Identification and Prioritization of Risk and Its Effect of the Renewable Energy Life Cycle Based on Performance and Risk Indicators

Risk management consists of two aspects of risk control and risk assessment in the electricity market. So, risk control should cover the risk and work out of the way of optimal investment portfolios. Thus, the aim of this research is producing solar electricity life cycle profitability. First to identify existing risks in the production of electricity using Delphi technique between 300 experts in 15 Powerhouse. Then, the grey ANP model was the adoption of the New Energy Organization of Iran. The number of risk factors were collected by subject literature in renewable energy in Iran that have analyzed and selected the high-risk factors by ANP GREY method. Finally, to examine the life cycle of solar power, the authors analyzed financial indicators and the life cycle’s factors which relates to performance and risk variables, then, the Regression model used in three stages of life cycle. Finally, the result provides incentives for the energy system to support production renewable electricity and aid to increase the profitability of the renewable energy cycle

Interleukins in diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia: A systematic review

Background: Biochemical markers including interleukins (ILs) has been proposed for early diagnosis of asphyxia. Objective: This study has aimed to systematically review the significance of IL measurements in the diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus databases before 2017 were searched for the following keywords: asphyxia, neonatal, interleukin, and diagnosis. A total of 13 out of 300 searched papers were finally selected for evaluation. Interleukins under study were IL6 and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). Interleukins had been measured in 10 studies by serum samples, 2 studies by samples of Cerebro Spinal Fluid (CSF), and 1 study by sample of umbilical cord blood. The inclusion criteria were: studies on neonates, with adequate information from the test results and studies using markers other than ILs to detect asphyxia; however, studies with only abstracts available were excluded. Results: Research on the issue suggests that IL6 > 41 Pg/dl has the sensitivity of 84.88% and the specificity of 85.43%, whereas IL-1β > 4.7 Pg/dl has the sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 83% in the diagnosis of neonatal asphyxia. Among diagnostic ILs for neonatal asphyxia, combination of IL6 and IL-1β had the highest sensitivity, that is, 92.9%. Conclusion: IL6 and IL-1β of serum samples were used in the early diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia and are useful predictors for the outcomes of perinatal asphyxia and its intensity. In addition, simultaneous evaluation of IL-1β and IL6 can improve the sensitivity of the early diagnosis of perinatal asphyxia

Use of Innovative Shotcrete-Tube Technology in Excavation Mechanism Instead of Bentonite Clay Cycling

Nowadays excavations are mostly performed with bentonite clay cycling which is so inappropriate in economical and timing issues of projects.In this method introduced, all unwanted machinery and constructions are limited and replaced by a simple tube and nozzle designed for shotcreting and restraining the drilled walls, which provides its stability against falling down and also waterproofing bore walls against water streaks, drilled through.In this experimental work, a new device is designed and some tests were accomplished in soils with different properties and all advantages and disadvantages of this brand new method are informed.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Robust Optical Wireless Links over Turbulent Media using Diversity Solutions

Free-space optic (FSO) technology, i.e., optical wireless communication (OWC), is widely recognized as superior to radio frequency (RF) in many aspects. Visible and invisible optical wireless links solve first/last mile connectivity problems and provide secure, jam-free communication. FSO is license-free and delivers high-speed data rates in the order of Gigabits. Its advantages have fostered significant research efforts aimed at utilizing optical wireless communication, e.g. visible light communication (VLC), for high-speed, secure, indoor communication under the IEEE 802.15.7 standard. However, conventional optical wireless links demand precise optical alignment and suffer from atmospheric turbulence. When compared with RF, they suffer a low degree of reliability and lack robustness. Pointing errors cause optical transceiver misalignment, adversely affecting system reliability. Furthermore, atmospheric turbulence causes irradiance fluctuations and beam broadening of transmitted light. Innovative solutions to overcome limitations on the exploitation of high-speed optical wireless links are greatly needed.Spatial diversity is known to improve RF wireless communication systems. Similar diversity approaches can be adapted for FSO systems to improve its reliability and robustness; however, careful diversity design is needed since FSO apertures typically remain unbalanced as a result of FSO system sensitivity to misalignment. Conventional diversity combining schemes require persistent aperture monitoring and repetitive switching, thus increasing FSO implementation complexities. Furthermore, current RF diversity combining schemes may not be optimized to address the issue of unbalanced FSO receiving apertures.This dissertation investigates two efficient diversity combining schemes for multi-receiving FSO systems: switched diversity combining and generalized selection combining. Both can be exploited to reduce complexity and improve combining efficiency. Unlike maximum ratio combing, equal gain combining, and selective combining, switched diversity simplifies receiver design by avoiding unnecessary switching among receiving apertures. The most significant advantage of generalized combining is its ability to exclude apertures with low quality that could potentially affect the resultant output signal performance.This dissertation also investigates mobile FSO by considering a multi-receiving system in which all receiving FSO apertures are circularly placed on a platform. System mobility and performance are analyzed. Performance results confirm improvements when using angular diversity and generalized selection combining.The précis of this dissertation establishes the foundation of reliable FSO communications using efficient diversity-based solutions. Performance parameters are analyzed mathematically, and then evaluated using computer simulations. A testbed prototype is developed to facilitate the evaluation of optical wireless links via lab experiments

