Electronic and optical properties of 5-AVA-functionalized BN nanoclusters: A DFT study

We carried out detailed density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations upon 5-aminolevulinic acid-functionalized B12N12 and B16N16 nanoclusters with the B3LYP, B3PW91, and PBE methods using the 6-311+G∗∗ basis set. The calculated adsorption energies of 5-aminolevulinic acid with the BN nanoclusters were evaluated at T = 298.15 and 311.15 K in the gaseous and aqueous environments with the B3LYP, B3PW91, and PBE methods. Our results showed that the adsorption of the 5-AVA molecule (NH2 group) with B12N12 is more favorable than-with the B16N16 nanocluster in the gas and solvent phases. It is anticipated that a 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-AVA) drug incorporating BN clusters could find application in drug delivery systems and in biomedical devices. © The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique 2016

Euthanizing the Profoundly Mentally Incapacitated: A Simple Economic Analysis

Throughout history, the killing of those that society deems unfit has gone in and out of fashion. Typically, the targets of such programs are the mentally disabled, the physically disabled, and the insane. Sexual orientation, religious or political beliefs, and propensity for criminality may become part of the criteria as well, depending on society\u27s commitment and fervor for such a program. The apparent reason for killing the unfit is to create a superior population-a citizenry that is both mentally and physically superior-while reducing the incidence of those in society that constitute a drain-those who ostensibly take more from society than they contribute. Underlying this bestial policy is a seductive economic argument- if a society\u27s goal is to maximize wealth, it must be sensible policy to remove those from society who do not contribute any wealth and in fact only consume it. Certainly the wealth of society is increased if the net detractors are removed

An intelligent capacity management system for interface converter in AC-DC hybrid microgrids

An interface converter (IC) is used in an AC-DC hybrid microgrid (HMG) and its main tasks are frequency regulation in the AC side, adjusting the DC voltage, and controlling the power flow between AC/DC sides based on the droop control method. The IC should be capable of providing ancillary services such as reactive power supply and compensation of unbalanced and harmonic components in the AC side. However, the use of the IC to provide ancillary services occupies its capacity, which may interfere with the main tasks of the IC. In addition, it is shown in this paper that in unbalanced conditions, the effective power capacity of the IC is reduced by considering the current limit of the converter. In this case, the converter may not be able to perform the main task and provide all the necessary ancillary services at the same time, otherwise, it may be exposed to an overcurrent condition. Therefore, an efficient strategy is needed to manage the IC converter capacity to facilitate optimal use of the entire IC capacity even in unbalanced conditions. Given this challenge, this paper proposes an intelligent strategy for managing the IC capacity, which prioritizes the realization of the main task and the provision of ancillary services. The proposed strategy is evaluated, and its effectiveness is proven by simulation results in Matlab/Simulink

Age, growth and length at first maturity of Otolithes ruber in the northwestern part of the Persian Gulf, based on age estimation using otolith

Estimates of age, growth parameters, length-weight relationship and length and age at first maturity of the otolithes ruber are required for fishery management. We used counting annuli on the section of sagittal otoliths to age O.ruber from the Northwest Persian Gulf in south of Iran. Estimated ages ranged from 0 to 6 years, and maximum frequency of fishes was observed in age-group 1. The values of growth parameters L∞, k and to were calculated by von Bertalanffy model and the results were 67.57 (cm), 0.27 (year-1) and -0.43 respectively. Parameters b and an in length-weight relationship were calculated 3.19 and 0.005 respectively. Length and age at first maturity were estimated 28 cm and 1.55 year

Reduction in the balanced scorecard performance measurement systems in manufacturing organizations by PCA

In this paper, we compare PCA and ordinal logistic regression in ranking the manufacturing systems. In this regard we present an integrated framework for assessment and ranking of manufacturing systems based on management and organizational performance indicators. To achieve the objectives of this study, a comprehensive study was conducted to locate all economic and technical indicators which influence organizational performance. Sixty one indicators were identified and classified in .five categories, namely, (1) financial, (2) customer satisfaction, (3) process innovation, (4) production process and (5) organizational learning and growth. These indicators are related to organizational and managerial productivity and efficiency. One actual test problem and a random sample of 12 indicators were selected to show the applicability of the integrated approach. The results of PCA and OLR showed the weak and strong points of each sector in regard to the selected indicators. Furthermore, it identifies which indicators have the major impacts on the overall performance of industrial sectors. The modeling approach of this paper could be easily utilized for managerial and organizational ranking and analysis of other sectors. The results of such studies would help top managers to have better understanding and improve existing systems with respect to managerial and organizational performance.Keywords: Productivity and competitiveness; Multivariate statistics integrated assessment, BC

