Fuzzy-based models' performance on qualitative and quantitative land suitability evaluation for cotton cultivation in Sarayan County, South Khorasan Province, Iran.

Using appropriate models in the land use planning process will help increase the accuracy and precision of decisions made by designers. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare fuzzy-based models (fuzzy set theory, fuzzy-AHP, and fuzzy-ANP) to evaluate the suitability of cotton cultivation in Sarayan region (located in eastern Iran). Twenty-eight land units were selected. Weighted arithmetic means of characteristics were performed in representative soil profiles of each unit. Landform-related characteristics were directly entered into the land suitability evaluation modeling. The land index was calculated using three selective qualitative land suitability model guidelines. Qualitative and quantitative land suitability was estimated. The validity of models was determined by r2, RMSE, GMER, and MAPE indicators between predicted and actual production. Soil texture, pH, calcium carbonate equivalent, drainage, organic matter, salinity and sodicity, slope, and gypsum are the most important, respectively. Also, the fuzzy-ANP method is more efficient than other models due to its higher r2 (0.98) and lower RMSE (4.31) and MAPE (0.56) and GMER (0.99) closer to 1. The value of cotton production using fuzzy, fuzzy-AHP, and fuzzy-ANP methods was calculated as 1085 to 4235, 1235 to 4318, and 1391 to 4452 tons per hectare, respectively. The high efficiency of the fuzzy-ANP model is due to the characteristics of the lands used in the evaluation process that are not independent of each other and this model considers them. Examining these models in different weather conditions and combining with the other computational intelligence methods in future experiments are recommended.

Disability-Adjusted Life Years and Mortality Rate Attributed to Brain and Central Nervous System Cancer in the Middle East and North Africa Countries.

BACKGROUND: Primary brain tumors are among the main causes of death. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological features of the brain and central nervous system cancer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. METHODS: In this study, data of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study were used to estimate the incidence, prevalence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality in 21 countries in the MENA region from 1990 to 2019 based on age and sex. The percentage of the changes of epidemiologic indicators was calculated between 1990 and 2019. RESULTS: Palestine and Turkey had the highest rate of brain and central nervous system cancer in 2019. Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iraq, and Lebanon had the highest percentage of incidence rate changes from 1990 to 2019. The prevalence of brain and central nervous system cancer in the MENA region was increased from 7.51 (95% CI: 4.95-11.01) in 1990 to 16.45 (95% CI: 10.83-19.54) in 2019 (percentage of changes = 54.35%). The standardized age mortality rate in the MENA region was increased by 2.7% in 2019 compared to that in 1990. The rate of standardized age of DALY per 100,000 individuals in the MENA region decreased from 135.09 (95% CI: 92.57-199.92) in 1990 to 128.34 (95% CI: 87.81-151.3) in 2019. CONCLUSION: The incidence rate, prevalence, and standardized age mortality (per 100,000) had increased significantly in the MENA region in 2019 compared to those in 1990. Focusing on the diversity of the estimates of such indices in different countries of MENA can lead to the identification of important risk factors for brain cancer in future studies.

On the Evidence of Thermodynamic Self-Organization during Fatigue: A Review.

In this review paper, the evidence and application of thermodynamic self-organization are reviewed for metals typically with single crystals subjected to cyclic loading. The theory of self-organization in thermodynamic processes far from equilibrium is a cutting-edge theme for the development of a new generation of materials. It could be interpreted as the formation of globally coherent patterns, configurations and orderliness through local interactivities by "cascade evolution of dissipative structures". Non-equilibrium thermodynamics, entropy, and dissipative structures connected to self-organization phenomenon (patterning, orderliness) are briefly discussed. Some example evidences are reviewed in detail to show how thermodynamics self-organization can emerge from a non-equilibrium process; fatigue. Evidences including dislocation density evolution, stored energy, temperature, and acoustic signals can be considered as the signature of self-organization. Most of the attention is given to relate an analogy between persistent slip bands (PSBs) and self-organization in metals with single crystals. Some aspects of the stability of dislocations during fatigue of single crystals are discussed using the formulation of excess entropy generation.

Stabilizing corn oil using the lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) antioxidants extracted by subcritical water.

This research was set up to identify the impact of the antioxidant compounds present in lemon balm extract (LBE) as obtained by the subcritical water (SBCW) method on the oxidative stability of corn oil. An extraction yield of 28.52% was obtained for the SBCW and rosmarinic acid was identified to be the predominant phenolic compound present in the LBE. The total phenolic content of the LBE was found to be 212.74 mg gallic acid/g extract. Subsequently, 200, 400, 800, 1600 and 3200 ppm of the LBE were added to corn oil and its peroxide value (PV), acid value (AV), conjugated diene (CD), carbonyl value (CV), oxidative stability index (OSI), total polar compound and total phenolic compounds were compared to control and the sample containing 200 ppm of the BHA throughout the 16-day Schaal oven test at 70 °C. Our findings indicated that the corn oil containing greater LBE concentration had lower PV, AV, CD, and CV but greater OSI than the control sample. Evaluation of total polar compounds confirmed lower extent of the compounds with high polarity in the greater levels of the LBE. Finally, the LBE was able to slow down the rancidity of corn oil and the samples with higher LBE exhibited gentle oxidation rate.

Studying the factors related to refractive error regression after PRK surgery.

BACKGTOUND: Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is used for a wide range of refractive errors such as low to moderate myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. While many improvements have been made in laser application and accuracy as well as the modes of corneal flap removal, and although the results are somewhat predictable, regression of refractive errors is still a common complaint among the patients undergoing refractive surgery with Excimer Laser. We aimed to determine related factors of regression following photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in different types of refractive errors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included patients who had undergone PRK more than 6 months previously and investigated refractive error regression and related factors. The participants were those who had PRK eye surgery for the first time from 2013 to 2016 using Technolas 217z100. A refraction value of spherical equivalent > 0.75 D after cycloplegic refraction was defined as refractive error regression. RESULTS: A total of 293 eyes on 150 subjects were studied. The preoperative refractive error of the eyes were as follows: 5.5% were myopic, 1% were hyperopic, 4.8% had astigmatism, 76% had myopic astigmatism and 12.6% had hyperopic astigmatism. Regressed and non-regressed eyes were assessed using the generalized estimating equations for the probabilistic variables of demographic characteristics, topography and eye refraction. The variables of simulated keratometry astigmatism (simK) (OR = 2.8; p = 0.04), 5 mm irregularity (OR = 3.56; p = 0.01) and sphere value (OR = 1.98; p = 0.01) were significantly related to refractive error regression. There was no significant relationship between the regressed and non-regressed eyes of the same person (p ≥ 0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a positive relationship between the increase of 5 mm irregularity, simK, sphere value before surgery and refractive error regression. Age, sex and type of refraction error of the patient and the expertise of the PRK surgeon could change the general results; therefore, not all cases should be dealt with identically.