Heavy quark fragmentation functions at next-to-leading perturbative QCD

It is well-known that the dominant mechanism to produce hadronic bound states with large transverse momentum is fragmentation. This mechanism is described by the fragmentation functions (FFs) which are the universal and process-independent functions. Here, we review the perturbative FFs formalism as an appropriate tool for studying these hadronization processes and detail the extension of this formalism at next-to-leading order (NLO). Using the Suzuki's model, we calculate the perturbative QCD FF for a heavy quark to fragment into a S-wave heavy meson at NLO. As an example, we study the LO and NLO FFs for a charm quark to split into the S-wave $D$-meson and compare our analytic results both with experimental data and well-known phenomenological models

Prioritizing occupational safety and health indexes based on the multi criteria decision making in construction industries

Background and aims: Critical infrastructures are the most important sectors in nation security, public safety, socioeconomic security and environment in the world. Such incidents make people, environment and industries harmed. The occurrence of accidents is common in the basic infrastructure of all countries in the world. Building industry is inherently facing many problems and ambiguities. Events' rate of construction industry and other industries in Iran is higher than other parts of the world. The aim of this research is prioritization of indicators of health and safety in the small and large construction industry. Methods: Indexes are considered as the main body of the risk management system for all areas of activity. At first, the indicators were selected by experts from a list of detailed performance indicators, Then, these indicators according to key indicators of evaluating the performance of health and safety in the construction industry were weighted and finally ranked and modeled with the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic Timeable) criteria, using fuzzy TOPSIS method. Results: The results obtained from the analysis of fuzzy-TOPSIS based on determining the priority of safety-health indicators in both small and large groups of buildings, represented a different range of the 28-fold indicators priority. Safety of adjacent structures and using of PPE in small buildings up to six floors, had the high close rate, while the noise, safety scaffolding, excavation and trucks for reasons of height and vertical spread of structures in the large and over 6 floors buildings had the important priorities. Conclusion: Prioritizing safety and health indicators based on Fuzzy TOPSIS method with SMART criteria can be applied as a method of professionals' health assessment in the engineering field

Prioritizing occupational safety and health indexes based on the multi criteria decision making in construction industries

Background and aims: Critical infrastructures are the most important sectors in nation security, public safety, socioeconomic security and environment in the world. Such incidents make people, environment and industries harmed. The occurrence of accidents is common in the basic infrastructure of all countries in the world. Building industry is inherently facing many problems and ambiguities. Events' rate of construction industry and other industries in Iran is higher than other parts of the world. The aim of this research is prioritization of indicators of health and safety in the small and large construction industry. Methods: Indexes are considered as the main body of the risk management system for all areas of activity. At first, the indicators were selected by experts from a list of detailed performance indicators, Then, these indicators according to key indicators of evaluating the performance of health and safety in the construction industry were weighted and finally ranked and modeled with the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic Timeable) criteria, using fuzzy TOPSIS method. Results: The results obtained from the analysis of fuzzy-TOPSIS based on determining the priority of safety-health indicators in both small and large groups of buildings, represented a different range of the 28-fold indicators priority. Safety of adjacent structures and using of PPE in small buildings up to six floors, had the high close rate, while the noise, safety scaffolding, excavation and trucks for reasons of height and vertical spread of structures in the large and over 6 floors buildings had the important priorities. Conclusion: Prioritizing safety and health indicators based on Fuzzy TOPSIS method with SMART criteria can be applied as a method of professionals' health assessment in the engineering field

Impact of dietary zinc and seawater transfer on zinc status, availability, endogenous loss and osmoregulatory responses in Atlantic salmon smolt fed low fish meal feeds

