Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle load profile estimation with opportunity charging

This thesis focuses on the load profile analysis of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), examining two different scenarios. In the first scenario, the battery of a PHEV is charged at the final arrival time, and the arrival time analysis has a minute accuracy. In the second scenario, opportunity charging, which refers to the stop-time between two trips, is used for charging the battery of the vehicle. However, if the stop-time between two trips is less than 30 minutes, the duration is not counted as an opportunity charging and it is filtered. The results of the two scenarios are compared, and through this comparison, it is revealed that the opportunity charging scenario has a more flat profile. The improvement not only shows the positive features of the opportunity charging in terms of using more electrical power instead of traditional petroleum-based fuel, but also creates more opportunity for the power grid to use renewable energy resources instead of traditional fossil fuels. These two significant features, present opportunity charging as a strong solution for the negative environmental effects of petroleum vehicles in urban areas, and even in a world-scale view. The data pool is collected from the national household travel survey (NHTS) database, which is a major reference for transportation studies. The analyses are done for the years 2001 and 2009, and the resulting data file includes the data of about 43000 different vehicles --Abstract, page iv

Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Persistent Epithelial Defects and Ulceration due to Pseudomonas Keratitis in a Rabbit Model

Purpose: The use of amniotic membrane has been suggested in the treatment ofinfectious keratitis for its intrinsic anti-infective properties probably mediated by its antiinflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) along with ciprofloxacin to cure the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis. Methods: In total, 28 rabbits were selected and divided in four groups as follows: group 1 as control, group 2 with amniotic membrane, group 3 with ciprofloxacin, and group 4 with amniotic membrane combined with ciprofloxacin. About 0.05 cc suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 27853 ATCC was injected into corneal stroma. Results: The results showed groups of AMT, AMT + ciprofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin had 0% perforation while the control group had 85.6%. Average infiltration of 5.5 mm was observed in ciprofloxacin group, 5 mm in AMT + ciprofloxacin group, 24 mm in AMT group, and finally 23.75 mm for control. Amniotic membrane showed to be effective in prevention of cornea perforation as well as remission of Pseudomonas keratitis. There was no significant difference between ciprofloxacin groups in comparison with ciprofloxacin + AMT group. However, regarding the anti-inflammatory effect, the process of improvement of inflammation in ciprofloxacin + AMT group was faster. Conclusion: Transplantation of amniotic membrane in the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis treatment remarkably prevents the disease and it can be used to control its process

A multicenter randomized controlled trial of aftercare services for severe mental illness: study protocol

BACKGROUND: Severe mental illness is responsible for a significant proportion of burden of diseases in Iranian population. People with severe mental illnesses are more likely to have high rates of non-attendance at follow-up visits, and lack of an active follow-up system, particularly in the country’s urban areas that has resulted in the revolving door phenomenon of rehospitalizations. Therefore, there is an increasing need for implementation of effective and cost-effective aftercare services. METHOD/DESIGN: This is a randomized control trial with the primary hypothesis that aftercare services delivered to patients with severe mental illnesses in outpatient department and patient's home by a community care team would be more effective when compared to treatment as usual (TAU) in reducing length of hospital stay and any psychiatric hospitalization. Patients were recruited from three psychiatric hospitals in Iran. After obtaining informed written consent, they were randomly allocated into aftercare intervention and control (TAU) groups. Aftercare services included treatment follow-up (through either home care or telephone follow-up prompts for outpatient attendance), family psychoeducation, and patient social skills training that were provided by community mental health teams. Patients were followed for 12 months after discharge. The primary outcome measures were length of hospital stay and any hospitalization in the 12 month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures included patients' clinical global impression, global functioning, quality of life, and patient's satisfaction. The trial also allowed an assessment of direct cost-effectiveness of the aftercare services. DISCUSSION: This paper presents a protocol for an RCT of aftercare services delivered to patients with severe mental illnesses within patients' home or outpatient department. The findings of this study can influence policy and program planning for people with severe mental illnesses in Iran. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRCT201009052557N

