Achieving groundwater resource sustainability at watershed scale by conjunctive use of groundwater and surface resources

The main goal of paper is to identify optimal water resources management strategies for groundwater resources sustainability achievement in Maharlou-Bakhtegan watershed in Iran and maximum water supply probability to the demand sites. In the present study, conjunctive use of groundwater and surface resources along with a scenario-based analysis approach is examined to achieve the optimal water resource management and plan Maharlou-Bakhtegan watershed using MODSIM model as a decision support system (DSS) for the basic river catchment management. The proposed approach is used to assess the effects of the different management strategies, climate changes, groundwater withdrawal levels and irrigation efficiency on the groundwater resources sustainability, agricultural water supply, and environmental water demand satisfaction. To quantify the system performance, six management scenarios are defined and modelled by MODSIM. For assessment of the system performance in each scenario, three performance indicators including reliability, vulnerability, and resiliency are introduced and defined. The findings showed that the fifth scenario (SC5) strategies satisfied all of the considered management goals and proposed the optimal management solutions for sustainability achievement of the groundwater resources.Keywords: Maharlou-Bakhtegan Watershed, Groundwater Resources Sustainability, MODSIM, Scenario Analysis, Performance Indice

Dynamic Simulation, Parameter Optimization, and Control of a Reactive Distillation Column for Production of Isopropanol via Propylene Hydration

In this study, a reactive distillation column for production of isopropanol was investigated. Firstly, a dynamic model was developed for the process. The model of the process was then programmed, and the process simulated using a base case obtained from the literature. Results showed that distillate contained more than 58 mol% propylene-free isopropanol. In the next step, optimization of some operating variables was performed to maximize concentration of isopropanol in distillate with condenser temperature as constraint, which was considered to be above the freezing point of water. Several simulations were performed by changing operating parameters, and finally optimum isopropanol content in distillate was obtained above 58 mol%. Results of using classic controllers showed that PID controller had the best performance for both condenser temperature set-point tracking and disturbance rejection. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

The Extent, Nature and Contributing Factors of Violence Against Iranian Emergency Medical Technicians

Background: Workplace Violence (WPV) is one of the most complex and dangerous occupational hazards faced by pre-hospital emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Objectives: This study aimed to assess the extent, nature and contributing factors of WPV against EMTs in Urmia, Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 120 EMTs from April to October 2014. A questionnaire was used for collecting the data. Descriptive statistics were applied to the data. Results: Most of the participants (79%) experienced WPV during the past six months. Accident scene was the most important place of violence and the patients’ companions were the main perpetrators of violence. Overall, 76% of violence victims reported “lack of awareness of the EMTs’ duties” as the most important contributing factor for WPV. Conclusions: This study highlighted the high frequency of WPV against EMTs. Evidently, the health care systems’ officials would benefit from taking proper actions in this area, particularly by “staff and public education”

Clinical trial of the effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on glycemic control and markers of lipid profiles in diabetic hemodialysis patients

Abstract Purpose: The current study was conducted to determine the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation on glycemic control and markers of lipid profiles risk in diabetic hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 diabetic HD patients. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups to take either 120 mg/day of CoQ10 supplements or placebo (n= 30each group) for 12 weeks. Results: After 12 weeks of intervention, CoQ10 supplementation, compared with the placebo, resulted in a significant decrease in serum insulin concentrations (− 2.5 ± 4.0 vs.+ 2.8 ± 5.3 μIU/mL, P < 0.001), homeostasis model of assessment estimated insulin resistance (− 0.9 ± 2.1 vs. + 1.2 3.0, P = 0.002), and significant increase in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.009 ± 0.01 vs. − 0.02 ± 0.05, P = 0.003). In addition, a trend toward a greater decrease in serum triglycerides (− 5 ± 53 vs. + 17 ± 44, P = 0.078) and VLDL-cholesterol levels (− 0.9 ± 10 vs. + 3 ± 9, P = 0.078) was observed in the CoQ10 group compared to the placebo group. We did not observe any significant effect of CoQ10 supplementation on fasting glucose, HbA1c and other lipid profiles compared with the placebo. Conclusions: Overall, our study supported that CoQ10 supplementation to diabetic HD patients for 12 weeks had beneficial effects on markers of insulin metabolism, but did not affect fasting glucose, HbA1c, and lipid profiles. Keywords: Coenzyme Q10 supplementation · Hemodialysis · Glycemic control · Lipid profile

