian region in Guilan province, called Astara, Asalem, Fuman, Chere and Shenrud. The thickness of the litter layer, soil characteristics, tree composition and percentage of canopy coverage were measured in each stand. Total soil organic carbon differed significantly by stand. Total （organic） carbon stores at Fuman, which had the lowest tree species richness with 2 species and least canopy coverage （75%）, were significantly （p〈0.05） higher than at other locations. Carbon stor-age in topsoil （0-10 cm） was significantly lower in Shenrud, which had the highest tree species richness with 5 species and highest canopy cov-erage （95%）. The high percentage of canopy coverage in Shenrud proba-bly limited the conversion of litter to humus. However, in the second soil layer （10-25 cm）, Asalem, with high tree species richness and canopy coverage, had the highest carbon storage. This can be explained by the different rooting patterns of different tree species. In the Hyrcanian forest. According to the results, it can be concluded that not only tree composi-tion but also canopy coverage percentage should be taken under consid-eration to manage soil carbon retention and release.展开更多
The Soursat metamorphic complex （SMC） in northwestern Iran is part of the Sanandaj- Sirjan metamorphic belt. The complex is composed of different metamorphic and plutonic rocks, but is dominated by metapelites compo...The Soursat metamorphic complex （SMC） in northwestern Iran is part of the Sanandaj- Sirjan metamorphic belt. The complex is composed of different metamorphic and plutonic rocks, but is dominated by metapelites composed of garnet, staurolite, kyanite, fibrolite, cordierite, and andalusite. Porphyroblasts in schists have the same fabric, and three stages of schistosity are present. The internal schistosity （Sn） inclusion trails are also offset by conjugate sets of extensional schistosity （Sn＋l） and a second （Sn＋2） that crenulates （Sn＋l）. Polyphase metamorphisms are present in the complex. Garnet, staurolite, kyanite, and fibrolite assemblage preserves conditions during the M1 metamorphic event. This assemblage yields a P-t estimate of 645±11℃ and 6.5±0.5 kbar. Other samples of the central part of SMC contain cordierite and andalusite （M2） overgrowth that yields a P- t estimate of 532±33℃ and 2.1±1.1 kbar.展开更多
Objective:To determine lactic acid bacteria's capability to enhance the process of binding and isolating aflatoxin B1 and to utilize such lactic acid bacteria as a food supplement or probiotic products for prevent...Objective:To determine lactic acid bacteria's capability to enhance the process of binding and isolating aflatoxin B1 and to utilize such lactic acid bacteria as a food supplement or probiotic products for preventing absorption of aflatoxin Bl in human and animal bodies.Methods:In the present research,the bacteria were isolated from five different sources.For surveying the capability of the bacteria in isolating aflatoxin Bl,ELISA method was implemented,and for identifying the resultant strains through 16S rRNA sequencing method,universal primers were applied.Results:Among the strains which were isolated,two strains of Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus beveris exhibited the capability of absorbing and isolating aflatoxin Bl by respectively absorbing and discharging 17.4%and 34.7%of the aforementioned toxin existing in the experiment solution.Conclusions:Strains of Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus beveris were isolated from human feces and local milk samples,respectively.And both strains has the ability to isolate or bind with aflatoxin Bl.展开更多
Objectives: To investigate possible sources of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia(S. maltophilia) in the clinical environment.Methods: Different samples were collected from Amol City of Iran. Steps for the identification of...Objectives: To investigate possible sources of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia(S. maltophilia) in the clinical environment.Methods: Different samples were collected from Amol City of Iran. Steps for the identification of S. maltophilia included culturing, biochemical tests, polymerase chain reaction(PCR) of 16 S r RNA gene and 23 S r RNA gene. In addition, production of melanin pigment and patterns of motility of the bacteria, were also investigated.Results: In our study, 20 S. maltophilia strains were isolated from clinical sources,oxygen manometer apparatus of hospitals were 7/110(6.36%), blood was 1/777(0.13%),sputum was 4/40(4%), urine was 1/2 947(0.03%), tap water was 1/240(0.42%) and dental suction was 6/120(5%). The isolated bacteria showed production of melanin pigment with rates of strong, moderate, weak, and lack of pigment. Types of motilities were seen in isolates.Conclusions: The highest percentage of bacteria is isolated of oxygen manometer system and dental suction, yet has not been reported from oxygen manometer system. These bacteria have also been associated with patients who have respiratory problems, so it is essential for staffs of hospitals to draw attention to this source of bacteria.展开更多
