A Game Theory Approach for Conjunctive Use Optimization Model Based on Virtual Water Concept

In this study to allocate the agricultural and environmental water, considering virtual water concept, a multi-objective optimization model based on NSGA-II is developed. The objectives consist of equity maximization, agricultural benefit maximization for each region, maximization of green water utilization and finally minimization of environmental shortage. Then a cooperative game (Grand Coalition) model is presented by forming all possible coalitions. By the game model including Nucleolus, Proportional Nucleolus, Normal Nucleolus and Shapley methods, the benefit is reallocated based on all Pareto optimal solutions obtained from multi-objective optimization model. Then using two famous fallback bargaining methods, Unanimity and q-Approval, preferable alternative (solution) for each of the cooperative games is determined. Finally, based on the obtained benefit for each selected alternatives, the two most beneficial alternatives are chosen. The proposed methodology applied for water allocation of Minoo-Dasht, Azad-Shahr and Gonbad-Kavoos cities in Golestan province, Iran for a 3-year period as a case study. Also, eight crops including Wheat, Alfalfa, Barley, Bean, Rice, Corn, Soya, and Cotton are selected based on local experts’ recommendations. The models’ results indicated no significant difference between the grand coalition model and the multi-objective optimization model in terms of the average cultivation area (a relative change of 2.1%), while lower agricultural water allocation occurred for the grand coalition model (about 10.35 percent average) compared with the multi-objective optimization model. It is also observed that more agricultural benefit gained by the grand coalition model (32 percent average). Finally, it is found that Wheat and Corn hold the most rates of import and export, respectively, and Rice was the crop which has the least shortage of production to supply food demand

Microscopic study of 5083-H321 aluminium alloy under fretting fatigue condition

Fretting occurs where there is small amplitude oscillating motion between solid surfaces in contact. With even small loads or prolonged operation, fretting may lead to crack initiation followed by fretting fatigue. Its effect on fatigue is to speed up the nucleation of fatigue surface cracks and it can be extremely damaging. Fretting fatigue is a critical concern in aircraft structures and a widespread problem in naval structural components and is often the root cause of fatigue crack nucleation in machine components. In this investigation, fretting fatigue study is carried out using 5083-H321 marine/ aerospace aluminium alloy. The test rig and the experiments were designed with an emphasis to study the crack initiation behaviour in the fretted region using scanning electron microscope (SEM). Fretting damage and its relationship to the fretting fatigue life are presented and discussed

Microscopic Study of 5083-H321 Aluminium Alloy Under Fretting Fatigue Condition

In this investigation, fretting fatigue study is carried out using 5083-H321 aluminium alloy. The test rig was designed to apply the normal load on the thickness side of the surface of the specimen, which is presumed to be the active surface for the fretting process. Fretting fatigue experiments were designed with an emphasis to study the crack initiation behaviour in the fretted region using scanning electron microscope. In order to investigate the possible crack initiation mechanisms in fretting fatigue as well as for the associated fatigue two different types of tests were proposed along with fundamental pure plain fatigue tests. These tests are named as fretting fatigue test and interrupted fretting fatigue test. First, pure plain fatigue tests were carried out with three maximum stresses of 200 MPa, 220 MPa, and 230 MPa, and with a stress ratio R of 0.1 at a frequency of 20 Hz. At each stress level three specimens were tested. Further fretting fatigue tests were carried out for normal pressures of 15 MPa, 30 MPa, and 45MPa at each axial stress level of 200 MPa, 220 MPa, and 230 MPa, with a stress ratio, R of 0.1 at a frequency of 20 Hz and. It has been found that the fatigue life reduces by a factor of 2.55, 3.48, and 3.54 for specimens tested with normal pressures of 15 MPa, 30 MPa, and 45 MPa using a maximum axial stress of 200 MPa respectively. The life reduces by factors of 3.16, 2.07, and 4.54 for specimens tested with normal pressures of 15 MPa, 30 MPa, and 45 MPa respectively using a maximum axial stress of 220 MPa. On the other hand the fatigue life reduces by a factor of 2.24, 2.37, and 2.81 for normal pressures of 15 MPa, 30 MPa, and 45 MPa respectively using maximum axial stress of 230 MPa. In general we can say that the fatigue life reduces by a factor of 2 to 3 for all specimens tested at fatigue stress levels and the normal pressures applied to the specimens as indicated above due to fretting fatigue in this investigation. For the fretting fatigue specimen tested with maximum axial stress of 200MPa and a normal stress of 15 MPa the crack initiates from the locations along the pad edge boundary of the specimen with a mild river pattern and subsequently propagates to failure. For the fretting fatigue specimen tested with maximum axial stress of 200MPa and a normal stress of 30 MPa the crack appears to propagate in multi directions whereas for the case of maximum axial stress of 200MPa and a normal stress of 45 MPa the behaviour is somewhat similar to the cases of normal stress of 15 MPa and 30 MPa but the rate of crack propagation is relatively faster. The fracture surface of the specimens tested with normal stress of 15 MPa, 30 MPa, and 45MPa using maximum axial stresses of 220 MPa and 230 MPa indicate a similar pattern of cracking behaviour as indicated for maximum axial stress of 220. As far as the fracture morphology is concerned more tilt towards the fibrous nature along with increased crack propagation rate has been observed for specimens tested with more normal pressure/ stress as well as with increase in applied maximum axial stress. Also it is observed that the fretting fatigue failure often initiated at the boundary between the pad and specimen contact surface. As far as the damage is concerned the fretting damage increases with number of cycles and crack initiated after the specimens are tested to in the life range of 40% to 60% of life at maximum axial stress of 200MPa giving the damage threshold in basic fretting behaviour. But the crack initiation life is less for higher normal pressure/stress at the contact interface

