Selection of wastewater treatment process based on the analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methods

This paper presents an application of the analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methods for selecting the best wastewater treatment process. The analytical hierarchy process is one of the best ways for deciding among the complex criteria structure in different levels, and the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process is a synthetic extension of the classical method when the fuzziness of the decision makers are considered. After reviewing aerobic treatment processes operated in Iran's industrial estates and determining the main criteria used for treatment process evaluation, they are arranged in a hierarchy structure. Selection of the best wastewater treatment process is a multi-criteria decision making problem. Conventional methods are inadequate for dealing with the imprecise or vague nature of linguistic assessment. To overcome this difficulty, the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process is proposed for dealing with the vagueness of decision makers' judgments. The alternatives consist of extended aeration, absorption bio-oxidation, integrated fixed-film activated sludge, sequencing batch reactor, aerated lagoon. Based on the general condition of industrial estate's wastewater treatment plants, technical/administrative, economic and environmental criteria and their sub-criteria are weighted and then criteria evaluated and priorities of alternatives have been done by analytical hierarchy process and fuzzy analytical hierarchy process methods by the use of triangular fuzzy numbers. Finally, selection of the best process and ranking of these five processes are carried out by these foregoing methods, and some sensitivity analyses are conducted to show the results' sensitiveness to the changes of the weights of the evaluation criteria

Diabetes mellitus and bell's palsy in Iranian population

During last decades many researchers have focused on the conditions associated with Bell's palsy including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and viral infections. This study was performed to evaluate correlation of diabetes mellitus and Bell's palsy and some relevant features not discussed in the literature in an Iranian population. The presence of diabetes mellitus was evaluated in a total number of 275 subjects [75 patients with Bell's palsy and 200 control subjects]. Diabetes mellitus was noted in 10 [13.3%] patients with Bell's palsy among which 6 case were diagnosed as new cases of diabetes. Previous history of Bell's palsy was present in 10.67% of the subjects with Bell's palsy. This study confirms the correlation of diabetes mellitus and Bell's palsy for the first time in an Iranian population. We suggest screening tests for diabetes mellitus to be a routine part in the management of patients with Bell's palsy, especially in developing countries

[Comparison of hearing results in two different techniques on 408 patients with otosclerosis]

Otosclerosis is common disease of the ear and surgery on stapes is very fine operation. There are two techniques for surgical treatment of otosclerosis: stapedectomy [partial, Total] and stapedotomy. This is a retrospective clinical study that performed in referral center [university hospital] on four hundred and eight patients with otosclerosis treated by surgery. Surgery on 285 patients were stapedotomy and 89 were stapedectomy. Preoperative and postoperative hearing thresholds were compared. In this study hearing results after stapedectomy were better in comparison with small fenestrationstapedotomy. Skill and experience of the surgeon has a significant role in stapes surgery. As stapes surgery is a very fine operation it is recommended not to be done by unexperienced surgeon

Perrault's syndrome: a Clinical and genetic investigation of three sisters

Perrault's syndrome [P.S] is rare. The combination of gonadal dysgenesis and hearing loss was accompanied by 46,XX karyotype in three sisters with parental consanguineous marriage Genetic investigation revealed normal female.karyotype, positive Barr and negative fluorescence [F] bodies, which was confirmed by molecular study on the basis of fluorescence in situ hybridization [FISH], with application of Xcen probe, showing the presence of two signals in 95% of the cell of these 3 Iranian sisters. The pedigree showed parental consanguinity [first cousin] with an autosomal mode of inheritance for both Perrault's syndrome and hearing loss. These findings together with normal thyroid function, serum prolactin, high level of serum gonadotropins is similar to the menopausal period in all 3 sisters. Estrogen and progesterone were recommended for all 3 sisters. This combined therapy led to mensturation and after a few months their breasts were normally developed. For further management cochlear implantation, speech therapy and training courses were suggested in order to improve hearing and intellectual abilities