427 research outputs found
Individual and combined exogenous application of melatonin and methyl Jasmonate confer salinity stress tolerance in tomato by enhancing antioxidants defense system
No full textPlants activate physiological responses against salinity stress through hormone signaling pathways such as melatonin (M) and methyl jasmonate (MeJ). These hormones trigger defense responses, but comparing their individual and combined effects under salt stress has not been studied. This research investigates defense responses in tomato plants induced by 100 mu M of M and MeJ, along with their combined application (MeJ+M, 100+100 mu M) under non-stress, threshold (0.9 g NaCl kg-1 soil) and severe (1.8 g NaCl kg-1 soil) salinity conditions. Compared to melatonin, MeJ application caused adverse effects, including chlorophyll degradation (34.2 %), root inhibition (17.2 %), and elevated H2O2 (28.9 %), O2-center dot (33.7 %), and malondialdehyde (14.3 %) in the plant under non-stress conditions. Evaluation of the MeJ+M treatment in non-stress conditions indicated that M prevented MeJ-induced damage. Besides, the optimal potassium uptake and plant growth were obtained in the MeJ+M treatment under non-stress and threshold salinity levels. Phytohormones application increased enzymatic antioxidant activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase), modified the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polyphenol oxidase, and consequently boosted non-enzymatic antioxidants (phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin content), resulting in a significant reduction of damage from severe salinity stress. However, due to their almost similar physiological changes induced by MeJ, M, and MeJ+M, these treatments were not superior compared to each other in severe stress. Thus, owing to the disruption of the normal morpho-physiological processes in non-stress conditions by MeJ, M can be considered a safer treatment for practical usage. Additionally, the MeJ+M application can not only optimize antioxidant protection under stress conditions but also stimulate plant growth under non-stress conditions
Child Development and Mental Health
No full textIn this doctoral thesis, Dr. Hekmat Alrouh investigates the interplay of genetic, environmental, and intergenerational factors that shape child development, physical health, and mental wellbeing across childhood and adolescence. Spanning multiple empirical studies, the work addresses themes such as enduring mental health (EMH), intergenerational transmission of body mass index (BMI), educational attainment, and the unique impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth wellbeing. Data are drawn primarily from large twin and family samples, leveraging genetically informative designs to disentangle the relative contributions of genes and environments. Early chapters introduce the concept of EMH, which is defined as a state in which individuals display no clinically significant mental health problems across key developmental stages. The thesis presents evidence that EMH occurs in only a minority of children and adolescents, emphasizing that experiencing at least some degree of mental health difficulty is more common than previously assumed. These chapters also highlight the crucial roles that parental education, child academic performance, and subjective wellbeing (as measured by life satisfaction scales) play in fostering positive mental health trajectories. Mid-thesis chapters explore how BMI and educational attainment transmit across generations. By analyzing parent-offspring data, the thesis shows that parental BMI is the strongest predictor of a child’s BMI—both in childhood and adolescence—and that higher parental education correlates with children’s scholastic success. Yet, the work clarifies that the association between parental education and offspring BMI can often be explained by parents’ own BMI, cautioning against oversimplified claims that lower parental education, in itself, causes childhood obesity. Later chapters assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns on children’s mental health and wellbeing. Employing a multi-cohort and multi-informant approach, the author observes that the pandemic had heterogeneous impacts, with some youth experiencing exacerbated behavioral or emotional problems. This disruption also enabled the study of how environmental stress interacts with genetic predispositions for mental health, providing insights into gene–environment interplay during a global crisis. Furthermore, the thesis highlights how survey framing—for example, mentioning COVID-19 before asking about wellbeing—can subtly shift parental reports of a child’s mental state, underlining the importance of measurement context when interpreting mental health data. Overall, the dissertation underscores that child mental health is shaped by a dynamic, complex set of influences that span genetic vulnerabilities, parental characteristics, and contextual stressors such as the pandemic. The research ultimately advocates a more integrated, preventative approach to youth mental health, stressing that early identification of risk and resilience factors—such as parental BMI and education—can inform strategies to support child development and psychological wellbeing
Connectivity Maintenance for mmWave WPANs
