The beam-to-column connections in steel frames are assumed to be either pinned or rigid. Using pinned or rigid connections simplify the analysis, but they can not present the real behavior of the structure. Because, the experiments have shown that the connections under the loads will have some flexibility. Therefore, it is recommended that the flexibility of the connection should be included in the frame analysis. In this paper, the elastic secant stiffness matrix of a beam-column element with semi rigid connections under axial force, end moments and transverse distributed loads are derived. Second-order elastic and stability analysis of two-dimensional steel frames are carried out, afterward. The proposed stiffness matrix is very general and can be applied to a frame member with any type of connection. Furthermore, it is more accurate and efficient than the corresponding matrices obtained by other authors. In addition, this method uses only one element for each member and presents a single formulation for both tensile and compressive members in the analysis. Load-deflection curve and numerical values obtained by the suggested technique are compared with those found by other investigators. The effect of the connection flexibility on the equilibrium path and the stability load are also discussed.

This paper presents analytical and numerical models for semirigid timber frame with Lagscrewbolt (LSB) connections. A series of static and reverse cyclic experimental tests were carried out for different beam sizes (400, 500, and 600 mm depth) and column–base connections with different numbers of LSBs (4, 5, 8). For the beam-column connections, with increase in beam depth, moment resistance and stiffness values increased, and ductility factor reduced. For the column–base connection, with increase in the number of LSBs, the strength, stiffness, and ductility values increased. A material model available in OpenSees, Pinching4 hysteretic model, was calibrated for all connection test results. Finally, analytical model of the portal frame was developed and compared with the experimental test results. Overall, there was good agreement with the experimental test results, and the Pinching4 hysteretic model can readily be used for full-scale structural model.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the stone clearence and complication rates of flexible ureteroscopy (URS) with semirigid URS in patients having proximal ureteral stones. Materials and Methods: The data of 124 patients with proximal ureteral stones who underwent semirigid or flexible ureterorenoscopic lithotripsy between March 2008 and December 2012 were retrospectively investigated. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the operation types. Group 1 included 63 patients who were treated with semirigid URS and group 2 was consisted from 61 patients who underwent flexible URS. Each group was compared in terms of stone diameter, successful access to the stone, operation time, reoperation rates, stone free status at postoperative 1st and 3rd month and complications. Results: Successful access was achieved in 48/63 (76%) of the cases in group 1 and 57/61 (93%) of the patients in group 2 (P <. 05). Initial stone free status was 63. 4% (40/63) and 86. 8% (53/61) in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P <. 05). Third month radiologic investigations revelaed a stone free rate of 77. 7% (49/57) in group 1 and 93. 4% (57/61) in group 2 (P <. 05). Reoperation was required in 20. 6% (13/63) of cases in group 1 and this value was only 6% (4/61) in group 2 (P <. 05). There was not any statistically significant difference between 2 groups in terms of complication rates (P >. 05). Conclusion: Flexible URS is a favorable option for patients having proximal ureteral stones with higher stone free rate; on the other hand semirigid URS seems a less successful alternative for treatment of proximal ureteral stones.

The influence of connection strength and rigidity on the seismic performance of steel moment resisting frames is investigated. The seismic response of frames with three, eight and fifteen story is evaluated. These frames with rigid and semirigid connections were subjected to five em1hquake records. In ultimate limit state, the response of rigid and semirigid frames is compared in terms of the base shear story drift ratio, failure mechanism and behavior factor. These studies indicate that, the semirigidity of steel frames does not necessarily result in larger drift or in more damage than in rigid frames. It was also observed that, a well-proportioned semirigid connection could participate in the nonlinear behavior of the structure and enhances the dynamic performance of steel frames.      

Objective The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of soft and semi-rigid prefabricated insoles on the improvement of pain and quality of life in women with plantar fasciitis.Materials & MethodsThis study was a randomized clinical trial. A society with 30 women diagnosed with plantar fasciitis by physical and rehabilitation physicians, orthopedic practitioners, and other rehabilitation colleagues and referred to an orthopedic clinic of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Absolute recognition of plantar fasciitis was performed by the researcher using Windlass mechanism test. In this study, prefabricated soft insoles made from ethyl vinyl acetate with low-density and semi-hardened insoles of ethyl vinyl acetate with high-density were used. The insoles were full-length with an internal longitudinal arch proportional to the size of the feet of each patient. The intervention was randomly divided into two treatment groups. The patients (n=30) were divided into two groups of 15, which consisted of the test and measurement steps. The first group was without intervention, soft insoles and the semi-hardened insoles. The second group was with the stage without intervention, the soft insoles and semi-hardened insoles. Before intervention, the Foot and Ankle score and quality of life questionnaire (SF-36) was completed and then orthoses intervention was performed in two stages. One questionnaire completed after two weeks using orthosis and another six weeks after using orthosis. Normal distribution of data was calculated using Shapiro Wilk test, and for the final analysis, tests of repeated measures ANOVA were used. Statistical calculations were performed using SPSS 20 software and P<0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe results demonstrated that the difference between the mean quality of life of patients in two stages of without insoles and with soft insoles was significantly higher in comparison to the without insoles stage (P<0.05). This result is same as when without insole stage is compared with semi-rigid insole and mean difference showed that this figure was significantly higher in comparison with the without insoles stage (P<0.05). The mean quality of life is higher in the semi-hard insoles in comparison to soft insole stage and the difference between these two stages is not significant (P˃0.05). The mean of foot and ankle pain in was significantly more inpatient without insole condition in comparison to patient with a soft insole (P<0.05). The mean foot and ankle pain in without insole condition is significantly more than the time when the patient has a semi-rigid insole (P<0.05). While the comparison of the pain score with soft insoles and semi-rigid insoles indicates that the pain level of the foot and ankle is significantly higher with the semi-rigid insoles.Conclusion Based on the present findings, it can be concluded that orthosis intervention, regardless of its gender, has no significant improvement in the quality of life in patients with plantar fasciitis. Furthermore, soft insole reduces the pain of the ankle and foot in these patients.

Background and Aim: Many studies investigated the effect of ankle-foot orthosis on reducing the incidence of sprain. In this study the influence of elastic and semirigid stirrup type orthosis on the onset latency of peroneus longus muscle activity as the most important support of ankle- foot region in response to sudden perturbation was assessed in healthy group and athletes with functional ankle instability.Materials and Methods: Thirteen healthy female athletes and 10 female athletes with functional ankle instability (17 to 27 years old) were perturbed unexpectedly by a custom made ankle perturbation system in frontal plane under three conditions of without orthotics, using elastic orthosis, and using semirigid stirrup-type orthosis. Simultaneous recording of electrical activity of peronus longus muscle was performed with surface electromyography.Results: The results showed the significant differences between muscular latency of injured and control groups without orthosis (P=0.018). The onset latency reduced using each type of the orthoses in injured group but it was not significant (P>0.05).Conclusion: Although the latency time of peroneus longus muscle response delay didn’t show significant reduction using orthoses in injured group, it seems that using orthoses leads to proprioception improvement and sensiomotor control increasement by stimulation of cutaneous mechanoreceptors.

Introduction: Our aim was to compare transureteral lithotripsy (TUL) and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) in the management of upper ureteral calculi larger than 5 mm in diameter.Materials and Methods: Patients who had upper ureteral calculi between 5 mm and 10 mm in diameter were enrolled in this clinical trial. The calculi had not responded to conservative or symptomatic therapy. Semirigid ureteroscopy and pneumatic lithotripsy were used for TUL in 52 patients and SWL was performed in 48. Analysis of the calculi compositions was done and the patients were followed up by plain abdominal radiography and ultrasonography 3 month postoperatively.Results: The stone-free rates were 76.9% in the patients of the TUL group and 68.8% in the patients of the SWL group. These rates in the patients with mild or no hydronephrosis were 85.7% and 59.1% for the SWL and TUL groups, respectively. In the TUL group, half of the patients with no hydronephrosis developed upward calculus migration. The stone-free rates were 75.0% and 89.3% for the patients with moderate hydronephrosis and 70.0% and 100.0% for those with severe hydronephrosis in the SWL and TUL groups, respectively. All of the failed cases were treated by double-J stenting and TUL or SWL successfully. There were no serious complications. Upward calculus migration after TUL was more frequent in cases with no hydronephrosis or mild hydronephrosis (41.0%).Conclusion: Upper ureteral calculi smaller than 1 cm can be safely and effectively managed using semirigid ureteroscopy and pneumatic lithotripsy. However, the SWL approach has still its role if an experienced endourologist is not available.

Background: One of the most common indications for pleuroscopy is undiagnosed pleural effusion, which comprises about 25% of all cases of pleural effusions, which remain undiagnosed despite primary tests. Pleuroscopy was performed for the first time in Iran in Masih Daneshvari hospital located in Tehran. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield of pleuroscopy performed in this center in Iran.Materials and Methods: Three-hundred patients with undiagnosed pleural effusions were enrolled in this study. For all patients, primary tests including pleural effusion analysis, cytology and closed pleural biopsy (if needed) were conducted and all of them were inconclusive. The semirigid thoracoscopy (pleuroscopy) was performed for all patients for diagnostic purposes.Results: Eighty-seven percent of the peluroscopies were diagnostic and 67% of them were diagnosed as malignancy while the rest were diagnosed as tuberculosis. Only 11 patients developed minor complications.Conclusion: In conclusion, pleuroscopy is a safe procedure when performed by a skilled and experienced practitioner, it has a high diagnostic yield and results in only minor complications.