A Model for E-Learning Readiness Assessment of Organizations and Financial Institutions “Case Study: BMI”

Abstract: In the current world, need to have information and contact for obtaining information, changes in the system of educational and cause the rise of E-learning in the field of staff training, While the realization of e-learning system on the forklift requires organizations to provide a different aspect of coming situations is that from the perspective of e-learning readiness system fitted to it. The main objective of this research, a model to assess the readiness of indigenous system of e-learning in organizations and financial institutions, and so, for the purpose of research with access to a variety of evaluation model and comparative studies by relying on information obtained from the analysis of the national studies, as well as the results of survey of experts, a native of framework consists of seven main later. Then, based on the comments of experts rate the importance of influencing factor and these dimensions as well as the suitability of the structure of the model, the direction of the desired target sensing, using structural equations model building were identified. More, this model is fitted with the help of the worksheet that contains the index of the model, in order to assess the rate of National Bank of preparation were used in total, represent the Agency's lack of readiness for entry into this arena. The proposed model is an appropriate tool for identifying strengths and weaknesses, in the organization access to information and communication technology and using it to further the effectiveness of the virtual field, as well as, the digital gap analysis between them

Curvature Effects on the Electromagnetic Force, Efficiency, and Heat Transfer of a Weak Low Profile Magneto-Hydrodynamic Blanket Propulsion System

The present study concerns the numerical assessment of the effects of longitudinal and lateral curvature of a flexible low profile magneto-hydrodynamic blanket on its thrust, performance, and heat transfer. To this end, after validating the solver with the analytical solution of the Hartman problem, negative and positive curvatures are taken into consideration in lateral and longitudinal directions on the blanket and electromagnetic and velocity fields, temperature distributions, force density fields and profiles are extracted and compared to the flat MHD blanket. It is demonstrated that negative curvatures increase the thrust force and temperature of the blanket and the reverse occurs for the positive curvatures. It is also shown that the longitudinal curvature affects the blanket thrust by -2.5% up to 5.2%, its efficiency by nearly 6% and the temperature change from -25 up to 28%. On the other hand, for the lateral curvatures, the overall thrust produced by the blanket is affected by about -6% to +6%, the efficiency is affected by -10% to 25% and temperature change is affected by -2 to 6%

Pimpinella anisum in the treatment of functional dyspepsia: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial

Background: We aimed to evaluate the effects of Pimpinella anisum (anise) from Apiaceae family on relieving the symptoms of postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) in this double-blind randomized clinical trial. Materials and Methods: Totally, 107 patients attending the gastroenterology clinic, aged 18-65 years, diagnosed with PDS according to ROME III criteria and signed a written consent form were enrolled. They were randomized to receive either anise or placebo, blindly, for 4 weeks. Anise group included 47 patients and received anise powders, 3 g after each meal (3 times/day). Control group involved 60 patients and received placebo powders (corn starch), 3 gafter each meal (3 times/day). The severity of Functional dyspepsia (FD) symptoms was assessed by FD severity scale. Assessments were done at baseline and by the end of weeks 2, 4 and 12. Mean scores of severity of FD symptoms and the frequency distribution of patients across the study period were compared. Results: The age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, and coffee drinking pattern of the intervention and control groups were not significantly different. Mean (standard deviation) total scores of FD severity scale before intervention in the anise and control groups were 10.6 (4.1) and 10.96 (4.1), respectively (P = 0.6). They were 7.04 (4.1) and 12.30 (4.3) by week 2, respectively (P = 0.0001), 2.44 (4.2) and 13.05 (5.2) by week 4, respectively (P = 0.0001), and 1.08 (3.8) and 13.30 (6.2) by week 12, respectively (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: This study showed the effectiveness of anise in relieving the symptoms of postpartum depression. The findings were consistent across the study period at weeks 2, 4 and 12. © 2015, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved