Magnesium alloys remain critical in the context of light-weighting and advanced devices. The increased utilisation of magnesium(Mg)each year reveals growing demand for its Mg-based alloys. Additive manufacturing(AM) p...Magnesium alloys remain critical in the context of light-weighting and advanced devices. The increased utilisation of magnesium(Mg)each year reveals growing demand for its Mg-based alloys. Additive manufacturing(AM) provides the possibility to directly manufacture components in net-shape, providing new possibilities and applications for the use of Mg-alloys, and new prospects in the utilisation of novel physical structures made possible from ‘3D printing’. The review herein seeks to holistically explore the additive manufacturing of Mg-alloys to date, including a synopsis of processes used and properties measured(with a comparison to conventionally prepared Mg-alloys). The challenges and possibilities of AM Mg-alloys are critically elaborated for the field of mechanical metallurgy.展开更多
We systematically reviewed the clinical trials which recruited antioxidants in the therapy of pancreatitis and evaluated whether antioxidants improve the outcome of patients with pancreatitis. Electronic bibliographic...We systematically reviewed the clinical trials which recruited antioxidants in the therapy of pancreatitis and evaluated whether antioxidants improve the outcome of patients with pancreatitis. Electronic bibliographic databases were searched for any studies which investigated the use of antioxidants in the management of acute pancreatitis （AP） or chronic pancreatitis （CP） and in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography （post-ERCP） pancreatitis （PEP） up to February 2009. Twenty-two randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the review. Except for a cocktail of antioxidants which showed improvement in outcomes in three different clinical trials, the results of the administration of other antioxidants in both AP and CP clinical trials were incongruent and heterogeneous.Furthermore, antioxidant therapy including allopurinol and N-acetylcysteine failed to prevent the onset of PEP in almost all trials. In conclusion, the present data do not support a benefit of antioxidant therapy alone or in combination with conventional therapy in the management of AP, CP or PER Further double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials with large sample size need to be conducted.展开更多
Purpose： Traumatic brain injury （TBI） is a leading cause of death and disability, lntracranial hemorrhage （ICH） secondary to TBI is associated with a high risk of coagulopathy which leads to increasing risk of he...Purpose： Traumatic brain injury （TBI） is a leading cause of death and disability, lntracranial hemorrhage （ICH） secondary to TBI is associated with a high risk of coagulopathy which leads to increasing risk of hemorrhage growth and higher mortality rate. Therefore, antifibrinolytic agents such as tranexamic acid （TA） might reduce traumatic ICH. The aim of the present study was to investigate the extent of ICH growth after TA administration in TBI patients. Methods： This single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on patients with traumatic ICH （with less than 30 ml） referring to the emergency department of Vali-Asr Hospital, Arak, Iran in 2014. Patients, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were divided into intervention and control groups （40 patients each）. All patients received a conservative treatment for ICH, as well as either intravenous TA or placebo. The extent of ICH growth as the primary outcome was measured by brain cr scan after 48 h. Results： Although brain CT scan showed a significant increase in hemorrhage volume in both groups after 48 h, it was significantly less in the TA group than in the control group （p = 0.04）. The mean total hemorrhage expansion was （1.7 ± 9.7） ml and （4.3 ± 12.9） ml in TA and placebo groups, respectively （p 〈 0.001）. Conclusion： It has been established that TA, as an effective hospital-based treatment for acute TBI, could reduce ICH growth. Larger studies are needed to compare the effectiveness of different doses.展开更多
Tomato is one of the extensively consumed vegetable crops worldwide. The regular consumption of tomato decreases the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as certain types of cancer and cardiovascular diseas...Tomato is one of the extensively consumed vegetable crops worldwide. The regular consumption of tomato decreases the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as certain types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to find an appropriate method that not only reduces tomatoes decay, but also maintains its post-harvest quality. A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted to evaluate effects of ultraviolet（UV）-C and CaCl_2 applications on tomato during storage. The traits studied included ethylene, polygalacturonase（PG） activity, pectin methyl esterase（PME） activity, firmness, total phenol content, and fungal-induced decay were measured weekly during 35 days of storage. Both UV-C and CaCl_2 treatments had positive effects on tomato quality as compared to control treatment. The 3 and 4.5 k J m^（-2） levels of UV-C and 2% CaCl_2 had positive effects on quality characteristics, respectivly. Fruits treated by UV-C and CaCl_2 had higher phenol and firmness, and less PME activity, PG activity, ethylene production, and decay than the control fruits. In conclusion, increasing in storage duration significantly affected the fruits quality by increasing in ethylene, PME activity, PG activity, decay and decreasing the phenol content and firmness. But UV-C and CaCl_2 led to significant decrease in this adverse impact relative to control treatment.展开更多
The aim of this study was to compare the quality characteristics and mineral content of the fiber from male and female cashmere goats raised under different management systems. Male and female Raeini cashmere goats （...The aim of this study was to compare the quality characteristics and mineral content of the fiber from male and female cashmere goats raised under different management systems. Male and female Raeini cashmere goats （〈1.5 years of age, n=48） were selected from flocks raised at a government breeding station or raised commercially under either rural or nomadic conditions. The staple length, cashmere fiber diameter, coefficient of variation for fiber diameter, percentage of cashmere in a fleece, percentage of guard hair in a fleece and cashmere tenacity averaged 4.6 ±0.1 cm, 18.0 ±0.1 um, 20.9±0.4%, 66.1 ± 1.5%, 33.8± 1.5% and 1.8±0.2 gf/tex, respectively. The sulfur, copper and zinc content of the cashmere averaged 2.8 ± 0.1%, 0.00065 ± 0.00002% and 0.01276 ± 0.00025%, respectively. Rearing method significantly affected staple length, coefficient of variation of fiber diameter, cashmere tenacity and copper content. Males had a higher coefficient of variation of fiber diameter and cashmere tenacity than females （P 〈 0.05）.展开更多
Equal channel angular pressing is an effective technique to control the texture and microstructure of metals and alloys. Texture and microstructure of an Al-7075 alloy subjected to repetitive equal channel angular pre...Equal channel angular pressing is an effective technique to control the texture and microstructure of metals and alloys. Texture and microstructure of an Al-7075 alloy subjected to repetitive equal channel angular pressing through a 90° die were evaluated by X-ray diffractometer and orientation imaging microscopy. It is observed that processing through different routes leads to different types of textures, in both qualitative and quantitative senses. The texture calculation by Labotex software reveals that texture strengthens after the first pass and weakens by progressing ECAP process up to 4 passes. Microstructure investigations show that after 4 passes of equal channel angular pressing via routes BC and A, very fine grains with average grain size of about 700 nm and 1 μm appear, respectively, and most of the grains evolve into arrays of high angle boundaries. The effects of covering the Al-7075 billets with copper tube on texture and microstructure were also studied.展开更多
