Adaptive control design for a synchronous generator

The operating point of a power system changes to an unknown point with an unknown change in the mechanical input power. In this paper, a nonlinear adaptive controller is designed for excitation system of the generator based on the backstepping control technique, in order to achieve transient stability enhancement, in the presence of uncertainties in mechanical power. The designed controller guarantees the convergence of system states to new desired values corresponding to unknown mechanical power. A power system consisting of a synchronous generator connected to an infinite bus through a double circuit transmission line is used in control design and the simulation studies. Computer simulation verifies the effectiveness and the validity of the proposed control, considering faulted system with a clearance and change in network topology. © 2014, Editura Academiei Romane. All rights reserved

Core promoter short tandem repeats as evolutionary switch codes for primate speciation

Alteration in gene expression levels underlies many of the phenotypic differences across species. Because of their highly mutable nature, proximity to the +1 transcription start site (TSS), and the emerging evidence of functional impact on gene expression, core promoter short tandem repeats (STRs) may be considered an ideal source of variation across species. In a genome-scale analysis of the entire Homo sapiens protein-coding genes, we have previously identified core promoters with at least one STR of ≥6-repeats, with possible selective advantage in this species. In the current study, we performed reverse analysis of the entire Homo sapiens orthologous genes in mouse in the Ensembl database, in order to identify conserved STRs that have shrunk as an evolutionary advantage to humans. Two protocols were used to minimize ascertainment bias. Firstly, two species sharing a more recent ancestor with Homo sapiens (i.e. Pan troglodytes and Gorilla gorilla gorilla) were also included in the study. Secondly, four non-primate species encompassing the major orders across Mammals, including Scandentia, Laurasiatheria, Afrotheria, and Xenarthra were analyzed as out-groups. We introduce STR evolutionary events specifically identical in primates (i.e. Homo sapiens, Pan troglodytes, and Gorilla gorilla gorilla) vs. non-primate out-groups. The average frequency of the identically shared STR motifs across those primates ranged between 0.00005 and 0.06. The identified genes are involved in important evolutionary and developmental processes, such as normal craniofacial development (TFAP2B), regulation of cell shape (PALMD), learning and long-term memory (RGS14), nervous system development (GFRA2), embryonic limb morphogenesis (PBX2), and forebrain development (APAF1). We provide evidence of core promoter STRs as evolutionary switch codes for primate speciation, and the first instance of identity-by-descent for those motifs at the interspecies level. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Effectiveness of Low-Level Laser Therapy compared to Ultrasound in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Introduction: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common type of peripheral entrapment neuropathy that occurs in the wrist area in a space called the carpal tunnel. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and ultrasound are among the most common methods of physical modalities for treating CTS; the effectiveness of these two methods and superiority of one over the other is not agreed among experts.Methods: In present systematic review and meta-analysis study, the most important databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Science Direct, Trip Medical Database, and Google Scholar were searched using appropriate keywords and specific strategies without time limitation to collect data. The collected data was analyzed using meta-analytic method and random effects model. The heterogeneity among studies was examined using I2. The data was analyzed using Review Manager Software.Results: From among 108 related studies, 49 cases were entered in the first stage. After the final examination, 6 studies were selected for meta-analysis. The total number of patients in these six studies was 403; 204 subjects were in the LLLT group and 199 subjects were in the ultrasound group. The results of meta-analyses showed that there was no significant difference between these two therapeutic methods in terms of pain relief, symptom severity scale (SSS), functional status scale (FSS), motor latency, sensory latency, handgrip strength, and motor amplitude.Conclusion: Based on meta-analyses, there was no significant difference between two LLLT and ultrasound methods; in other words, they had similar effectiveness in improving the condition of patients with CTS. However, the authors believed that arriving at conclusions in this area requires high-quality and large size studies.

Pharmaceutical ethnobotany in the Mahabad (West Azerbaijan) biosphere reserve: ethno-pharmaceutical formulations, nutraceutical uses and quantitative aspects

This study endeavors to overcome the limits of an orally transmitted pharmacopoeia, and tries to utilize the large ethnobotany patrimony of the area to investigate the biological diversity. Thirty-five traditional practitioners from dissimilar ethnic groups including traditional health practitioners (THPs) and indigenous people were interviewed. A total of 35 species of plants, belonging to 20 families were recognized for the treatment of more than 26 types of ailments. Informant consensus factor (FIC) values of this study reflected the high agreement in the use of plants in the treatment of gastro-intestinal complaints, infectious, parasitic diseases and constipation among the informants. Constipation had the highest use-reports and 8 species of plants had the highest fidelity level (FL) of 100%. In addition one of the species showed the highest relative importance (RI) value of 2.00. Priority should be given to phytochemical investigation of plants that scored the highest FL, FIC, RI values; as such values could be considered as a good indicator of potential plants for discovering new drugs. In addition, traditional knowledge of THPs should be taken into consideration in order to smooth continuation and extension of the nutraceutical aspects and biological diversity of the region

