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.

Fungi release wide spectrum of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that belong to several chemical groups with different biochemical origins such as monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, aromatic compounds, esters, furans, ketones, sulfur and nitrogen compounds. Trichoderma species are the most studied fungal biocontrol agents and are successfully used as biofungicides and biofertilizers in greenhouse and field. Volatile metabolites play a key role in mycoparasitism of Trichoderma spp., as well as in their interactions with plants and other organisms in their environments. Based on the antibiotic activity of these fungi against the fungal pathogens, further consideration of their VOCs profiles, has been offered. In this study, VOCs of native Trichoderma species from Iran (T. harzianum, T. virens (6011), T. atroviridae (1-3)) have been identified by static headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry The most of detected compounds were related to monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. These are including; dl-limonene; beta-himachalene; beta-cubebene; cadinene; caryophyllene; alpha-gurjunene; farnesol; thujopsene; beta-bisabolene and alpha-farnesene. Based on antifungal effects of these compounds, biological control of these Trichoderma species can be related to them. These VOCs could be potential sources for purposes of chemotaxonomy and natural fungicides to protect crops from the fungal pathogens without environmental problems.

Background: Facial nerve palsy can occur due to several causes and accordingly, several treatments have been proposed by plastic surgeons. This study is to determine the efficacy of temporal myoplasty in correcting the facial deformity of patients suffering from hemi-facial palsy whom were referred to "15 Khordad" hospital between 1381- 1385.Materials and Methods: Participants were 6 patients with hemi-facial palsy who referred continuously and were neither candidated for microscopic surgery, nor can tolerate free muscle transposition surgery. We conducted a clinical case study to compare pre and post-operation stages. In these patients, the new one-stage method of temporal tendon transposition to lip's commissure (without any grafting) was performed. They were followed for an average of 2 years. Assessments were made in terms of their age, sex, facial palsy cause, palsy duration, complications, and lip's commissure range of motion. Pre and post-operation photos were taken and physical examination was documented and analyzed for each case.Results: Two cases (out of six ones) were men and the others were women. Their age range was 38.2±14 years old. In three cases, facial palsy was a post-traumatic result. One patient had congenital form. In another one it was due to tumor resection complications. The last patient was a tympanoplasty case. Palsy duration range was 28.7±11 months. No complication was seen after the operation. In early post-operation stage, 50% of patients had good static facial position and in remained 50% the result was excellent. However, in delayed stages, the percentages for excellent, good and moderate outcomes were 66, 17 and 17, respectively. Despite the well dynamic facial position in early post-operation stages among all the cases, in delayed stages the percentages for excellent, good and moderate results were reduced to 50, 33 and 17, respectively. Conclusion: It seems that neither for those who can not tolerate long operations nor like to do so, temporal myoplasty might be an acceptable method as an alternative for the standard surgical methods applied for hemi-facial palsy (i.e. the microscopy procedure). It is recommended to conduct an absolute experimental study in this regard.

Inclined retaining walls with slopes less than perpendicular are appropriate candidates in several engineering problems. Yet, to the knowledge of authors, only a few analytical solution for calculation of active earth pressure on such walls, which will be usually smaller than the same pressure on vertical ones, has been presented neither in research papers nor in design codes. Considering limit equilibrium concept in current research, a new formulation is proposed for determination of active earth pressure, angle of failure wedge and application point of resultant force for inclined walls. Necessary parameters are extracted assuming the pseudo-static seismic coefficient to be valid in earthquake conditions. Moreover, based on Horizontal Slices Method (HSM) a new formulation is obtained for determining the characteristics of inclined walls in granular and or frictional cohesive soils. Findings of present analysis are then compared with results from other available methods in similar conditions and this way, the validity of proposed methods has been proved. Finally according to the results of this research, a simplified relation for considering the effect of slope in reduction of active earth pressure and change in failure wedge in inclined retaining walls has been proposed.