No full textRecently the need for ultra high data rate wireless networks has increased. With the improvement of CMOS technologies, 60 GHz WPANs has become more interesting commercially. 60 GHz radio operates at wave lengths in the order of millimeters at a frequency band between 57 and 64 GHz. The 802.15.3 MAC is specified to provide high data rate and also have QoS capabilities. Because of physical properties of 60 GHz radio, humans and other object are sources for blocking and shadowing of the wireless channel. The 802.15.3 MAC does not specify how these kind of connection issues can be solved. To overcome problem of shadowing and blocking, changes have to be made to the 803.15.3 MAC and route discovery is needed in case two node lose their peer-to-peer connection. This thesis provides a solution for blocking of a connection between two devices in a piconet by using a multi-hop solution. First a route discovery process is initialised. If needed intermediate nodes are used to reconnect the devices. In case either the source or the destination is excluded from the piconet, a new piconet is formed, creating a mesh network. The newly created piconet contains devices which are in reach of the source and the destination. A measurement for the performance of the route discovery process is the time needed to find the optimal route between the source and the destination. A mathematical model has been derived for route discovery during the CAP using directional antennas. In Opnet Modeler the route discovery has also been simulated using the 802.15.3 MAC extended with directional antennas. The mathematical models do not exactly produce the same values for the delay as the simulation. However, the mathematical model and the simulations show the same behaviour. Furthermore, both the mathematical model and the simulation show that for small networks initialising a route discovery process is quick enough to overcome blocking.TelecommunicationsElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
Fundamental Properties of Wireless Mobile Ad-hoc Networks
No full textWireless mobile ad-hoc networks are formed by mobile devices that set up a possibly short-lived network for communication needs of the moment. Ad-hoc networks are decentralized, self-organizing networks capable of forming a communication network without relying on any fixed infrastructure. Each node in an ad-hoc network is equipped with a radio transmitter and receiver which allows it to communicate with other nodes over wireless channels. All nodes can function, if needed, as relay stations for data packets to be routed to their final destination. In other words, ad-hoc networks allow for multi-hop transmission of data between nodes outside the direct radio reach of each other. Ad-hoc networks have distinct advantages over traditional communication networks. For example, ad-hoc networks can be more economical as they eliminate fixed infrastructure costs, and they can be more robust because of their non-hierarchical distributed control and management mechanisms. Ad-hoc networks increase mobility and flexibility, as they can be brought up and torn down in a very short time. Ad-hoc networks form a relatively new and very diverse field of research. In this thesis we focus our attention on the fundamental properties of ad-hoc networks. For an ad-hoc network to function properly in the first place it must be connected, or mostly connected. Otherwise the network would consist of scattered isolated islands and could not support networking applications. Secondly, the ad-hoc network must have enough capacity to transport the required amount of data between network nodes. By fundamental properties we mean those properties of the network that directly and substantially affect the connectivity or the capacity of the network. In this thesis we have introduced a new mathematical model for ad-hoc networks which is based on realistic assumptions for radio propagation. By using this model we were able to modify connectivity theorems for wireless ad-hoc networks, and have contributed substantially to a better understanding of degree distribution and hopcount in ad-hoc networks. Another novel aspect in this thesis is a new method proposed for the calculation of interference statistics. Also, we have shown that interference in ad-hoc networks is upper bounded and have derived a mathematical formula for this upper bound. Our interference calculation methods have allowed us to investigate the capacity of ad-hoc networks. We have found capacity limits for ad-hoc networks and have established that in multi-hop ad-hoc networks there is a trade-off between the network size and the maximum input bit rate possible per node. Large ad-hoc networks, consisting of thousands of nodes, can only support low-bit-rate applications.Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
Study of Hospital Waste Management in Hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences during the Years 2012- 2013
No full textStudy of Hospital Waste Management in Hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences during the Years 2012- 2013
Khazaee Manoochehr 1, Dehnavieh Reza 2, Nuri Hekmat Somayyeh3, Khazaee Aria 4,
Soltani Zanyar 5, Kamsari Samaneh6, Kardanmoghaddam Vida 7*
Received: 27. 04. 2015 Revised: 16. 06. 2015 Accepted: 06. 07. 2015
Abstract
Introduction: Hospital wastes have high sensitivity due to their hazardous, toxic, and pathogenic agent's contents; therefore, proper management of them plays an important role in the control of environmental pollution and occurrence of hospital infections. In this study, medical waste management in all affiliated hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences was investigated with the purpose of providing proper information for comprehensive and proper planning and enhancing quality of health services in future.