Spatial Grouping of Drought Using Standardized Precipitation Index in Isfahan Province

The determination of spatial distribution of drought attributes in Isfahan province is essential for the study and management of drought. In this study, using ten drought attributes based on severity, duration and frequency of standardized precipitation index in 45 stations in Isfahan province and cluster analysis of this attributes, 5 spatial groups were identified in Isfahan province. The spatial distribution of these groups shows that the change in severity and duration of drought is based on various longitudes and latitudes in Isfahan province

Investigation the Kinetic Models of Biological Removal of Petroleum Contaminated Soil Around Oil Pipeline Using Ryegrass

The industrial revolution of the past century has resulted in significant damage to environmental resources such as air, water and soil. Petroleum contamination of soil is a serious problem throughout the oil producer countries. Remediation of petroleum contamination of soils is generally a slow and expensive process. Phytoremediation is a potentially less-damaging, cost-effective, but needs longer-term for remediation of contaminated land compared to the alternative methods. In this study the kinetics of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soils in Khozestan were investigated. For this paper Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) plant selected and the decline of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) was analyzed after growth stage, every 10 days up to 90 days. The results of TPH concentration was fitted with zero-order kinetic, first-order kinetic and Higuchi model. The result indicated that degradation of TPH with presence of plants as a function of time was well fitted with the first-order kinetic model. The first-order rate constants (K) and half-lives (T1/2) for TPH degradation were 0.0098 1/day and 71 day; respectively. The results of phytoremediation showed that there were 65% decreases in TPH concentration with Ryegrass during the 17 weeks

Inter and Intra-rater Reliability of Lateral Cephalometric Analysis Using 2D Dolphin Imaging Software: Reliability of Lateral Cephalometric Analysis Using 2D Dolphin Software

Objectives Cephalometric radiographs are widely used in diagnosis and treatment planning. In the past, these radiographs used to be analyzed manually, but nowadays due to the possibility of errors and time-consuming nature of manual tracing, digital methods are replacing the manual methods. The reliability of computer-assisted analysis is of great importance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inter and intra-rater reliability of 2D Dolphin imaging software version 10.0.00.53. Methods To assess the intra-rater reliability of lateral cephalometric analysis, 25 lateral cephalograms traced by one operator using Dolphin imaging software were traced again by the same examiner 2 weeks later. To assess the inter-rater reliability, 25 lateral cephalograms were traced independently by two examiners. Overall, 80 measurements including 43 linear, 34 angular, and 3 ratio measurements were made. The interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated to assess the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability. ICCs above 0.75 were considered good. Results The ICC for intra-rater reliability was above 0.75 for all parameters except lower vertical height depth ratio (ICC=0.51), inter-labial gap (ICC=0.54), superior sulcus depth (ICC=0.67), articular angle (ICC=0.733), and ramus height (ICC=0.728). The ICC for inter-rater reliability was above 0.75 for all parameters except nose prominence (ICC=0.73). Conclusion Dolphin imaging software showed good intra-rater reliability for most parameters and good inter-rater reliability for almost all parameters

