Fabrication and Characterizations of Hot-Melt Extruded Nanocomposites Based on Zinc Sulfate Monohydrate and Soluplus

Song Yi Lee(이송이),Su Yeong Nam(남수영),Yo Han Choi(최요한),Min Ju Kim(김민주),Ja Seong Koo(구자성),Byung Jo Chae(채병조),Wie Soo Kang(강위수),Obyedul Kalam Azad3(아자드 오바이둘 칼람),Dong Ha Cho(조동하),Hyun Jong Cho(조현정) 한국약용작물학회 2018 한국약용작물학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2018 No.1

Residual Strength of Corroded Reinforced Concrete Beams Using an Adaptive Model Based on ANN

Ashhad Imam,Fatai Anifowose,Abul Kalam Azad 한국콘크리트학회 2015 International Journal of Concrete Structures and M Vol.9 No.2

Estimation of the residual strength of corroded reinforced concrete beams has been studied from experimental and theoretical perspectives. The former is arduous as it involves casting beams of various sizes, which are then subjected to various degrees of corrosion damage. The latter are static; hence cannot be generalized as new coefficients need to be re-generated for new cases. This calls for dynamic models that are adaptive to new cases and offer efficient generalization capability. Computational intelligence techniques have been applied in Construction Engineering modeling problems. However, these techniques have not been adequately applied to the problem addressed in this paper. This study extends the empirical model proposed by Azad et al. (Mag Concr Res 62(6):405?414, 2010), which considered all the adverse effects of corrosion on steel. We proposed four artificial neural networks (ANN) models to predict the residual flexural strength of corroded RC beams using the same data from Azad et al. (2010). We employed two modes of prediction: through the correction factor (Cf) and through the residual strength (Mres). For each mode, we studied the effect of fixed and random data stratification on the performance of the models. The results of the ANN models were found to be in good agreement with experimental values. When compared with the results of Azad et al. (2010), the ANN model with randomized data stratification gave a Cf-based prediction with up to 49 % improvement in correlation coefficient and 92 % error reduction. This confirms the reliability of ANN over the empirical models.

Qualitative and Quantitative Comparison of Contrast-Enhanced Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery, Magnetization Transfer Spin Echo, and Fat-Saturation T1-Weighted Sequences in Infectious Meningitis

Rajiv Azad,Mohit Tayal,Sheenam Azad,Garima Sharma,Rajendra Kumar Srivastava 대한영상의학회 2017 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.18 No.6

Objective: To compare the contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (CE-FLAIR), the CE T1-weighted (CE-T1W) sequence with fat suppression (FS) and magnetization transfer (MT) for early detection and characterization of infectious meningitis. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients and 10 control subjects were evaluated with the CE-FLAIR and the CE-T1W sequences with FS and MT. Qualitative assessment was done by two observers for presence and grading of abnormal leptomeningeal enhancement. Quantitative assessment included computation of net meningeal enhancement, using single pixel signal intensity software. A newly devised FLAIR based scoring system, based on certain imaging features including ventricular dilatation, ependymal enhancement, infarcts and subdural effusions was used to indicate the etiology. Data were analysed using the Student’s t test, Cohen’s Kappa coefficient, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, the intraclass correlation coefficient, one way analysis of variance, and Fisher's exact test with Bonferroni correction as the post hoc test. Results: The CE-FLAIR sequence demonstrated a better sensitivity (100%), diagnostic accuracy (95%), and a stronger correlation with the cerebrospinal fluid, total leukocyte count (r = 0.75), protein (r = 0.77), adenosine deaminase (r = 0.81) and blood glucose (r = -0.6) values compared to the CE-T1W sequences. Qualitative grades and quantitative meningeal enhancement on the CE-FLAIR sequence were also significantly greater than those on the other sequences. The FLAIR based scoring system yielded a diagnostic accuracy of 91.6% and a sensitivity of 96%. A strong inverse Pearson’s correlation (r = -0.95) was found between the assigned score and patient’s Glasgow Coma Scale at the time of admission. Conclusion: The CE-FLAIR sequence is better suited for evaluating infectious meningitis and could be included as a part of the routine MR imaging protocol.

Development and Evaluation of a Multicultural Counseling Competencies (MCC) Training Module for Trainee Counselors

Azad Athahiri Anuar,Rafidah Aga Mohd Jaladin 한국상담학회 2016 Journal of Asia Pacific counseling Vol.6 No.1

The aims of this study were to develop and evaluate a multicultural counseling competencies (MCC) training module for trainee counselors in Malaysia. The module encompassed five sub-modules and 11 activities developed along the concepts and components of the MCC matrix model developed by Sue, Arredondo, and McDavis (1992). The design method used in this study involved an experimental design approach involving pre-test and post-test. The instruments used to determine the MCC of trainee counselors was the Multicultural Awareness, Knowledge, and Skills Surveysign approach involving pre-test and post-test.Asay, and D and ). (2003). The study sample comprised 60 trainee counselors from three local universities. Independent t-tests were conducted to identify the differences in MCC of trainee counselor awareness, knowledge, and skills between the treatment and control groups. In the pre-test, the trainee counselors in the treatment and control group had similar levels of MCC, while the post-test showed an increase in MCC levels of trainee counselors in the treatment group. These findings proved that the MCC training module had an impact on MCC. Implications of these findings are discussed.