Kangavar area is located in the Sanandaj-Sirjan belt in the west Iran. Geomorphic indices of active tectonics are useful tools to analyze the influence of active tectonics. These indices have the advantage of being ca...Kangavar area is located in the Sanandaj-Sirjan belt in the west Iran. Geomorphic indices of active tectonics are useful tools to analyze the influence of active tectonics. These indices have the advantage of being calculated from Arc GIS and remote sensing packages over large area as a reconnaissance tool to identify geomorphic anomalies possibly related to active tectonics. This is particularly valuable that relatively little work on active tectonics based on this method is done, so this method is new and useful. Six geomorphic indices are calculated in the study area. Then, based on index of active tectonics values that calculated by average of six geomorphic indices, two relative tectonic activities levels are revealed. The low class of Iat is mainly in the sub-basins of 3, 4, 15, 16, 17, 19 & 22 while the rest of the study area has moderate active tectonics in the other sub-basins. Our results show that the moderate value is located on faulted area, which shows 3 class of relative tectonic activity.展开更多
Aluminum and silver strips were cold welded by rolling and a bimetallic strip was produced. To create cold weld between A1 and Ag, mating surfaces were specially prepared and various rolling thickness reductions were ...Aluminum and silver strips were cold welded by rolling and a bimetallic strip was produced. To create cold weld between A1 and Ag, mating surfaces were specially prepared and various rolling thickness reductions were applied. The minimum critical thickness reduction to begin cold weld was specified as 70% which equals 0.1630 critical rolling shape factors. The bimetallic strips were treated by diffusion annealing at 400 ~C and various annealing time. The A1/Ag interface of strips was observed by scanning electron microscope to investigate the formation of hard and brittle probable phases. The effect of anneal time on diffusion distance and phase transformation was also analysed by EDS analysis and line scan. A diffusion region along the interface in the Ag side was observed and its width increased with prolonging annealing time. Some 8 phases were detected close to the interface after anneal treating for 3 h and 8 phase was thicker and more continuous by increasing annealing time. The microhardness measurement showed that in spite of formation of 8 phase due to diffusion annealing, the interface hardness was reduced.展开更多
The effects of vacuum induction melting(VIM) and vacuum arc remelting(VAR) processes on the microstructure and stress rupture properties of Ni-based GTD-111 superalloy were investigated. Samples of GTD-111 master allo...The effects of vacuum induction melting(VIM) and vacuum arc remelting(VAR) processes on the microstructure and stress rupture properties of Ni-based GTD-111 superalloy were investigated. Samples of GTD-111 master alloy were melted in VIM and VAR furnaces and then poured into a preheated ceramic mold for VIM melt or into a water-cooled copper mold for VAR melt. The as-cast samples were examined radiographically to ensure that no casting defects were present in the final castings; the samples were then heat-treated using a standard heat-treatment cycle. The microstructure of the samples was investigated using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for microanalysis. On the basis of standard ASTM-E139, stress rupture tests were carried out at 1000°C under a stress of 300 MPa. The results showed that a γ matrix, fine γ′ precipitates, a γ–γ′ eutectic structure, carbide particles, and some harmful phases such as σ and η phases were present in the as-cast samples. The γ′ precipitates with cubic morphology appeared in the matrix after the standard heat-treatment process. The extent of segregation and the amount of γ–γ′ eutectic structure formed in the VAR-prepared sample were less than in the VIM-prepared sample. The results of stress rupture tests showed that the rupture time for the VAR sample was 43% longer than that for the VIM sample.展开更多
Integrated nutrient management with biological and chemical fertilizers can improve rice （Oryza safiva L.） productivity, bio-fortification, soil health and fertility. Accordingly, this study was planned to evaluate ...Integrated nutrient management with biological and chemical fertilizers can improve rice （Oryza safiva L.） productivity, bio-fortification, soil health and fertility. Accordingly, this study was planned to evaluate the combined effects of biological fertilizers including arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungi （Glomus mosseae） and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria （Herbaspi- rillum seropedicae）, as well as chemical fertilizers on the yield and nutrient contents of wetland rice under field conditions. Seedlings were inoculated with AM fungi and the bacteria in the nursery and were then transplanted to the field. The experi- ment was carried out as a split factorial design with three replicates. Treatments included three rates of nitrogen （N 1, N2 and N3） and phosphorous （P1, P2 and P3） fertilizers （100, 75 and 50% of the optimum level） in the main plots and mycorrhizal and bacterial treatments in the sub plots. The total of urea （g） used per plot was equal to N1=200, N2=150 and N3=100 at three different growth stages （seeding, tillering and heading） and the total of P （g） per plot used once at seeding using triple super phosphate including P1 =16, P2=13 and P3=10. Plant growth and yield as well as the concentration of nitrogen （N）, phosphorous （P）, potassium （K）, iron （Fe）, and zinc （Zn） were measured in the soil, straw and grains. N-fertilizer and biological fertilizers had significant effects on root, shoot and grain yield of rice, however, P-fertilizer just