Natural bone constitutes a complex and organized structure of organic and inorganic components with limited ability to regenerate and restore injured tissues,especially in large bone defects.To improve the reconstruct...Natural bone constitutes a complex and organized structure of organic and inorganic components with limited ability to regenerate and restore injured tissues,especially in large bone defects.To improve the reconstruction of the damaged bones,tissue engineering has been introduced as a promising alternative approach to the conventional therapeutic methods including surgical interventions using allograft and autograft implants.Bioengineered composite scaffolds consisting of multifunctional biomaterials in combination with the cells and bioactive therapeutic agents have great promise for bone repair and regeneration.Cellulose and its derivatives are renewable and biodegradable natural polymers that have shown promising potential in bone tissue engineering applications.Cellulose-based scaffolds possess numerous advantages attributed to their excellent properties of non-toxicity,biocompatibility,biodegradability,availability through renewable resources,and the low cost of preparation and processing.Furthermore,cellulose and its derivatives have been extensively used for delivering growth factors and antibiotics directly to the site of the impaired bone tissue to promote tissue repair.This review focuses on the various classifications of cellulose-based composite scaffolds utilized in localized bone drug delivery systems and bone regeneration,including cellulose-organic composites,cellulose-inorganic composites,cellulose-organic/inorganic composites.We will also highlight the physicochemical,mechanical,and biological properties of the different cellulose-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.展开更多
Purpose： Rib fractures are the most common skeletal thoracic injuries resulting from blunt chest trauma. Half of the rib fractures are not detected upon a precise physical evaluation and radiographs. Recently ultraso...Purpose： Rib fractures are the most common skeletal thoracic injuries resulting from blunt chest trauma. Half of the rib fractures are not detected upon a precise physical evaluation and radiographs. Recently ultrasonography （USG） has been investigated to detect rib fractures. But based on literature the usefulness of USG varies widely. This study was conducted to investigate the role of USG in the detection of possible rib fractures in comparison with radiography. Methods： In this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients with minor blunt chest trauma and suspected rib fractures presenting in Imam Reza Hospital located in Mashhad-Iran, between April 2013 and October 2013 were assessed by USG and radiography. The radiography was performed in a posteroanterior （PA） chest projection and oblique rib view centered over the area of trauma. The time duration spent in taking USG and radiography were recorded. The prevalence and location of fractures revealed by USG and radiography were compared. Results： Sixty-one suspected patients were assessed. The male to female ratio was 2.4：1 （43 men and 18 women） with a mean ± SD age of （44.3 ± 19.7） years. There were totally 59 rib fractures in 38 （62.3%） patients based on radiography and USG, while 23 （37.7%） patients had no diagnostic evidence of rib lesions. USG revealed 58 rib fractures in 33 （54.1%） of 61 suspected patients and radiographs revealed 32 rib fractures in 20 （32.8%） of 61 patients. A total of 58 （98.3%） rib fractures were detected by USG, whereas oblique rib view and PA chest radiography showed 27 （45.8%） and 24 （40.7%） rib fractures, respectively. The average duration of USG was （12 ± 3） min （range 7e17 min）, whereas the duration of radiography was （27 ± 6） min （range 15-37 min）. The kappa coefficient showed a low level of agreement between both USG and PA chest radiography （kappa coefficient=0.28）, and between USG and oblique rib view （kappa coefficient=0.32）. Conclusion： USG 展开更多
The effects of municipal sewage irrigation on the soil and black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia L.） tree were studied. For this purpose, two artificial black locust stands under irrigation of municipal sewage and well...The effects of municipal sewage irrigation on the soil and black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia L.） tree were studied. For this purpose, two artificial black locust stands under irrigation of municipal sewage and well water were selected in south of Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using technique of systematic random sampling with 4 replicates in each stand. It was found that the growth of black locust tree, as indicated by diameter at breast height, total height, crown length, average crown diameter, basal area and volume, in sewage irrigation stand was much higher than that of well water irrigation stand （P 〈 0.01）. Plant analysis indicated that concentrations of leaf nutrients （N, E K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn） were greater in sewage-irrigated trees, without toxicity to the minerals of tree leaf, than those of well waterirrigated trees, and positively correlated with their respective value in soil. Ni, Cr and Pb were not detected in leaf samples. Application of sewage resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in the concentrations of soil nutrients, Ni, Cr and Pb. Among these minerals only Pb and Ni in some soil samples exceeded the toxicity limit. The increase in pH, electrical conductivity （EC） and organic carbon of soil was also observed in sewage irrigation. Results confirm that besides the use as irrigation water, municipal sewages are also a potential source of plant nutrients. However, significant accumulation of heavy metals such as Pb and Ni in soil needs to be monitored.展开更多
In the present research, mechanically alloyed Ni-AI powder was utilized to develop plasma sprayed coatings, and the effect of the spray distance and heat treatment on the phases, microstructure, and hardness of the co...In the present research, mechanically alloyed Ni-AI powder was utilized to develop plasma sprayed coatings, and the effect of the spray distance and heat treatment on the phases, microstructure, and hardness of the coat- ings were examined. Coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy-dispersive spectroscopy （EDS） and through microhardness measurements. Although mechanically alloyed Ni-AI powder showed no intermetallic phases, the coatings did. Different spray distances from 5 to 19 cm were employed for plasma spray and the specimens were heat treated at different temperatures, then the amount of oxides, porosity and hardness of the coatings were changed according to the spray condition. The thermal energy of the plasma spray caused the formation of NiAI phases while particles flew to the substrate or after that. Extreme increase in heat treatment temperature and spray distance resulted in oxidation and reduction in the quality of the coating. Furthermore, the best spray distance and heat treatment temperature to gain the NiAI intermetallic coating were established.展开更多
