Researchers' attention has recently been focused to the measurement and tracking of prestressing force in the tendons of prestressed concrete (PC) constructions. Older structures need non-destructive testing techniques to evaluate these forces, even if modern structures are fitted with sensors to monitor prestress losses. This work presents a new approach that uses static displacement data under experimental loads to determine the real prestress force in the tendons of a prestressed concrete beam. This approach offers a more economical alternative by doing away with the requirement for destructive tests or pre-installed sensors. A genetic algorithm (GA) is created to precisely calculate the prestress force of tendons. Laboratory testing shows that the proposed method can detect prestress losses with excellent accuracy, even in the presence of intentional measurement mistakes of up to 10%.Researchers' attention has recently been focused to the measurement and tracking of prestressing force in the tendons of prestressed concrete (PC) constructions. Older structures need non-destructive testing techniques to evaluate these forces, even if modern structures are fitted with sensors to monitor prestress losses. This work presents a new approach that uses static displacement data under experimental loads to determine the real prestress force in the tendons of a prestressed concrete beam. This approach offers a more economical alternative by doing away with the requirement for destructive tests or pre-installed sensors. A genetic algorithm (GA) is created to precisely calculate the prestress force of tendons. Laboratory testing shows that the proposed method can detect prestress losses with excellent accuracy, even in the presence of intentional measurement mistakes of up to 10%.

Magnetic field is an environmental factor for living organisms which affects biological processes in different ways. Living cells contain electrical charges which are produced by free ions or radicals. Magnetic fields can influence cells via interaction with ions and especially ferromagnetic materials, like iron. In this study, parsley or Petroselinum crispum cells were treated by static magnetic field (30 mT, for 4 hours) and the total content of iron, ferritin and the activity of ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase were assayed. Results showed a significant decrease in the total iron content and it was followed by a decrease in ferritin content. Ascorbate peroxidase activity was reduced. It could be resulted by decrease of iron as a structural element. However, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity increased in response to magnetic field compared to the control cells. It seemed that catalase activities increased scavenge H2O2 produced by increasing superoxide dismutase activity.

There are many reports on the effects of magnetic fields on the plants, but the exact mechanisms of these effects are poorly understood. In this study we compared the effects of different magnetic fields on the germination and early growth of wheat seeds. The seeds of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in two groups, dry and imbibed, were treated with static magnetic field (SMF 30mT) and electromagnetic field (EMF 10KHz) for 4 days and 5 hour for a day. After treatment, seed water uptake, the percent and speed of germination, early growth characteristics and electrolyte leakage of seeds coat and seedlings root membrane were estimated. The results showed that treatment with SMF and EMF had not significant effect on the germination percent of imbibed wheat seeds, but accelerated the speed of germination, fresh and dry weight and vigor index II, compared to control groups. In dry wheat group only positive effect of magnetic field had seen on the length of seedlings. Magnetic field treatment decreased the electrolyte leakage of seeds coat and seedlings root membranes; however had not increased the water uptake of seeds. So elevated speed of germination and growth of seedlings probably was due to increase of membrane integrity, content or activity of the germination enzymes or antioxidant enzymes. In general, effects of magnetic field on the imbibed seeds is better than dry seeds and SMF had better effect than EMF on the germination and early growth of wheat seedlings.

Background and Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the Hand Static Rest Splint on reducing the pain and other compliance of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Materials and Methods: In the present clinical trial, 12 patients, aged 35-50 (average: 39 years) with RA, referring to the Occupational Therapy Unit of Taleghani hospital and meeting America College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria, were included. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was administered and swelling, tenderness and morning stiffness were assessed. Moreover, assessments of active range of motion using goniometry and grip strength with Jamar dynamometer in both hands were performed. Statistical analysis of data was performed using t-test and Mann-Whitney Test for two independent samples and willcoxon tests and paired t-test for paired samples run in SPSS, version 18. The level of significance was set at p˂ 0. 05. Results: The findings showed that the Static Rest Splint led to improvement in the wrist range of motion (flexion p=0/005, extension p=0/03) when the two groups were compared, but it did not have a significant effect on Morning Stiffness (p=1), pain (p=0/1), Swelling (p=0/06), and Tenderness (p=0/2). However, when compared between after and before intervention in hand with splint, pain (p=0/02) and wrist range of motion (p=0/004) improved. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the current study, and since using splints only improve range of motion in the wrist compared between two groups and pain relief before and after the intervention, it seems that using hand Static Rest Splint to reduce other symptoms need further investigation and also given that the use of this position without stress on the tendon can be effective in reducing the causes deformity, further studies are needed to more delineate these points.