Comparison of the pregnancy outcomes between the medical and surgical treatments in tubal ectopi pregnancy

Background: Various treatments have been proposed to treat ectopic pregnancy, but their impact on future pregnancies is still the subject of controversy. Objective: The aim of this study is to compare the medical and surgical treatment methods and their impact on the subsequent fertility results and complications in women with a history of ectopic pregnancy. Materials and Methods: In this analytical, cross-sectional study, 370 women with the history of ectopic pregnancy, (treared with single dose of methotrexate or salpingectomy by laparotomy), that referred to Al-Zahra Hospital, Rasht, Guilan between 2009 to 2013 were enrolled. 147 women responded to the phone call. The age, the number of women that needed to drug for pregnancy, fertility rate and the fertility outcomes were studied. Result: 147 women responded to the call and between them, 114 women tried to get pregnant again after the ectopic pregnancy treatment. They were agreed to the participate in the study. The mean age of the patients was 28.56±5.63 yr. The fertility rates in the medical and the surgical groups were 56.6 and 47.61, respectively (p=0.141). There were no significant differences in the poor consequences of pregnancy among the two groups; ectopic pregnancy (p=0.605), miscarriage (p=0.605), and prematuredelivery (p=0.648). 15.1 in the medicinal group and two patients 12.5 in the surgical group had received fertility treatment in order to get pregnant (p=0.135). There was no significant difference in two groups. Conclusion: It seems that surgical treatment depending on the underlying variables of each patient, can be used such as medical treatment, without worrying about its effect on fertility. © 2018, Research and Clinical Center for Infertitlity. All rights reserved

New approaches to the study of sepsis

Models of sepsis have been instructive in understanding the sequence of events in animals and, to an extent, in humans with sepsis. Events developing early in sepsis suggest that a hyperinflammatory state exists, accompanied by a buildup of oxidants in tissues reflective of a redox imbalance. Development of immunosuppression and degraded innate and adaptive immune responses are well‐established complications of sepsis. In addition, there is robust activation of the complement system, which contributes to the harmful effects of sepsis. These events appear to be associated with development of multiorgan failure. The relevance of animal models of sepsis to human sepsis and the failure of human clinical trials are discussed, together with suggestions as to how clinical trial design might be improved. Currently there is no FDA‐approved drug for use in sepsis. This Review discusses the relevance of animal models to human sepsis and the failure of human clinical trials and provides suggestions as to how clinical trial design might be improved.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/94452/1/1234_ftp.pd

Revisiting Corporate Governance and Financial Risk-Taking

Corporate governance attributes have varying effects on risk taking when variables are examined separately. We study the effects of a large range of corporate governance attributes on risk taking using a comprehensive US sample. Our findings confirm that although there are certain characteristics that drive this positive effect such as compensation structure, there are those which have the opposite effect such as board-level attributes. Our paper contributes to the broader literature on the relationship between corporate governance and risk in financial institutions, which are often overlooked in traditional studies. We shed light on the importance of studying corporate governance at a granular level rather than using a single index. The findings offer insights to regulators in determining suitable corporate governance frameworks to ensure the protection of investors rights in financial institutions

Nucleotide sequence of cDNA encoding for preprochymosin in native goat (Capra hircus) from Iran

Summary Prochymosin is one of the most important aspartic proteinases used as a milk-clotting enzyme in cheese production. In the present investigation we report sequence of cDNA encoding goat (Capra hircus) preprochymosin and compare its nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences with sequences of other ruminants preprochymosin. As bovine prochymosin, the caprine prochymosin cDNA encodes 365 amino acids with a prosegment of 42 amino acids and the mature goat chymosin begins with glycine. The preprochymosin nucleotide sequence reported in this study differs from other reported goat sequence (AY389343) in three nucleotides, two of which alter the amino acids at positions 19p and 139

Causality between Cash Flow and Earnings: Evidence from Tehran (Iran) Stock Exchange.

This article employs data from 155 companies from 27 different industries listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) for the period from 2000 to 2009 to examine the direction of causality between cash flow and earnings after taking consideration of stationarity and co-integration. The results indicate that there is a bidirectional causal relationship between cash flow and earnings at the level of all individual companies, so that cash flow variables caused earning variables and vice versa. However, at the level of industrial sectors, causality exists only between earning before interest and taxation (EBIT) and cash flow from operating activities (CFOA)