We report the expression profile of acyl-lipid △12-desaturase （desA） gene from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and its effect on cell membrane lipid composition and cold tolerance in prokaryotic （Escherichia coil） and ...We report the expression profile of acyl-lipid △12-desaturase （desA） gene from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and its effect on cell membrane lipid composition and cold tolerance in prokaryotic （Escherichia coil） and eukaryotic （Solanum tuberosum） cells. For this purpose, a hybrid of desA and reporter gene encoding thermostable lichenase （licBM3） was constructed and used to transform these cells. The expression of this hybrid gene was measured using qualitative （Petri dish test, electrophoregram and zymogram） and quantitative methods （spectrometry and gas liquid chromatography assays）. The maximum level of linoleic acid in the bacterial cells containing hybrid gene was 1.9% of total fatty acids. Cold stress tolerance assays using plant damage index and growth parameters showed that cold tolerance was enhanced in primary transgenic lines because of increased unsaturated fatty acid concentration in their lipids. The greatest content of 18：2 and 18：3 fatty acids in primary transgenic plants was observed for lines 2 （73%） and 3 （41%）. Finally, our results showed that desaturase could enhance tolerance to cold stress in potato, and desaturase and lichenase retain their functionality in the structure of the hybrid protein where the enzymatic activity of target gene product was higher than in the case of reporter lichenase gene absence in the construction.展开更多
Composite layers containing~0.8%vol Al_(2)O_(3) nanoparticles were produced on AZ91 magnesium alloy by friction stir processing(FSP).The treated layers were characterized using optical and scanning electron microscope...Composite layers containing~0.8%vol Al_(2)O_(3) nanoparticles were produced on AZ91 magnesium alloy by friction stir processing(FSP).The treated layers were characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopes,as well as microhardness and wear testing units.It was noticed that,by reducing the rotational speed and increasing the travel speed,the grain size of the treated layer reduces and its hardness increases.In addition,the presence of nano Al_(2)O_(3) reduces the grain sizes of the layers further and increases their hardness.Furthermore,FSP of AZ91 with Al_(2)O_(3) particles improved the wear resistance significantly and changed the wear mechanism from oxidation and adhesive mode in the as-received AZ91 to oxidation and abrasive in the FSPed specimens.Finally,the rotational speed of 800 rpm and the travel speed of 40 mm/min were the optimum parameters for achieving a suitable composite layer with the highest hardness and wear resistance among the treated layers.展开更多
Objective: To investigate the effect of drought stress and organic fertilizer on German chamomile(Matricaria chamomilla) nutrient uptake, leaf chlorophyll content and osmotic adjustment under field conditions.Methods:...Objective: To investigate the effect of drought stress and organic fertilizer on German chamomile(Matricaria chamomilla) nutrient uptake, leaf chlorophyll content and osmotic adjustment under field conditions.Methods: This experiment was carried out through a randomized complete block design with a split factorial arrangement of treatments in three replications. The main plots were subjected to the following irrigation treatments: irrigation after 60, 90, 120, 150 and180 mm evaporation from Class A pan. The sub-plots were treated with three vermicompost doses(0, 5 and 10 t/ha).Results: Although drought stress reduced the nutrient percentages in the shoots, application of vermicompost enhanced the nutrient percentages, particularly when the plants were subjected to moderate to severe drought stress conditions. Moreover, the results of this study showed that the interaction between irrigation treatments and vermicompost rates on leaf chlorophyll content was significant. Comparison between the combined treatments indicated that under normal irrigation and moderate drought stress conditions chamomile plants received 5 and 10 t/ha vermicompost showed significantly higher leaf chlorophyll content comparing to the control treatment.Conclusions: Totally, organic fertilization by vermicompost could partly alleviate the effect of drought stress on chamomile by increasing N, P and K uptake and leaf soluble sugar, especially in stressed treatments.展开更多
Hyperspectral(HS)image classification plays a crucial role in numerous areas including remote sensing(RS),agriculture,and the monitoring of the environment.Optimal band selection in HS images is crucial for improving ...Hyperspectral(HS)image classification plays a crucial role in numerous areas including remote sensing(RS),agriculture,and the monitoring of the environment.Optimal band selection in HS images is crucial for improving the efficiency and accuracy of image classification.This process involves selecting the most informative spectral bands,which leads to a reduction in data volume.Focusing on these key bands also enhances the accuracy of classification algorithms,as redundant or irrelevant bands,which can introduce noise and lower model performance,are excluded.In this paper,we propose an approach for HS image classification using deep Q learning(DQL)and a novel multi-objective binary grey wolf optimizer(MOBGWO).We investigate the MOBGWO for optimal band selection to further enhance the accuracy of HS image classification.In the suggested MOBGWO,a new sigmoid function is introduced as a transfer function to modify the wolves’position.The primary objective of this classification is to reduce the number of bands while maximizing classification accuracy.To evaluate the effectiveness of our approach,we conducted experiments on publicly available HS image datasets,including Pavia University,Washington Mall,and Indian Pines datasets.We compared the performance of our proposed method with several state-of-the-art deep learning(DL)and machine learning(ML)algorithms,including long short-term memory(LSTM),deep neural network(DNN),recurrent neural network(RNN),support vector machine(SVM),and random forest(RF).Our experimental results demonstrate that the Hybrid MOBGWO-DQL significantly improves classification accuracy compared to traditional optimization and DL techniques.MOBGWO-DQL shows greater accuracy in classifying most categories in both datasets used.For the Indian Pine dataset,the MOBGWO-DQL architecture achieved a kappa coefficient(KC)of 97.68%and an overall accuracy(OA)of 94.32%.This was accompanied by the lowest root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.94,indicating very precise predictions with minimal error.In the case of展开更多
