حسین صالح زاده

This study evaluates the performance of Persian gum as a new plant-based biopolymer in reducing the permeability of the Hormuz car-bonate sand and the Firouzkooh silicate sand. To achieve this objec-tive, constant head permeability tests were conducted on both un-treated and Persian gum-treated sand specimens. Various parame-ters, including the proportion of additive biopolymer, curing loca-tion, curing time and initial soil density, were investigated. The re-search findings revealed that the introduction of 0.5% and 3% Per-sian gum resulted in a substantial reduction in permeability, with re-ductions of approximately 3-fold and 190-fold, respectively, depend-ing on the sand type. These reductions were observed subsequent to a 7-day curing regimen conducted under elevated temperatures. Ad-ditionally, it was observed that other parameters, notably initial soil density, curing temperature, and curing duration, exerted a signifi-cant and direct influence on the reduction in soil permeability. In particular, the permeability coefficient of the Hormuz and Firouzkooh optimum samples, treated with a 3% concentration of Persian gum and possessing a relative soil density of approximately 80% prior to treatment, demonstrated a significant reduction to approximately 6.65 × 10E-6 and 7.7 × 10E-6 cm/s, respectively, following an ex-tended 28-day curing period at an elevated temperature. This notable decrease, in comparison to analogous untreated samples, represent-ed a 578-fold and 175-fold reduction in permeability, respectively.

The constraints such as altering soil acidity and environmental concerns stemming from the use of traditional soil stabilizers like cement have justified the exploration of environmentally friendly, cost-effective materials with fewer secondary risks, such as biopolymers. This study focuses on examining the effect of adding Persian gum and calcium chloride to two types of soils, silicate sand from Firoozkooh and carbonate sand from Hormuz. For this purpose, initial parameters such as the weight percentage of Persian gum and the molarity of calcium chloride were evaluated through an unconfined compressive strength test, identifying optimal additive percentages. Then, the impact of factors such as curing time, curing place, and wetting-drying cycles on the compressive strength and durability of the optimized treated specimens was investigated. The results of this research indicate that the compressive strength of Persian gum-treated Firoozkooh and Hormuz sands increases up to 2.75 and 3 MPa, respectively, after a 28-day curing period at 40°C with the optimal Persian gum percentage (2.5% and 3%). Under dry conditions, Persian gum and calcium chloride-treated Firoozkooh and Hormuz sands at the optimal percentage (1.5% Persian gum and 3 molar calcium chloride for Firoozkooh sand and 2.5% Persian gum and 2 molar calcium chloride for Hormuz sand) achieve compressive strengths of 6.2 and 5.1 MPa, respectively, after 28 days, representing a 125% and 70% improvement compared to specimens treated with Persian gum. Persian gum exhibits acceptable durability against wetting and drying cycles, demonstrating initial dry and wet uniaxial compressive strengths (after immersion in water) for Firoozkooh and Hormuz sands treated with Persian gum, which were initially 2200 and 200, 2250 and 240 kPa, respectively. After undergoing 10 wetting and drying cycles, these strengths decreased to 750 and 110, 600 and 80 kPa, respectively, and will maintain this resistance in subsequent cycles.

Suitable tensile strength is one of the important parameters in soils subjected to tensile stress. In recent years, biopolymer materials have been widely used to control cracking and increase the tensile strength of soil. In this laboratory study, the tensile strength of sand treated with Persian gum was investigated. For this purpose, the effect of parameters of initial relative dry density of soil, materials mixing method, temperature and humidity of curing place and curing time on the tensile strength of treated samples was evaluated by indirect tensile test. After examining the results, it was found that adding a uniform gum-water solution (including 2% gum and 16% water related to the weight of dry soil) to the dry soil was the best mixing method and the initial relative density of 50% for the soil was the optimal density to obtain the highest tensile strength. Also, there is a direct relationship between the increase in temperature and the decrease in humidity with the increase in tensile strength, so that when the temperature increases from 25 degrees in the room to 50 degrees in an oven and the relative curing humidity environment decreases from seventy to fifteen and then to zero percent, the maximum tensile strength of treated samples increases from 154 to 270 and 442 kPa respectively.

