Regarding the high cost of retrofitting and replacing the isolation system after an earthquake, re-centering seismic isolation systems have become one of the most popular research fields in the past decades. A new generation of seismic isolation is based on equipment with improved performance in terms of damping and re-centering capability. Since lead-rubber base isolation (LRB) is one of the most common seismic isolation systems, this paper focused on suggesting a re-centering LRB system with high damping capacity. The LRB isolation is based on an experimental study under a constant vertical load equal to 650 kN. The proposed combined system of LRB and friction yields a high damping capacity. A spherical shell is placed on the base isolation system, and the friction reaction emanates from this shell's sliding on the provided foundation. The primary purpose of this spherical shell is to increase the damping capacity of the isolation system. An adjustable friction reaction is reachable depending on the connection details of the spherical steel shell with the system's upper steel cap plate. The higher stiffness of this connection is provided greater friction force and, as a result, higher damping capacity. In short, this connection was performed as adjustable friction and can increase energy dissipation and maximum shear force, respectively, in the range of 12% to 80% and 6% to 230%. Increasing re-centering capacity is another goal of this study. It is of great interest to implement shape memory alloy (SMA) in the form of wires because of their re-centering capabilities. The axisymmetric design is implemented to reduce this hybrid system's vulnerability to earthquakes of arbitrary direction. The combined action of wires and the spherical steel shell provides the re-centering capacity of the system. The final system, which is a combination of LRB, friction mechanism, and vertical load transfer through SMA wires (MDLRB-SMA), exhibits enhanced properties such as reduced residual deformation, controllable shear reaction at each stage of the deformation, and increased damping capacity. The energy dissipation capacity of the MDLRB-SMA is shown to be increased by 50%, with a decreased residual deformation of up to 45% compared to the LRB. A set of parametric studies are also performed to investigate the influence of frequency, displacement amplitude, loading rate, the wires' configuration and properties, and the aspect ratio of the system's performance.

PURPOSE: To present our experience of using an adjustable male sling، Argus® (Promedone SA; Cordoba، Argentina)، in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI)، and report its success، extension of indications، and management of complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated Argus implantation results in 17 patients، including 15 post prostatectomy incontinence، one exstrophy-epispadias، and one neurogenic bladder patient. Of 17 patients، 12 had severe (more than 5 pads daily) and 5 had moderate SUI (2 to 5 pads daily). Seven patients had history of previous surgeries. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively with urodynamic study and cystoscopy. RESULTS: After median follow-up of 11. 8 months (range، 3 to 22 months)، 9 patients were continent، 7 had mild SUI (1 pad daily)، and one had the device removed due to perineal and bladder symptoms. Argus adjustment was done in 10 out of 17 patients; 8 tightening and 2 loosening. In a totally incontinent exstrophy-epispadias patient with a history of multiple bladder surgeries، continence was achieved after device readjustment. In a patient with neurogenic bladder with a history of cystoplasty، severe SUI changed into a moderate sporadic SUI. In 2 patients، prosthesis infection occurred، which was managed with antibiotics without the need for Argus explantation. CONCLUSION: Argus is a simple and good device to control incontinence in men. It may also be used in exstrophy-epispadias patient who is not a candidate for urinary sphincter implantation. Infection complication may be managed conservatively. To the best of our knowledge، this is the first report of successful Argus implantation in exstrophy-epispadias patient.

Background and Aim: Culture and specific staining (including Zeil-Nelson and fluorescent methods) are standard measures for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB). Because these methods are time-consuming and, sometimes, due to their low accuracy faster and more accurate methods are necessitated. Methods, which can substitute invasive procedures, when obtaining smear samples and culture is not possible, and in addition to being simple and fast, they have an acceptable diagnostic accuracy.The aim of the present study was to verify the diagnostic value of blood Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method in pulmonary TB.Materials and Methods: This case-control study included 64 proven pulmonary TB cases (according to The National TB Protocol) and 28 subjects who were completely healthy. 4.5ml of blood was derived from each participant and then mixed with 0.5ml EDTA. Finally, DNA extraction and PCR testing using SI 6110 primers was performed for all blood samples.Results: Mean age of the cases and controls was 49.8±18.6 and 48.2±18.5, respectively. 49.2% of the cases and 25% of controls were male. Blood PCR in 23 patients with TB was positive, but none of the controls had a positive PCR (thus, sensitivity of 35.7% and specificity of 100%).Conclusion: With regard to specificity of 100% in PCR method (despite its low sensitivity), in conditions where there is no access to an appropriate specimen, a positive blood PCR can obviate invasive procedures and rapid and definitive diagnosis of the disorder and timely treatment of the patient, his life is saved.

Thermoacoustics describes energy conversion processes, activated by interaction temperature oscillation, accompanying the pressure oscillation in a sound wave, with solid boundaries. In ordinary experience this interaction of sound and heat cannot be observed, because of the very low temperature differences, but under suitable conditions, it can be emphasized and amplified to create remarkable thermodynamic effects such as, steep thermal gradients, powerful convective heat fluxes, and strong sound fields. We designed and constructed a simple thermoacoustic refrigerator with an adjustable mechanical resonator, coupled with the acoustic resonator. Our experimental data showed about %10 increase in the efficiency of the refrigeration in comparison with a simple thermoacoustic refrigerator with no mechanical resonator.