An Examination of Some Legal Problems Relating to International Trade in Agricultural Products: A Critique of the Evolving International Agricultural Trade Regime of Developing Countries under the Auspices of the GATT, by Particular Reference to Uruguay Round Trade Negotiations

This study critically examines the legal aspects of the agricultural trade performance of developing countries in GATT Multilateral Trade Negotiations. Following an introductory Chapter outlining the general background of trade in agricultural products and defining the main elements of the thesis, Chapter Two focuses on an analysis of the substantive agricultural trade provisions within the GATT. It also argues that GATT rules in farm trade are generally weaker than those which apply to other sectors, and thus warrant strengthening. The third Chapter examines the trade achievements of developing countries in seven consecutive multilateral rounds of trade negotiations under the auspices and contractual rights and obligations of the GATT. It considers the reality of many sectors of particular interest to developing countries such as agriculture, textiles, clothing and footwear, which have been subjected to 'exceptional' treatment. The Chapter gives a chronological examination of the evolving agricultural trade regime of developing countries after World War II, up to the Uruguay Round negotiations. Chapter Four embodies the basic argument of the thesis by analysing two different perspectives of developing and industrial countries in the system. It argues that, despite the inclusion of Part IV to the GATT in favour of developing countries and the application of special and preferential treatment, these countries have been the main victims of disarray in the agricultural trading system. Their efforts to increase export earnings in the context of the existing GATT framework are shown to have been hampered or undermined by strong protectionist measures of industrial countries. The strong need for developing countries to receive permanent special and preferential treatment in their exports to industrial countries is outlined as is their demand to be more integrated into the trading system. It argues that the new waves of bilateralism and regionalism by industrial countries, even under the umbrella of Article XXIV, has negated impacts on the principles and practice of multilateralism. An ever-growing number of bilateral trade- arrangements have been agreed outside the framework of GATT, to the detriment of weaker trading partners. Serious trade conflicts and high budgetary costs were experienced by industrial countries in the agricultural sector in the 1980s and that, combined with the growing recognition that farm programmes were not working effectively, convinced governments to establish a fair and market-oriented trading system. The fifth Chapter analyses the status of agricultural trade in the final Uruguay Round negotiations and investigates the conflict that arose as a consequence of the increasing protection afforded to the agricultural sector within nearly all industrial countries. It indicates that in the UR there were signs of change. The developing states tried to use the external trading environment as a vehicle to speed their development. It is why a number of these countries were actively involved in the launch and decision making process of the UR and its outcomes. The final Chapter seeks an optimal trade perspective to benefit all contracting parties by analysing the positive moves toward a global consensus in the entire history of GATT negotiations. The final remarks also identify the conclusions of the thesis. This suggests that it is time that industrial countries recognise the increased participation of their developing partners. Consideration should be given to economic, political and social concerns, such as food security, environmental protection and overall employment, which can build an equitable international trading environment that every country could get its fair share of the market. It also concludes that despite achievements in liberalizing trade in many sectors, the overall international trading environment, and especially the agricultural sector, warrants a substantial improvement redressed in favour of developing countries

Molekularni dokaz infekcija uzrokovanih hemoplazmama u pasa u južnom Iranu i njihovo razlikovanje na osnovi polimorfizma dužine restrikcijskog fragmenta.