Corneal diseases,the second leading cause of global vision loss affecting over 10.5 million people,underscores the unmet demand for corneal tissue replacements.Given the scarcity of fresh donor corneas and the associa...Corneal diseases,the second leading cause of global vision loss affecting over 10.5 million people,underscores the unmet demand for corneal tissue replacements.Given the scarcity of fresh donor corneas and the associated risks of immune rejection,corneal tissue engineering becomes imperative.Developing nanofibrous scaffolds that mimic the natural corneal structure is crucial for creating transparent and mechanically robust corneal equivalents in tissue engineering.Herein,Aloe Vera Extract(AVE)/Polycaprolactone(PCL)nanofibrous scaffolds were primed using electrospinning.The electrospun AVE/PCL fibers exhibit a smooth,bead-free morphology with a mean diameter of approximately 340±95 nm and appropriate light transparency.Mechanical measurements reveal Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength values of around 3.34 MPa and 4.58 MPa,respectively,within the range of stromal tissue.In addition,cell viability of AVE/PCL fibers was measured against Human Stromal Keratocyte Cells(HSKCs),and improved cell viability was observed.The cell-fiber interactions were investigated using scanning electron microscopy.In conclusion,the incorporation of Aloe Vera Extract enhances the mechanical,optical,hydrophilic,and biological properties of PCL fibers,positioning PCL/AVE fiber scaffolds as promising candidates for corneal stromal regeneration.展开更多
Powder bed fusion methods of additive manufacturing (AM) require consistent, reproducible, and uniform layers of powder for the reliable production of high-quality parts, where properties of powder are central to achi...Powder bed fusion methods of additive manufacturing (AM) require consistent, reproducible, and uniform layers of powder for the reliable production of high-quality parts, where properties of powder are central to achieving this. Among these properties, powder flowability and spreadability play critical roles in determining the quality of these powder layers.While extensive research has been conducted on powder flow and spreading behaviour, and on their characterisation, there is little critical comparison and review of these terms in the context of AM. Such a review is necessary to further develop and enhance our comprehension of spreading dynamics and its relation to powder properties in AM systems.This review paper aims to build a coherent understanding of the correlation between powder characteristics and spreading in powder based additive manufacturing and its impact on manufactured parts. It highlights the current progress in comprehending spreading dynamics, the influence of powder characteristics, environmental conditions, spreading system, and the development of testing tools to assess powder spreadability. Furthermore, the paper critically discusses the challenge of finding appropriate quantitative metrics and recent advances in the use of standardised methods for evaluating powder spreadability.展开更多
Objective:Germline mutations in mismatch repair(MMR)genes cause Lynch syndrome(LS).LS is an inherited disease,and an important consequence of MMR deficiency is microsatellite instability(MSI)phenotype.MSI phenotype in...Objective:Germline mutations in mismatch repair(MMR)genes cause Lynch syndrome(LS).LS is an inherited disease,and an important consequence of MMR deficiency is microsatellite instability(MSI)phenotype.MSI phenotype influences the efficacy of5 fluorouracil(5-FU)chemotherapy.Reproducible,cost effective,and easy to perform laboratory tests are required to include MSI detection in routine laboratory practice.Evaluation of CAT25 as monomorphic short tandem repeat sequence enables CAT25 to be an efficient screening tool among hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer(HNPCC)patients compared with other methods used currently.Methods:Based on Amsterdam II criteria,31 patients in 31 families were shortlisted from a total number of 1,659 colorectal cancer patients.MSI status was examined in these patients using CAT25 and a commercially available Promega MSI five-markerbased detection system as well as immunohistochemical(IHC)staining of four important MMR proteins.Patients were scored as high microsatellite instable(MSI-H),low(MSI-L),or stable(MSS).MSI status determined by CAT25 single mononucleotide marker was compared with that of five mononucleotide markers,Promega commercial kit,and IHC method.Results:MMR protein deficiency was observed on 7/31 probands using IHC methodology and 6/31 categorized as MSI-H using commercial kit or CAT25 single marker.The sensitivity and specificity of the CAT25 single marker were the same as those detected by five-marker Promega commercial kit in our patients.Conclusions:Based on our results,the performance of the CAT25 single mononucleotide marker for MSI status determination in our HNPCC patients is the same as that of the five-marker-based commercial kit.展开更多
The Qom Formation is the most important hydrocarbon reservoir target in Central Iran.The Qom platform developed in a back-arc basin during the Oligo-Miocene due to the closing of the Tethyan Seaway.This formation cons...The Qom Formation is the most important hydrocarbon reservoir target in Central Iran.The Qom platform developed in a back-arc basin during the Oligo-Miocene due to the closing of the Tethyan Seaway.This formation consists of a variety of carbonate and non-carbonate facies deposited on a platform ranging from supratidal to basin.A combination of tectonic and eustatic events led to some lateral and vertical facies variations in the study area.Six third-order depositional sequences and related surfaces were identified regarding vertical facies changes in the studied sections of this Oligo-Miocene succession.According to all results and data,this succession was initially deposited during the Chattian upon a distally steepened ramp of siliciclastic-carbonate composition,including the Bouma sequence.Then,from the late Chattian to the Aquitanian,the platform changed into a homoclinal carbonate ramp with a gentle profile.With respect to tectonic activity,this phase was a calm period during the deposition of the Qom Formation.Finally,a drowned carbonate platform and a rimmed shelf emerged during the Burdigalian,terminated by the continental deposits of the Upper Red Formation.Regarding all geological characteristics,three main tectono-eustatic evolutionary phases have been recognized in the Qom back-arcbasin.展开更多
Formany years,researchers have explored power allocation(PA)algorithms driven bymodels in wireless networks where multiple-user communications with interference are present.Nowadays,data-driven machine learning method...Formany years,researchers have explored power allocation(PA)algorithms driven bymodels in wireless networks where multiple-user communications with interference are present.Nowadays,data-driven machine learning methods have become quite popular in analyzing wireless communication systems,which among them deep reinforcement learning(DRL)has a significant role in solving optimization issues under certain constraints.To this purpose,in this paper,we investigate the PA problem in a k-user multiple access channels(MAC),where k transmitters(e.g.,mobile users)aim to send an independent message to a common receiver(e.g.,base station)through wireless channels.To this end,we first train the deep Q network(DQN)with a deep Q learning(DQL)algorithm over the simulation environment,utilizing offline learning.Then,the DQN will be used with the real data in the online training method for the PA issue by maximizing the sumrate subjected to the source power.Finally,the simulation results indicate that our proposedDQNmethod provides better performance in terms of the sumrate compared with the available DQL training approaches such as fractional programming(FP)and weighted minimum mean squared error(WMMSE).Additionally,by considering different user densities,we show that our proposed DQN outperforms benchmark algorithms,thereby,a good generalization ability is verified over wireless multi-user communication systems.展开更多