Various improvement methods have been proposed to improve the mechanical and physical characteristics of soil for the construction and the other similar matters. One of the improvement methods is using of the environmentally-friendly elements such as Persian herbal gum as a renewable hydrocolloid biopolymer. Regarding this, in the present laboratory study, the effect of adding this gum to the Firouzkooh sand (No 161) was investigated. Persian gum-water mixture was added in different percentages relative to the weight of dry soil, and the created samples were subjected to unconfined compressive strength test to identify the optimal conditions of the composition. In spite of the variability of the weight percentages of water and gum added to the soil, the effect of the weight of the soil, curing temperature (room or oven temperature), and curing time (7 to 56 days) were investigated. To interpret the effect of Persian gum addition, several scanning electron microscope tests were performed on selected dry samples. The results clearly revealed an increase in the unconfined compressive strength of the samples improved with Persian gum up to 4 MPa due to the presence of many carboxyl and hydroxyl groups in the gum. Samples cured at room temperature with relative humidity of 15% displayed lower unconfined compressive strength than similar samples cured in an oven temperature due to the hydrophilic properties of herbal gum and increased flexibility of the created bonds.

Because of geographic variation and regional types of allergens, it is recommended that allergists identify common allergens in their area of activity. In the present study, the prevalence of respiratory allergens in patients with asthma and allergic rhinitis was investigated.

This study is descriptive and retrospective. The required data of this study were extracted from the records of 661 patients who were referred to the Asthma and Allergy Clinic of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences (Ardabil province, Northwest of Iran) from April 2016 to March 2017. After confirmation of allergic asthma or rhinitis by the asthma and allergy specialist, these patients were subjected to a prick test with allergen extracts. In the group of grasses the extract of nine grasses, in trees the extract of 11 Tree mix, in weeds the extract of Common weed mix, in animal allergens the three extracts of Standard cat, Dog epithelia, Cockroach mix, in weeds the Mite mix and in fungi, three extracts of Mold mix1, Alternaria and Aspergillus mix were used. All the data were analyzed using SPSS software, version 25.

According to results, of the 661 patients who were studied, 462 ones had positive and 273 had significant prick test results. The grasses group with 293 positive (44.3%) and weeds group with 259 positive results (39.2%) were more common than the other categories. Among the significant positive tests, these two categories with 161 and 142 significant positive tests were indicated as the most common allergens. Respiratory allergens were also more common in patients with a family history of allergies in weeds and trees categories, but there was no significant difference in sensitization pattern according to the history of tonsillectomy.

Patients in Ardabil with allergic rhinitis and asthma were more sensitized to weeds and grass mixtures. It is recommended to provide preventive recommendations to allergic patients and the development of localized skin testing packages and additional studies should be conducted focusing on these two categories of allergens.

 Hydatid cyst is a major hygiene problem in Iran. In 80% of cases, only one organ is involved. However, multiorgan involvement has also been rarely reported. But it seems, the prevalence of hydatid cyst with the involvement of more than one organ in Iran is more than other world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the patients with hydatid cyst multi organ involvement in Ardabil province in northwest of Iran.

In this retrospective study, 34 patients with hydatid cyst with involvement in more than one organ were included. For each patient, a pre-designed questionnaire including name, age, education level, occupation, place of residence, cyst location, clinical manifestations and serologic test results were completed. Patients, who had previously a history of treatment due to hydatid cyst, were excluded from the study.

The mean age of patients was 36.41 years. 61.8% of the patients were housewives and 64% were rural residents. The most commonly involved organs was liver and simultaneous involvement of liver and lung was observed in 38.2% of patients and was more in women. The association of the right lung cyst with the liver cysts was greater than that of the left lung. Only in 43% of the patients, the serologic test was positive for hydatid cyst, and the relationship between serologic test and type of involvement was not significant.