1. Introduction; Soil slope stability depends on different parameters such as layers geometry, types of layers, layers condition (saturated, wet or dry), underground water level, static and seismic loads and also many other parameters. There are many solutions to stabilize the soil slopes; e.g. nailing method, using drainage, changing the slope’s geometry, and using a retaining wall.

Discrete Element Method can be used for numerical analysis of different geotechnical problems such as retaining wall earth pressure distribution. This paper is an effort to use the method in determining active and passive earth pressure distribution behind a retaining wall. Soil mass in the present method is treated as comprising of blocks, which are connected by elasto-plastic Winkler springs. The solution of this method satisfies all equilibrium and compatibility conditions. The method has the simplicity of the classic limit analysis and offers more ability in solving problems in complex geometry and loading conditions such as seismic impacts, pore water pressure, non-homogeneity of the soil reinforced backfill soils, etc. In this paper, the formulation of the method is briefly reviewed. Examples are shown to demonstrate the applicability of the method for analysis of earth pressure behind a retaining wall including dynamic lateral pressure of non-homogeneous soil. The results are compared with previous classic methods. Applicability of DEM for analysis of reinforced soil structure and advantages of this method over conventional methods are also discussed.

Graphics statics is a geometric method for analyzing and calculating the internal forces of structural members under external loads. In this method, two diagrams of structural form and internal forces in the members are determined and drawn graphically. The process of parameterization of this method in both form production and internal force calculations can lead to various designs with the least amount of time. In such circumstances, Architects and Civil engineers can make the best choice based on the criteria and objectives of the structure, form and geometric topology. In this paper, the parametric graphics statics analysis of various truss designs, derived from the popular species Warren, Pratt, Howe, and Fink, or any related free-form, is performed in the Python programming language in the grasshopper Plugin. The results of the analysis performed with the results in the available sources show that the proposed parametric graphics statics method has a high performance in calculating the internal forces of members of conventional trusses or free-form with any desired load.

static and pseudo-static analysis based on the Discrete Element Method (DEM) is presented for active and passive earth pressure distribution behind a retaining wall. Soil mass in the present model is treated as comprising blocks which are connected by elasto-plastic Winkler springs. The solution of this method satisfies all equilibrium and compatibility conditions. Examples are shown to demonstrate the applicability of the method for analyses of earth pressure behind a gravity wall, including pseudo-static pressure of earth and lateral pressure of non homogeneous soil. The applicability of DEM for analyses of reinforced soil structures and the advantages of this method over the conventional limit equilibrium method are also discussed.

Discrete Element Method (DEM) can be used for numerical analysis of different geotechnical problems such as slope stability bearing capacity of shallow foundation and relative displacement of rock masses. In this research an effort is made to use the method for determining bearing capacity of foundation. To do this a computer program called BCAP (Bearing Capacity Analysis Program) is developed In this model the foundation can rest on a horizontal or inclined slope surface. The bearing capacity of strip shallow foundation is analyzed by "DEM" in both static and pseudo-static conditions. The soil mass is modeled as several discrete blocks connected with Winkler springs. Similar to the conventional bearing capacity theories tire failure of footing occurs by a wedge of soil below the footing pushing its way downward into the soil. The geometry of the failure surface is not f red and can be altered due to the all factors affect the problem. The geometry of the failure surface under the foundation is determined by four independent angles. By the trial and error the optimum. Shape of failure surface beneath the foundation can be found this optimum failure surface is corresponds to the minimum-collapsing load. Dynamic seismic forces are replaced by horizontal acceleration factors in a semi-static manner affecting on foundation. The paper includes several examples to explain the capability of the method. Also the results are compared with the other methods currently used for ultimate bearing capacity of shallow foundations. Several graphs are presented expressing the bearing capacity's coefficients for foundation on horizontal and inclined surfaces in the conditions of static and pseudo-static forces for various internal friction of underneath soil.