In more than half of infertile men, the cause of their infertility is unknown. Several studies revealed the role of viral infections in male infertility. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of...In more than half of infertile men, the cause of their infertility is unknown. Several studies revealed the role of viral infections in male infertility. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus-1 （HSV-1） and HSV-2 in semen from asymptomatic infertile male patients, and its association with altered semen parameters. A total of 70 semen samples were collected from infertile men who attended the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility in Yazd, Iran. Semen analysis and diagnostic real-time PCR using specific primers and probes for HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA were performed. Comparison of semen parameters between virally in- fected and non-infected samples were performed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Semen analysis showed that infertile men fell into two groups, the male factor group and the unexplained group. HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA was detected in 16 （22.9%） and 10 （14.3%） of 70 semen samples, respectively. All HSV-positive samples had abnormal semen parameters （the male factor group）. Although HSV infection was not associated with sperm motility and morphological defects, it was correlated with lower sperm count in the seminal fluid. The findings suggest that asymptomatic seminal infection of HSV plays an important role in male infertility by adversely af- fecting sperm count.展开更多
基金support from Australian National University Futures Schemethe support from the first Singapore-Germany Academic-Industry (2 + 2) international collaboration grant (Grant No.: A1890b0050)。
文摘Magnesium alloys remain critical in the context of light-weighting and advanced devices. The increased utilisation of magnesium(Mg)each year reveals growing demand for its Mg-based alloys. Additive manufacturing(AM) provides the possibility to directly manufacture components in net-shape, providing new possibilities and applications for the use of Mg-alloys, and new prospects in the utilisation of novel physical structures made possible from ‘3D printing’. The review herein seeks to holistically explore the additive manufacturing of Mg-alloys to date, including a synopsis of processes used and properties measured(with a comparison to conventionally prepared Mg-alloys). The challenges and possibilities of AM Mg-alloys are critically elaborated for the field of mechanical metallurgy.
文摘We systematically reviewed the clinical trials which recruited antioxidants in the therapy of pancreatitis and evaluated whether antioxidants improve the outcome of patients with pancreatitis. Electronic bibliographic databases were searched for any studies which investigated the use of antioxidants in the management of acute pancreatitis （AP） or chronic pancreatitis （CP） and in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography （post-ERCP） pancreatitis （PEP） up to February 2009. Twenty-two randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the review. Except for a cocktail of antioxidants which showed improvement in outcomes in three different clinical trials, the results of the administration of other antioxidants in both AP and CP clinical trials were incongruent and heterogeneous.Furthermore, antioxidant therapy including allopurinol and N-acetylcysteine failed to prevent the onset of PEP in almost all trials. In conclusion, the present data do not support a benefit of antioxidant therapy alone or in combination with conventional therapy in the management of AP, CP or PER Further double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials with large sample size need to be conducted.
文摘Purpose： Traumatic brain injury （TBI） is a leading cause of death and disability, lntracranial hemorrhage （ICH） secondary to TBI is associated with a high risk of coagulopathy which leads to increasing risk of hemorrhage growth and higher mortality rate. Therefore, antifibrinolytic agents such as tranexamic acid （TA） might reduce traumatic ICH. The aim of the present study was to investigate the extent of ICH growth after TA administration in TBI patients. Methods： This single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on patients with traumatic ICH （with less than 30 ml） referring to the emergency department of Vali-Asr Hospital, Arak, Iran in 2014. Patients, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were divided into intervention and control groups （40 patients each）. All patients received a conservative treatment for ICH, as well as either intravenous TA or placebo. The extent of ICH growth as the primary outcome was measured by brain cr scan after 48 h. Results： Although brain CT scan showed a significant increase in hemorrhage volume in both groups after 48 h, it was significantly less in the TA group than in the control group （p = 0.04）. The mean total hemorrhage expansion was （1.7 ± 9.7） ml and （4.3 ± 12.9） ml in TA and placebo groups, respectively （p 〈 0.001）. Conclusion： It has been established that TA, as an effective hospital-based treatment for acute TBI, could reduce ICH growth. Larger studies are needed to compare the effectiveness of different doses.
文摘Tomato is one of the extensively consumed vegetable crops worldwide. The regular consumption of tomato decreases the incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as certain types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The objective of this study was to find an appropriate method that not only reduces tomatoes decay, but also maintains its post-harvest quality. A factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was conducted to evaluate effects of ultraviolet（UV）-C and CaCl_2 applications on tomato during storage. The traits studied included ethylene, polygalacturonase（PG） activity, pectin methyl esterase（PME） activity, firmness, total phenol content, and fungal-induced decay were measured weekly during 35 days of storage. Both UV-C and CaCl_2 treatments had positive effects on tomato quality as compared to control treatment. The 3 and 4.5 k J m^（-2） levels of UV-C and 2% CaCl_2 had positive effects on quality characteristics, respectivly. Fruits treated by UV-C and CaCl_2 had higher phenol and firmness, and less PME activity, PG activity, ethylene production, and decay than the control fruits. In conclusion, increasing in storage duration significantly affected the fruits quality by increasing in ethylene, PME activity, PG activity, decay and decreasing the phenol content and firmness. But UV-C and CaCl_2 led to significant decrease in this adverse impact relative to control treatment.
基金the Agricultural Research Center of Kerman for their financial support
文摘The aim of this study was to compare the quality characteristics and mineral content of the fiber from male and female cashmere goats raised under different management systems. Male and female Raeini cashmere goats （〈1.5 years of age, n=48） were selected from flocks raised at a government breeding station or raised commercially under either rural or nomadic conditions. The staple length, cashmere fiber diameter, coefficient of variation for fiber diameter, percentage of cashmere in a fleece, percentage of guard hair in a fleece and cashmere tenacity averaged 4.6 ±0.1 cm, 18.0 ±0.1 um, 20.9±0.4%, 66.1 ± 1.5%, 33.8± 1.5% and 1.8±0.2 gf/tex, respectively. The sulfur, copper and zinc content of the cashmere averaged 2.8 ± 0.1%, 0.00065 ± 0.00002% and 0.01276 ± 0.00025%, respectively. Rearing method significantly affected staple length, coefficient of variation of fiber diameter, cashmere tenacity and copper content. Males had a higher coefficient of variation of fiber diameter and cashmere tenacity than females （P 〈 0.05）.