Regarding the high incidence of hydatid cyst involvement in more than one location in our region, in all patients, especially women with liver hydatid cyst, other organs, especially the lungs, should be investigated

Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a rare and progressive cholestatic disease characterized by narrowing of the biliary tract. Despite high levels of ulcerative colitis, early diagnosis of primary sclerosing cholangitis before the diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease is rarely reported. 

Case history:

 A 28-year-old woman with no history of medical disease visited our clinic because of a mild generalized pruritus. In initial blood laboratory tests with elevated liver enzymes was observed. In Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) was introduced primary sclerosing cholangitis to the patient. Therefore, the patient was under colonoscopy and extensive colitis with terminal ileum involvement was detected and the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis was confirmed in the pathology.

Patients diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis should undergo biopsy colonoscopy to rule out inflammatory bowel disease, even if they have no digestive tract symptoms.

Underground structures have entered into the passive defensce discussions as the secure structures in the past five decades. The resistance of tunnel concrete lining subjected to the loads generated by an external explosion is investigated in this study. For this purpose, investigation of tunnel lining subjected to blast waves has been performed using ABAQUS software. Effects of intensive impact loads caused by surface blast on the underground tunnel concrete lining with compressive strength of 30 MPa and also with ultra high strength concrete, both reinforced with steel fibers, with and without steel bars, have been studied. The comparison of the results based on the variation of elastic stresses and strains in tunnel lining has been performed. Explosion of explosive materials induce two types of shock and induction waves at the ground level, both considered simultaneously in this study. The results indicates that the addition of steel fibers to the regular and ultra high strength concrete, with and without steel bars, in comparison to regular reinforced concrete with compressive strength of 30 MPa, under similar loading conditions, can lead to increase in compressive strength of the lining when subjected to explosion.

Fatigue can affect the comfort and self-care behaviors of patients. Use of complementary therapies including back massage and music can be effective in improving it. Accordingly, the researcher aimed to compare the effect of back massage and music on fatigue in patients with chronic heart failure.
Material & This quasi-experimental study with pre-test post-test design with comparison group was conducted in Doctor Shariati Hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In this study, in each group (Control, Back Massage and Music), 30 hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure were recruited through convenience sampling. Then patients were allocated in groups by simple randomization. Data was collected by fatigue scale. Back massage was conducted daily for 20 minutes after the meeting for three consecutive days by using almond oil. In music group, patient’s preferred music including one of the three types of classical, gentle and Iranian traditional music was played for 20 minutes after meeting for 3 consecutive days by a tape recorder and headphone. Before and 15 minutes after intervention, the patient's fatigue was measured and compared. Data was analyzed by using ANOVA, Paired t test, Fisher’s exact test through SPSSv.21 software.
The results showed that in patient's preferring music and back massage, the fatigue was significantly reduced fatigue. Back massage reduced fatigue of patients with chronic heart failure more than music (p Both music and back massage have an impact on reducing fatigue; however, back massage was more effective than music on decreasing fatigue. It is recommended that based on patients’ and heath care providers’ preference, each of these complementary methods can be used, however back massage is preferred to the music.

Aim. This study aimed to compare the effects of Swedish massage and preferredmusic intervention on anxiety in patients with chronic heart failure.
Background. Anxiety can affect the comfort and health of patients.One of the goals of nursing care is providing comfort for patients. Use of complementary therapies including Swedish massage and preferred music can be effective in improving anxiety.
Method. This quasi-experimental study with pre-test post-test design with control group was conducted in Doctor Shariati Hospital of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In this study, in each group (control, Swedish massage and music intervention), 30 hospitalized patients with chronic heart failure were recruitedthrough convenience sampling. Then, patients were allocated to groups by simple randomization. Data were collected by Spielberger anxiety assessment questionnaire. Swedish massage was conducted daily for 20 minutes at evening for three consecutive days by using almond oil. In music group, patient’'s preferred music including two of the three types of classical, gentle and Iranian traditional music was played for 20 minutes at evening for 3 sequential days by a tape recorder and headphone. Before and 15 minutes after intervention, patient's anxiety was measured and compared. Data were analyzed in SPSS version 21 using ANOVA, Paired t test, Fisher’s exact test.
Findings. The results showed that patient's preferred music and Swedish massage significantly reduced anxiety in patients with chronic heart failure, although Swedish massage reduced anxiety of patient's with chronic heart failure more than music intervention (pConclusion. The findings indicated that patients who received Swedish massage experienced lower levels of anxiety. Regarding the importance of anxiety control in patients with heart disease, it is proposed that Swedish massage can be used in the care of these patients and it is preferred to the music intervention.