Prevalence of Giardiasis among children in childcare centers in Kermanshah, Iran

Background: Giardia is a common and widespread intestinal protozoan parasite which occurs in of both humans and animals. The aim of this study is determining the prevalence rate of Giardiasis in children, Kermanshah childcare centers (2012). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 632 children (330 were female and 302 were male) with an average of 0-6 years in children, Kermanshah childcare centers (2012). Three stool samples were obtained on three consecutive days and were tested for the detection of trophozoites, and/or cysts, using both direct laboratory methods and Formalin-Ether concentration. Informations were collected by a questionnaire. Results: Of the 632 cases in this study, the prevalence rate of gut parasite infection was 169 (26.74%), so that Giardia lamblia with 13.93%, Entamoeba histolyticawith 3.48%, and Entamoeba coli with 2.53 were the most predominant isolate. The prevalence rate ranged in rural residents (15.67%) was more than urban residents (11.07%). The age group 4-6 years had the highest rate (14.24%) and 0-2 years the lowest (1.74%); boys with 16.29% had a higher rate than girls (10.45%). Parasitic infection was more prevalent in children whose parents had no high education (17.25). The maximum percentage of infections was in August with 5.86%. Conclusion: With attention to the above findings, it seems that in order to decrease, control and prevent of parasitic infection we should have the necessary public education to teachers and parents of children.

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Health locus of Control of Patients with Coronary Heart Patients

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the most important cause of mortality in the world. Inaddition to physical problems, they are also influenced by psychological factors and psychologicaltherapies along with biological therapy can help to improve these patients. The purpose of this studywas to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and emotionfocused therapy (EFT) on Health locus of control of coronary heart patients.Method: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with control group. Thestatistical population of the study included patients with coronary heart disease in the city of Karaj.Patients were 30 to 60 years old who referred to Shahid Rajaee Hospital in Karaj. Samples wereselected using convenient sampling method and were assigned randomly into two experimental andone control group. Data were collected using health locus of control questionnaire. Data wereanalyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance.Results: outcomes showed that ACT and EFT are effective on adjusting the Health locus of controlin patients with coronary heart disease, and there was a significant difference between theexperimental and control group (F = 7.25, p <0.05).But there was no difference between theefficacy of the two treatments.Conclusion: Psychological therapies such as ACT and EFT increase self-care in cardiac patients byincreasing control and increasing sense of responsibility

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Emotion-focused Therapy on Negative Emotions of Coronary Heart Disease

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the most important cause of mortality in the world. In addition to physical problems, they are also influenced by psychological factors and psychological therapies along with biological therapy can help to improve these patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and emotion-focused therapy on negative emotions of coronary heart disease patients.Method: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with control group. The statistical population of the study included patients with coronary heart disease in the city of Karaj The age range was 30 to 60 yearswho referred to Shahid Rajaee Hospital in Karaj. Samples were selected using available sampling method and then the samples were randomly divided into two experimental and one control group. Data were collected using D-type personality scale and Buss and Perry hostility scale.Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance using SPSS-25 software.Results: The results of this study showed that patients' negative emotion scale scores decreased, indicating the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy and emotion-focused therapy compared to the control group. Conclusion: Considering that one of the most important psychological factors related to heart disease are negative emotions and these emotions can have an accelerating role in the development and progression of heart disease and Due to the effectiveness of the above treatments, their education can be helpful in addition to medical treatment

Investigating the Coping Relationship of Problem-Oriented and Excitement-Oriented and Cognitive Flexibility with Mental Health

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of coping strategies and mental health with mediation of cognitive flexibility. This study was seeking to find a structural model to investigate which one of coping strategies as predictor variables has relation with mental health as dependent variable with the mediation of cognitive flexibility. For this purpose, a sample of 262 boys and girls students of Got Talent schools of Abadan and Khorramshahr were randomly selected. This study was descriptive - correlational. The results of the correlation matrix among data showed a positive and direct relationship between problem-oriented coping strategy and mental health (r=0.38). The correlation between excitement-oriented coping strategy and mental health was negative and significant (r=-0.29) and a significant and positive correlation existed between the cognitive flexibility and mental health (r=0.39)

Investigating the Coping Relationship of Problem-Oriented and Excitement-Oriented and Cognitive Flexibility with Mental Health

The main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of coping strategies and mental health with mediation of cognitive flexibility. This study was seeking to find a structural model to investigate which one of coping strategies as predictor variables has relation with mental health as dependent variable with the mediation of cognitive flexibility. For this purpose, a sample of 262 boys and girls students of Got Talent schools of Abadan and Khorramshahr were randomly selected. This study was descriptive - correlational. The results of the correlation matrix among data showed a positive and direct relationship between problem-oriented coping strategy and mental health (r=0.38). The correlation between excitement-oriented coping strategy and mental health was negative and significant (r=-0.29) and a significant and positive correlation existed between the cognitive flexibility and mental health (r=0.39)

STUDYING OF SAFETY CLIMATE ASSESSMENT: A CASE STUDY AT STEEL INDUSTRY

Evolution of safety climate used as a practical means has determined and assessed potential problems relevant to safety issues in an organization and can be used in individuals’ performance and work efficiency and decreasing rate of incidents ;as well as; guidance to provide safety organization policy and comparison of safety performance in different organizations. The study wants to determine and prepare safety climate profile and application of its results in improving safety situation. In this study, applied tools presented by Loughborough University are used to evaluate safety climate in one of steel industries and data is collected through questionnaire, group discussions or purposeful interviews and observations, and safety climate score was obtained in 17 scopes. Calculating the score of each safety climate domain and preparing the profile indicated there is the average rate (4.89 2) in the safety climate of the industry.safety climate, safety evaluation,safety culture, steel industry, Iran