Method: This research was a cross-sectional descriptive study the data of which were collected about production, segregation, storage, collection, treating, transportation, and disposal by completing the questionnaire, raw tables, interviews, observation, and visiting in 2012-2013.
Results: The total numbers of beds in the studied hospitals are 1512, 1269 of which are active beds. The bed occupancy percentage of the studied hospitals was measured 83.92 %. Also, the average rate of total generated waste was calculated 6.06 kg/bed/day. The mean rate of infectious, medicinal and chemical waste, general waste, and sharp waste were calculated 2.65, 3.35, and 0.08 kg/bed/day, respectively. Our results showed that about 43% of the generated waste was infectious, medicinal, and chemical.
Conclusion: Finally, medical waste management in affiliated hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences was in good condition, but it needs more attention in some cases.
Key¬words: Hospitalwaste, Medical waste management, Infectious waste, Treatment.
¬Citation: Khazaee M, Dehnavieh R, Nuri Hekmat S, Khazaee A, Soltani Z, Kamsari S, et al. Study of Hospital Waste Management in Hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences during the Years 2012- 2013. Journal of Health Based Research 2015; 1(1): 37-46.
1. Msc, Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
2. Associate Professor, Department of Health Services, Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
3. Assistant Professor, Department of Health Services, Research Center for Modeling in Health, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
4. BSc, Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Natural Resources and the Environmental Studies, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran.
5. BSc Student, Students Scientific Research Center School of Medical Information Science & Management, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
6. BSc, Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
7. MSc, Health Services Management Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
*Correspondence: Tehran, Keshavarz Blvd, at the corner of the streets of Ghods, Tehran University of medical science
Tel: 021-81633605, 09354804513 Email:[email protected]
Metabolites from Aerial Parts of Glycyrrhiza foetida as Modulators of Targets Related to Metabolic Syndrome
No full textA detailed phytochemical investigation has been carried out on the aerial parts of G. foetida leading to the isolation of 29 pure compounds, mainly belonging to the amorfrutin and polyphenol classes. Among them, the new amorfrutin N (5) and exiguaflavone L (21) were isolated and their structures elucidated by means of HR-ESIMS and NMR. All the isolated compounds were investigated for modulation of mitochondrial activity and stimulation of glucose uptake via GLUT transporters, two metabolic processes involved in intracellular glucose homeostasis, which, therefore, correlate with the incidence of metabolic syndrome. These experiments revealed that amorfrutins were active on both targets, with amorfrutin M (17) and decarboxyamorfrutin A (2) emerging as mitochondrial stimulators, and amorfrutin 2 (12) as a glucose uptake promoter. However, members of the rich chalcone/flavonoid fraction also proved to contribute to this activity
Understanding the role of the PALB2-BRCA1 interaction in tumor suppression
No full textHomologous recombination (HR) is the only error-free pathway for the repair of DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). BRCA1 and BRCA2, the two major breast cancer suppressor proteins, play essential roles in HR-mediated repair of DSBs by promoting the recruitment of RAD51, the recombination enzyme, to DNA damage sites for the initiation of HR. PALB2 (partner and localizer of BRCA2) plays a key role in this pathway by acting as a chromatin adaptor for BRCA2 and a linker between BRCA1 and BRCA2. Like BRCA1 and BRCA2, PALB2 is a tumor suppressor gene itself. Germline, heterozygous mutations in the gene increase the risk of breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers. However, its mechanism is not fully understood. To investigate the in vivo role of the PALB2-BRCA1 interaction, we previously generated a Palb2 knockin mouse strain that contains a mutation that disrupts BRCA1 binding. This mouse model also allows us to bypass the embryonic lethality of the Palb2 KO mice. In this study, we hypothesized that the direct communication between the two proteins is critical for proper DNA damage