Effects of Different Levels of Zero-Tannin Faba Bean on Performance and some Physiological Responses of Broiler Chickens

Introduction: The quality and quantity of dietary protein are primary factor influencing growth and feed costs. Seeds of faba bean (Vicia faba L), similarly as soybean meal, belong to high-protein feeds. The use of faba beans in poultry feed is limited despite having a suitable chemical composition, the main reason of which is the presence of anti-nutritional factors in this seed. Golestan Agricultural and Natural Resources Research and Education Center has produced a zero-tannin faba bean seeds variety (Mahta cultivar) that does not have the nutritional limiting factors of normal beans. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of zero-tannin faba bean seeds (Mahta cultivar) on growth performance, some immune and biochemical parameters of blood, morphology and microbial population of small intestine and meat quality of broiler chickens.Materials and Methods: 320 of one-day-old Ross 308 broilers with 4 treatments were used in a completely randomized design with 4 replications and 20 equal mixed birds of each sex in each replication for 42 days. Experimental treatments included 1- control diet (without faba beans and based on corn-soybean meal) 2- diets containing 10% zero-tannin faba bean 3- diets containing 20% zero-tannin faba bean and 4- diets containing 30% zero-tannin faba bean. Then, the growth performance of chickens, blood biochemical (triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL, VLDL and HDL concentrations) and immune (heterophil and lymphocyte percentage) indicators, intestinal jejunum morphological (villi length, villi width, crypt depth and thichness of muscle layer) and ileum contents microbial population (lactobacillus and escherichia coli) parameters and meat quality (pH, malondialdehyde, peroxide number and free fatty acids) of broiler chickens were measured and recorded. Finally, the analysis of data was performed using GLM method by SAS software. The means were compared using Tukey's multiple range tests.Results and Discussion: The results showed growth performance (feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion ratio) of the whole period (1 to 42 days) of birds fed with different levels of diets containing zero-tannin faba bean (0, 10, 20 and 30%) was not significant. There was also no difference between the growth performance of birds fed diets containing zero-tannin faba bean compared to birds receiving the control diet (without beans). A decreasing linear change in the weight gain of the whole period was observed with the increase in the percentage of zero-tannin faba bean (P0.10). Also, morphological parameters of intestinal jejunum were not affected by different levels of zero-tannin faba bean in the diet. However, citizenship analysis showed linear changes in villi length, villi width and crypt depth of broiler intestines. The tendency to increase villi length was observed in birds fed diets containing 10% zero-tannin faba bean compared to other diets (P= 0.08). Villi width (P<0.05) and crypt depth (P=0.05) were lower in birds fed diets containing zero-tannin faba bean compared to the control treatment (without faba beans). Microbial population of escherichia coli and lactobacillus ileum contents were not affected by different levels of zero-tannin faba bean in the diet. The use of different levels of zero-tannin faba bean improved meat quality by decreasing pH, malondialdehyde concentration, peroxide and free fatty acids in broiler thighs (P<0.05).Conclusion: Finally, according to the present results, it seems that among the different levels of zero-tannin faba bean (10, 20 and 30%) in the diet of broiler chickens, the level of 10% zero-tannin faba bean in terms of broiler performance should be more appropriate and competitive with the control diet (without faba beans and based on corn-soybean meal)

The influence of vernalization and daylength on expression of flowering-time genes in the shoot apex and leaves of barley (Hordeum vulgare).