In this paper, one of the applications of MEMS technology in the field of telecommunication systems is introduced. For the first time, by using a variable MEMS capacitor in the CSRR resonator, a new method for adjusting and multi-banding telecommunication resonators is provided independently and simultaneously. In addition, the CSRR resonator is implemented on a HMSIW line and fabricated with the integrated circuit fabrication technology in order to reduce the noise caused by incomplete connection as well as area and loss and to integrate with the MEMS structure. Also, in this paper, the frequency behavior of structures was investigated by magnetic simulation with HFSS software. The results indicate that the transmission loss of the proposed structures is less than 1 dB and the return loss is greater than 15 dB. The proposed resonator works in the S-band frequency with the same frequency behavior as PCB board while its area is reduced by five times compared to the conventional structure by choosing the appropriate substrate for the integration. The proposed fabrication process for the adjustable and dual-band structure is presented which is based on existing integrated circuit technology.

High dynamic range and adjustability of gain are the main requirements in low-voltage audio-frequency transconductors. There are several methods for designing a low voltage transconductor however, most of them have a fixed transconductance over their input range. In this paper a low distortion ohmic transconductor with adjustable gain has been designed. The circuit can operate from 3 V single power supply and has a very low distortion by choosing normal dimension for W/L of feedback transistors. To consider stray capacitances of the circuit we also perform L-Edit extraction. Then the final circuit has been carried out with 0.8.um CMOS Technology. Simulation has resulted a very low distortion as small as 0.2% for a 1.8Vpp sinusoidal input.

Purpose: To evaluate the success rate of strabismus surgery with both adjustable and non-adjustable suture technique, Moreover, compared the success rate of these methods regardless of cause, type and amount of deviation and history of previous surgery.Methods: In this study 296 patients were included (from 2003 to 2011). Patients divided in two groups; strabismus surgery with adjustable and non-adjustable suture technique. Required information were extracted from medical records sheets and were analyzed.Results: Of the 296 patients studied, 115 (38.9%) underwent adjustable suture surgery and 181 patients (61.1%) also operated with non-adjustable suture method. Post-operative day success (deviation less than 8 prism diopter) was 82.06% in adjustable suture technique and 65.19% in non-adjustable suture group, This is statistically significant. There was no significant relationship between a history of previous surgery and current surgery (P=0.052). Moreover, there was no statistically significant relationship between the type of surgical procedure and limitation horizontal movement (P=0.051).Conclusion: According to the result of previous studies and similar results have also been obtained in this study, it is suggested adjustable suture method is ideal for all types of strabismus.

Background: The genitourinary system is one of he most common sites of infection in non-pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The clinical symptoms and radiologic findings of urinary TB are nonspecific. Current diagnostic tests are of low sensitivity and labor-intensive. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate diagnostic value of urine PCR in genitourinary tuberculosis (GNTB).Methods: This was a descriptive study on 33 patients with confirmed genitourinary TB. Demographic data, clinical symptoms, laboratory and radiologic findings were collected. For each patient, three consecutive early morning urine specimens were examined by PCR. The diagnostic value of PCR in mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in comparison with standard microbiological methods was assessed.Findings: There were 33 patients with a mean age of 47.27 16.1 years. The most common presenting symptoms were irritative voiding symptoms (51.5%), flanks pain (27.2%), gross hematuria (9%) and suprapubic pain (9%). Laboratory findings in U/A were hematuria (75.8%) and pyuria (60.6%). IVU was abnormal in 61.5% of patients. Most common abnormalities were pyelocalyceal dilation (44%), ureteral stricture and hydroureter (37%) and multiple small calyceal deformities (25%). Of the 33 patients PCR for MTB was positive in 16 cases (48.5%). In patients with abnormal IVU, PCR was positive in 62.5%.Conclusion: A high index of clinical suspicion is necessary for diagnosis of GUTB. PCR is recommended for instant diagnosis and screening before further examination, it cannot be the only method in identification of GUTB.

Design and realization of a broadband H-plane Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW) power divider with equal and unequal output powers is presented. The configuration of the proposed structure is based on the three equal width SIW lines. In proposed SIW power divider septum has been realized with a row of metalized vias. The inclusive input bandwidth in the proposed structures is achieved due to the proper septum design. The output powers are controlled with the septum offset. The parametric analysis shows that the magnitude of outputs could be adjusted with septum offset and the width of SIW could control the cutoff frequency. Power flow from input port toward output port confirm the proposed design concept. Two SIW H-plane power dividers with the same and different outputs have been designed and produced. There are good agreements between simulation and measurement results for both structures. The input impedance bandwidth for equal and unequal prototypes is 3. 4 GHz and 2 GHz respectively.