repair and response in vivo and for suppression of tumorigenesis. Indeed, both immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) demonstrated that different tissues of the Palb2 mutant mice have higher levels of endogenous DSBs (gamma H2AX foci) and slower DSB repair kinetics after ionizing radiation (IR). Yet, mutant cells were more resistant to cell death. When aged under normal conditions, mutant mice showed increased tumor incidence in multiple tissues, particularly in the liver. Upon challenging of these mutant mice with carcinogen administration or gamma irradiation, they showed accelerated tumor development as compared with wild-type (wt) mice. When crossed with Trp53 mutant mice, the compound mutant mice showed greatly accelerated development of tumors typically associated with mutations in p53, i.e. thymic lymphoma, osteosarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma, etc. Whole exome sequencing (WES) of the tumors arising from Palb2m/m;Trp53+/- mice revealed loss of the wt allele of Trp53 in the majority of tumors, with at least some tumors showing focal deletions of the wt gene, suggesting that disruption of BRCA1-PALB2/BRCA2 axis promotes regional genomic deletions that may lead to loss of other tumor suppressors such as p53. These results underscore the importance of the BRCA1-PALB2/BRCA2 pathway for tumor suppression and suggest a potentially novel mechanism for BRCA/PALB2-mediated tumor suppression, which is by preventing Trp53/TP53 loss of heterozygosity (LOH), which would allow for tumor development. Finally, we also found constitutively elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of NF-kB, a redox sensitive transcription factor, in tissues and cells from the mutant mice. Given its established pro-survival function, NF-kB activation could explain why cells in the mutant mice are resistant to apoptosis upon irradiation despite having increased and prolonged DNA damage. This finding also suggests that the NF-kB pathway may be a potential target for treatment of PALB2 and BRCA1-associated cancers.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Amar Hekmat Mahd
Telecom Sector Modelling from a Functional Perspective
No full textToday’s Telecom sectors’ implementations seem to be sub optimal and might even end up out of control because of the multiple implementation of technological and process functionalities, and dominant financial focus that complicates removing legacy networks. Even though, there is support for fulfilling customer needs, the inefficient use of resources can negatively affect the business activities and profits. The Telecom sectors’ current evolutionary stage requires a thorough evaluation of all its current implementations in order to restructure and consolidate them. In order to maintain the vital telecom contribution to our society and economy, cost optimisations and the ability to keep on innovating in an increasing complex setting, need to be safeguarded. We know that, apart from financial difficulties, there are important handicaps in this sector itself: it has an ill-defined set of functions that has been addressed by different standardisation bodies. This has led to the main research question, namely: How to identify a best of breed model which both reflects the current (2009) and the near future (2012) Telecom sector functionality in order to come up with an advise about optimising its internal functional structure taking into account the relevant requirements concerning interoperability with other sectors? The major objective of this study was to identify both the internal and external functions performed by the Telecom sector and thus reveal how they provide value to the other nodes in the sectors’ network. The Telecom sector (as defined in this document) is the research domain and subject of modelling in this thesis. Accordingly, the functional approach deliberately chosen for this project provides an implementation independent basis of knowledge that could be transferrable from the Telecom sector to other sectors or to different aggregation levels in the economy and society. The functions were extracted from well known and commonly used telecom related models. As a result, from the data mining and analysis applied to those telecom related models, this thesis provides a long list of 331 functions performed by the Telecom sector. In addition, these functions were mapped onto other non-telecom sector specific models that have a sectors’ network applicability in order to confirm the neutrality of the functional