Bilateral reductions in hippocampal volume in adults with epilepsy and a history of febrile seizures

OBJECTIVES: To examine the degree and frequency of reductions in hippocampal volume in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy with and without a history of febrile seizures. METHODS: In vivo measures of hippocampal volume were computed from three dimensional gradient echo (FLASH) images in 44 patients undergoing comprehensive evaluations for epilepsy surgery. Twenty one patients (48%) reported a history of febrile seizures. The volumes from these patients were compared with those from 23 patients without a history of febrile seizures and 34 healthy controls. RESULTS: The febrile seizure group had significant reductions in volume, both ipsilateral (30% decrease) and contralateral (15% decrease), to the EEG seizure focus. Twelve of 18 patients with febrile seizures exhibited clinically significant ipsilateral volume reductions, defined as volumes falling 2 SD below the mean obtained from the control sample. Only four of 19 patients without febrile seizures exhibited this degree of reduction. No significant correlations were found between seizure variables (for example, duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency) and ipsilateral reductions in volume. However, a significant inverse correlation (r=-0.45, P<0.05) between seizure frequency and the volume of the hippocampus contralateral to the seizure focus was found in the febrile seizure group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a history of febrile seizures is associated with the finding of a smaller hippocampus on the side ipsilateral to the subsequent temporal lobe focus whereas chronic factors seem to be be related to pathology contralateral to the seizure focus.     

A bi-level network interdiction model for solving the hazmat routing problem

In the current work, we considered the problem of hazardous material distribution where the distributer chooses the routes on the network, and a regulatory agency controls the behaviour of the distributer to traverse the specified routes. In these circumstances, the distributer sets to select some routes to minimise the total distributing costs. Mostly, this occurs due to selecting risky arcs in which more individuals are exposed to risk. To prevent this and increase the capability to deal with the risk of hazardous material transportation through roads, the regulatory agency obliges carriers to traverse through the most secure arcs, though imposing more distribution costs. The problem is modelled as a bi-level routing problem. The bi-level model is difficult to solve and may be ill-posed. Two meta-heuristic algorithms are proposed to solve the bi-level model, and some randomly generated problems are applied to show the applicability and efficiency of the proposed algorithms.     

Grafting of ion-imprinted polymers on the surface of silica gel particles through covalently surface-bound initiators: a selective sorbent for uranyl ion

A new ion imprinted polymer coated silica gel sorbent has been prepared using the radical "grafting from" polymerization method through surface-bound azo initiators for selective uranyl uptake. The introduction of azo initiator onto the silica surface was achieved by the reaction of surface amino groups with 4,4'-azobis(4-cyanopentanoic acid chloride). The grafting step was then carried out in a stirred solution of initiator-modified silica particles in the presence of uranyl ion and functional and cross-linking monomers. The prepared sorbent was characterized using FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), elemental analysis (EA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and BET adsorption isotherm analysis. The influence of the uranyl concentration, pH, and flow rate of solution on the grafted polymer affinity has been investigated. Maximum uptake of uranyl ion was observed at a pH 3.0. The rebinding behavior of the sorbent has been successfully described by the Langmuir-Freundlich isotherm. The dynamic column capacity of sorbent and enrichment factor for uranyl ion were 52.9 +/- 3.4 micromol g(-1) and 52, respectively. It was found that imprinting results in increased affinity of the sorbent toward uranyl ion over strong competitor metal ions such as Fe(III) and Th(IV). The sorbent was repeatedly used and regenerated for 3 months without any significant decrease in polymer binding affinities. Finally the sorbent was applied to the preconcentration and determination of uranyl ion in real water samples.     

New smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) formulation for modeling heat conduction with solidification and melting

When modeling the phase change, the latent heat released (absorbed) during solidification (melting) must be included in the heat transfer equation. In this paper, different smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) methods for the implementation of latent heat, in the context of transient heat conduction, are derived and tested. First, SPH discretizations of two finite element methods are presented, but these prove to be computationally expensive. Then, by starting from a simple approximation and enhancing accuracy using different numerical treatments, a new SPH method is introduced, that is fast and easy to implement. An evaluation of this new method on various analytical and numerical results confirms its accuracy and robustness.     

Private Investor-based Transmission Expansion Planning in Deregulated Environments

Abstract—Deregulation in power systems creates new uncertainties and escalates the previous ones. The presence of these uncertainties causes the transmission network to remain a monopoly and the private investors not to be interested in investing in new transmission lines. This article presents a new merchant-based transmission network expansion planning algorithm from the viewpoint of private investors. The point estimation method is used to handle the uncertainties, and the genetic algorithm is used as the optimization tool. The proposed method provides insights for private investors to deal with the uncertainties and to find appropriate transmission projects in which to invest.     

Simultaneous size and topology optimization of 3D outrigger‐braced tall buildings with inclined belt truss using genetic algorithm

To investigate the optimum location of the outrigger system, a metaheuristic‐based size and topology optimization of the outrigger‐braced tall buildings is carried out by various three‐dimensional structural frames with different shapes of belt trusses. By considering the elastic behavior, the whole elements of the structural models such as beams, columns, core, and trusses are optimized simultaneously in conjunction with the location of the outrigger. Furthermore, to reach more optimality, several novel types of belt truss are proposed having inclined and inverse‐inclined belt trusses with better structural and architectural features and optimum performance in comparison with the horizontal one. Different models with 25 to 40 stories having various span numbers are optimized using the genetic algorithm, and the results are compared with each other. In the modeling process, the exact wind load distribution is applied to the structure based on the ASCE7‐16 rather than the uniform or triangular ones. According to the results, the optimum cross‐sectional size and outrigger locations of different models are obtained, and it is indicated that the proposed novel belt trusses are optimal solution for the problem.