This study aimed to examine the effect of music intervention on anxiety in patients with heart failure. Anxiety as a psychological problem can increase heart rate، respiration rate and blood pressure all of which have an advert effect on heart in patients with cardiovascular disease، particularly patients with heart failure. This controlled clinical trial study was conducted in Doctor Shariati Hospital affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. In this study، in each group (control، and music intervention)، 25 hospitalized patients with heart failure were recruited through convenience sampling. Then، patients were allocated to groups by simple randomization. Data were collected by demographic characteristic form and Spiel Berger anxiety assessment questionnaire. In music group، music including two of the three types of classical، gentle and Iranian traditional music was played for 20 minutes after meeting for 3 sequential days by a tape recorder and headphone. Before and 15 minutes after intervention، patients'' anxiety was measured and compared. Data was analyzed by using independent t-test، Paired t-test، Fisher’s exact test through SPSS. There was a statistically significant difference between control and music intervention groups regarding anxiety score. Also، there was a statistically significant difference، before and after music intervention in anxiety score of patients with heart failure (p<0. 0001). The findings indicated that music intervention significantly reduces anxiety in patients with heart failure. Because of the importance of anxiety reduction in patients with heart failure، it is proposed that music intervention be used in the care of these patients.

In this paper, first, the principles of physical modeling in geotechnical centrifuge has been explained and then, the application of these principles in modeling of the blast loading is described. Thereafter, procedures and equipment of a blast test in IUST centrifuge are described. Results are presented in the form of acceleration, stress and strain time histories for two different points of underground structures that is located in the depth of 5.6 meters from ground surface. It is observed that the results are in good agreement with existing codes and past researches. The results of this study can be used to investigate the effects of blast loading on underground structures and verification of softwares to more extensive studies.

Underground structures are an integral part of the infrastructure of modern urban. If these structures be built in seismic regions, stability control will be necessary. In this research, dynamic analysis of Tabriz twin subway tunnels by using FLAC2D software has been examined. The main problem in dynamic analysis of this project is the tunnel located below the water table and soil liquefaction ability in the part of the tunnel route. Considering both dynamic loads and pore pressure, the suitable behavior model for soils will require. Mohr-Columb constitutive model used in static analysis and Finn constitutive model used to simulate excessive pore water generation during dynamic loading. For dynamics investigation, used two earthquakes levels; DBL and MCL, and three earthquakes records; Duzce, Loma prieta and Changureh- Avaj. Stability of tunnel Maintenance system under static and dynamic loads investigated. The analysis results indicate that, different earthquakes load conditions affect pore water pressure distribution and subsequently changes liner stresses. Increasing the loading dominate frequency caused the forces of the tunnel lining and pore pressure to decrease. Although, as the loading amplitude decreases, liner stresses and excessive pore water generation decreased.

Most civil projects applied to heavy vertical and horizontal loads or in lands do not have enough strength against applied load. Despite heavy expenses, it is necessary to use pile. Pile foundations are much more expensive than spread and mat foundations; hence, determining number, dimensions and distances should be done with special care so that these parameters are not determined excessively. For optimized design of pile groups, cost analyses based on settlement equations and bearing capacities to determine number, dimensions and piles distances are necessary. In this research, a computer program has been written in MATLAB language, and by using genetic algorithm which can optimize pile groups design. Outputs of this computer program consist of diameter and length of piles, thickness of pile cap, number of piles and their distances in each direction; therefore, this computer program can design an optimized pile group which tackles technical problems while it is the most economical.