文摘Equal channel angular pressing is an effective technique to control the texture and microstructure of metals and alloys. Texture and microstructure of an Al-7075 alloy subjected to repetitive equal channel angular pressing through a 90° die were evaluated by X-ray diffractometer and orientation imaging microscopy. It is observed that processing through different routes leads to different types of textures, in both qualitative and quantitative senses. The texture calculation by Labotex software reveals that texture strengthens after the first pass and weakens by progressing ECAP process up to 4 passes. Microstructure investigations show that after 4 passes of equal channel angular pressing via routes BC and A, very fine grains with average grain size of about 700 nm and 1 μm appear, respectively, and most of the grains evolve into arrays of high angle boundaries. The effects of covering the Al-7075 billets with copper tube on texture and microstructure were also studied.
文摘Natural bone constitutes a complex and organized structure of organic and inorganic components with limited ability to regenerate and restore injured tissues,especially in large bone defects.To improve the reconstruction of the damaged bones,tissue engineering has been introduced as a promising alternative approach to the conventional therapeutic methods including surgical interventions using allograft and autograft implants.Bioengineered composite scaffolds consisting of multifunctional biomaterials in combination with the cells and bioactive therapeutic agents have great promise for bone repair and regeneration.Cellulose and its derivatives are renewable and biodegradable natural polymers that have shown promising potential in bone tissue engineering applications.Cellulose-based scaffolds possess numerous advantages attributed to their excellent properties of non-toxicity,biocompatibility,biodegradability,availability through renewable resources,and the low cost of preparation and processing.Furthermore,cellulose and its derivatives have been extensively used for delivering growth factors and antibiotics directly to the site of the impaired bone tissue to promote tissue repair.This review focuses on the various classifications of cellulose-based composite scaffolds utilized in localized bone drug delivery systems and bone regeneration,including cellulose-organic composites,cellulose-inorganic composites,cellulose-organic/inorganic composites.We will also highlight the physicochemical,mechanical,and biological properties of the different cellulose-based scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications.
文摘Purpose： Rib fractures are the most common skeletal thoracic injuries resulting from blunt chest trauma. Half of the rib fractures are not detected upon a precise physical evaluation and radiographs. Recently ultrasonography （USG） has been investigated to detect rib fractures. But based on literature the usefulness of USG varies widely. This study was conducted to investigate the role of USG in the detection of possible rib fractures in comparison with radiography. Methods： In this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients with minor blunt chest trauma and suspected rib fractures presenting in Imam Reza Hospital located in Mashhad-Iran, between April 2013 and October 2013 were assessed by USG and radiography. The radiography was performed in a posteroanterior （PA） chest projection and oblique rib view centered over the area of trauma. The time duration spent in taking USG and radiography were recorded. The prevalence and location of fractures revealed by USG and radiography were compared. Results： Sixty-one suspected patients were assessed. The male to female ratio was 2.4：1 （43 men and 18 women） with a mean ± SD age of （44.3 ± 19.7） years. There were totally 59 rib fractures in 38 （62.3%） patients based on radiography and USG, while 23 （37.7%） patients had no diagnostic evidence of rib lesions. USG revealed 58 rib fractures in 33 （54.1%） of 61 suspected patients and radiographs revealed 32 rib fractures in 20 （32.8%） of 61 patients. A total of 58 （98.3%） rib fractures were detected by USG, whereas oblique rib view and PA chest radiography showed 27 （45.8%） and 24 （40.7%） rib fractures, respectively. The average duration of USG was （12 ± 3） min （range 7e17 min）, whereas the duration of radiography was （27 ± 6） min （range 15-37 min）. The kappa coefficient showed a low level of agreement between both USG and PA chest radiography （kappa coefficient=0.28）, and between USG and oblique rib view （kappa coefficient=0.32）. Conclusion： USG
基金supported by the Tarbiat Modares University Research Fundation
文摘The effects of municipal sewage irrigation on the soil and black locust （Robinia pseudoacacia L.） tree were studied. For this purpose, two artificial black locust stands under irrigation of municipal sewage and well water were selected in south of Tehran, Iran. Data were collected using technique of systematic random sampling with 4 replicates in each stand. It was found that the growth of black locust tree, as indicated by diameter at breast height, total height, crown length, average crown diameter, basal area and volume, in sewage irrigation stand was much higher than that of well water irrigation stand （P 〈 0.01）. Plant analysis indicated that concentrations of leaf nutrients （N, E K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu and Zn） were greater in sewage-irrigated trees, without toxicity to the minerals of tree leaf, than those of well waterirrigated trees, and positively correlated with their respective value in soil. Ni, Cr and Pb were not detected in leaf samples. Application of sewage resulted in a 1.5-fold increase in the concentrations of soil nutrients, Ni, Cr and Pb. Among these minerals only Pb and Ni in some soil samples exceeded the toxicity limit. The increase in pH, electrical conductivity （EC） and organic carbon of soil was also observed in sewage irrigation. Results confirm that besides the use as irrigation water, municipal sewages are also a potential source of plant nutrients. However, significant accumulation of heavy metals such as Pb and Ni in soil needs to be monitored.
文摘In the present research, mechanically alloyed Ni-AI powder was utilized to develop plasma sprayed coatings, and the effect of the spray distance and heat treatment on the phases, microstructure, and hardness of the coat- ings were examined. Coatings were analyzed by X-ray diffraction （XRD）, scanning electron microscopy （SEM）, energy-dispersive spectroscopy （EDS） and through microhardness measurements. Although mechanically alloyed Ni-AI powder showed no intermetallic phases, the coatings did. Different spray distances from 5 to 19 cm were employed for plasma spray and the specimens were heat treated at different temperatures, then the amount of oxides, porosity and hardness of the coatings were changed according to the spray condition. The thermal energy of the plasma spray caused the formation of NiAI phases while particles flew to the substrate or after that. Extreme increase in heat treatment temperature and spray distance resulted in oxidation and reduction in the quality of the coating. Furthermore, the best spray distance and heat treatment temperature to gain the NiAI intermetallic coating were established.