perspective. A minority of those functions proved to be Telecom sector specific. In this thesis, we present a proposition to classify functions, taking into account two dimensions: Composition (atomic, composed), and domain of applicability (generic, specific). It is known that the generic-specific dimension has been considered before; however, in this thesis we have included a new dimension atomic-composed. These both dimensions are not exclusively, can be applied at the same time, and are context dependant. One of the models studied in this study, providing a sectors’ network view is the Holon model. This model as well makes use of the fact that natural language can be used to represent the economic and social context. It has three main propositions: 1. Holons could be considered as nodes in a network 2. A holon is composed of four layers: est, vivit, sensit, intelligit 3. Each holon can interact with other holons in their same aggregation level (left & right), not only with the holons in other levels of the hierarchy/holarchy (up & down) Interaction with other holons in the same aggregation level is a proposition presented in this thesis. The original concept of holon (proposed by Arthur Koestler) implies that holons form a hierarchical structure (called holarchy), keeping relations with other holons in upper and lower levels of the hierarchy it is part of. This thesis includes as well, an application of graph theory to get insights about the set of data obtained. In this direction, we identified the most common functions in between all the models assessed by doing an exercise of a graph representation. Furthermore, after studying functions and the Holon concept, we propose some new questions for the complex networks and graph theory community: 1. Going from nodes to holons 2. Consider holons being four-tiered structures. 3. Holons looking up and down to other aggregation levels, but also looking left & right within its own aggregation level. From two-tiered graphs to four tiered graphs, the est layer being the foundation of three overlays: vivit, sensit, intelligit. Currently, the flows that traverse the envisaged sensit and intelligit layer are performed by human beings. In the Telecom sector the est and vivit layer are mainly performed by systems. 4. To open a holon and look inside them, how their internal behaviour is reflected to other nodes in the network/hierarchy. Opening a holon shows another four tiered network. The research methodology described in this thesis proved to be suitable to obtain a functional model. The answer to this “how” question was given via the following steps: 1. Selecting sector specific standards and models based on the proposed criteria 2. Extracting functions from those models and long-listing them (functional portfolio) 3. Mapping functions to generic (non-telecom sector specific) model (testing) We have obtained a list of functions that was mapped to three selected generic models (STOF, CTOM, Holon) and to the meta-functions (that are common to all sectors). This led to the conclusion that it is possible to derive a novel functional model from the existing models, if we have a focus on a specific target (in our case: to serve the sectors network). The best of breed model we have chosen is based on the Holon concept explained above.TelecommunicationsElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
Evaluación del impacto de la altura de banco en el diseño y valor económico del Pit final.
No full textTesis presentada para optar al título de Ingeniero/a Civil de Minas.La altura de banco es un parámetro de diseño fundamental en minas a cielo abierto. En
general, este parámetro se hace coincidir con la altura de los bloques en el modelo de bloques, lo
cual tienen un impacto en la selectividad y dilución. Además, la altura de banco condiciona el diseño
de voladuras y la selección de equipos principales, como perforadoras, equipos de carguío y
transporte. Esto afecta los costos operacionales y de capital, que impactarán en el tamaño y valor
del pit final.
Se pretende comprender como impactan distintas opciones de altura de banco (10, 15 y 20
m), en las leyes, operaciones unitarias, costos, diseño y valor económico de un pit final para distintos
ritmos de producción. A fin de tener una visión más general, se trabajará con dos yacimientos: uno
de tipo vetiforme y el otro de tipo masivo. Se trata a la altura de banco como parámetro de entrada
principal, debido a sus diversas implicancias e incidencia en los demás parámetros de diseño del pit.