In this paper the volumetric behavior of four carbonate sands having different physical properties and crushable grains are investigated using isotropically consolidated-drained triaxial tests. Three sands were obtained from the north shores of the Persian Gulf, south of Iran, called Hormoz, Kish and Tonbak sands, and one was obtained from the south beaches of England and called Rock beach sand. The studied sands have different particle size distribution, shapes and physical properties. Shapes of the grains in these soils are as platy, needle, bulky, angular, subangular and porous, in which show the different sources and deposition environments of them. Tests results conducted on the studied carbonate sands show that different properties of them result in different particle breakage ratio during loading, so that it increases with confining pressure, axial strain, slenderness and area to thickness ratio of the soil grains. Volumetric response of these soils is complex due to interaction of dilation and contraction resulted from particle breakage during shear loading. Therefore, regarding the unknown values of void ratios changes from dilation and particle breakage, the critical state concept become complex. In fact, there is not a real critical state in these soils at least up to axial strain of %20. It is also impossible to reach the critical sate concept using the common triaxial tests apparatus considering of its axial strain limitation. The randomly observed deformation under constant volume is apparent and not real. Such a situation is the volumetric balance between dilation and contraction due to particle breakage. Considering the relative values of these two parameters, the location of the apparently critical state is variable and curve shape, and it is depend on the initial void ratio, dilation, particle breakage and confining pressure. It is expected that the dilation ends up fast, however, particle breakage occurs as the shear strains are applied.

People have paid attention to the use of supportive elements in retrofitting and soil improvement since a long time ego. Nowadays, the capability of reinforcement soil applications has been showed in different civil engineering projects. In order to increase of bearing soil capacity and reduce the settlement of structure, Geosynthetic Cellular System (GCS) has been invented. GCS consists of frame, geosynthetic fabric and soil. In this research, experimental and analytical behavior of small scale geosynthetic cellular systems has been analyzed. Our test case is a cylindrical specimen filled of sand from the beach of Khazar Sea. These cylinders are 10.5 cm in high and theirs base circle diameter are 10 cm in unreinforcement and reinforcement condition. Experimental studies were done with Teri axial test without back pressure and analytical studies were done with finite element soft ware (ABAQUS 6.7). Also in this research, the effect of vertical and horizontal reinforcement, the number of reinforcement, and their arrangement effect in the increase of bearing capacity, the decrease of settlement and lateral deformation of the instance have been presented. The experimental results and analytical studies are completely comparable and analytical results cover the experimental results. Also the results show that the reinforcement elements extremely cause to increase the bearing capacity and decrease settlement and lateral deformation. But, the horizontal reinforcement facilities in construct make it better than vertical reinforcement.

In this paper, the improvement potential of calcareous sand produced in KishIsland by using a chemical grout is investigated. The main characteristics of this sand are its high voids ratio and tendency to be crushed under moderate stresses. The improvement process of sand is conducted using a sodium silicate grout injected with additives such as formamide and sodium aluminate. Samples were prepared in different initial relative densities and then grouted. It is observed that the maximum uniaxial strength, initial tangent modulus and failure strain are obtained in water/silicate ratio of 0.5.Uniaxial strength and initial tangent modulus are increased with time but failure strain variation with time is a function of water/sodium silicate ratio and additives content. Formamide increases and sodium aluminate decreases the uniaxial strength and initial tangent modulus. Furthermore, increasing of grain size decreases grouted sand uniaxial strength. Uniform grading results in brittle and non-uniform grading results in ductile stress-strain behavior. Presence of sulphates and chlorides solved in water reduces the uniaxial strength and increases the initial tangent modulus of grouted sand.