基金supported by the program "Biological Diversity–Gene Foundation and Genetic Diversity" of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project nos. 08-04-90410-Ykp-a, 05-04-49186-a, 04-04-81039-Bel_a)
文摘We report the expression profile of acyl-lipid △12-desaturase （desA） gene from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 and its effect on cell membrane lipid composition and cold tolerance in prokaryotic （Escherichia coil） and eukaryotic （Solanum tuberosum） cells. For this purpose, a hybrid of desA and reporter gene encoding thermostable lichenase （licBM3） was constructed and used to transform these cells. The expression of this hybrid gene was measured using qualitative （Petri dish test, electrophoregram and zymogram） and quantitative methods （spectrometry and gas liquid chromatography assays）. The maximum level of linoleic acid in the bacterial cells containing hybrid gene was 1.9% of total fatty acids. Cold stress tolerance assays using plant damage index and growth parameters showed that cold tolerance was enhanced in primary transgenic lines because of increased unsaturated fatty acid concentration in their lipids. The greatest content of 18：2 and 18：3 fatty acids in primary transgenic plants was observed for lines 2 （73%） and 3 （41%）. Finally, our results showed that desaturase could enhance tolerance to cold stress in potato, and desaturase and lichenase retain their functionality in the structure of the hybrid protein where the enzymatic activity of target gene product was higher than in the case of reporter lichenase gene absence in the construction.
文摘Composite layers containing~0.8%vol Al_(2)O_(3) nanoparticles were produced on AZ91 magnesium alloy by friction stir processing(FSP).The treated layers were characterized using optical and scanning electron microscopes,as well as microhardness and wear testing units.It was noticed that,by reducing the rotational speed and increasing the travel speed,the grain size of the treated layer reduces and its hardness increases.In addition,the presence of nano Al_(2)O_(3) reduces the grain sizes of the layers further and increases their hardness.Furthermore,FSP of AZ91 with Al_(2)O_(3) particles improved the wear resistance significantly and changed the wear mechanism from oxidation and adhesive mode in the as-received AZ91 to oxidation and abrasive in the FSPed specimens.Finally,the rotational speed of 800 rpm and the travel speed of 40 mm/min were the optimum parameters for achieving a suitable composite layer with the highest hardness and wear resistance among the treated layers.
基金Supported by Yasouj University(Grant No.88/8705)
文摘Objective: To investigate the effect of drought stress and organic fertilizer on German chamomile(Matricaria chamomilla) nutrient uptake, leaf chlorophyll content and osmotic adjustment under field conditions.Methods: This experiment was carried out through a randomized complete block design with a split factorial arrangement of treatments in three replications. The main plots were subjected to the following irrigation treatments: irrigation after 60, 90, 120, 150 and180 mm evaporation from Class A pan. The sub-plots were treated with three vermicompost doses(0, 5 and 10 t/ha).Results: Although drought stress reduced the nutrient percentages in the shoots, application of vermicompost enhanced the nutrient percentages, particularly when the plants were subjected to moderate to severe drought stress conditions. Moreover, the results of this study showed that the interaction between irrigation treatments and vermicompost rates on leaf chlorophyll content was significant. Comparison between the combined treatments indicated that under normal irrigation and moderate drought stress conditions chamomile plants received 5 and 10 t/ha vermicompost showed significantly higher leaf chlorophyll content comparing to the control treatment.Conclusions: Totally, organic fertilization by vermicompost could partly alleviate the effect of drought stress on chamomile by increasing N, P and K uptake and leaf soluble sugar, especially in stressed treatments.
文摘Hyperspectral(HS)image classification plays a crucial role in numerous areas including remote sensing(RS),agriculture,and the monitoring of the environment.Optimal band selection in HS images is crucial for improving the efficiency and accuracy of image classification.This process involves selecting the most informative spectral bands,which leads to a reduction in data volume.Focusing on these key bands also enhances the accuracy of classification algorithms,as redundant or irrelevant bands,which can introduce noise and lower model performance,are excluded.In this paper,we propose an approach for HS image classification using deep Q learning(DQL)and a novel multi-objective binary grey wolf optimizer(MOBGWO).We investigate the MOBGWO for optimal band selection to further enhance the accuracy of HS image classification.In the suggested MOBGWO,a new sigmoid function is introduced as a transfer function to modify the wolves’position.The primary objective of this classification is to reduce the number of bands while maximizing classification accuracy.To evaluate the effectiveness of our approach,we conducted experiments on publicly available HS image datasets,including Pavia University,Washington Mall,and Indian Pines datasets.We compared the performance of our proposed method with several state-of-the-art deep learning(DL)and machine learning(ML)algorithms,including long short-term memory(LSTM),deep neural network(DNN),recurrent neural network(RNN),support vector machine(SVM),and random forest(RF).Our experimental results demonstrate that the Hybrid MOBGWO-DQL significantly improves classification accuracy compared to traditional optimization and DL techniques.MOBGWO-DQL shows greater accuracy in classifying most categories in both datasets used.For the Indian Pine dataset,the MOBGWO-DQL architecture achieved a kappa coefficient(KC)of 97.68%and an overall accuracy(OA)of 94.32%.This was accompanied by the lowest root mean square error(RMSE)of 0.94,indicating very precise predictions with minimal error.In the case of
基金supported by the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología(CONACyT)and Tecnológico de Monterreyreceived by CONACYT in the form of a Graduate Studies Scholarship。
文摘Corneal diseases,the second leading cause of global vision loss affecting over 10.5 million people,underscores the unmet demand for corneal tissue replacements.Given the scarcity of fresh donor corneas and the associated risks of immune rejection,corneal tissue engineering becomes imperative.Developing nanofibrous scaffolds that mimic the natural corneal structure is crucial for creating transparent and mechanically robust corneal equivalents in tissue engineering.Herein,Aloe Vera Extract(AVE)/Polycaprolactone(PCL)nanofibrous scaffolds were primed using electrospinning.The electrospun AVE/PCL fibers exhibit a smooth,bead-free morphology with a mean diameter of approximately 340±95 nm and appropriate light transparency.Mechanical measurements reveal Young’s modulus and ultimate tensile strength values of around 3.34 MPa and 4.58 MPa,respectively,within the range of stromal tissue.In addition,cell viability of AVE/PCL fibers was measured against Human Stromal Keratocyte Cells(HSKCs),and improved cell viability was observed.The cell-fiber interactions were investigated using scanning electron microscopy.In conclusion,the incorporation of Aloe Vera Extract enhances the mechanical,optical,hydrophilic,and biological properties of PCL fibers,positioning PCL/AVE fiber scaffolds as promising candidates for corneal stromal regeneration.
