The impact of illicit drug use on Spontaneous Hepatitis C Clearance: Experience from a large cohort population study

Background and Aims: Acute hepatitis C infection usually ends in chronic infection, while in a minority of patients it is spontaneously cleared. The current population-based study is performed on a large cohort in Golestan province of Iran to examine the demographic correlates of Spontaneous Hepatitis C Clearance. Methods: Serum samples used in this study had been stored in biorepository of Golestan Cohort Study. These samples were evaluated for anti hepatitis C Virus by third generation Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subjects who tested positive were then invited and tested by Recombinant Immunoblot Assay (RIBA) and Ribonucleic Acid Polymerase Chain Reaction test (PCR). If tested positive for RIBA, subjects were recalled and the two tests were re-done after 6 months. Those subjects who again tested positive for RIBA but negative for PCR were marked as cases of spontaneous clearance. Results: 49,338 serum samples were evaluated. The prevalence of Chronic Hepatitis C Virus (CHCV) infection based on PCR results was 0.31. Among those who had acquired hepatitis C, the rate of SC was 38. In multivariate analysis, illicit drug use both Injecting Use (OR = 3.271, 95 CI: 1.784-6.000, p-value<0.001) and Non-Injecting Use (OR = 1.901, 95 CI: 1.068-3.386, p-value = 0.029) were significant correlates of CHCV infection versus SC. Conclusions: Illicit drug use whether intravenous or non-intravenous is the only significant correlate of CHCV, for which several underlying mechanisms can be postulated including repeated contacts with hepatitis C antigen. © 2011 Poustchi et al

Noise Decrease in a Balanced Self-Mixing Interferometer: Theory and Experiments

In a self-mixing interferometer built around a laser diode, the signals at the outputs of the two mirrors are in phase opposition, whereas noise fluctuations are partially correlated. Thus, on making the difference between the two outputs, the useful signal is doubled in amplitude and the signal-to-noise ratio is even more enhanced. Through a second-quantization model, the improvement is theoretically predicted to be dependent on laser facets reflectivity. The results are then validated by experimental measurements with different laser types that show very good agreement with theoretical results. The new technique is applicable to a number of already existent self-mixing sensors, potentially improving significantly their measurement performances

Magnetron sputtering technique for analyzing the influence of RF sputtering power on microstructural surface morphology of aluminum thin films deposited on SiO2/Si substrates

In this research, aluminum (Al) thin films were deposited on SiO2/Si substrates using RF magnetron sputtering technique for analyzing the influence of RF sputtering power on microstructural surface morphologies. Different sputtering RF powers (100–400 W) were employed to form Al thin films. The characteristics of deposited Al thin films are investigated using X-ray diffraction pattern (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier-transforms infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results demonstrate that the deposited films in low sputtering power have amorphous nature. By increasing the sputtering power, crystallization is observed. AFM analysis results show that the RF power of 300 W is the optimum sputtering power to grow the smoothest Al thin films. FTIR results show that the varying RF power affect the chemical structure of the deposited films. The SEM results show that by increasing the sputtering power leads to the formation of isolated texture on the surface of substrate. In conclusion, RF power has a significant impact on the properties of deposited films, particularly crystallization and shape

Behavioral feasibility of the clinical nursing information system

Background: Analysis of humanitarian issues affecting the implementation time of information systems to increase the acceptance of these systems is essential. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the behavioral feasibility of the clinical nursing information system. Methods: An applied cross-sectional study was conducted with 348 nurses in 2015. Data were collected by face to face interviews and a questionnaire containing 33 questions, which were rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Face and content validity of the questionnaire was confirmed, and its reliability was estimated 0.90 through Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and t-test. Results: An average score of behavioral feasibility was 67.44. The rate of supply provided for implementing the clinical nursing information system was 55.2, which was in a semi-favorable level. The necessity of system deployment in the clinical nursing sector had the highest frequency (88.2) and interference of redesigning structures with the current work had the lowest frequency (43.6). Conclusion: The possibility of implementation of the clinical nursing information system in a behavioral dimension is at a semi-favorable level. To increase the acceptance of the system, presenting a new system as a positive change and further training of the nurses is recommended. © 2019 Jeddi et al

Kinematical Test of Large Extra Dimension in Beta Decay Experiments

The forthcoming experiments on neutrino mass measurement using beta decay, open a new window to explore the Large Extra Dimension model. The Kaluza-Klein tower of neutrinos in Large Extra Dimension contribute to the Kurie function of beta decay that can be tested kinematically. In addition to providing an alternative approach using just the kinematical properties, we show that KATRIN can probe the compactification radius of extra dimensions down to 0.2 \mu m which is better, at least by a factor of two, than the upper limits from neutrino oscillation experiments.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures; v2: discussion improved, matches the version published at PL

Self-scheduling approach to coordinating wind power producers with energy storage and demand response

The uncertainty of wind energy makes wind power producers (WPPs) incur profit loss due to balancing costs in electricity markets, a phenomenon that restricts their participation in markets. This paper proposes a stochastic bidding strategy based on virtual power plants (VPPs) to increase the profit of WPPs in short-term electricity markets in coordination with energy storage systems (ESSs) and demand response (DR). To implement the stochastic solution strategy, the Kantorovich method is used for scenario generation and reduction. The opti-mization problem is formulated as a Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP) problem. From testing the proposed method for a Spanish WPP, it is inferred that the proposed method en-hances the profit of the VPP compared to previous models.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Evaluation of Streamflow Hydrograph using ERA5 Precipitation Data in HEC-HMS Model

Introduction Precipitation is one of the most important input parameters of the hydrological models for rainfall-runoff simulation, which due to the lack of proper dispersion of rain gauge stations and the newly established some of these stations in most basins of the country, the use of these precipitation data faces serious challenges. Therefore, the use of remote-sensing methods is one of the ways that can be used for the streamflow simulation using hydrological models. Runoff is also one of the most important hydrological variables and rainfall-runoff modeling is one of the key items in hydrological sciences to estimate runoff characteristics such as volume, peak flow and arrival time to peak flow. In the present study, we used reanalyzed precipitation data and then evaluated the simulated streamflow using this precipitation data in the Zoshk subbasin. The precipitation data was validated with in situ data, of Kashafrood basin.Materials and Methods The reanalysis precipitation data was selected from the ERA5 precipitation data, and the HEC-HMS was used for the rainfall-runoff simulation. The basin parameters were calculated by the GIS menu. This menu is the newest option in the HEC-HMS software that needs only the DEM basin for calculating the basin parameters. In the present study, we should validate the ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data with in situ data, so we did that in the Kashafrood basin. The number of the rain gauge stations were 34, but some of the stations didn't have complete data and omitted them from the list of the rain gauge stations. For the validation ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data was used from the R, NSE, RMSE, Bias, FAR, POD and TS statistical indicators. These indicators were calculated by programming in EXCEL Visual Basic. The ERA5 precipitation data was evaluated for the Kashfarood basin at daily and monthly time steps. The DEM Zoshk was downloaded with the spatial resolution of 12.5 meters from ALOS-PALSAR satellite and then the basin parameters were calculated by the GIS menu. The SCS curve number was selected as a loss method. In this method, the calculations related to the percentage of impermeability and the average curve number of each sub-basin were obtained through land use and curve number layers, respectively. The SCS unit hydrograph was selected as a transform method. The recession method was selected as a base flow method. NSE and PBias were used for the calibration and validation events in HEC-HMS. In this way, at first the HEC-HMS model was calibrated by tow in situ rainfall-runoff events (91/1/11 and 91/2/6), and then validated by one in situ rainfall-runoff event (99/1/23). For validation streamflow of the ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data, the event on 99/1/23 was used and their streamflow hydrographs were evaluated with each other in Zoshk station.Results and Discussion The results showed that the reanalysis precipitation data of ERA5 had underestimation in daily and monthly time steps. Also in monthly time step, the accuracy of these precipitation dataset in detecting precipitation events (in terms of FAR, TS, and POD indices) was higher than a daily one. In addition, in monthly time steps it had worse accuracy in summer months than the rest of the year in detecting precipitation events (in terms of FAR, TS, and POD indices). For streamflow evaluation, in the calibration phase both NSE was in very good and good ranges, and PBias was in very good, good and acceptable ranges. In addition, the model underestimated the observational one. Finally the ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data was compared by 99/1/23 hydrograph event. The streamflow hydrograph from the ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data was underestimated due to ERA5 underestimation of the precipitation at the Zoshk rain gauge on the days corresponding to the 23/6/99 incident. The ERA5 reanalyzed precipitation data with NSE and Bias percentage coefficients in unacceptable range (NSE≤0.5 and PBias≤±25), compared to flow hydrograph obtained from Zoshk station precipitation data, the efficiency of this precipitation dataset is low. The range of the streamflow hydrograph from the ERA5 precipitation data was unsatisfactory in compared to the observational hydrograph (NSE = -0.47 and PBias = -55.16).Conclusion In general, the accuracy of the flow hydrograph of this product compared to the flow hydrograph of the precipitation data of Zoshk station (NSE = 0.64 and PBias = -15.82), cannot be a relatively reliable source instead of in situ rainfall data in hydrological simulation. The suggestion for future studies is to evaluate other rainfall data based on remote sensing methods in hydrological modeling