Concurrent Probabilistic Control Co-Design and Layout Optimization of Wave Energy Converter Farms using Surrogate Modeling

Wave energy converters (WECs) are a promising candidate for meeting the increasing energy demands of today's society. It is known that the sizing and power take-off (PTO) control of WEC devices have a major impact on their performance. In addition, to improve power generation, WECs must be optimally deployed within a farm. While such individual aspects have been investigated for various WECs, potential improvements may be attained by leveraging an integrated, system-level design approach that considers all of these aspects. However, the computational complexity of estimating the hydrodynamic interaction effects significantly increases for large numbers of WECs. In this article, we undertake this challenge by developing data-driven surrogate models using artificial neural networks and the principles of many-body expansion. The effectiveness of this approach is demonstrated by solving a concurrent plant (i.e., sizing), control (i.e., PTO parameters), and layout optimization of heaving cylinder WEC devices. WEC dynamics were modeled in the frequency domain, subject to probabilistic incident waves with farms of $3$, $5$, $7$, and $10$ WECs. The results indicate promising directions toward a practical framework for array design investigations with more tractable computational demands.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figure

Ethanol-Induced Hepatic and Renal Histopathological Changes in BALB/c mice

This study was to investigate the histopathologic changes of different concentrations of ethanol on the mice liver and kidney. Forty albino mice of the Mus musculus species, BALB/c strain mice underwent this study and were divided into four groups; control, %20, %40 and %60 of ethanol administration groups. The mice of each group (%20, %40 and %60 of ethanol) were orally administered with 1ml of ethanol 4days/week for 3 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin staining indicated development of mild to severe lesions in kidney and liver which included; In %20 of ethanol administration group there was mild lesion development; hydropic swelling in liver and swelling of kidney parenchyma while in %40 of ethanol administration group developed moderate changes; hydropic swelling of hepatocytes and kidney tubules with hyaline degeneration and in %60 of ethanol administration group produced severe lesion; focal macro and micro abscess in liver parenchyma and focal neutrophil infiltration within renal parenchyma and hyaline cast within renal tubules. Based on our study, it can be concluded that ethanol intoxication leads to a various disorders of the liver and kidney which arrange from mild to severe injury which was depended on the concentration of ethanol. Keywords: Ethanol, Mice, Kidney, Liver, H&E stain

Using Waste Vermiculite and Dolomite as Eco-Friendly Additives for Improving the Performance of Porous Concrete

The present study investigated the applicability of waste vermiculite and dolomite as fine aggregate, known as appropriate mineral adsorbents to enhance the quality of urban runoff, for improving the mechanical properties of porous concrete. 180 samples were mixed by adding 5-30% vermiculite and dolomite, as fine aggregate, and combining them with ordinary sand; lime sand (combining of 5-15% of each). Results showed that although adding dolomite culminated in a minor reduction of permeability– average of about 30%-, the average of compressive strength was augmented by 120%. Results of compressive strength of dolomite samples were repeated in mixtures containing vermiculite (an increase of 57%). While exploiting vermiculite in high percentages (20, 25, and 30) resulted in an extensive decrease in the permeability (94%), it was improved to an acceptable level (about 40%) after using vermiculite in combination with ordinary sand (lime sand). All dolomite and improved vermiculite mixtures, after combining vermiculite with ordinary sand, had appropriate performance in draining storm-urban runoff; such that in the weakest case, stimulated storm runoffs with heights of 10, 20, 30 and 40 cm were completely drained only after 17, 36, 59 and 87 seconds, respectively. Also, using vermiculite resulted in reducing the concrete weight (about 100 kg). Generally, although a little reduction in the permeability was seen, but using waste vermiculite and dolomite improved the mechanical properties of porous concrete significantly

Application of Heuristic Algorithms in Improving Performance of Soft Computing Models for Prediction of Min, Mean and Max Air Temperatures

Traditionally, climate conditions has been one of the influential factors in population growth in worldwide. Hence, predicting these conditions can be an important step to improve life conditions in worldwide. In this study, application of genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm algorithm (PSO) were considered as alternatives to available algorithms for training artificial neural network (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in order to predict air temperature. Therefore, monthly minimum, average and maximum air temperatures of Tehran-Iran station at 64-years (1951-2014) were selected as predicted time-series. Firstly, the most appropriate inputs were selected for models using sensitivity analysis. After that, long-term air temperatures (1 month, 1, 2 and 3 years ahead) were modeled.  Results showed that: 1) the given algorithms had acceptable results in improving the models’ performance in modeling minimum, mean and maximum air temperatures. Also, they could improve the performance of ANN and ANFIS in most of the prediction intervals, 2) ANFIS-GA was selected as the most suitable model so that its average determination coefficient (R2), root mean square errors (RMSE) and mean absolute errors (MAE) were 0.88, 1.41 and 2.52, respectively, 3) the sensitivity analysis provided suitable results in selecting the most appropriate model inputs for forecasting the minimum, mean and maximum air temperatures in different intervals

Effect of Foliar Spray of Kno3, Humic Acid Cultivars and Their Interactions on Leaf Nutrients of Olive (olea europaea l.) cvs. Khithary and i18 Transplants

This study was carried out during the growing season (2012) in Bakrajo Nursery Station/ Sulaimani, Kurdistan Region-Iraq. Uniform and healthy olive (Olea europaea L.) cvs. Khithary and I 18 transplants of (2) years old were used. Filled with river loamy soil to investigate the effect of three levels KNO3 (0, 100 and 200 mg.L-1), three humic acid concentrations (0,150 and 300 mg.L-1) and their interactions on leaf nutrients of Olive cvs. Khithary and I 18 transplants. The results are summarizing as follows: Khithary significantly dominated over cv. I 18 in total leaf chlorophyll, P, K, Zn. However cv. I 18 significantly increased N and Fe. The interactions between cv. Khithary with KNO3 significantly increased P, K, Fe. While, cv. I 18 significantly increased N and Fe. The interactions between cv. I 18 +300ppm of humic acid significantly increased Fe. While Khithary with humic acid caused the highest values of  N, P, K, Zn. The interactions between KNO3, humic acid and cv. Khithery affected significantly on most of the leaf nutrients characteristics. While, 200 ppm KNO3+0 humic acid with cv. Khithary increased all parameters except leaf Zn

Teachers’ reflections on the practicality of English in-service courses in Iran

As professional development is essential for teacher quality, many countries have made investments in designing teacher education programs. The study explores the efficacy of in-service courses in Iran from the perspective of English language teachers. Interviews were conducted to examine teachers’ beliefs about the efficacy of in-service courses, their involvement in program development, the application of program material by teachers, and their preferences about teacher education programs. The findings showed that program designers adopted a traditional transmissive model to transfer pre-determined knowledge to the teachers without involving teachers in the decision making process. Teachers, in turn, did not apply the program materials in their teaching practices because they believed program materials were idealistic, impractical, generalized, and decontextualized. Moreover, what teachers considered beneficial for their development was different from what was presented to them in the in-service courses. The reason for such inconsistencies is a lack of communication and effective feedback channel between teachers and planners. The findings suggest that as teachers are the final decision makers based on the realities of their teaching situation, involving them in planning and program development process can decrease the existing gap and make program materials more realistic and consequently applicable. Implications for language planning and teacher education programs are discussed

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivar "Khalasah" via somatic embryogenesis

In present investigation, an efficient Agrobacterium- mediated genetic transformation was successfully carried out for a well known date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivar “Khalasah” using matured somatic embryos. Somatic embryogenesis was initiated from offshoot’s shoot tips of date palm cultivar. For genetic transformation, morphologically advanced matured somatic embryos developed on MS medium fortified with TDZ (1.0 mg/l) were co-cultured with A. tumefaciens strain LBA 4404 harboring binary vector pBI 121, containing uidA (GUS) and npt II genes and incubated for 4 days and later it was (somatic embryos) inoculated on germinating and plantlet conversion MS medium supplemented with BAP (0.75 mg/l) + kanamycin (100 mg/l). Prolific shoots developed from putatively transformed matured embryos showed 47.5 % transformation efficiency. A large number of transgenic plants were obtained and later established in black hard plastic bags. A strong GUS activity was detected in the putatively transformed plant leaves by histochemical assay and, the integration of uidA (GUS) and npt II genes into transgenic plants was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization analysis. The established transformation protocol allows effective and quick regeneration via somatic embryogenesis, and it would be highly valuable for existing date palm orchards and improving their productivity

Evaluation of the Effect of Knowledge Concerning Healthy Nutrition and Nutrition Science on the Knowledge Development Approach

Background: Nutrition can be regarded as an important part of any preparation program, as well as an important part of life. It seems essential to develop nutritional science and improve eating habits with the purpose of developing a healthy diet and avoiding the outcomes that arise from a lack of nutrition. Proper nutrition is one of the important factors for the development of health. Lack of sufficient awareness about nutrition can result in improper eating habits. Objectives: The present study evaluated the effect of knowledge about healthy nutrition and nutrition science on the knowledge development approach. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the statistical population consisted of 190 experts and other scholars in the area of nutritional science. A questionnaire based on demographic details, nutritional science, nutrition education, research, proper solutions to individuals’ nutritional problems, and a culture of nutrition was used for data collection. Results: A relatively strong positive correlation was found between the knowledge development approach, nutritional science, nutrition education and research, and proper solutions for individual nutritional problems and a culture of nutrition (P < 0.001). Conclusions: 1) Effective enhancement and participation in an academic community will be important in the future of food and nutrition security; however, major gaps and weaknesses also exist in this context; 2) The main weaknesses in relation to the lack of clear policies and procedures include focusing on only Tehran, Iran; the need to overcome bureaucracy; and problems related to motivation, capital, and international communications; 3) Qualitative and quantitative improvement of research is not possible without access to skilled experts and researchers; 4) To solve these problems, it will be beneficial to pay more attention to the role of universities, facilitate intellectual communication among professors in Tehran and other provinces, ensure that Iranian professors are employed abroad, develop educational and research cooperation with foreign countries, and ensure that facilities for international cooperation put in place by united nations (UN) agencies are used. Keywords: Nutritional Science, Knowledge Management, Foo

Optimization Algorithm’s Problems: Comparison Study

Currently, in various fields and disciplines problem optimization are used commonly. In this concern, we have to define solutions which are two known concepts optimal or near optimal optimization problems in regards to some objects. Usually, it is surely difficult to sort problems out in only one step, but some processes can be followed by us which people usually call it problem solving. Frequently, the solution process is split into various steps which are accomplishing one after the other. Therefore, in this paper we consider some algorithms that help us to sort out problems, for exemplify, finding the shortest path, minimum spanning tree, maximum network flows and maximum matching. More importantly, the algorithm comparison will be presented. Additionally, the limitation of each algorithm. The last but not the least, the future research in this area will be approached