RF System Upgrades to the Advanced Photon Source Linear Accelerator in Support of the Fel Operation

The S-band linear accelerator, which was built to be the source of particles and the front end of the Advanced Photon Source injector, is now also being used to support a low-energy undulator test line (LEUTL) and to drive a free-electron laser (FEL). The more severe rf stability requirements of the FEL have resulted in an effort to identify sources of phase and amplitude instability and implement corresponding upgrades to the rf generation chain and the measurement system. Test data and improvements implemented and planned are describedComment: LC 2000 (3 pages, 6 figures

The Development of an Empirical Model for Estimation of the Sensitivity to Heat Stress in the Outdoor Workers at Risk

Background: Workers who work in hot environments may be at risk for heat stress. Exposure to heat can result in occupational illnesses, including heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion. The risk of exposure to heat depends on individual, environmental, and occupational risk factors. Individual risk factors may decrease the individual’s tolerance to heat stress. Sensitivity as an intrinsic factor may predispose a person to heat stress. Aim: This study was aimed to determine the criteria for sensitivity parameter, specify their weights using the fuzzy Delphi-analytical hierarchy, and finally providing a model to estimate sensitivity. The significant of the study is presenting a model to estimate the sensitivity to heat stress. Materials and Methods: The expert’s opinions were used to extract the criteria in Delphi method. After determining the weight of each criterion, Fuzzy analytic hierarchy Process (FAHP), by mathematical principles matrix and triangular fuzzy numbers, was applied for the prioritization of criteria. Results: According to experts’ viewpoints and considering some exclusion, 10 of 36 criteria were selected. Among 10 selected criteria, age had the highest percentage of responses (90% (27/30)) and its relative weight was 0.063. After age, the highest percentages of response were assigned to the factors of preexisting disease (66.6% (20/30)), body mass index (56.6% (17/30)), work experience (53.3% (16/30)), and clothing (40% (16/30)), respectively. Other effective criteria on sensitivity were metabolic rate, daily water consumption, smoking habits, drugs that interfere with the thermoregulatory processes, and exposure to other harmful agents. Conclusions: Eventually, based on the criteria, a model for estimation of the workers’ sensitivity to heat stress was presented for the first time, by which the sensitivity is estimated in percent.Keywords: Heat stress, Sensitivity, Personal factors, Fuzzy AH

Adverse Effects of Systemic Immunosuppression in Keratolimbal Allograft

Purpose. Keratolimbal allograft (KLAL) is a treatment for limbal stem cell deficiency. One disadvantage is systemic immunosuppression to avoid rejection. Our purpose was to examine the adverse effects of systemic immunosuppression in KLAL. Methods. A retrospective case review of 16 patients with KLAL who received systemic immunosuppression consisting of a corticosteroid, an antimetabolite, and/or a calcineurin inhibitor was performed. Patients were monitored for signs, symptoms, or laboratory evidence of toxicity. Results. Eleven of 16 patients (68%) experienced an adverse effect. The average age of those with adverse effects was 43.5 years and without was 31.4 years. Ten of 11 patients (91%) had resolution during mean followup of 16.4 months. No serious adverse effects occurred. The most common included anemia, hyperglycemia, elevated creatinine, and elevated liver function tests. Prednisone and tacrolimus were responsible for the most adverse effects. Patients with comorbidities were more likely to experience an adverse effect (82% versus 20%, P = 0.036). Conclusions. KLAL requires prolonged systemic immunosuppression. Our data demonstrated that systemic immunosuppression did not result in serious adverse effects in our population and is relatively safe with monitoring for toxicity. In addition, we demonstrated that adverse effects are more likely in older patients with comorbidities

Design and Production of a Novel Recombinant Chimeric IL2-Omp31 Antigen against Brucella Infection

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease in human and animals. Brucella melitensis is one of the most pathogenic species of Brucella in goat and sheep. Omp31 is an outer membrane protein of Brucella that acts as an immunogenic protein. Cytokines are glycoproteins with low molecular weight that play the role of an immune adjuvant and regulate immune responses. Interleukin-2 is one of the most important cytokines, which are secreted by the white blood cells and involved in T cell immune responses. In the present study, a chimeric Omp31-Interleukin2 recombinant protein was generated by means of genetic engineering techniques. This chimeric coding sequence was amplified by using specific primers and using Splicing Overlap Extension (SOE) PCR technique. The fusion of the two mentioned proteins was accomplished using a rigid linker. The generated chimeric IL2-Omp31 fragment was TA cloned, and then subcloned into pEt22b vector as an expression vector. The chimeric protein was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and confirmed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and also Western-blotting analysis. Finally, in order to assess the antigenic features of the recombinant chimeric IL2-Opm31 protein, its secondary structure and antigenicity were predicted in silico

Level Crossing Analysis of Burgers Equation in 1+1 Dimensions

We investigate the average frequency of positive slope $\nu_{\alpha}^{+}$, crossing the velocity field $u(x)- \bar u = \alpha$ in the Burgers equation. The level crossing analysis in the inviscid limit and total number of positive crossing of velocity field before creation of singularities are given. The main goal of this paper is to show that this quantity, $\nu_{\alpha}^{+}$, is a good measure for the fluctuations of velocity fields in the Burgers turbulence.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Level Crossing Analysis of the Stock Markets

We investigate the average frequency of positive slope $\nu_{\alpha}^{+}$, crossing for the returns of market prices. The method is based on stochastic processes which no scaling feature is explicitly required. Using this method we define new quantity to quantify stage of development and activity of stocks exchange. We compare the Tehran and western stock markets and show that some stocks such as Tehran (TEPIX) and New Zealand (NZX) stocks exchange are emerge, and also TEPIX is a non-active market and financially motivated to absorb capital.Comment: 6 pages and 4 figure

Inflammatory B cells correlate with failure to checkpoint blockade in melanoma patients.

The understanding of the role of B cells in patients with solid tumors remains insufficient. We found that circulating B cells produced TNFα and/or IL-6, associated with unresponsiveness and poor overall survival of melanoma patients treated with anti-CTLA4 antibody. Transcriptome analysis of B cells from melanoma metastases showed enriched expression of inflammatory response genes. Publicly available single B cell data from the tumor microenvironment revealed a negative correlation between TNFα expression and response to immune checkpoint blockade. These findings suggest that B cells contribute to tumor growth via the production of inflammatory cytokines. Possibly, these B cells are different from tertiary lymphoid structure-associated B cells, which have been described to correlate with favorable clinical outcome of cancer patients. Further studies are required to identify and characterize B cell subsets and their functions promoting or counteracting tumor growth, with the aim to identify biomarkers and novel treatment targets

Assessment of noise induced psychological stresses on printery workers

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between psychological stresses and noise stresses on printery workers in Tehran, Iran. Hence, 267 workers were randomly selected. The Leq and Lmax were measured and the psychological stresses such as depression, anxiety, aggression and job satisfaction were also studied by the relevant questionnaires. The data were statistically analyzed by Pearson correlation test. The results demonstrated that there was no significant statistical relationship between noise and psychological stresses. In addition, by using Spearman regression method, the influence of variables such as age, gender and job history on psychological stresses caused by Leq and Lmax was studied and the results only revealed that the aggression caused by Leq increased in young personnel (P=0.02) as well as, anxiety caused by Lmax increased accompanied by increasing the job history and age of the workers (P=0.002 and P=0.007). Therefore, more variables must be taken into consideration to judge about noise induced psychological stresses in workplaces. © IRSEN, CEERS, IAU