Jean Baudrillard (1929 – 2007) as one of the figures of the pos t-s tructuralis t view, has a remarkable theoretical view concerning the real and social issues. In his view the real has a cons tructive side which is based on the linguis tic sys tem and it is knowable and explainable only in the semiotic sys tem. Hence the centrality of sign in his sys tem and reproduction of all concepts in its light. He tries to explain social, cultural, political and economic concepts in a capitalis t society based on this theoretical framework, and s tresses the shortcomings of older concepts in these explanations. In this paper I will evaluate the “sign value” as the principal concept in his analysis of the capitalis t society in light of his semiotic critique of Marx’s concept of “exchange value”.

In this study, a new sign for clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis is introduced. The study was performed on a sample of 250 cases simply selected from the patients with acute appendicitis admitted to Al-Zahra Hospital of Isfahan. Before operation, the patients were evaluated for this sign in order to. assess its predictive value in diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Following the intervention, the appendix was sent to the department of pathology to confirm the diagnosis. Abdominal examinations prior to operation included checking the superficial and deep tenderness, rebound tenderness, Rovsing and the new sign. To check the new sign, while the patient was lying in a supine position, then the physician places his left hand below the right costovertebral angle and inflicts a few short thrusts on the flank. In case, the patient feels pain in front of the lower abdomen, and with his/her hand locates the pain, it will be considered as a positive sign. Then predictive value, sensitivity and specificity of the new sign in diagnosing acute appendicitis were assessed. For comparison of the qualitative variables chi-test and for the quantitative variables Hest were employed. The results showed that sensitivity of the new sign is 67%, its specificity is 35%, its negative predictive value is 32% and its positive predictive value is 72%. This new sign here after named (BEHDAD sign) can, along with other signs, helps to diagnose acute appendicitis.

Background: Acetabular Retroversion (AR) is a hip disorder and one of the causes of pain in this area. Evaluation of positive Cross Over sign (COS) on AP X-Rays of the hip is currently the best method of diagnosis of AR. Several studies have measured co-existence of Ischial Spine sign (ISS) in patients with AR. In this study we evaluated the diagnostic value of ISS in confirmation of AR and compared it with the diagnostic value of COS. Methods: In this study, 4120 AP hip X-Rays from Akhtar Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, were studied. Based on radiologic criteria, 1180 X-Rays were considered as standards and evaluated for ISS, COS and PWS (Posterior Wall sign). Data analysis was done for correlation between ISS and COS. Results: A total of 1180 out of 4120 X-Rays were considered as standard; among which, 86 were diagnosed with AR based on positive COS in presence of PWS. Both ISS and COS were positive concurrently in 69 X-Rays. ISS was positive in absence of COS in 11 X-rays. No significant difference in diagnostic value for diagnosis of acetabular retroversion was found between ISS and COS (P<0. 05). Conclusion: According to our results, both ISS and COS signs can be employed for diagnosis of AR (acetabular retroversion). Considering the absence of a significant difference between these two signs in confirmation of AR, it can be perceived that the diagnostic value of ISS in confirmation of AR is equal to COS. Validation of the mentioned results requires further studies.

Background and Objective: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common entrapment neuropathy with involvement of median nerve. Patients with this syndrome refer for pain and paresthesia in hand that leads to thenar muscles atrophy. Diagnosis of CTS is made by history, physical examination and electrophysiological study. Recently, Volar Hot Dog (VHD) sign has been proposed for diagnosis of this disease. Thus, we studied VHD as a diagnostic tool in CTS patients according to evidence based medicine.Materials and Methods: In 50 patients referred for pain and paresthesia in median nerve area in hand, a diagnosis of CTS was made by NIOSH criteria and 50 control subjects were also examined for this sign.Results: The sensitivity of VHD was 0.84, the specificity of VHD was 0.32, the accuracy of the test was 0.58 and pretest probability of the disease was 0.5 and post-test probability of the disease with a positive result was 0.55 and post-test probability of the disease with a negative result was 0.35. Meanwhile, positive likely ratio (LR+) was 1.23 and negative likely ratio (LR-) was 0.5.Conclusion: VHD sign (test) had a higher sensitivity than Hoffman-Tinel and Phalen tests with a lower specificity of the test with LR+ 1.2 and LR- 0.5 and this test is a poor to fair test for diagnosis of CTS and will be mainly valuable for screening of the syndrome.

In the most real-world applications, the parameters of the problem are not well understood. This is caused the problem data to be uncertain and indicated with intervals. Interval mathematical models include interval linear programming and interval nonlinear programming problems. A model of interval nonlinear programming problems for decision making based on uncertainty is interval quadratic programming. These types of problems, in which the parameters are inaccurately expressed, are widely used in various sciences, including inventory management, economics, stock selection, engineering design, and molecular study. Interval parameters in these optimization problems cause the value of the objective function to be inaccurate and interval. There are several methods to compute the optimal bounds of the objective function for interval quadratic programming problems. This article examines the most difficult type of interval quadratic programming problems that includes unrestricted decision variables in sign, and provides a new method for determining the bounds of its objective function. In this method, by solving sub-models that include nonnegative variables, the optimal value bounds of the objective function are obtained.