Hematological Indices of Parents in Non-Immune Hydrops Fetalis Pregnancie

Objective:To investigate the hematologic indices of mothers in non-immune hydrops fetalis pregnancies and identify the possible causative role of Alpha-Thalassemia among them. Material and methods: From 2005 to 2007, 11386 hydrops fetalis cases in three major obstetric hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences were recorded. Indirect coombs test and hematologic indices of maternal samples were assessed. Results: Among 11386 deliveries, 67 hydrops fetalis cases were detected. Forty-one (62%) cases were immune type and 26 (38%) cases were non-immunehydrops. All the mothers had MCV more than 80 fl and 25 mothers had MCH more than 27 pg, so none of themhad Alpha-Thalassemia carrier criteria. Conclusion: Alpha- Thalassemia is not the major cause of hydrops fetalis in this study and cost-effectiveness of population scaled biochemical and/or molecular screening programs of α-globin gene mutations in Tehran population is under question

Comparison of Single and Multiple Low-Level Laser Applications After Rapid Palatal Expansion on Bone Regeneration in Rats: Low-Level Laser Therapy After Palatal Expansion

Introduction: This study was performed to compare the effects of single and multiple irradiations of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on bone regeneration in a mid-palatal suture following rapid palatal expansion (RPE).Methods: In this animal study, 40 male Wistar rats underwent RPE for 7 days and were divided into 4 groups including A: single LLLT on day 7, B: Multiple LLLT on days 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15, C: control (no LLLT), and D: sacrificed on day 7. Animals in group D were used to determine the amount of suture expansion. LLLT was done by a diode laser set at an 808 nm wavelength with a useful power output of 100 mW and duration of 0.1 ms. LLLT was applied to three points. After three weeks of retention, the rats were sacrificed and beheaded and the maxilla was evaluated by occlusal radiography, μ-CT, and histomorphometric analyses. A comparison of the mean measurements between the groups was performed using ANOVA and the Tukey post hoc test.Results: Based on occlusal radiography and μCT, bone density in group B was significantly higher than group A and group C (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in bone density between group A and group C (P > 0.05). Mean suture width (MSW) in group B was significantly lesser than the control group (P = 0.027) while there was no significant difference between MSWnin groups A and B (P = 0.116) and groups A and C (P = 0.317).Conclusion: It may be concluded that multiple low-power laser irradiation improves bone regeneration after RPE while single irradiation does not have a positive effect

Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses and Children with Primary Immunodeficiency, Iran, 1995–2014

Widespread use of oral poliovirus vaccine has led to an ≈99.9% decrease in global incidence of poliomyelitis (from ≈350,000 cases in 1988 to 74 cases in 2015) and eradication of wild-type poliovirus serotypes 2 and 3. However, patients with primary immunodeficiency might shed vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) for an extended period, which could pose a major threat to polio eradication programs. Since 1995, sixteen VDPV populations have been isolated from 14 patients with immunodeficiency in Iran. For these patients, vaccine-associated paralysis, mostly in >1 extremity, was the first manifestation of primary immunodeficiency. Seven patients with humoral immunodeficiency cleared VDPV infection more frequently than did 6 patients with combined immunodeficiencies. Our results raise questions about manifestations of VDPVs in immunodeficient patients and the role of cellular immunity against enterovirus infections. On the basis of an association between VDPVs and immunodeficiency, we advocate screening of patients with primary immunodeficiency for shedding of polioviruses

Extreme βHCG levels in first trimester screening are risk factors for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes

Abstract Multiples of the normal median (MoM) of free βHCG is a valuable parameter in evaluation of risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. In the current retrospective study, we assessed the maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women having free βHCG MoM levels  5 in their first trimester screening (FTS). Relative risk of trisomy 21 was significantly higher in patients having free βHCG MoM > 5. On the other hand, relative risk of trisomies 13 and 18 and Turner syndrome were higher in those having free βHCG MoM  5. Relative risk of hydrocephaly and hydrops fetalis was higher when free βHCG MoM was below 0.2. On the other hand, relative risk of low birth weight was higher when free βHCG MoM was above 5. Moreover, frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia, preterm delivery and vaginal bleeding increased with levels of free βHCG MoM. However, polyhydramnios had the opposite trend. Frequencies of premature rupture of membranes and pregnancy induced hypertension were highest among pregnant women having levels of free βHCG MoM  5 can be regarded as risk factors for adverse maternal or fetal outcomes irrespective of the presence of other abnormalities in the FTS results