a. azadmehr

Estimation of wave velocities is very important for designing geotechnical structures and modeling deep drillings. The purpose of this study is to estimate shear wave velocity (Vs) using Gaussian process regression (GPR), multilayer perceptron artificial neural network (MLP-ANN) and multivariate linear regression (MVLR) methods. In order to carry out this study, 14 rock blocks were prepared from the northwest of Damavand city and after being transferred to the laboratory, cores were extracted from them. In order to develop a predictive model, point load index, compressional wave velocity (Vp), porosity and density tests were performed on 61 rock core samples. Point load index, Vp, porosity and density were used as input parameters of models to predict Vs. The results of lithological studies showed that the studied sandstones are feldspathic litharnite and litharnite. The results showed that the ratio of Vp to Vs is equal to 1.70 on average. The results of the MLP-ANN showed that the highest accuracy of the models was obtained by using the Levenberg-Marquardt training algorithm. The most accurate models were obtained using this algorithm to estimate the Vs in neuron number 2 (optimal neuron). The GPR, MLP-ANN and MVLR predicted Vs with correlation coefficients of 0.97, 0.96 and 0.95, respectively. GPR method showed better performance in predicting Vs than other methods.

Internal evaluation is a systematic process to collect and analyze information in order to determine the advantages and disadvantages of a program and the degree of achievement of its goals. The purpose of this study was the internal evaluation of general surgery in Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the General Surgery Department of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences in 2021. First, data related to 9 areas of internal evaluation (educational mission and goals, management and organization, teaching program, students, education resources, research, assessment and evaluation, and graduates) were collected through checklists and questionnaires. Then, the status of the groups was determined in nine areas of internal evaluation. The results were statistically analyzed using STATA-14 software with an emphasis on descriptive statistics.

The results showed that the condition of most areas in the general surgery group was favorable. The highest desirability was in the area related to educational resources (space, educational and therapeutic facilities and equipment) (98.1%). Also, in the field of research, they obtained a semi-optimal status (71.8%).

In cases with a favorable situation, the group should try to maintain and improve more in accordance with the progress of science and technology, and to improve the factors that did not have a high score in the internal evaluation, review and plan carefully. Also, the university administrators should provide the necessary conditions and resources to improve the condition of the group and achieve the best level with effective support and assistance.

Scrophularia variegata M. Beib. (Scrophulariaceae) is a medicinal plant, used for various inflammatory diseases in Iranian Traditional Medicine. In the present study, we evaluated the immune modulation and antioxidant effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of S.  variegata.

The splenocytes were harvested from the spleen of Balb/c mice and were cultured. The splenocyte proliferation, NK cell activity, cytokines production and antioxidant effects were evaluated by MTT assay, enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and DPPH assay, respectively.

The S. variegata extract significantly increased splenocyte proliferation. The results indicated that the extract increased NK cell cytotoxicity of Yac-1 tumor cells and at the concentration of 50-200 µg/mL significantly increased IFN-γ and IL-2 cytokines, although the level of IL-4 cytokine was significantly reduced. The antioxidant activity was observed in the extract with IC50 302.34±0.11 μg/mL.

The increasing in the splenocyte proliferation, anti-tumor NK cell cytotoxicity and cytokine secretion were indicated as potent immunomodulatory effects. These results suggest that S. variegata could be considered in the treatment of immunopathological disorders such as allergy and cancer; however, future studies are necessary.