Frequency-constrained energy and reserve scheduling in wind incorporated low-inertia power systems considering vanadium flow redox batteries

This paper proposes a novel energy and reserve scheduling model for power systems with high penetration of wind turbines (WTs). The objective of the proposed model is to minimize the total operation cost of the system while static and dynamic security is guaranteed by preserving the frequency nadir, RoCoF, and quasi-steady-state frequency in the predefined range. Likewise, a supervisory, control, and data acquisition (SCADA) system is developed which allows Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFBs) to continuously communicate and participate in the primary frequency response. To cope with the uncertainties, adaptive information gap decision theory is used that ensures a target operating cost for the risk-averse operator of the power system. The proposed scheduling model is applied on a modified IEEE 39 bus test system to verify the impacts of the fast reserve provided by the VRFBs in the dynamic frequency security enhancement of the power system with high penetration of WTs

STUDYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIAL TRUST AND TAX EVASIO

Abstract. Social trust is the reflection of the laid down laws and regulations and their execution. Social trust is occurred when one understands the acceptance of the truth as his/her duty. The basic working procedure for promoting tax acceptance, the development of tax ethics in the structure of the tax system, agents, auditors and, in particular, tax payers and its executive solution is the growth of community trust. The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between social trust and tax evasion. Data were collected by a questionnaire and analyzed by structural equation modeling. The statistical sample of this research includes 384 tax payers from North Khorasan Province, which were surveyed in1995. Findings of the research indicate that there is a negative and significant relationship between social trust and tax evasion. Also, the findings showed that the relationship between social trust and tax evasion is higher among female payers than male ones. In addition, they showed that the relationship between social trust and tax avoidance by payers without financial literacy is stronger than those having financial literacy.Keywords: financial literacy, payers’ gender, social trust and tax evasio

Depression among hemodialysis patients: a cross-sectional study in southeast of Iran

Background and aims: Mental disorders may negatively affect on the quality of life in hemodialysis patients and their response to treatment. The aim of present study was to examine the prevalence of depression and related risk factors in hemodialysis patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, during June 2013 to September 2013, 217 patients with hemodialysis whom were admitted to Kerman hemodialysis center were examined. The depression level of patients was assessed using Iranian version of Beck Depression Inventory. Results: The mean score of depression was 24.2±12.6 (range: from 2-59). Totally, 29, 30 and 27.4 were reported as suffering from mild, moderate and severe level of depression, respectively. The results of the present study also showed that diabetic patients and patients with hypertension were significantly at a higher risk of depression. Conclusion: Results of the present study indicates that depression is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients. It is important that all patients with maintenance hemodialysis be frequently screened for signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders such as depression

Melanosome Morphologies in Murine Models of Hermansky–Pudlak Syndrome Reflect Blocks in Organelle Development

Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by pigment dilution and prolonged bleeding time. At least 15 mutant mouse strains have been classified as models of Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome. Some of the genes are implicated in intracellular vesicle trafficking: budding, targeting, and secretion. Many of the Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome genes remain uncharacterized and their functions are unknown. Clues to the functions of these genes can be found by analyzing the physiologic and cellular phenotypes. Here we have examined the morphology of the melanosomes in the skin of 10 of the mutant mouse Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome strains by transmission electron microscopy. We demonstrate that the morphologies reflect inhibition of organelle maturation or transfer. The Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome strains are classified into morphologic groups characterized by the step at which melanosome biogenesis or transfer to keratinocytes is inhibited, with the cappuccino strain observed to be blocked at the earliest step and gunmetal blocked at the latest step. We show that all Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome mutant strains except gunmetal have an increase in unpigmented or hypopigmented immature melanosomal forms, leading to the hypopigmented coat colors seen in these strains. In contrast, the hypopigmentation seen in the gunmetal strain is due to the retention of melanosomes in melanocytes, and inefficient transfer into keratinocytes

Exposure rate of cardiovascular risk factors among clients of health-care clinics in Kashan, Autumn 2010

