New Approaches to Analyze Gasoline Rationing

In this paper, the relation among factors in the road transportation sector from March, 2005 to March, 2011 is analyzed. Most of the previous studies have economical point of view on gasoline consumption. Here, a new approach is proposed in which different data mining techniques are used to extract meaningful relations between the aforementioned factors. The main and dependent factor is gasoline consumption. First, the data gathered from different organizations is analyzed by feature selection algorithm to investigate how many of these independent factors have influential effect on the dependent factor. A few of these factors were determined as unimportant and were deleted from the analysis. Two association rule mining algorithms, Apriori and Carma are used to analyze these data. These data which are continuous cannot be handled by these two algorithms. Therefore, the two-step clustering algorithm is used to discretize the data. Association rule mining analysis shows that fewer vehicles, gasoline rationing, and high taxi trips are the main factors that caused low gasoline consumption. Carma results show that the number of taxi trips increase after gasoline rationing. Results also showed that Carma can reach all rules that are achieved by Apriori algorithm. Finaly it showed that association rule mining algorithm results are more informative than statistical correlation analysis

Optimal Scheduling of Multiproduct Pipeline System Using MILP Continuous Approach

Part 5: Planning and Scheduling; International audience; To date, the multiproduct pipeline transportation mode has nationally and internationally considerably evolved thanks to his efficiently and effectively of transporting several products. In this paper, we focus our study on the scheduling of a multiproduct pipeline system that receives a number of petroleum products (fuels) from a single refinery source in order to be distributed to several storage and distribution centers (depots). Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) continuous mathematical approach is presented to solve this problem. The sequence of injected products in the same pipeline should be carefully studied, in order to meet market demands and ensure storage autonomy of the marketable pure products in the fuels depots on the one hand and to minimize the number of interfaces; Birth zone of mixture between two products in contact and in sequential flow, which may hinder the continuous operation of the pipeline system, by the necessity of additional storage capacity for this last mixture, that is in no way marketable and requires special processing operations. This work is applied on a real case of a multiproduct pipeline that feeds the western and southwestern region of Algeria with fuels. The obtained results based on the MILP continuous approach give an optimal scheduling of the multiproduct transport system with a minimized number of interfaces. Document type: Conference objec

Evaluation the genetic diversity of advanced lentil genoty pesunder the drought stress and non-stress conditions

To evaluate genetic diversity of advanced lentil lines, screening quantitative indices of drought resistance, and identifying drought resistant lines, 11 varieties, one advanced lentil line and one selected genotype from Ardabil local mass in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 3 replications under both stress (rain-fed) and non-stress (irrigated) conditions in the Station of Agricultural and Natural Research of Ardabil. Based on yields obtained under irrigation (YP) and rain-fed (YS) conditions, several quantitative drought tolerance indices, like mean productivity (MP), tolerance index (TOL), geometric mean productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (HARM), stress susceptibility index (SSI) and stress tolerance index (STI) were used to evaluate the drought responses of these genotypes. Evaluation of quantitative indices of drought resistance and considering the means quantities and correlation coefficients between such indices, based on grain yield and under both rain-fed and irrigated conditions indicated that indices (MP), (HARM), (GMP) and (STI) are considered as the best indices of Lentil genotypes response with stress intensity of (SI = 0.29) under drought stress. In 3-D graph, it has been showed that with considering these indices and grain yield and under rain-fed and irrigated conditions, genotypes ILL 6031, ILL 9893 and ILL 8095 will be as the produced highest seed yields and drought resistant lines in group A. Multivariate Biplot graph indicated that genotypes ILL 6031, ILL 9893 and ILL 8095 were located next to the vectors of drought resistance indices, as: MP, HARM, GMP and STI. Distribution of the genotypes in the Biplot space indicated the presence of genetic diversity among the lines for drought stress. Diagrams obtained from cluster analysis based on above indices showed that the farthest genetic distance in related to drought resistant lines with highest seed yields (ILL 6031, ILL 9893 and ILL 8095) and drought susceptible lines and lowest seed yields (ILL 8173, ILL 9832, ILL 1878 and ILL 8146)

The association of bone, fingernail and blood manganese with cognitive and olfactory function in Chinese workers

Occupational manganese (Mn) exposure has been associated with cognitive and olfactory dysfunction; however, few studies have incorporated cumulative biomarkers of Mn exposure such as bone Mn (BnMn). Our goal was to assess the cross-sectional association between BnMn, blood Mn (BMn), and fingernail Mn (FMn) with cognitive and olfactory function among Mn-exposed workers. A transportable in vivo neutron activation analysis (IVNAA) system was designed and utilized to assess BnMn among 60 Chinese workers. BMn and FMn were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Cognitive and olfactory function was assessed using Animal and Fruit Naming tests, World Health Organization/University of California-Los Angeles Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Additional data were obtained via questionnaire. Regression models adjusted for age, education, factory of employment, and smoking status (UPSIT only), were used to assess the relationship between Mn biomarkers and test scores. In adjusted models, increasing BnMn was significantly associated with decreased performance on average AVLT scores [β (95% confidence interval (CI)) = -0.65 (-1.21, -0.09)] and Animal Naming scores [β (95% CI) = -1.54 (-3.00, -0.07)]. Increasing FMn was significantly associated with reduced performance measured by the average AVLT [β (95% CI) = -0.35 (-0.70, -0.006)] and the difference in AVLT scores [β (95% CI) = -0.40 (-0.77, -0.03)]. BMn was not significantly associated with any test scores; no significant associations were observed with Fruit Naming or UPSIT tests. BnMn and FMn, but not BMn, are associated with cognitive function in Mn-exposed workers. None of th

