Approach to Implementing Health and Environmental Safety System in Construction Projects Using Fuzzy Logic

The present study's objective is the implementation of the general Health and Safety Executive(HSE) Plan in civil projects; at first, it is required to formulate the Work Breakdown Structure(WBS) in the relevant project with the aim of coming to a proper time plan. In this study, the scope of the implementation of this system includes two items in which the probability and risks of timing projects can come to light.The two substantial items in timing projects are activity and time itself which, in some projects, given the un-clarity of the scope of these two items, one is required to take into consideration the probable and approximate value of such scope with the analysis of the fuzzy expert method. And, one of the methods used for the analysis of the scope of timing probabilities is the use of the practical implications of fuzzy logic in engineering sciences; thus, in the essay at hand, the basic information required for risk assessment, fuzzy logic, the theory of fuzzy numbers, and the method used for analyzing, disintegrating, and composing them, with the purpose of applying them in projects' risk assessment, is presented.Fuzzy logic can be introduced as a powerful and flexible tool for analyzing the scope of risk of projects which is enabled to provide us with the mathematical formulation of the unclear or unspecific parameters and, eventually, represent the analysis and evaluation of data in a numerical format

Spring search algorithm for simultaneous placement of distributed generation and capacitors

Purpose. In this paper, for simultaneous placement of distributed generation (DG) and capacitors, a new approach based on Spring Search Algorithm (SSA), is presented. This method is contained two stages using two sensitive index Sv and Ss. Sv and Ss are calculated according to nominal voltageand network losses. In the first stage, candidate buses are determined for installation DG and capacitors according to Sv and Ss. Then in the second stage, placement and sizing of distributed generation and capacitors are specified using SSA. The spring search algorithm is among the optimization algorithms developed by the idea of laws of nature and the search factors are a set of objects. The proposed algorithm is tested on 33-bus and 69-bus radial distribution networks. The test results indicate good performance of the proposed methodЦель. В статье для одновременного размещения распределенной генерации и конденсаторов представлен новый подход, основанный на "пружинном" алгоритме поиска (Spring Search Algorithm, SSA). Данный метод состоит из двух этапов с использованием двух показателей чувствительности Sv и Ss. Показатели чувствительности Sv и Ss рассчитываются в соответствии с номинальным напряжением и потерями в сети. На первом этапе определяются шины-кандидаты для установки распределенной генерации и конденсаторов согласно Sv и Ss. Затем, на втором этапе размещение и калибровка распределенной генерации и конденсаторов выполняются с использованием алгоритма SSA. "Пружинный" алгоритм поиска входит в число алгоритмов оптимизации, разработанных на основе идей законов природы, а факторы поиска представляют собой набор объектов. Предлагаемый алгоритм тестируется на радиальных распределительных сетях с 33 и 69 шинами. Результаты тестирования показывают хорошую эффективность предложенного метода

ANTI-MYCOBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF CAPPARIS SPINOSA L. EXTRACT AGAINST CLINICAL ISOLATES OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

  Objective: Tuberculosis (TB) has been one of the biggest global health issues for decades. Emerging forms of the disease; however, after many years since the discovery of the last effective treatment for this disease, the emerging forms of it have made scientists worried about the disease. Most herbs have anti-microbial properties; however, there was no research on the impact of fruit Capparis spinosa on TB. This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-microbial effects of bacterial C. spinosa.Methods: In this study, methanolic extract at maximum efficiency to maintain existing substances was prepared by the freeze dryer device and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration of bacteria's growth. The proportional method was used on 7 clinical samples and one reference sample H37RV with its six concentrations (80-50-25-10-1-0/2 mg/ml). In addition, to determine the effects of plant extracts in combination with rifampin, all samples were tested by the supplement combination or cover combination of these two materials. All tests were performed twice. The methanol extract of the plant at the concentration of 25 mg/mL in all samples has inhibitory effect on the growth.Results: In study, clinical samples with a lethal dose of RIFAMPIN, it was shown that none of the samples have drug resistance. The results have revealed that the methanol extract has an anti-mycobacterial effect.Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that Capparis spinosa possess considerable anti-mycobacterial properties in the laboratory. These results can be used as a background for further future studies on this species

Advanced empirical research based on structural equation modeling (SEM) regarding the impact of tax revenue on GDP dynamics at EU-28 level

The main objective of this empirical study is to investigate the impact of tax revenue on GDP dynamics at EU-28 level based on structural equation modeling (SEM). We applied structural equation modeling (SEM) which represents a multivariate statistical analysis technique used especially for analyzing structural relationships between measured variables and latent structures. Selected taxes are the following: environmental taxes, indirect taxes, social contributions, taxes on capital, taxes on labour, taxes on property, and direct taxes. The sample period includes a long time horizon during 2005-2017 for each member states of EU-28. Our empirical findings revealed the level of taxation exhibits an increased influence on GDP dynamics in case of EU-28 member states.JEL Codes - C3; E62; O47; O5

Effect of sunlight exposure and storage duration and temperature on release of heavy metals from polyethylene terephthalate drinking water bottles

Background and purpose: Bottled water is widely packaged and distributed in PolyethyleneTerphthalate (PET) bottles with plastic caps. Plastic materials in bottles, and other additives such as heavy metals, can leak into water during manufacturing or storage process in different ambient conditions. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of sunlight and environmental temperature on the release of heavy metals from PET bottles into water. Materials and methods: The study was conducted in six brands of bottled water (0.5 L) in five provinces of Iran, 2015. The levels of Pb, Ni, Cd and Sb were determined in bottled waters in different conditions including room-temperature of 27±2°C, sun exposure to 45±3°C, and with/without foil coating. Different temperatures (45°C, 60°C and 75°C) were also used in specified time ranges from 5 to 50 days. Measurement was done by ICP-AES and data was analyzed in Minitab. Results: Concentrations of Pb, Ni and Cd in bottled water did not show any significant changes in direct sunlight exposure and ambient temperature but Sb concentration was found to be higher in all samples when storage duration increased. In some samples, it even exceeded the maximum allowed value (5 ppb).Conclusion: Direct radiation exposure to sunlight, increasing the ambient temperature and storage duration, lead to increase in concentration of antimony in bottled water. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Exposure to nanoscale diesel exhaust particles: Oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, anxiety and depression on adult male mice

ABSTRACT Exposure to nanoscale diesel engines exhausted particles (DEPs) is a well-recognized risk factor for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Rodents as commonly used models for urban air pollution in health effect studies demonstrate constant stimulation of inflammatory responses in the main areas of the brain. Nevertheless, the primary effect of diesel exhaust particulate matter on some of the brain regions and relation by behavioral alterations still remains untouched. We evaluated the brain regional in flammatory responses to a nanosized subfraction of diesel engines exhaust particulate matter (DEPs < 200 nm) in an adult male mice brain. Adult male mice were exposed to DEPs for 3, 6, and 8 h per day, 12 weeks and five days per week. Degree of anxiety and the depression by elevated plus maze and Forced Swimming Test respectively (FST) did measurement. After behavior tests, the plasma and some of the brain regions such as olfactory bulb (OB) and hippocampus (HI) were analyzed for oxidative stress and in flammatory responses. The inflammation and oxidative stress changes in OB and HI, markedly coincides with the results of behavioral alterations. These responses corresponded with rapid induction of MDA and nitrite oxide (NO) in brain regions and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) mRNA followed by IL6, IL1 α , and TNF α in OB and HI. The different times of DEPs exposure, leads to oxidative stress and inflammatory in plasma and brain regions. That this cumulative transport of inhaled nanoscale DEPs into the brain and creating to inflammation responses of brain regions may cause problems of brain function and anxiety and depression. Keywords: Air pollution Nanoscale diesel exhaust particles Oxidative stress Nanotoxicology Anxiety Depressio

Identifying Information Retrieval Research Trends Using Author Co-citation Network

AbstractThe aim of this study was mapping, visualizing and determining subject trends in the field of information retrieval using author co-citation network based on articles indexed in Scopus from 2005- 2018. This scientometric study was performed using co-citation analysis. Research population includes all articles indexed in Scopus in the field of information retrieval from 2005 to 2018. Therefore, 35018 papers were retrieved in this field. VOSviewer was used to analyze the author co-citation. The study indicated that a total of 604757 authors were co-cited, 212328 journals were cited. Also highly cited articles and sources were determined. Amongst countries, United States, China, United Kingdom, Germany and Canada ranked one to five, respectively. Computer science was a pioneer with regard to interdisciplinary area in IR. It is noteworthy that visualization of author co-citation in field of IR determined ten clusters, namely knowledge and information science, computer science, electronics, information retrieval, information seeking behavior, psychology, multimedia information retrieval, software engineering, ophthalmology and surgery

Provide a Model for Determining the Competitive Price Range in Public Private Partnership Water and Wastewater Projects in Iran (Case Study of Wastewater Collection and Treatment Plant Sirjan City)

In order to choose the method of project implementation in the form of partnership or conventional method, various factors in the formation of the concept of value for money creation in each project are evaluated to be the basis for decision making. Many countries use Public Sector Comparators (PSC) to reach this decision. In this research, the correct calculation of PSC and simulation of risks to achieve a negotiable price range in water and wastewater projects in Iran has been done. The data collection tool in this study was to review various articles to identify the types of risks and distribute questionnaires and interviews with experts in the water and wastewater industry in order to determine the main and effective risks and then, the occurrence and severity of the effects of each risk. The price range was determined using the Monte Carlo simulation. After determining the main risks on PSC, using Monte Carlo method and risk distribution functions, the minimum and maximum amount of each risk and the total risk were determined for 70%, 80% and 90% confidence coefficients. According to the obtained model, to determine the price range, the price presented in the case study should be 500% to 550% in the minimum case and 750% to 850% increase in the maximum case for different reliability coefficients. As a result of this study, inflation risks, exchange rate fluctuations, regional political instability, public and private sector corruption have had the greatest impact on the PSC and price range determination

PLANNING OF ENERGY CARRIERS BASED ON FINAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION USING DYNAMIC PROGRAMMING AND PARTICLE SWARM OPTIMIZATION

Purpose. In the present article, a new approach of the energy grid studies is introduced to program energy carriers. In this view, a proper plan is designed on the use of energy carriers considering the energy optimum use. Indeed, the proper energy grid is designed by applying Iran energy balance sheet information. It is proper to mention that, the energy grid modelling is done in a matrix form. The electrical energy distribution among power stations is achieved by using the particle swarm optimization algorithm. In the present paper, concerning the dynamic programming method, it is tried to determine a suitable combination of energy carriers