significantly affected root and shoot dry weights. Interestingly, analyses of variance indicated that biological fertilization significantly affected all the experimental treatments except straw N. AM fungi, N1 and P1 resulted in the highest rate of rice growth and yield. The interactions of chemical and biological fertilization resulted in significant effects on grain Zn, Fe, P, and N as well as soil Fe, K and N. The highest rate of grain nutrient uptake was resulted by the combined use of biological fertilization and the medium level of chemical fertilization. Interestingly, with decreasing the rate of chemical N fertilization, rice nutrient use efficiency increased indicating how biological fertilization can be efficient in providing plants with its essential nutrients such as N. However, the highest rate of soil and straw nutrient concentration was related to the combined use of biologicalfertilization and the highest rate of chemical fertilization. We conclude that biological fertilizer, （mycorrhizal fungi and H. seropedicae） can significantly improve wetland rice growth and yield （resulting in the decreased rate of chemical fertilizer）, espe- cially if combined with appropriate rate of chemical fertilization, by enhancing nutrient uptake （fortification） and root growth.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the environmental influences on the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meats on fridges.Methods: The environmental health status was determined by reliable and valid researcher-made c...Objective: To investigate the environmental influences on the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meats on fridges.Methods: The environmental health status was determined by reliable and valid researcher-made checklist.Then 264 samples were gathered in two phases(at the entrance and three months later) and examined for total bacteria count, Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp.Results: The result revealed that the mean of total bacteria count, E.coli and S.aureus densities had significant differences in two steps on chicken and the red meat samples(P < 0.05).Among the environmental factors, sanitary status, temperature and personal hygiene had significant effects on total bacteria count and S.aureus densities in chicken samples(P < 0.05), and between wastewater and solid waste disposal with E.coli density in red meat samples(P < 0.05).Conclusions: The results implied that the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meat fluctuates with environmental status(especially temperature, sanitary status and personal hygiene).Regular control, improving of sanitary health, and staff training are necessary for elimination of bacterial contamination.展开更多
Boroujerd area has located in the border zone of Zagros mountain and Sanandaj-Sirjan belt in the southwest Iran. Six geomorphic indices were calculated in the study area. Through averaging these indices we obtain inde...Boroujerd area has located in the border zone of Zagros mountain and Sanandaj-Sirjan belt in the southwest Iran. Six geomorphic indices were calculated in the study area. Through averaging these indices we obtain index of active tectonics (Iat). The values of the index were divided into classes to define the degree of active tectonics. Therefore, relative tectonic activity was calculated and their values were classified and analyzed in two groups. Regions were identified as low and moderate levels. In analyzing data and combining them with tectonic setting the results were often associated and justified with regional geology. Our results show that the highest value has located along faulted area, which shows 3 classes of relative tectonic activity (moderate level). Also, other values have located along folded area (low level). Therefore, middle part of study area (sub-basin No. 4) is showing the more active uplifting related to surroundings region (sub-basin No. 1, 2 and 3). In other words, sub-basin No. 4 has got the more active uplifting by quaternary movements of several faults such as Doroud fault.展开更多
Drought stress is an abiotic stress that imposes serious constraints on plants. The present investigation was carried out to determine the inter-relationship between some physiological attributes of soybeans affected ...Drought stress is an abiotic stress that imposes serious constraints on plants. The present investigation was carried out to determine the inter-relationship between some physiological attributes of soybeans affected by drought stress and pure isolates ofAzotobacter andAzospirillum. Drought stress and bacterial application increased catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity, whereas drought stress increased superoxide dismutase activity during the pod-filling stage. Abscisic acid and proline levels increased due to drought stress and bacterial application during the flowering stage, whereas total plant nitrogen was enhanced under well-watered conditions when plants were inoculated with bacteria. The close relationship between enzyme activity and drought stress with bacteria indicated that antioxidant enzymes play an important role in alleviating the detrimental effects of water stress. In addition, the enhancement of abscisic acid and proline could be positively linked with drought stress, and drought-induced abscisic acid could induce proline accumulation and the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes.展开更多
