167 research outputs found
114 - Mahsa Ghorbani
No full textStock price prediction is one of the most challenging problems in finance and is receiving considerable attention from researchers. The literature provides strong evidence that prices can be predicted from past price data as well as other fundamental and macroeconomic variables. We propose a filtering operation using covariance information in order to predict future stock prices. We use daily historical price data for Generals Electric Company to illustrate our method, which shows promising results in terms of the estimation performance and volatility
Nurturing success with learning disabilities in French immersion with teachers' and parents' support and collaboration
No full textThis paper draws upon my six years of teaching French as the second or foreign languages as well as my academic experiences in the Master of Education program. Within the past six years, I have perceived the second language acquisition to be an enjoyable and pleasant journey for all my students similar to what I experienced as a child. However, having faced various learning styles and needs as well as the uncertainty of some parents about the placement of their children with learning disabilities in French Immersion, I gravitated to inquire more into the compatibility of this program for my at-risk students. The French Immersion program is suitable for the students with learning disabilities if they can be provided with proper support in positive and motivating learning environments, such as school and home. This knowledge would benefit the teachers and parents who need to be ensured that the inclusion of the students with learning difficulties in French Immersion is educationally sound. Through the analysis of different strategies and accommodations, this paper discusses how the students with learning disabilities and their families can address their concerns and avoid some challenges, such as transition to English-only programs after having built several years of connections and friendships and the associated social-emotional impacts. This paper also seeks to convey the message to the teachers that learning disability should not hinder language acquisition. The implications emerged from this awareness are that educators and parents can advocate for the students with learning disabilities through their collaborative efforts, so that they can have equitable access to learning French in supportive and inspirational learning environments.Not peer reviewedcapstoneFrench immersionlearning disabilitysecond language acquisitioninclusionary practiceshome-school collaborationhome-school collaboratio
Evaluation of T helper17 as skeletal homeostasis factor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and T helper cells of end-stage renal disease cases with impaired parathyroid hormone
No full textBackground Chronic renal failure is mainly connected with high and low parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels and immunological impairments. The present study aimed to evaluate T helper 17 (Th17) cells as a crucial modulator of the immune system and skeletal homeostasis in hemodialysis patients with impaired intact PTH (iPTH).Methods In this research, blood samples were taken from ESRD patients with high (> 300 pg/mL), normal (150-300 pg/mL), and low (< 150 pg/mL) serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH( levels (n = 30 in each group). The frequency of Th17 (CD4(+) IL17(+)) cells was evaluated by flow cytometry in each group. The expression levels of Th17 cell-related master transcription factors, cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and Th cells, and the level of the mentioned cytokines were determined in the supernatant of PBMCs.Results The number of Th17 cells remarkably increased in subjects with high iPTH against low and normal iPTH. Also, ROR?t and STAT3 levels were significantly higher in high iPTH ESRD patients than in other groups in the expression of mRNA and protein levels. These findings are confirmed by evaluating the IL-17 and IL-23 in the supernatant of cultured PBMCs and isolated Th cells.Conclusion Our findings indicated that increased serum PTH levels in hemodialysis cases may be involved in increasing the differentiation of CD4 + cells to Th17 cells in PBMC
The concept of flexibility in the formation of contemporary biological spaces