Responses to prolonged low-temperature treatment of imbibed seeds (vernalization) were examined in barley (Hordeum vulgare). These occurred in two phases: the perception of prolonged cold, which occurred gradually at low temperatures, and the acceleration of reproductive development, which occurred after vernalization. Expression of the VERNALIZATION1 gene (HvVRN1) increased gradually in germinating seedlings during vernalization, both at the shoot apex and in the developing leaves. This occurred in darkness, independently of VERNALIZATION2 (HvVRN2), consistent with the hypothesis that expression of HvVRN1 is induced by prolonged cold independently of daylength flowering-response pathways. After vernalization, expression of HvVRN1 was maintained in the shoot apex and leaves. This was associated with accelerated inflorescence initiation and with down-regulation of HvVRN2 in the leaves. The largest determinant of HvVRN1 expression levels in vernalized plants was the length of seed vernalization treatment. Daylength did not influence HvVRN1 expression levels in shoot apices and typically did not affect expression in leaves. In the leaves of plants that had experienced a saturating seed vernalization treatment, expression of HvVRN1 was higher in long days, however. HvFT1 was expressed in the leaves of these plants in long days, which might account for the elevated HvVRN1 expression. Long-day up-regulation of HvVRN1 was not required for inflorescence initiation, but might accelerate subsequent stages of inflorescence development. Similar responses to seed vernalization were also observed in wheat (Triticum aestivum). These data support the hypothesis that VRN1 is induced by cold during winter to promote spring flowering in vernalization-responsive cereals

Radiobiological effects of wound fluid on breast cancer cell lines and human-derived tumor spheroids in 2D and microfluidic culture

Intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) could abrogate cancer recurrences, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. To clarify the effects of IORT-induced wound fluid on tumor progression, we treated breast cancer cell lines and human-derived tumor spheroids in 2D and microfluidic cell culture systems, respectively. The viability, migration, and invasion of the cells under treatment of IORT-induced wound fluid (WF-RT) and the cells under surgery-induced wound fluid (WF) were compared. Our findings showed that cell viability was increased in spheroids under both WF treatments, whereas viability of the cell lines depended on the type of cells and incubation times. Both WFs significantly increased sub-G1 and arrested the cells in G0/G1 phases associated with increased P16 and P21 expression levels. The expression level of Caspase 3 in both cell culture systems and for both WF-treated groups was significantly increased. Furthermore, our results revealed that although the migration was increased in both systems of WF-treated cells compared to cell culture media-treated cells, E-cadherin expression was significantly increased only in the WF-RT group. In conclusion, WF-RT could not effectively inhibit tumor progression in an ex vivo tumor-on-chip model. Moreover, our data suggest that a microfluidic system could be a suitable 3D system to mimic in vivo tumor conditions than 2D cell culture

Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Persistent Epithelial Defects and Ulceration due to Pseudomonas Keratitis in a Rabbit Model

Purpose: The use of amniotic membrane has been suggested in the treatment of infectious keratitis for its intrinsic anti-infective properties probably mediated by its antiinflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) along with ciprofloxacin to cure the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis. Methods: In total, 28 rabbits were selected and divided in four groups as follows: group 1 as control, group 2 with amniotic membrane, group 3 with ciprofloxacin, and group 4 with amniotic membrane combined with ciprofloxacin. About 0.05 cc suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 27853 ATCC was injected into corneal stroma. Results: The results showed groups of AMT, AMT + ciprofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin had 0% perforation while the control group had 85.6%. Average infiltration of 5.5 mm was observed in ciprofloxacin group, 5 mm in AMT + ciprofloxacin group, 24 mm in AMT group, and finally 23.75 mm for control. Amniotic membrane showed to be effective in prevention of cornea perforation as well as remission of Pseudomonas keratitis. There was no significant difference between ciprofloxacin groups in comparison with ciprofloxacin + AMT group. However, regarding the anti-inflammatory effect, the process of improvement of inflammation in ciprofloxacin + AMT group was faster. Conclusion: Transplantation of amniotic membrane in the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis treatment remarkably prevents the disease and it can be used to control its process. Keywords: Ciprofloxacin; Human Amniotic Membrane; Keratitis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rabbi

Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Persistent Epithelial Defects and Ulceration due to Pseudomonas Keratitis in a Rabbit Model