In this article, we introduce the notion of Meir-Keleer condensing operator in a Banach space, a characterization using L-functions and provide a few generalization of Darbo fixed point theorem. Also, we introduce the...In this article, we introduce the notion of Meir-Keleer condensing operator in a Banach space, a characterization using L-functions and provide a few generalization of Darbo fixed point theorem. Also, we introduce the concept of a bivariate Meir-Keleer condensing operator and prove some coupled fixed point theorems. As an application, we prove the existence of solutions for a large class of functional integral equations of Volterra type in two variables.展开更多
We investigated wood anatomical changes due to uptake and accumulation of cadmium and lead from contaminated soils in Acer velutinum Boiss seedlings. Two-year old seedlings were exposed for 180 days to soil concentrat...We investigated wood anatomical changes due to uptake and accumulation of cadmium and lead from contaminated soils in Acer velutinum Boiss seedlings. Two-year old seedlings were exposed for 180 days to soil concentrations with varying cadmium and lead concentra- tions. We measured three wood anatomical traits, average vessel area （gm2）, vessel number per square millimetre, and vessel lumen area per- centage （%）. For assessing the cadmium and lead accumulation, we measured the concentrations in the soil, leaf, stem, and root. Average vessel area and vessel lumen area percentage were similar （p〉0.05） in control and treated seedlings. Vessel number per square millimetre showed a decreasing trend from pith to bark in control and treated seed- lings, and the trend was more pronounced in treated seedlings. We con- clude that vessel number per square millimetre in A. velutinum is influ- enced by soil contamination. A. velutinum Boiss is not a suitable species for remediation of soils contaminated by cadmium and lead but it can be used as an indicator of the soil lead contamination, because lead concentrations in seedlings increased with increasing amount of lead in the soil.展开更多
文摘Replaceable flexural and shear fuse-type coupling beams are used in hybrid coupled shear wall(HCSW)systems,enabling concrete buildings to be promptly recovered after severe earthquakes.This study aimed to analytically evaluate the seismic behavior of flexural and shear fuse beams situated in short-,medium-and high-rise RC buildings that have HCSWs.Three building groups hypothetically located in a high seismic hazard zone were studied.A series of 2D nonlinear time history analyses was accomplished in OpenSees,using the ground motion records scaled at the design basis earthquake level.It was found that the effectiveness of fuses in HCSWs depends on various factors such as size and scale of the building,allowable rotation value,inter-story drift ratio,residual drift quantity,energy dissipation value of the fuses,etc.The results show that shear fuses better meet the requirements of rotations and drifts.In contrast,flexural fuses dissipate more energy,but their sectional stiffness should increase to meet other requirements.It was concluded that adoption of proper fuses depends on the overall scale of the building and on how associated factors are considered.
文摘Measles,an infectious disease caused by the measles virus,remains a significant public health concern worldwide due to its highly contagious nature and potential for severe complications[1].In addition to symptoms such as high fever,cough,Koplik spots,and rash,measles can lead to serious complications including pneumonia and myocarditis,particularly in vulnerable populations such as young children[1,2].
文摘Rationale:Rabies is a zoonotic disease with a high mortality,primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mammals,particularly dogs and cats.Despite being a well-known disease since ancient times,it continues to cause a significant number of human deaths worldwide,with approximately 65000 fatalities reported annually.Patient concerns:We present two fatal cases of rabies in a 12-year-old immigrant boy and a 7-year-old boy.The first case was subject to a 24-hour delay in receiving appropriate medical attention and rabies preventive measures due to the lack of awareness among emergency hospital staff,leading to the administration of wound dressing only.The second case received timely rabies immunoglobulin administration;however,there was a 4-day delay in administering the fourth dose of the rabies vaccine,despite presenting evident symptoms of rabies.Diagnosis:Postmortem examination of brain samples from both patients confirmed the presence of rabies virus.Interventions:Post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies.Outcomes:Both patients were admitted to the hospital after the manifestation of rabies-related symptoms,with the 12-year-old child seeking medical care 47 days after the animal bite and the 7-year-old child seeking medical care 58 days after the exposure.Finally,the first patient died after 27 days and the second patient died after 40 days of hospitalization.Lessons:There is an urgent need for heightened awareness and education among both healthcare professionals and the public regarding the urgency of seeking immediate medical attention after potential rabies exposure.Timely recognition and initiation of post-exposure prophylaxis are pivotal in preventing the progression of the disease.Strengthening surveillance and reporting systems,coupled with continuous training for healthcare professionals,can contribute to early detection and management of rabies cases.