ARID1B, a molecular suppressor of erythropoiesis, is essential for the prevention of Monge’s disease

Azad Priti,Caldwell Andrew B.,Ramachandran Srinivasan,Spann Nathanael J.,Akbari Ali,Villafuerte Francisco C.,Bermudez Daniela,Zhao Helen,Poulsen Orit,Zhou Dan,Bafna Vineet,Subramaniam Shankar,Haddad G 생화학분자생물학회 2022 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.54 No.-

At high altitude Andean region, hypoxia-induced excessive erythrocytosis (EE) is the defining feature of Monge’s disease or chronic mountain sickness (CMS). At the same altitude, resides a population that has developed adaptive mechanism(s) to constrain this hypoxic response (non-CMS). In this study, we utilized an in vitro induced pluripotent stem cell model system to study both populations using genomic and molecular approaches. Our whole genome analysis of the two groups identified differential SNPs between the CMS and non-CMS subjects in the ARID1B region. Under hypoxia, the expression levels of ARID1B significantly increased in the non-CMS cells but decreased in the CMS cells. At the molecular level, ARID1B knockdown (KD) in non-CMS cells increased the levels of the transcriptional regulator GATA1 by 3-fold and RBC levels by 100-fold under hypoxia. ARID1B KD in nonCMS cells led to increased proliferation and EPO sensitivity by lowering p53 levels and decreasing apoptosis through GATA1 mediation. Interestingly, under hypoxia ARID1B showed an epigenetic role, altering the chromatin states of erythroid genes. Indeed, combined Real-time PCR and ATAC-Seq results showed that ARID1B modulates the expression of GATA1 and p53 and chromatin accessibility at GATA1/p53 target genes. We conclude that ARID1B is a novel erythroid regulator under hypoxia that controls various aspects of erythropoiesis in high-altitude dwellers.

Cooking Methods Alter Bioaccessibility of the Bioactive Compounds in Purple Potato (Solanum tuberosum L. var. Bora Valley)

Azad, M. O. K.,H. S. Choi,M. H. Rahman,임학태 강원대학교 농업생명과학연구원 2020 강원 농업생명환경연구 Vol.32 No.2

Purple potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Bora Valley) is a nutrient source rich in bioactive compounds. However, the cooking methods either significantly affect retention of bioactive compounds or reduce them in the potatoes. The results of this study showed that the water solubility of the bioactive compounds was significantly higher in boiled potato (37%) compared to raw (31.3%) and steamed (30.9%) potatoes. The smallest nano-size particles were obtained from boiled potato (124 nm), followed by the steamed (138 nm) and raw (166 nm) potatoes. The total phenolic content in the boiled potato (3774 mg/100 g) was higher than in the steamed (2026 mg/100 g) and raw (3169 mg/100 g) potatoes. Likewise, the levels of single phenolic acids, such as caffeic and ferulic acid, increased, while the ascorbic and chlorogenic acid levels decreased in boiled potato. The total flavonoid and total anthocyanin contents were reduced by both cooking methods. Chromatographic analysis showed that the levels of the only pelargonidin increased but those of cyaniding, delphinid, and malvidin decreased in cooked potatoes compared to raw potatoes. However, the antioxidant capacity increased in boiled potatoes (37.6%) compared to the steamed (29.8%) and raw (29.9%) potatoes. The scanning electron microscopic analysis showed well- dispersed nano-size particles in boiled potatoes, while flocculated particles were observed in the steamed and raw potatoes. Finally it is concluded that boiling is the most suitable cooking processes to retain higher functional bioactive compounds in purple potato.

Bactericidal and wound disinfection efficacy of nanostructured titania

Azad, Abdul-Majeed,Aboelzahab, Asem,Goel, Vijay Techno-Press 2012 Advances in materials research Vol.1 No.4