Purpose: The use of amniotic membrane has been suggested in the treatment of infectious keratitis for its intrinsic anti-infective properties probably mediated by its antiinflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) along with ciprofloxacin to cure the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis. Methods: In total, 28 rabbits were selected and divided in four groups as follows: group 1 as control, group 2 with amniotic membrane, group 3 with ciprofloxacin, and group 4 with amniotic membrane combined with ciprofloxacin. About 0.05 cc suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 27853 ATCC was injected into corneal stroma. Results: The results showed groups of AMT, AMT + ciprofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin had 0% perforation while the control group had 85.6%. Average infiltration of 5.5 mm was observed in ciprofloxacin group, 5 mm in AMT + ciprofloxacin group, 24 mm in AMT group, and finally 23.75 mm for control. Amniotic membrane showed to be effective in prevention of cornea perforation as well as remission of Pseudomonas keratitis. There was no significant difference between ciprofloxacin groups in comparison with ciprofloxacin + AMT group. However, regarding the anti-inflammatory effect, the process of improvement of inflammation in ciprofloxacin + AMT group was faster. Conclusion: Transplantation of amniotic membrane in the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis treatment remarkably prevents the disease and it can be used to control its process. Keywords: Ciprofloxacin; Human Amniotic Membrane; Keratitis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rabbi

Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Persistent Epithelial Defects and Ulceration due to Pseudomonas Keratitis in a Rabbit Model

Purpose: The use of amniotic membrane has been suggested in the treatment of infectious keratitis for its intrinsic anti-infective properties probably mediated by its antiinflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) along with ciprofloxacin to cure the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis. Methods: In total, 28 rabbits were selected and divided in four groups as follows: group 1 as control, group 2 with amniotic membrane, group 3 with ciprofloxacin, and group 4 with amniotic membrane combined with ciprofloxacin. About 0.05 cc suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 27853 ATCC was injected into corneal stroma. Results: The results showed groups of AMT, AMT + ciprofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin had 0% perforation while the control group had 85.6%. Average infiltration of 5.5 mm was observed in ciprofloxacin group, 5 mm in AMT + ciprofloxacin group, 24 mm in AMT group, and finally 23.75 mm for control. Amniotic membrane showed to be effective in prevention of cornea perforation as well as remission of Pseudomonas keratitis. There was no significant difference between ciprofloxacin groups in comparison with ciprofloxacin + AMT group. However, regarding the anti-inflammatory effect, the process of improvement of inflammation in ciprofloxacin + AMT group was faster. Conclusion: Transplantation of amniotic membrane in the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis treatment remarkably prevents the disease and it can be used to control its process. Keywords: Ciprofloxacin; Human Amniotic Membrane; Keratitis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rabbi

Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Persistent Epithelial Defects and Ulceration due to Pseudomonas Keratitis in a Rabbit Model

Purpose: The use of amniotic membrane has been suggested in the treatment of infectious keratitis for its intrinsic anti-infective properties probably mediated by its antiinflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) along with ciprofloxacin to cure the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis. Methods: In total, 28 rabbits were selected and divided in four groups as follows: group 1 as control, group 2 with amniotic membrane, group 3 with ciprofloxacin, and group 4 with amniotic membrane combined with ciprofloxacin. About 0.05 cc suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 27853 ATCC was injected into corneal stroma. Results: The results showed groups of AMT, AMT + ciprofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin had 0% perforation while the control group had 85.6%. Average infiltration of 5.5 mm was observed in ciprofloxacin group, 5 mm in AMT + ciprofloxacin group, 24 mm in AMT group, and finally 23.75 mm for control. Amniotic membrane showed to be effective in prevention of cornea perforation as well as remission of Pseudomonas keratitis. There was no significant difference between ciprofloxacin groups in comparison with ciprofloxacin + AMT group. However, regarding the anti-inflammatory effect, the process of improvement of inflammation in ciprofloxacin + AMT group was faster. Conclusion: Transplantation of amniotic membrane in the primary stages of Pseudomonas keratitis treatment remarkably prevents the disease and it can be used to control its process. Keywords: Ciprofloxacin; Human Amniotic Membrane; Keratitis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Rabbi