This paper peresents the 2–D discrete wavelet–based crack detection using static and dynamic responses in plate structures. Over the last few decades, the wavelet–based techniques of damage identification methods have been presented and developed in civil and mechanical structures. The techniques are based on a comparison between the current structural responses as damaged structure and those of the previous baseline state, which is considered to be the health structure. To impliment the damage detection of plate structures, in this study the displacement, rotation and stress as the static responses and the mode shapes as the dynamic responses are considered in the crack detection procedure. The numerical results show that the wavelet–based crack detection is sensitive to number of cracks in plate structure. In other words, the existence of a crack can be potentially identified using each of the static or dynamic responses of plate structures. Moreover, if multi–cracks exists in plate structure, both static and dynamic responses of plate structure should be utilized in the damage detection procedure.

Aims As a naturally occurring environmental factor as well as an external factor resulting from burgeoning technology, static magnetic field (SMF) has considerable effects on plants physiology. The effects of SMF on production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been shown in plant cells. The aim of the present research was to evaluate the redox system responses of soybean (Glycine max) to different intensities of SMF. Materials & Methods In the present experimental research, M7 soybean seeds in their vegetative phase (14 days) were treated with 20 and 30mT SMF for 4 day, 5 hours daily. The experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design with factorial and at least 3 replications. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, using one-way ANOVA. Findings The treatment of 30mT resulted in a reduction in fresh weight, total antioxidant activity, and total regenerative capacity and increased hydrogen peroxide, but did not affect the total contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. In the treatment of 20mT, the level of peroxide decreased, but the fresh weight, hydroxyl radical level, antioxidant activity, total phenolic compound, and flavonoids contents increased. The amounts of Fe2+ decreased in 20mT but increased with 30mT. Conclusion In the Soybean redox system, SMF of 20mT leads the electrons toward useful redox compounds like phenolic compounds and results in growth stimulation, while SMF of 30mT leads the surplus electrons to destructive compounds such as Fe2+, which results in decrease of the plant growth.

Since years bygone, the brain had been the focus of considerable debate and controversy and the fears of declaring death had always been a dilemma. For a long time, this presumption prevailed that the only subtle sign of death was putrefaction and rigor mortis (2). In the presence of cardiac activity, the permanent loss of cerebral function, manifested clinically by the absence of purposeful responsiveness to external stimuli, cephalic reflexes, apnea, and an isoelectic electroencephalogram for at least 30 minutes in the absence of hypothermia and poisoning by central nervous system depressants indicate cerebral death. The ABR test can be an indicator of preserved brainstem function in difficult clinical situations and has been utilized in brain-dead patients (3,4). Absence of ABR waves II through V despite a normal wave I indicates a significant lack of function in brain stem auditory tracts. This clinical trial was conducted on 62 male (30-75 years)who were in comatosed state. The ABR were clear and reproducible in comatosed patients in whom brain death was not documented, whereas these responses were not recordable in brain dead-patients.The latter finding was confirmed using preclinical monitors such as EEG, Cerebral angiography and CT Scan.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of mortality in the world. Increased blood pressure is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Decreasing blood pressure due to exercise can reduce the risk of cardiovascular incidents. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of exercise on blood pressure, heart rate and rate pressure product.materials and methods: To evaluate the effects of intensity and volume of resistance exercises on the post-exercise cardiovascular responses, 10 young untrained non-athletic men (age: 22±0.8 years; height: 173.05±2.4 cms and weight: 67.2±3.4 kgs) participated in this study as the subjects. The subjects performed four exercise bouts in a randomized order. Each bout consisted of five exercises: arm curl, hamstring curl, squat, seated lat pull-down and bench press. The exercises were determined to be performed at three sets: SHORT volume of LOW 40% 1RM (SL) and HIGH intensity 80%1RM (SH) and at six sets: LONG volume of LOW 40% 1RM (LL) and HIGH intensity 80% 1RM (LH). Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and rate pressure product (RPP) (product of HR and systolic BP) were measured before the exercise (baseline) and at the ten-minute intervals within 90 minutes after each exercise. Then, the data were analyzed using two way ANOVA repeated measures and LSD post-hoc tests.results: Systolic BP was found to be Affected by the volume and intensity of exercise and became lower during 10 to 60 minutes after the exercises (P<0.05). However, Diastolic BP was not altered after the exercise bouts. HR was increased in 30 minutes after LL and SL, and within 60 minutes after SH and LH exercises (P<0.05). In contrast, after SH and LH, RPP was increased over a period of 50 minutes.Conclusion: The intensity and volume of resistance exercises do not influence the magnitude and duration of post-exercise hypotension. Also, HR and RPP post-exercise are not affected by the resistance exercise volume.