Para el yacimiento vetiforme, los resultados mostraron que aumentar la altura de banco tiene
un impacto importante en la selectividad y dilución, generando aumentos de tonelaje en las reservas
y reducciones en su ley media. Mientras que el yacimiento masivo no presentó efectos importantes.
Por otra parte, incrementar la altura de banco, aumento las dimensiones de las mallas de tronadura
y el tamaño de los equipos, permitiendo en general menores costos operacionales. La operación
unitaria que experimentó una mayor baja en los costos fue la perforación. Contrariamente los costos
de tronadura fueron quienes experimentaron una menor reducción. En general los ahorros en costos
operacionales utilizando grandes alturas de banco, permitieron obtener un pit de mayor tamaño.
Respecto al valor económico, para el yacimiento vetiforme, el impacto negativo de la dilución
al emplear alturas de banco grandes, y el mayor costo de capital de los equipos, superan con creces
a los benéficos de un menor costo operacional. Es decir, emplear alturas de banco grandes y altos
ritmos de producción destruye valor para este tipo de depósitos. Opuestamente para el yacimiento
masivo de gran tamaño, al no existir un efecto significativo de la dilución, la pauta seguirá apuntando
a elegir alturas de banco grandes, asociadas a equipos de gran capacidad. Estos aprovechan sus bajos
costos operacionales, son capaces de solventar su mayor costo de capital y logran aumentar el valor
de un proyecto operando con altos ritmos de producción.Facultad de IngenieríaDepartamento de Ingeniería MetalúrgicaConcepció
Esercizio di sparizione. Liveness e performance mediata in The Perfumed Garden di Raafat Majzoub
No full textAt the Drodesera Festival / Supercontinent 2017 was presented Lebanese artist Raafat Majzoub’s installation The Perfumed Garden / Hekmat, xx. Part of a larger project to write a serial novel that originated in 2012 and has not yet been completed, in this stage Majzoub participates in the installation by writing a new chapter of the novel from his residence in Beirut. Unlike other performances that saw the author present, Hekmat, xx / Dro is confronted with a particular performative strategy that discusses the degree of presence/ absence of the artist, reconfigured through the mimetic passage in the narrative form and distant intervention. By updating a document shared on the GDrive platform and displayed on the screen of a laptop open on a desk, the artist makes visible to the user the act of creating a piece of text while not being physically present. The group of users visits and interacts (listening, watching, acting) in a physical space and enters into a specific and complex relationship with the author. Examining the artist’s critical writings and comparing them with theoretical sources, the essay investigates Majzoub’s project by analyzing an experiment that employs different degrees of mediated performance to express a series of artistic, philosophical and political instances.Al festival Drodesera / Supercontinent 2017 è stata presentata l’opera The Perfumed Garden / Hekmat, xx dell’artista libanese Raafat Majzoub. Parte di un più ampio progetto di scrittura di un romanzo seriale che ha avuto origine nel 2012 e che tuttora non è stato completato, in questa tappa Majzoub partecipa all’installazione scrivendo un nuovo capitolo del romanzo mentre si trova nella propria residenza a Beirut. A differenza di altre tappe che vedevano presente l’autore, Hekmat, xx / Dro si confronta con una particolare modalità di fruizione che discute il grado di presenza/assenza dell’artista, riconfigurato attraverso il passaggio mimetico nella forma narrativa e l’intervento a distanza. Aggiornando in tempo reale un documento condiviso sulla piattaforma Google Drive che viene visualizzato sullo schermo di un laptop, l’artista rende visibile al fruitore l’atto di creazione di un brano di testo pur non essendo fisicamente presente. Il gruppo dei fruitori abita e interagisce (ascoltando, guardando, agendo) in uno spazio fisico ed entra in una specifica e complessa relazione con l’autore. Esaminando gli scritti critici dell’artista e confrontandoli con formulazioni teoriche, il saggio analizza il progetto di Majzoub approfondendo un esperimento che impiega diversi gradi della performance mediata per esprimere una serie di istanze artistiche, filosofiche e politiche
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