Atlantic salmon fed low fish meal feeds supplemented with zinc (Zn) were studied in two feeding trials. In trial I, Atlantic salmon parr were fed six graded Zn levels (40 to 249 mg kg−1 as ZnSO4) for 8 weeks in freshwater followed by a 4-week seawater phase. In trial II, Atlantic salmon post-smolt were fed for 10 weeks in SW with 10 dietary Zn levels (45 to 280 mg kg−1), either as ZnSO4 or Zn-glycinate. Growth was unaffected by dietary Zn in both trials. Dietary Zn affected concentration of Na + and K+ ions in plasma, branchial and intestinal expression of sodium potassium ATPase, tissue and body Zn status, and cataracts. Seawater transfer significantly reduced apparent availability, body and tissue levels of Zn due to increased endogenous Zn loss. Atlantic salmon post-smolt in seawater improved body and tissue Zn status with increasing dietary Zn levels, irrespective of the Zn source. Body or tissue saturation of Zn occurred at dietary Zn levels between 137 and 156 mg kg−1 with smolts in freshwater and 181 to 218 mg kg−1 in SW post-smolts. Dietary Zn levels below 180 mg kg−1 in low fish meal feeds compromised the Zn status and welfare of Atlantic salmon in seawater.publishedVersio

Modern microwave methods in solid state inorganic materials chemistry: from fundamentals to manufacturing

No abstract available

Changing expression of vertebrate immunity genes in an anthropogenic environment: a controlled experiment

Background: The effect of anthropogenic environments on the function of the vertebrate immune system is a problem of general importance. For example, it relates to the increasing rates of immunologically-based disease in modern human populations and to the desirability of identifying optimal immune function in domesticated animals. Despite this importance, our present understanding is compromised by a deficit of experimental studies that make adequately matched comparisons between wild and captive vertebrates. Results: We transferred post-larval fishes (three-spined sticklebacks), collected in the wild, to an anthropogenic (captive) environment. We then monitored, over 11 months, how the systemic expression of immunity genes changed in comparison to cohort-matched wild individuals in the originator population (total n = 299). We found that a range of innate (lyz, defbl2, il1r-like, tbk1)and adaptive (cd8a, igmh) immunity genes were up-regulated in captivity, accompanied by an increase in expression of the antioxidant enzyme, gpx4a. For some genes previously known to show seasonality in the wild, this appeared to be reduced in captive fishes. Captive fishes tended to express immunity genes, including igzh, foxp3b, lyz, defbl2, and il1r-like, more variably. Furthermore, although gene co-expression patterns (analyzed through gene-by-gene correlations and mutual information theory based networks) shared common structure in wild and captive fishes, there was also significant divergence. For one gene in particular, defbl2, high expression was associated with adverse health outcomes in captive fishes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrate widespread regulatory changes in the immune system in captive populations, and that the expression of immunity genes is more constrained in the wild. An increase in constitutive systemic immune activity, such as we observed here, may alter the risk of immunopathology and contribute to variance in health in vertebrate populations exposed to anthropogenic environments

Health, safety and environmental risk management in laboratory fields

Background: Research project risks are uncertain contingent events or situations that, if transpire, will have positive or negative effects on objectives of a project. The Management of Health and Safety at Work (MHSW) Regulations 1999 require all employers and the self-employed persons to assess the risks from their work on anyone who may be affected by their activities. Risk assessment is the first step in risk-management procedure, and due to its importance, it has been deemed to be a vital process while having a unique place in the researchbased management systems. Methods: In this research, a two-pronged study was carried out. Firstly, health and safety issues were studied and analyzed by means of ISO 14121. Secondly, environmental issues were examined with the aid of Failure Mode and Effect Analysis. Both processes were utilized to determine the risk level independently for each research laboratory and corrective measure priorities in each field (laboratory). Results: Data analysis showed that the total main and inherent risks in laboratory sites reduced by 38 to 86. Upon comparing the average risk levels before and after implementing the control and protective actions utilizing risk management approaches which were separate from health, safety and environmental aspects, a highly effective significance (p < 0.001) was obtained for inherent risk reduction. Analysis of health, safety and environmental control priorities with the purpose of comparing the ratio of the number of engineering measures to the amount of management ones showed a relatively significant increase. Conclusion: The large number of engineering measures was attributed to the employment of a variety of timeworn machinery (old technologies) along with using devices without basic protection components