زمینه و هدف: بیماری های قلبی وعروقی، بیماری های غیر واگیر هستند که توسط عوامل متعدد ایجاد می شوند. یکی از مهمترین آنها، سبک زندگی ناسالم است. در ایران این بیماری از مشکلات دهه اخیر بوده و از سویی در مقایسه با 10 علت اول مرگ و میر در سال 1387، با 8./44 بیش ترین عامل مرگ و میر در شهر کاشان بوده است. لذا این مطالعه با هدف بررسی میزان مواجهه با عوامل خطر بیماری های قلبی عروقی در شهر کاشان می باشد. روش بررسی: این مطالعه توصیفی – تحلیلی بر روی 336 نفرمراجعه کنندگان به مراکز بهداشتی درمانی کاشان که به صورت خوشه ای انتخاب شده بودند انجام گرفت. اطلاعات بوسیله پرسشنامه سبک زندگی که از 5 قسمت اطلاعات دموگرافیک، سابقه بیماری، تغذیه، مصرف سیگار و فعالیت بدنی تشکیل شده بود جمع آوری و با کمک آزمون های آماری کای دو تجزیه و تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: میانگین شاخص توده بدنی (BMI) بین افراد 69/25 بود. شایع ترین ریسک فاکتورها در بین افراد به ترتیب عبارت بودند از: مصرف غذای سرخ کرده (9/97)، مصرف کم ماهی (8/90)، مصرف کم حبوبات (8/79)، مصرف کم تخم مرغ (3/75) مصرف زیاد گوشت قرمز (3/69)، مصرف زیاد شیرینی جات (9/67)، مصرف غذای چرب (7/66) و میزان کم فعالیت بدنی (4/66) می باشد. بین سبک زندگی با جنسیت (016/0=P) و تحصیلات (019/0=P) و فعالیت بدنی با شغل (013/0=P) رابطه ی معنی داری یافت شد. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج حاصل از این مطالعه سبک زندگی افراد در وضعیت مطلوبی قرار نداشته در نتیجه لزوم توجه و آموزش بیشتر در جهت کاهش مصرف غذای سرخ کرده، گوشت قرمز، غذای چرب و شیرینی جات و افزایش متعادل مصرف ماهی، حبوبات، تخم مرغ، میوه جات و سبزیجات، در رژیم غذایشان افزایش فعالیت بدنی و کاهش مصرف سیگار توصیه می شود.

Dye Concentration in Colored Candies in Bojnourd City in 2016

Background: Candy and similar products, although not considered as a complete food, are among high-consumed foods by children, and sometimes by pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to determine the dyes used in candies supplied in Bojnourd City in 2016. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 90 colored candy samples (saffron, cacao, orange, cherry) randomly collected from different regions of Bojnourd in 2016. The color content of all samples was measured according to National Standard 2634 by Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Results: According to the results, 17.7% of the samples had natural color and 82.3% of the candies contained artificial colors. Among samples containing synthetic color, 90.5% of the samples contained approved artificial color, and only 9.5% of the samples had unauthorized artificial color. Sunset Yellow was the most common color used in the candy samples. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that illegal use of synthetic dyes in food has become widespread, which is a threat to the health of the community; therefore, reducing the consumption of these colors and replacing natural colors with emphasize on their beneficial properties is necessary

Optimization of in vitro Propagation of Qare-Qat (Vaccinium arctostaphylus)

In order to optimize the micropropagation of Qare-Qat (Vaccinium arctostaphylus J.J.Sm), samples were collected from two regions of Iran (Asalem and Kelardasht). Anderson (AN) media containing different concentrations of zeatin (0, 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg L-1) and different levels of pH (4.5, 5 and 5.5) were compared. The in vitro shoots were transferred on AN media supplemented with zeatin (1 and 2 mg L-1) alone or in combination with Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (0.2 and 0.4 mg L-1). To optimize the rooting stage, elongated shoots (1.5- 2cm) were cultured on half strength semi- solid media containing activated charcoal (0 and 7g L-1), or half strength liquid AN medium supplemented with different concentrations of IBA (0, 0.5, 2 and 3 mg L-1) and NAA (0 and 0.5 mg L-1). The results indicated that at the establishment stage, AN media supplemented with 4 mg L-1 zeatin (pH= 5.5) and 1 mg L-1 zeatin (pH= 5) were the best treatment for Asalem and Kelardasht explants, respectively. For the Asalem explants, the highest number of proliferated shoots (4) was observed on AN media consisting of 2 mg L-1 zeatin and 0.4 mg L-1 IBA. Whereas for the Kelardash explants  the highest number of proliferated shoots (3) was observed on AN media consisting of 2 mg L-1 zeatin and 0.2 mg L-1 IBA. The highest percent of root formation (86 and 66%) were observed in half strength AN medium containing 7 g L-1 activated charcoal and 3 mg L-1 IBA and 0.5 mg L-1 NAA in Asalem and Kelardasht explants, respectively. The plantlets were successfully transferred to soil and the survival rate was 85%

Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Level on Clinical Parameters in Cystic Fibrosis Patients

Background: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a hereditary autosomal recessive genetic disorder that can affect many organs including the lungs and the digestive system. We aimed to assess the effects of coenzyme Q10 level on clinical parameters in cystic fibrosis patients. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional study was performed on 40 patients (13 females and 19 males) with cystic fibrosis who were admitted in Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran- Iran, in 2017. A researcher-made questionnaire was distributed among them, and then the height, weight and arm circumference of the patients were measured and also their serum Q10 levels were evaluated. Then, the pulmonary function was evaluated using a 6-minute respiration test and a spirometry test. Finally, their total scores were calculated based on Shwachman score. Results: The age range of participants was from 6 to 27 years old. Anthropometric indices such as weight (p=0.02, r=-0.408), age (p=0.016, r=-0.422), height (p=0.002, r=-0.520), birth weight (p=0.0113, R=-0.286), and height at birth (p=0.037, r=-0.37) had a significant negative relationship with coenzyme Q10. There was relationship between anthropometric indices and spirometry tests, including the association of FEV1 (act) with weight (p=0.00), and arm circumference (p=0.00) which were determined. Conclusion: According to the results, there was no direct relationship between muscle mass and Q10. Besides, the mean age of Q10 was greater than that of in age group of 9-16 years old, which can be considered for nutrition or childhood reserves for coenzyme Q10 production, which is decreased due to increasing age and lack of intake or loss of body power for the production of coenzyme Q10

Awareness and Attitude Towards Opioid and Stimulant Use and Lifetime Prevalence of the Drugs: A Study in 5 Large Cities of Iran

Background: Providing population-based data on awareness, attitude and practice of drug and stimulant use has policy implications. A national study was conducted among Iranian general population to explore life time prevalence, awareness and attitudes toward opioids and stimulant use.Methods:We recruited subjects from 5 provinces with heterogenic pattern of drug use. Participants were selected using stratified multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected using a validated self-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression model was applied to identify the variables that are associated with drug and stimulant use. Results:In total 2065 respondents including 1155 men (33.96 ± 10.40 years old) and 910 women (35.45 ± 12.21 years old) were recruited. Two-third of respondents had good awareness about adverse effects of opioid use. Corresponding figure in terms of stimulants was 81.4%. Almost 95% of participants reported a negative attitude towards either opioid or stimulant use. The lifetime prevalence of opioid use and stimulant use were 12.9% (men: 21.5%, women: 4.0%) and 7.3% (men: 9.6%, women: 4.9%), respectively. Gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]M/W =6.92; 95% CI: 2.92, 16.42), education (AORundergraduate/diploma or less = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.90), and marital status (AORothers/single = 2.13; 95% CI: 1.36, 3.33) were significantly related with opioid use. With respect to stimulant use, age was negatively associated with the outcome (AOR60+/20-29 years = 0.08: 95% CI; 0.01, 0.98) and men were 2 times more likely than women to use stimulants (ORM/W=2.15: 95% CI: 0.83, 5.56). In addition, marital status (AOROthers/singles = 3.45; 95% CI: 1.09, 10.93), and awareness (AORWeak and moderate/good = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.61) were independently correlated with stimulants use. Conclusion: While the attitude of Iranian adults toward opioid and stimulant use was negative, their awareness was not that adequate to prevent the drug use. Men and those with lower socio-economic status (SES) should be the focus of health promotion programs regarding opioid use. However, regarding stimulants use, promotion programs should target younger age groups and those with higher SES status