Infections are caused due to the infiltration of tissue or organ space by infectious bacterial agents, among which Staphylococcus aureus bacteria are clinically most relevant. While current treatment modalities are in general quite effective, several bacterial strains exhibit high resistance to them, leading to complications and additional surgeries, thereby increasing the patient morbidity rates. Titanium dioxide is a celebrated photoactive material and has been utilized extensively in antibacterial functions, making it a leading infection mitigating agent. In view of the property amelioration in materials via nanofication, free-standing titania nanofibers (pure and nominally doped) and nanocoatings (on Ti and Ti6Al4V implants) were fabricated and evaluated to assess their efficacy to mitigate the viability and growth of S. aureus upon brief (30 s) activation by a portable hand-held infrared laser. In order to gauge the effect of exposure and its correlation with the antibacterial activities, both isolated (only titania substrate) and simultaneous (substrate submerged in the bacterial suspension) activations were performed. The bactericidal efficacy of the IR-activated $TiO_2$ nanocoatings was also tested against E. coli biofilms. Toxicity study was conducted to assess any potential harm to the tissue cells in the presence of photoactivated materials. These investigations showed that the photoactivated titania nanofibers caused greater than 97% bacterial necrosis of S. aureus. In the case of titania-coated Ti-implant surrogates, the bactericidal efficacy exceeded 90% in the case of pre-activation and was 100% in the case of simultaneous-activation. In addition to their high bactericidal efficacy against S. aureus, the benignity of titania nanofibers and nanocoatings towards tissue cells during in-vivo exposure was also demonstrated, making them safe for use in implant devices.

A Modified Three-parameter Lognormal Distribution For Seismic Demand Assessment Considering Collapse Data

Azad Yazdani,Hessan Salehi,Mohammad Sadegh Shahidzadeh 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.22 No.1

Consideration of parameter uncertainty in structural seismic performance has become an important issue in the last decade. A common means of including such uncertainties is through the reliability theory. Seismic reliability assessment is concerned with calculation of probability of exceeding a certain structural limit state against a ground motion intensity measure. However, an important factor which affects the reliability index is the selection of probability distributions for structural demand. Usually a lognormal distribution is assumed by researchers but recent studies show that such simple assumption may result in misleading reliability measures. In this study, a three parameter lognormal distribution is proposed to be used to describe seismic behavior at relatively high intensity measures. This distribution is unique as it considers the missing or collapse data and at the same time incorporates a location parameter to disregard the less likely displacements at high spectral accelerations in Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA). It was shown by means of the Shannon’s entropy that uncertainty of calculating the reliability index using the proposed distribution is minimum compared to other available methods and therefore it is recommended to be used for reliability assessment of collapse prevention limit state.

T helper cell subsets and related cytokines in infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization before and after seminal plasma exposure

Azad, Marziyeh,Keshtgar, Sara,Jahromi, Bahia Namavar,Kanannejad, Zahra,Gharesi-Fard, Behrouz The Korean Society for Reproductive Medicine 2017 Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine Vol.44 No.4

Objective: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a well-known method for the treatment of infertility. The present study aimed to compare the differences between infertile women with successful and unsuccessful IVF outcomes regarding the expression of T helper (Th) cell transcription factors and a group of related cytokines before and after exposure to their husbands' seminal plasma. Methods: This study was performed on 19 couples with unexplained infertility undergoing IVF treatment. Among the studied group, nine and 10 couples had successful and unsuccessful IVF outcomes, respectively. This study was carried out using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Before seminal plasma exposure, the expression levels of T-bet (p< 0.007), $interferon-{\gamma}$ (p= 0.013), and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ (p= 0.017) were higher in the infertile women with IVF failure than in those with successful IVF outcomes, while those of GATA3 (p< 0.001), Foxp3 (p= 0.001), and interleukin (IL)-35 (p< 0.003) were lower. After seminal exposure, the expression of T-bet (p= 0.02), Rorc (p< 0.001), $TNF-{\alpha}$ (p= 0.001), Foxp3 (p= 0.02), and $interferon-{\gamma}$ (p= 0.001) increased in the unsuccessful IVF group, while the expression of Foxp3 (p= 0.02), Rorc (p< 0.001), IL-23 (p= 0.04), IL-17 (p= 0.02), IL-6 (p< 0.001), transforming growth $factor-{\beta}$ (p= 0.01), and IL-35 (p< 0.001) increased in the successful IVF group. Conclusion: In summary, IVF failure was associated with imbalanced Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg responses. Moreover, our results show that seminal plasma might have a positive effect on IVF outcomes via changes in peripheral blood T cell subsets.

Effectiveness of a Training Program Based on Stress Management on NEDSA Staff and Line Staff

Azad, Esfandiar,Hassanvand, Bagher,Eskandari, Mohsen Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute 2022 Safety and health at work Vol.13 No.2

Background: The purpose of present study was to determine the effectiveness of training program based on job stress management in NEDSA and line staff. Methods: The study method of this study was quantitative and quasi-experimental research Methods: From the statistical population (all employees of the NEDSA and line staff in 2020-2021), 30 of these people were selected by judgmental sampling method and considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The participants were first matched based on age and education and were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. First, pre-test was taken from both groups (Job Stress Questionnaire). The experimental group was presented with a job stress management training package and no protocol was presented in the control group. After the sessions, post-test was received from both groups (experimental and control). After two months, a follow-up test was performed. Results: The results were entered into SPSS-24 software and analyzed. The results of repeated measure showed high effectiveness of the job stress management package (researcher-made). The results showed that the job stress management training package showed 67.5% effectiveness and also the training effect of job stress management training was stable for two months (follow-up). Conclusion: Based on these results, Training program based on stress management can be effective in military staff.