Study on relations between relative water content, cell membrane stability and duration of growth period with grain yield of lentil genotypesunder drought stress and non-stress conditions

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stresses that limits crop production in arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Lentil (Lens culinaris L.), a valuable legume crop, is produced mainly rain-fed in Iran. An experiment was conducted to study the relationships between relative water content (RWC), cell membrane stability (CMS) and duration of growth period with grain yield of 11 advanced genotypes, varieties and a local genotype in the Ardabil Agriculture and Natural Resources research Station. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replication under both rain-fed and irrigated conditions. Combined ANOVA showed significant differences among all the evaluated traits. Significant differences between characters reveals that there are high variation between the traits studied. Means for characters under study showed that grain yield, RWC, CMS and duration of growth period decreased in rain-fed condition but cell membrane leakage (electric conductivity) increased. Correlation coefficients showed strongly positive relation between grain yield with RWC (r0.98**), strongly negative and non significant CMS (r-0.32ns) and strongly negative relation between grain yield and the days to maturity (r-0.78**). The results of the experiment also revealed that there weren’t a strong relation between yield and calculated attributes for drought tolerance except RWC. Therefore, this character could be effective in evaluation of drought tolerance and identification of high yielding genotypes (ILL 6031, ILL 9893 and ILL 8095)

Prevalence of influenza A infection in the Middle-East: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to determine the prevalence rate of influenza virus from different parts of Middle East region, and present an overall relative frequency (RF) for this region. Methods: The authors performed a systematic literature review from several reliable databases such as PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Scopus during 2000�2016. Furthermore, the keywords of this research were �Influenza�, �Subtype�, �Seroprevalence�, �Incidence�, �Seroepidemiology�, �H1N1�, �H3N2�, �H5N1�, �H9N2�, �Middle-East� and �Meta-analysis�. The reported data were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The authors selected 71 studies out of 1147 for the present review. The overall estimation of the prevalence of influenza virus was 10.2 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.1%�10.3%. However, based on our records, the evident heterogeneity of influenza virus was observed among the studies (Cochran Q test, P value <.001 and I-squared = 100%). It should be noted that influenza virus infection's RF varied from 0.5% in Qatar to 70% in Syria. Conclusions: The results of this review are remarkable, they show that influenza infection RF is variable due to several factors. Thus, further researches should be taken to minimize the emergence and transmission of influenza virus. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Lt

Prevalence of influenza A infection in the Middle-East: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to determine the prevalence rate of influenza virus from different parts of Middle East region, and present an overall relative frequency (RF) for this region. Methods: The authors performed a systematic literature review from several reliable databases such as PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Scopus during 2000�2016. Furthermore, the keywords of this research were �Influenza�, �Subtype�, �Seroprevalence�, �Incidence�, �Seroepidemiology�, �H1N1�, �H3N2�, �H5N1�, �H9N2�, �Middle-East� and �Meta-analysis�. The reported data were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: The authors selected 71 studies out of 1147 for the present review. The overall estimation of the prevalence of influenza virus was 10.2 95% confidence interval (CI): 10.1%�10.3%. However, based on our records, the evident heterogeneity of influenza virus was observed among the studies (Cochran Q test, P value <.001 and I-squared = 100%). It should be noted that influenza virus infection's RF varied from 0.5% in Qatar to 70% in Syria. Conclusions: The results of this review are remarkable, they show that influenza infection RF is variable due to several factors. Thus, further researches should be taken to minimize the emergence and transmission of influenza virus. © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Lt

The association between HPV gene expression, inflammatory agents and cellular genes involved in EMT in lung cancer tissue

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Several studies have suggested that Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is an important risk factor in the development of lung cancer. In this study, we aim to address the role of HPV in the development of lung cancer mechanistically by examining the induction of inflammation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by this virus. METHODS: In this case-control study, tissue samples were collected from 102 cases with lung cancer and 48 controls. We examined the presence of HPV DNA and also the viral genotype in positive samples. We also examined the expression of viral genes (E2, E6 and E7), anti-carcinogenic genes (p53, retinoblastoma (RB)), and inflammatory cytokines in HPV positive cases. RESULTS: HPV DNA was detected in 52.9 (54/102) of the case samples and in 25 (12/48) of controls. A significant association was observed between a HPV positive status and lung cancer (OR�=�3.37, 95 C.I�=�1.58-7.22, P�=�0.001). The most prevalent virus genotype in the patients was type 16 (38.8). The expression of p53 and RB were decreased while and inflammatory cytokines were increased in HPV-positive lung cancer and HPV-positive control tissues compared to HPV-negative lung cancer and HPV-negative control tissues. Also, the expression level of E-cad and PTPN-13 genes were decreased in HPV- positive samples while the expression level of SLUG, TWIST and N-cad was increased in HPV-positive samples compared to negative samples. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that HPV infection drives the induction of inflammation and EMT which may promote in the development of lung cancer