文摘Objective:To determine the global level of knowledge,attitudes,and practices towards dengue fever among the general population.Methods:To complete this systematic review and meta-analysis,a thorough search for pertinent English-language literature was undertaken during the study's extension until October 2023.The search used Google Scholar,Scopus,PubMed/MEDLINE,Science Direct,Web of Science,EMBASE,Springer,and ProQuest.A quality assessment checklist developed using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for the cross-sectional study was used to evaluate the risk of bias in the included papers.Inverse variance and Cochran Q statistics were employed in the STATA software version 14 to assess study heterogeneity.When there was heterogeneity,the Dersimonian and Liard random-effects models were used.Results:59 Studies totaling 87353 participants were included in this meta-analysis.These investigations included 86278 participants in 55 studies on knowledge,20196 in 33 studies on attitudes,and 74881 in 29 studies on practices.The pooled estimates for sufficient knowledge,positive attitudes,and dengue fever preventive behaviors among the general population were determined as 40.1%(95%CI 33.8%-46.5%),46.8%(95%CI 35.8%-58.9%),and 38.3%(95%CI 28.4%-48.2%),respectively.Europe exhibits the highest knowledge level at 63.5%,and Africa shows the lowest at 20.3%.Positive attitudes are most prevalent in the Eastern Mediterranean(54.1%)and Southeast Asia(53.6%),contrasting sharply with the Americas,where attitudes are notably lower at 9.05%.Regarding preventive behaviors,the Americas demonstrate a prevalence of 12.1%,Southeast Asia at 28.1%,Western Pacific at 49.6%,Eastern Mediterranean at 44.8%,and Africa at 47.4%.Conclusions:Regional disparities about the knowledge,attitude and preventive bahaviors are evident with Europe exhibiting the highest knowledge level while Africa has the lowest.These findings emphasize the importance of targeted public health interventions tailored to regional contexts,highlighting the need for region-specific strategies to enhance dengue-related knowledge and encourage positive attitudes and preventive behaviors.
文摘This paper proposes a modified golden jackal optimization(IGJO)algorithm to solve the OCL(which stands for optimal cooling load)problem to minimize energy consumption.In this algorithm,many tools have been developed,such as numerical visualization,local field method,competitive selectionmethod,and iterative strategy.The IGJO algorithm is used to improve the research capabilities of the algorithm in terms of global tuning and rotation speed.In order to fully utilize the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm,three famous examples of OCL problems in basic ventilation systems were studied and compared with some previously published works.The results show that the IGJO algorithm can find solutions equal to or better than other methods.Underpinning these studies is the need to reduce energy consumption in air conditioning systems,which is a critical business and environmental decision.The Optimal Chiller Load(OCL)problem is well-known in the industry.It is the best method of operation for the refrigeration plant to satisfy the requirement of cooling.In order to solve the OCL problem,an improved Golden Jackal optimization algorithm(IGJO)was proposed.The IGJO algorithm consists of a number of parts to improve the global optimization and rotation speed.These studies are intended to address more effectively the issue of OCL,which results in energy savings in air-conditioning systems.The performance of the proposed IGJO algorithm is evaluated,and the results are compared with the results of three known OCL problems in the ventilation system.The results indicate that the IGJO method has the same or better optimization ability as other methods and can improve the energy efficiency of the system’s cold air.
文摘The effect of SiC particles reinforcement with average size of 1, 5, 20 and 50 μm and volume fraction of 5%, 10% and 15% on the microstructure and tribological properties of Al-based composite was investigated. Composites were produced by applying compocasting process. Tribological properties of the unreinforced alloy and composites were studied using pin-on-disc wear tester, under dry sliding conditions at different specific loads. The influence of secondary mechanical processing with different rolling reductions on the dry sliding wear characteristics of Al matrix composites was also assessed. Hardness measurement and scanning electron microscopy were used for microstructural characterization and investigation of worn surfaces and wear debris. The proper selection of process parameter such as pouring temperature, stirring speed, stirring time, pre-heated temperature of reinforcement can all influence the quality of the fabricated composites. The porosity level of composite should be minimized and the chemical reaction between the reinforcement and matrix should be avoided.
基金Supported by an educational grant for doctoral thesis from Islamic Azad University of Karaj(grant number:11530554922001)
文摘Objective: To check biofilm formation by Acinetobacter baumannii(A. baumannii)clinical isolates and show their susceptibility to different antibiotics and investigate a possible link between establishment of biofilm and multidrug resistance.Methods: This study was performed on clinical samples collected from patients with nosocomial infections in three hospitals of Tehran. Samples were initially screened by culture and biochemical tests for the presence of different species of Acinetobacter. Identifications were further confirmed by PCR assays. Their susceptibilities to 11 antibiotics of different classes were determined by disc diffusion method according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The ability to produce biofilm was investigated using methods: culture on Congo red agar, microtiter plate, and test tube method.Results: From the overall clinical samples, 156 specimens were confirmed to contain A. baumannii. The bacteria were highly resistant to most antibiotics except polymyxin B.Of these isolates, 10.26% were able to produce biofilms as shown on Congo red agar.However, the percentage of bacteria with positive biofilm in test tube, standard microtiter plate, and modified microtiter plate assays were 48.72%, 66.66%, and 73.72%, respectively. At least 92% of the biofilm forming isolates were multidrug resistant.Conclusions: Since most of the multidrug resistant strains produce biofilm, it seems necessary to provide continuous monitoring and determination of antibiotic susceptibility of clinical A. baumannii. This would help to select the most appropriate antibiotic for treatment.
文摘This work studied the effects of tree species composition on soil carbon storage in five mixed stands dominated by oriental beech and grown in the western Caspian region in Guilan province, called Astara, Asalem, Fuman, Chere and Shenrud. The thickness of the litter layer, soil characteristics, tree composition and percentage of canopy coverage were measured in each stand. Total soil organic carbon differed significantly by stand. Total （organic） carbon stores at Fuman, which had the lowest tree species richness with 2 species and least canopy coverage （75%）, were significantly （p〈0.05） higher than at other locations. Carbon stor-age in topsoil （0-10 cm） was significantly lower in Shenrud, which had the highest tree species richness with 5 species and highest canopy cov-erage （95%）. The high percentage of canopy coverage in Shenrud proba-bly limited the conversion of litter to humus. However, in the second soil layer （10-25 cm）, Asalem, with high tree species richness and canopy coverage, had the highest carbon storage. This can be explained by the different rooting patterns of different tree species. In the Hyrcanian forest. According to the results, it can be concluded that not only tree composi-tion but also canopy coverage percentage should be taken under consid-eration to manage soil carbon retention and release.
基金supported by the Research Vice Chancellor of Tarbiat Moallem University(Tehran,I.R of Iran)
文摘The Soursat metamorphic complex （SMC） in northwestern Iran is part of the Sanandaj- Sirjan metamorphic belt. The complex is composed of different metamorphic and plutonic rocks, but is dominated by metapelites composed of garnet, staurolite, kyanite, fibrolite, cordierite, and andalusite. Porphyroblasts in schists have the same fabric, and three stages of schistosity are present. The internal schistosity （Sn） inclusion trails are also offset by conjugate sets of extensional schistosity （Sn＋l） and a second （Sn＋2） that crenulates （Sn＋l）. Polyphase metamorphisms are present in the complex. Garnet, staurolite, kyanite, and fibrolite assemblage preserves conditions during the M1 metamorphic event. This assemblage yields a P-t estimate of 645±11℃ and 6.5±0.5 kbar. Other samples of the central part of SMC contain cordierite and andalusite （M2） overgrowth that yields a P- t estimate of 532±33℃ and 2.1±1.1 kbar.
基金Supported by Razi Vaccine And Serum Research Institute,Arak Branch,Iran(Grant No.TUMS/CMBRC-89-001)
文摘Objective:To determine lactic acid bacteria's capability to enhance the process of binding and isolating aflatoxin B1 and to utilize such lactic acid bacteria as a food supplement or probiotic products for preventing absorption of aflatoxin Bl in human and animal bodies.Methods:In the present research,the bacteria were isolated from five different sources.For surveying the capability of the bacteria in isolating aflatoxin Bl,ELISA method was implemented,and for identifying the resultant strains through 16S rRNA sequencing method,universal primers were applied.Results:Among the strains which were isolated,two strains of Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus beveris exhibited the capability of absorbing and isolating aflatoxin Bl by respectively absorbing and discharging 17.4%and 34.7%of the aforementioned toxin existing in the experiment solution.Conclusions:Strains of Lactobacillus pentosus and Lactobacillus beveris were isolated from human feces and local milk samples,respectively.And both strains has the ability to isolate or bind with aflatoxin Bl.
基金funded by Islamic Azad University Karaj Branch (grant number: 1193)
文摘Objectives: To investigate possible sources of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia(S. maltophilia) in the clinical environment.Methods: Different samples were collected from Amol City of Iran. Steps for the identification of S. maltophilia included culturing, biochemical tests, polymerase chain reaction(PCR) of 16 S r RNA gene and 23 S r RNA gene. In addition, production of melanin pigment and patterns of motility of the bacteria, were also investigated.Results: In our study, 20 S. maltophilia strains were isolated from clinical sources,oxygen manometer apparatus of hospitals were 7/110(6.36%), blood was 1/777(0.13%),sputum was 4/40(4%), urine was 1/2 947(0.03%), tap water was 1/240(0.42%) and dental suction was 6/120(5%). The isolated bacteria showed production of melanin pigment with rates of strong, moderate, weak, and lack of pigment. Types of motilities were seen in isolates.Conclusions: The highest percentage of bacteria is isolated of oxygen manometer system and dental suction, yet has not been reported from oxygen manometer system. These bacteria have also been associated with patients who have respiratory problems, so it is essential for staffs of hospitals to draw attention to this source of bacteria.