基金support from EPSRC-UK Future Manufacturing Hub in Manufacture using Advanced Powder Processes(MAPP)(EP/P006566/1,www.mapp.ac.uk).
文摘Powder bed fusion methods of additive manufacturing (AM) require consistent, reproducible, and uniform layers of powder for the reliable production of high-quality parts, where properties of powder are central to achieving this. Among these properties, powder flowability and spreadability play critical roles in determining the quality of these powder layers.While extensive research has been conducted on powder flow and spreading behaviour, and on their characterisation, there is little critical comparison and review of these terms in the context of AM. Such a review is necessary to further develop and enhance our comprehension of spreading dynamics and its relation to powder properties in AM systems.This review paper aims to build a coherent understanding of the correlation between powder characteristics and spreading in powder based additive manufacturing and its impact on manufactured parts. It highlights the current progress in comprehending spreading dynamics, the influence of powder characteristics, environmental conditions, spreading system, and the development of testing tools to assess powder spreadability. Furthermore, the paper critically discusses the challenge of finding appropriate quantitative metrics and recent advances in the use of standardised methods for evaluating powder spreadability.
文摘Objective:Germline mutations in mismatch repair(MMR)genes cause Lynch syndrome(LS).LS is an inherited disease,and an important consequence of MMR deficiency is microsatellite instability(MSI)phenotype.MSI phenotype influences the efficacy of5 fluorouracil(5-FU)chemotherapy.Reproducible,cost effective,and easy to perform laboratory tests are required to include MSI detection in routine laboratory practice.Evaluation of CAT25 as monomorphic short tandem repeat sequence enables CAT25 to be an efficient screening tool among hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer(HNPCC)patients compared with other methods used currently.Methods:Based on Amsterdam II criteria,31 patients in 31 families were shortlisted from a total number of 1,659 colorectal cancer patients.MSI status was examined in these patients using CAT25 and a commercially available Promega MSI five-markerbased detection system as well as immunohistochemical(IHC)staining of four important MMR proteins.Patients were scored as high microsatellite instable(MSI-H),low(MSI-L),or stable(MSS).MSI status determined by CAT25 single mononucleotide marker was compared with that of five mononucleotide markers,Promega commercial kit,and IHC method.Results:MMR protein deficiency was observed on 7/31 probands using IHC methodology and 6/31 categorized as MSI-H using commercial kit or CAT25 single marker.The sensitivity and specificity of the CAT25 single marker were the same as those detected by five-marker Promega commercial kit in our patients.Conclusions:Based on our results,the performance of the CAT25 single mononucleotide marker for MSI status determination in our HNPCC patients is the same as that of the five-marker-based commercial kit.
文摘The Qom Formation is the most important hydrocarbon reservoir target in Central Iran.The Qom platform developed in a back-arc basin during the Oligo-Miocene due to the closing of the Tethyan Seaway.This formation consists of a variety of carbonate and non-carbonate facies deposited on a platform ranging from supratidal to basin.A combination of tectonic and eustatic events led to some lateral and vertical facies variations in the study area.Six third-order depositional sequences and related surfaces were identified regarding vertical facies changes in the studied sections of this Oligo-Miocene succession.According to all results and data,this succession was initially deposited during the Chattian upon a distally steepened ramp of siliciclastic-carbonate composition,including the Bouma sequence.Then,from the late Chattian to the Aquitanian,the platform changed into a homoclinal carbonate ramp with a gentle profile.With respect to tectonic activity,this phase was a calm period during the deposition of the Qom Formation.Finally,a drowned carbonate platform and a rimmed shelf emerged during the Burdigalian,terminated by the continental deposits of the Upper Red Formation.Regarding all geological characteristics,three main tectono-eustatic evolutionary phases have been recognized in the Qom back-arcbasin.
文摘Formany years,researchers have explored power allocation(PA)algorithms driven bymodels in wireless networks where multiple-user communications with interference are present.Nowadays,data-driven machine learning methods have become quite popular in analyzing wireless communication systems,which among them deep reinforcement learning(DRL)has a significant role in solving optimization issues under certain constraints.To this purpose,in this paper,we investigate the PA problem in a k-user multiple access channels(MAC),where k transmitters(e.g.,mobile users)aim to send an independent message to a common receiver(e.g.,base station)through wireless channels.To this end,we first train the deep Q network(DQN)with a deep Q learning(DQL)algorithm over the simulation environment,utilizing offline learning.Then,the DQN will be used with the real data in the online training method for the PA issue by maximizing the sumrate subjected to the source power.Finally,the simulation results indicate that our proposedDQNmethod provides better performance in terms of the sumrate compared with the available DQL training approaches such as fractional programming(FP)and weighted minimum mean squared error(WMMSE).Additionally,by considering different user densities,we show that our proposed DQN outperforms benchmark algorithms,thereby,a good generalization ability is verified over wireless multi-user communication systems.
基金supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences(No.P/943)
文摘In more than half of infertile men, the cause of their infertility is unknown. Several studies revealed the role of viral infections in male infertility. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus-1 （HSV-1） and HSV-2 in semen from asymptomatic infertile male patients, and its association with altered semen parameters. A total of 70 semen samples were collected from infertile men who attended the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility in Yazd, Iran. Semen analysis and diagnostic real-time PCR using specific primers and probes for HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA were performed. Comparison of semen parameters between virally in- fected and non-infected samples were performed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Semen analysis showed that infertile men fell into two groups, the male factor group and the unexplained group. HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA was detected in 16 （22.9%） and 10 （14.3%） of 70 semen samples, respectively. All HSV-positive samples had abnormal semen parameters （the male factor group）. Although HSV infection was not associated with sperm motility and morphological defects, it was correlated with lower sperm count in the seminal fluid. The findings suggest that asymptomatic seminal infection of HSV plays an important role in male infertility by adversely af- fecting sperm count.