No full textFlexibility in architectural spaces makes it possible to adjust the living conditions associated with human settlements and adapt the residential unit to human behavior. Today, due to the lack of a correct statement about the proper placement of spaces, biologic neighborhoods in relation to geographic location and the neglect of the true concept of comfort in modern buildings, seems necessary to provide appropriate solutions to this problem. What is the concept of flexibility and how to create and achieve solutions for the reconciliation of the human environment in the climate of own habitat? All of this research seeks to provide a solution to the creative design of flexible spaces, with goals such as: improving and increasing the performance of residential spaces, developing creative design solutions in residential spaces, introducing theoretical foundations and criteria for flexible spaces, and taking advantage of in today's design of housing. The study of theoretical concepts of flexible spaces will help residents to create comfort in the living space of contemporary buildings. This research proposes, through deductive reasoning, appropriate solutions to the positive effects of physical, functional, social and functional characteristics, on increasing the comfort of living in resident settlements. This research is of qualitative and descriptive-analytic method for elaboration of the issue of flexibility and promotion of biological comfort in contemporary habitat. In the discussion of theoretical foundations, a library research has been used including specialized sites, books and scientific articles that use Results and data aggregation can be found in effective physical solutions appropriate to the conditions of the construction of contemporary buildings in Iran
DNA vaccine: Methods and mechanisms
No full textInfectious diseases are the biggest cause of mortality and morbidity in humans, especially in poor and developing countries. For many years, no new vaccine has been developed, which indicates the limitations of the development of common vaccines, including destruction and inactivation of the vaccine, weakened vaccines toxoids known as first-generation vaccines. Types of vaccines including: (1) First-generation vaccines, (2) second-generation vaccines or recombinant vaccines, (3) third-generation vaccines (gene vaccine). The study on DNA vaccines first began in the 1990s, when the plasmid DNA is injected into the skin or muscle was reported to induce antibody responses to antigens. Since DNA vaccines are easily designed and manufactured, they are easier to preserve them, and they are inexpensive, as one of the most desirable types of vaccine. However, more clinical trials are needed to prove the immune responses that immune to DNA vaccine in humans. Information on the vaccination method, adjuvant and the genetic structure of the vaccine is still not complete
Effects of essential oil of Satureja bachtiarica, Satureja khuzestanica and Mentha longifolia on the growth of Actococcus garvieae in rainbow trout fillet
No full textThe present research was done with the aim of studing the effects of some medicinal plant essential oils against Lactococcus garvieae and on some spoilage indexes in rainbow trout fillets in 4°C during 18 days. Essential oils of Mentha longifola (20, 40 and 80 μg g-1), Satureja bachtiarica (0.125, 0.25 and 0.50 μg g-1) and Satrureja khuzestanica (0.06, 0.12, 0.25 and 0.50 μg g-1) were used for this study. According to the results, the highest and the lowest microbial load were observed in control group and the groups contained 80 and 40 μg g-1 of Mentha longifola, respectively (P≤0.05). The spoilage indexes were increased after 18 days showing a statistical difference for protein, fat, TVN, FFA and TBA (P≤0.05). The most and the least changes were observed in the the control group and the fillets containing 80 μg g-1 of Mentha longifola, respectively (P≤0.05). The results indicated that, in comparison with control group, using herbal essential oils leads to reduction of Lactococcus garvieae population and spoilage process of the fillets through decreasing in TVN, FFA and TBA. Meanwhile, Mentha longifola having 80 μg g-1 was found to be more effectivePhDAdvisores:M. Soltani, S.E. Hosseini
Counsellors: A.GH. Kamal
Beyond Human Vision: Revolutionizing the Localization of Diminutive Sessile Polyps in Colonoscopy
No full textGastrointestinal disorders, such as colorectal cancer (CRC), pose a substantial health burden worldwide, showing increased incidence rates across different age groups. Detecting and removing polyps promptly, recognized as CRC precursors, are crucial for prevention. While traditional colonoscopy works well, it is vulnerable to specialist errors. This study suggests an AI-based diminutive sessile polyp localization assistant utilizing the YOLO-V8 family. Comprehensive evaluations were conducted using a diverse dataset that was assembled from various available datasets to support our investigation. The final dataset contains images obtained using two imaging methods: white light endoscopy (WLE) and narrow-band imaging (NBI). The research demonstrated remarkable results, boasting a precision of 96.4%, recall of 93.89%, and F1-score of 94.46%. This success can be credited to a meticulously balanced combination of hyperparameters and the specific attributes of the comprehensive dataset designed for the colorectal polyp localization in colonoscopy images. Also, it was proved that the dataset selection was acceptable by analyzing the polyp sizes and their coordinates using a special matrix. This study brings forth significant insights for augmenting the detection of diminutive sessile colorectal polyps, thereby advancing technology-driven colorectal cancer diagnosis in offline scenarios. This is particularly beneficial for gastroenterologists analyzing endoscopy capsule images to detect gastrointestinal polyps