文摘Kangavar area is located in the Sanandaj-Sirjan belt in the west Iran. Geomorphic indices of active tectonics are useful tools to analyze the influence of active tectonics. These indices have the advantage of being calculated from Arc GIS and remote sensing packages over large area as a reconnaissance tool to identify geomorphic anomalies possibly related to active tectonics. This is particularly valuable that relatively little work on active tectonics based on this method is done, so this method is new and useful. Six geomorphic indices are calculated in the study area. Then, based on index of active tectonics values that calculated by average of six geomorphic indices, two relative tectonic activities levels are revealed. The low class of Iat is mainly in the sub-basins of 3, 4, 15, 16, 17, 19 & 22 while the rest of the study area has moderate active tectonics in the other sub-basins. Our results show that the moderate value is located on faulted area, which shows 3 class of relative tectonic activity.
文摘Aluminum and silver strips were cold welded by rolling and a bimetallic strip was produced. To create cold weld between A1 and Ag, mating surfaces were specially prepared and various rolling thickness reductions were applied. The minimum critical thickness reduction to begin cold weld was specified as 70% which equals 0.1630 critical rolling shape factors. The bimetallic strips were treated by diffusion annealing at 400 ~C and various annealing time. The A1/Ag interface of strips was observed by scanning electron microscope to investigate the formation of hard and brittle probable phases. The effect of anneal time on diffusion distance and phase transformation was also analysed by EDS analysis and line scan. A diffusion region along the interface in the Ag side was observed and its width increased with prolonging annealing time. Some 8 phases were detected close to the interface after anneal treating for 3 h and 8 phase was thicker and more continuous by increasing annealing time. The microhardness measurement showed that in spite of formation of 8 phase due to diffusion annealing, the interface hardness was reduced.
文摘The effects of vacuum induction melting(VIM) and vacuum arc remelting(VAR) processes on the microstructure and stress rupture properties of Ni-based GTD-111 superalloy were investigated. Samples of GTD-111 master alloy were melted in VIM and VAR furnaces and then poured into a preheated ceramic mold for VIM melt or into a water-cooled copper mold for VAR melt. The as-cast samples were examined radiographically to ensure that no casting defects were present in the final castings; the samples were then heat-treated using a standard heat-treatment cycle. The microstructure of the samples was investigated using optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy for microanalysis. On the basis of standard ASTM-E139, stress rupture tests were carried out at 1000°C under a stress of 300 MPa. The results showed that a γ matrix, fine γ′ precipitates, a γ–γ′ eutectic structure, carbide particles, and some harmful phases such as σ and η phases were present in the as-cast samples. The γ′ precipitates with cubic morphology appeared in the matrix after the standard heat-treatment process. The extent of segregation and the amount of γ–γ′ eutectic structure formed in the VAR-prepared sample were less than in the VIM-prepared sample. The results of stress rupture tests showed that the rupture time for the VAR sample was 43% longer than that for the VIM sample.
文摘Integrated nutrient management with biological and chemical fertilizers can improve rice （Oryza safiva L.） productivity, bio-fortification, soil health and fertility. Accordingly, this study was planned to evaluate the combined effects of biological fertilizers including arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungi （Glomus mosseae） and free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria （Herbaspi- rillum seropedicae）, as well as chemical fertilizers on the yield and nutrient contents of wetland rice under field conditions. Seedlings were inoculated with AM fungi and the bacteria in the nursery and were then transplanted to the field. The experi- ment was carried out as a split factorial design with three replicates. Treatments included three rates of nitrogen （N 1, N2 and N3） and phosphorous （P1, P2 and P3） fertilizers （100, 75 and 50% of the optimum level） in the main plots and mycorrhizal and bacterial treatments in the sub plots. The total of urea （g） used per plot was equal to N1=200, N2=150 and N3=100 at three different growth stages （seeding, tillering and heading） and the total of P （g） per plot used once at seeding using triple super phosphate including P1 =16, P2=13 and P3=10. Plant growth and yield as well as the concentration of nitrogen （N）, phosphorous （P）, potassium （K）, iron （Fe）, and zinc （Zn） were measured in the soil, straw and grains. N-fertilizer and biological fertilizers had significant effects on root, shoot and grain yield of rice, however, P-fertilizer just significantly affected root and shoot dry weights. Interestingly, analyses of variance indicated that biological fertilization significantly affected all the experimental treatments except straw N. AM fungi, N1 and P1 resulted in the highest rate of rice growth and yield. The interactions of chemical and biological fertilization resulted in significant effects on grain Zn, Fe, P, and N as well as soil Fe, K and N. The highest rate of grain nutrient uptake was resulted by the combined use of biological fertilization and the medium level of chemical fertilization. Interestingly, with decreasing the rate of chemical N fertilization, rice nutrient use efficiency increased indicating how biological fertilization can be efficient in providing plants with its essential nutrients such as N. However, the highest rate of soil and straw nutrient concentration was related to the combined use of biologicalfertilization and the highest rate of chemical fertilization. We conclude that biological fertilizer, （mycorrhizal fungi and H. seropedicae） can significantly improve wetland rice growth and yield （resulting in the decreased rate of chemical fertilizer）, espe- cially if combined with appropriate rate of chemical fertilization, by enhancing nutrient uptake （fortification） and root growth.