Two hemoplasma species are known in dogs: Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc) and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp). The aim of the present study was to develop a novel restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR method based on the 16S rDNA gene, using endonuclease Hind III, for detection and differentiation of canine hemoplasmas. Also, analysis of risk factors, clinical features and hematologic changes of positive cases was performed in dogs living in the Shiraz area of Iran. Blood samples were collected from anemic (packed cell volume (PCV) ≤35; n = 26) and control dogs (PCV >35; n = 27) and were examined for the presence of canine hemoplasmas, using RFLP-PCR and 16S rDNA Sanger sequencing. The presence of Mhc (4 out of 53 cases; 7.5%) and CMhp (3 out of 53 cases; 5.7%) was confirmed by RFLP analysis of the amplified 16S rDNA and sequencing. No association was found between hemoplasma infection and anemia, health status, age, breed, gender, type of housing or the presence of other dogs in this study. Only the platelet number in Mhc infected dogs was statistically higher compared to CMhp positive and hemoplasma negative dogs. The present report documents the occurrence of Mhc and CMhp in southern Iran, and these hemotropic Mycoplasma infections must be expected even in the absence of clinical symptoms or hematologic abnormalities in dogs. For the first time, it has been indicated that RFLP-PCR assay is able to successfully distinguish hemotropic Mycoplasma in dogs.U pasa su poznate dvije vrste hemoplazama: Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhc) i Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum (CMhp). Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio razviti novu metodu za dokaz i razlikovanje pasjih hemoplazama temeljenu na određivanju polimorfizma dužine restrikcijskog fragmenta (PDRF) gena 16S rDNA uporabom endonukleaze Hind III. Analizirani su i rizični čimbenici, kliničke osobitosti i hematološke promjene u inficiranih pasa na području Shiraza u Iranu. Uzorci krvi bili su prikupljeni od anemičnih (hematokrit ≤35; n = 26) i kontrolnih pasa (hematokrit >35; n = 27) te pretraženi na prisutnost pasjih hemoplazama metodom RFLPPCR i Sangerovom metodom sekvenciranja 16S rDNA. Prisutnost Mhc (4 od 53 slučaja; 7,5%) i CMhp (3 od 53 slučaja; 5,7%) bila je potvrđena analizom polimorfizma restrikcijskog fragmenta 16S rDNA i sekvenciranjem. Nije ustanovljena veza između infekcije hemoplazmama i anemije te zdravstvenog stanja, dobi, pasmine, spola, načina držanja i prisutnosti drugih pasa. Jedino je broj trombocita u pasa inficiranih vrstom Mycoplasma haemocanis bio statistički značajno veći od onih inficiranih Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum i pasa negativnih na hemoplazme. Ovo izvješće potkrepljuje prisutnost Mhc i CMhp u južnom Iranu. Infekcije hemotropnim mikoplazmama mogu se očekivati i u pasa bez kliničkih znakova ili hematoloških poremećaja. Prvi put je pokazano da se metodom RFLP-PCR mogu uspješno razlikovati hemotropne mikoplazme u pasa

Control strategy for direct voltage and frequency stabilityenhancement in HVAC/HVDC grids

Direct voltage fluctuations due to the presence of relatively large DC reactors (as an essen-tial part of HVDC breakers), lack of inertia, and unwanted frequency fluctuations in theAC side of HVDC grids, have major consequences on the stability of HVAC/HVDC grids.The use of the DC Power System Stabilizer (DC-PSS) can damp and eliminate voltageoscillations caused by the presence of the DC reactors. However, DC-PSS cannot addressthe issues of inertia and unwanted frequency fluctuations. A method to improve inertiais proposed here that can operate well with the droop controller, and DC-PSS does notinterfere with power-sharing and does not interact with any of these elements. Since thepresence of a droop controller in HVAC/HVDC grids associates with power and directvoltage, the method proposed here can improve direct voltage fluctuations by eliminatingsevere power peaks. Moreover, this method does not change the voltage level of the entiresystem, so there is no need to change the set-points of controllers. In addition, all param-eters of the controllers are tuned by an intelligent algorithm, and the Participation factor(PF) scheme is used to find the proper placement of the proposed controller

The comparison of plasma fibronectin in term and preterm delivery: A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study

Background: Preterm delivery is one of the main causes of infant death. Therefore, prediction of preterm delivery may eliminate a large number of prenatal complications. Objectives: The present study aimed to understand if preterm delivery can be predicted by assessing maternal plasma fibronectin concentration. Materials and Methods: Serum samples from 105 pregnant women participating in this study were collected. The plasma fibronectin were measured at 24-28 wk of gestation and again at 32-36 wk of gestation. Unfortunately, only 65 of the 105 pregnant women, returned for the second sampling. The plasma fibronectin was analyzed using ELISA method and its concentration in term and preterm deliveries was compared. The delivery dates of all the women were also recorded. Results: Out of 105 pregnant women, 28 delivered preterm (26.7%). The Plasma fibronectin concentrations in women with preterm delivery were higher than in those who delivered at term (p = 0.001). Accordingly, Plasma fibronectin concentrations were significantly higher in the second serum samples (p = 0.01). Plasma fibronectin concentrations was also higher in obese women and in those suffering from preeclampsia (p = 0.12) and gestational diabetes (p = 0.81). Conclusion: Plasma fibronectin concentrations test could be used as an optional screening test for preterm delivery at 28 to 34 wk of gestation in pregnant women who prefer to avoid vaginal sampling. Key words: Premature birth, Fibronectin, Maternal serum screening tests