The effect of reliability improvement actions and providing warranty policy type LIC and FRW/LSW on price range of used devices
No full textAccess to new products and also buyers’ requirements to specific technologies have become more difficult because of the low purchasing power of some consumers, some sanctions and political issues in the world; these cases have caused noticing to second- hand market. Product warranty and performance guarantee are also the cases to attract customer and gain his/her trust. Buyers’ hesitant on proper functioning of these products has encouraged vendors to perform reliability improvement actions and provide valid warranties to gain their confidence. The effect of reliability improvement actions and providing warranty policies limited on individual cost (LIC) and free replacement warranty /repair warranty/lump sum warranty (FRW/LSW) on the price range of two types of used laboratory equipments of Mehr Abrar Company will be surveyed. This research is an applicable type that after consistency of failure rate function with exponential function has been used for estimation of warranty cost from available models in the literature. Warranty cost was also calculated after reliability improvement actions with hybrid approach of virtual life, minor-full repair; and then determined by using cost data of accounting department in price range of each device. Statistical society consists of all failure data of cell counter and biochemistry devices of Mehr Abrar Company in the period of four years.The results show that after performing reliability improvement actions, period warranty costs are reduced; and this affects on total costs and devices price per unit. For vendor, the cost of LIC policy is more than FRW/LSW warranty, this is because that a higher price ceiling has been considered. However, FRW/LSW policy in long-term and LIC policy in short-term can help the vendor to provide his/her product
Structural changes of conversion metal fluoride cathodes in lithium ion batteries
No full textCurrently, cathode materials for Li-ion batteries are based on intercalation processes where, during charge and discharge processes, Li intercalates into the crystal lattice while maintaining the host crystal structure. More recently, new cathode materials have been introduced based on conversion reactions involving phase transformation and complete reduction of the host transition metal. In addition, conversion reactions involve two or more Li ions with a resulting much higher capacity than obtainable for intercalation materials. However, mechanism of phase transformation and cycling reversibility are at present still poorly understood. In this study transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques including selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern, annular dark field (ADF) STEM image, and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) with nanoscale spatial resolution were used to study the phase evolution and structural changes of iron fluorides (FeFe2, FeO0.7F1.3, FeF3) after various discharge/charge cycles. Additionally, the changes of the Fe valence states upon cycling were determined using EELS by measuring the L3/L2 intensity ratio of Fe-L edge. The structural transformations of FeO0.7F1.3 during the first lithiation show that litiahation contains two regions. The first region, lithiation is an intercalation reaction iii with reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+. The second region of lithiation involves a conversion reaction, with the formation of metallic Fe, LiF, and Li0.7Fe2+0.5O0.7F0.3 (rocksalt type) phases. The first delithiation process follows a different conversion reaction path compared to the first lithiation reaction involving the formation an amorphous rutile-type phase along with with the rocksalt-type phase. Interestingly, upon full recharge (delithiated electrode), the measured average Fe valence state returns back to its initial value of Fe2.7+. The growth of a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer formation at the electrode/electrolyte interface is observed for the iron fluoride compounds (FeF2, FeF3, and FeOF) after cycling. The evolution of the SEI layer formation after cycling has been studied for the FeF2 samples in details by EELS and XPS. We observed the growth of SEI layer with cycle number, which mainly contained LiF and Li2CO3 compounds. Two degradation mechanisms are identified. First, the increase in the decomposition product layer after cycling inhibits complete reconversion process. Second, dissolution of Fe into the SEI layer after cycling which leads to the loss of active material.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Mahsa Sin
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