基金Supported by the Health Research Center and Faculty of Health of Baqiyatallah University of Medical Science(Grant No.BG52142)
文摘Objective: To investigate the environmental influences on the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meats on fridges.Methods: The environmental health status was determined by reliable and valid researcher-made checklist.Then 264 samples were gathered in two phases(at the entrance and three months later) and examined for total bacteria count, Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp.Results: The result revealed that the mean of total bacteria count, E.coli and S.aureus densities had significant differences in two steps on chicken and the red meat samples(P < 0.05).Among the environmental factors, sanitary status, temperature and personal hygiene had significant effects on total bacteria count and S.aureus densities in chicken samples(P < 0.05), and between wastewater and solid waste disposal with E.coli density in red meat samples(P < 0.05).Conclusions: The results implied that the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meat fluctuates with environmental status(especially temperature, sanitary status and personal hygiene).Regular control, improving of sanitary health, and staff training are necessary for elimination of bacterial contamination.
文摘Boroujerd area has located in the border zone of Zagros mountain and Sanandaj-Sirjan belt in the southwest Iran. Six geomorphic indices were calculated in the study area. Through averaging these indices we obtain index of active tectonics (Iat). The values of the index were divided into classes to define the degree of active tectonics. Therefore, relative tectonic activity was calculated and their values were classified and analyzed in two groups. Regions were identified as low and moderate levels. In analyzing data and combining them with tectonic setting the results were often associated and justified with regional geology. Our results show that the highest value has located along faulted area, which shows 3 classes of relative tectonic activity (moderate level). Also, other values have located along folded area (low level). Therefore, middle part of study area (sub-basin No. 4) is showing the more active uplifting related to surroundings region (sub-basin No. 1, 2 and 3). In other words, sub-basin No. 4 has got the more active uplifting by quaternary movements of several faults such as Doroud fault.
文摘Drought stress is an abiotic stress that imposes serious constraints on plants. The present investigation was carried out to determine the inter-relationship between some physiological attributes of soybeans affected by drought stress and pure isolates ofAzotobacter andAzospirillum. Drought stress and bacterial application increased catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity, whereas drought stress increased superoxide dismutase activity during the pod-filling stage. Abscisic acid and proline levels increased due to drought stress and bacterial application during the flowering stage, whereas total plant nitrogen was enhanced under well-watered conditions when plants were inoculated with bacteria. The close relationship between enzyme activity and drought stress with bacteria indicated that antioxidant enzymes play an important role in alleviating the detrimental effects of water stress. In addition, the enhancement of abscisic acid and proline could be positively linked with drought stress, and drought-induced abscisic acid could induce proline accumulation and the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes.
文摘In this article, we introduce the notion of Meir-Keleer condensing operator in a Banach space, a characterization using L-functions and provide a few generalization of Darbo fixed point theorem. Also, we introduce the concept of a bivariate Meir-Keleer condensing operator and prove some coupled fixed point theorems. As an application, we prove the existence of solutions for a large class of functional integral equations of Volterra type in two variables.
文摘We investigated wood anatomical changes due to uptake and accumulation of cadmium and lead from contaminated soils in Acer velutinum Boiss seedlings. Two-year old seedlings were exposed for 180 days to soil concentrations with varying cadmium and lead concentra- tions. We measured three wood anatomical traits, average vessel area （gm2）, vessel number per square millimetre, and vessel lumen area per- centage （%）. For assessing the cadmium and lead accumulation, we measured the concentrations in the soil, leaf, stem, and root. Average vessel area and vessel lumen area percentage were similar （p〉0.05） in control and treated seedlings. Vessel number per square millimetre showed a decreasing trend from pith to bark in control and treated seed- lings, and the trend was more pronounced in treated seedlings. We con- clude that vessel number per square millimetre in A. velutinum is influ- enced by soil contamination. A. velutinum Boiss is not a suitable species for remediation of soils contaminated by cadmium and lead but it can be used as an indicator of the soil lead contamination, because lead concentrations in seedlings increased with increasing amount of lead in the soil.
