Frequency and voltage partitioning in presence of renewable energy resources for power system (example: North Chile power network)

This paper investigates techniques for frequency and voltage partitioning of power network based on the graph-theory. These methods divide the power system into distinguished regions to avoid the spread of disturbances and to minimize the interaction between these regions for frequency and voltage control of power system. In case of required active and reactive power for improving the performance of the power system, control can be performed regionally instead of a centralized controller. In this paper, renewable energy sources are connected to the power network to verify the effect of these sources on the power systems partitioning and performance. The number of regions is found based on the frequency sensitivity for frequency partitioning and bus voltage for voltage partitioning to disturbances being applied to loads in each region. The methodology is applied to the north part of Chile power network. The results show the performance and ability of graph frequency and voltage partitioning algorithm to divide large scale power systems to smaller regions for applying decentralized controllers.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Investigation of NQO1 genetic polymorphism, NQO1 gene expression and PAH-DNA adducts in ESCC. A case-control study from Iran

We evaluated the effect of NQO1 genetic variation on PAH-DNA adducts in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in northeast Iran. Golestan Province in northeast of Iran has one of the highest esophageal cancer incidences in the world. The study included 93 ESCC cases and 50 control individuals who were seen at the clinical cancer center in Golestan province. NQO1 C609T genotypes were determined by PCR-RFLP analysis. NQO1 gene expression in tissue samples was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Immunohistochemical techniques were used to detect PAH-DNA adducts in ESCC and normal esophageal tissues. The distributions of NQO1 genetic polymorphism between cases and the control group were not significantly different. NQO1 gene expression was not higher in tumor tissues than in normal esophageal tissues adjacent to the ESCC; expression was higher in tumor tissues that had the NQO1 T allele. NQO1 gene expression was high in normal esophageal tissues. The level of PAH-DNA adducts was significantly higher in ESCC tissues of cases than in normal tissues adjacent to tumor tissues and in normal esophageal tissues of healthy controls. There were no significant differences between the adduct levels of normal esophageal tissues of patients and controls. There was also no significant relationship between cigarette smoking and PAH-DNA adducts. We concluded that PAHs are a risk factor for ESCC and that PAH-DNA adducts have potential as a biomarker for risk of ESCC

Schottkyjeve diode proizvedene na elektro-kemijski raslim nano- i mikro-stapićima

Aligned ZnO nanorods grown on polycrystalline substrates have promising optoelectronic applications. Novel samples with such structures were electrodeposited on stainless foil from a ZnCl2 route. Well-aligned and free-standing hexagonal nanorods with 100 nm diameter and closely-packed microrods with a diameter above 1 µm could be grown normal to the substrate. The optical transition energies (absorption and emission) of samples were determined by transmittance and photoluminescence spectroscopy. We report on the fabrication of high-quality AgSchottky diodes formed on the oxygen-treated (002) facets of microrods. Diodes with a large barrier height (1.1 eV), low saturation current density (1.3 pA/cm2 ) and high rectification factor (5 × 106 at ±3 V) were fabricated. The concentration and mobility of free electrons in oxygen-treated microrods were measured as 1.4 × 1014 cm−3 and 1.2 cm2V−1 s −1 , respectively.Poredani nanoštapići ZnO, narasli na polikristalnoj podlozi, mogli bi naći primjene u optoelektroničkim napravama. Pripremili smo nove uzorke takvih naprava elektro-taloženjem na listiće nerđajućeg čelika primjenom ZnCl2. Postigli smo dobro odvojene i poredane heksagonalne nano-štapiće promjera 100 nm i gusto poredane mikro-štapiće promjera većeg od 1 µm, narasle okomito na podlogu. Primjenom propusne i fotoluminescentne spektroskopije odredili smo (apsorpcijske i emisijske) prijelazne energije uzoraka. Izvješćujemo o izradi visoko-kvalitetnih Ag-Schottky dioda izvedenih na (002) plohama mikro-štapića nakon obrade kisikom. Načinili smo diode s visokim protunaponom (1.1 eV), malom gustoćom struje zasićenja (1.3 pA/cm2 ) i velikim faktorom ispravljanja (5 × 106 na ±3 V). Odredili smo koncentraciju i pokretljivost slobodnih elektrona u kisikom-obrađenim mikro-štapićima od 1.4 × 1014 cm−3 odnosno 1.2 cm2V−1 s −1

Schottkyjeve diode proizvedene na elektro-kemijski raslim nano- i mikro-stapićima

Aligned ZnO nanorods grown on polycrystalline substrates have promising optoelectronic applications. Novel samples with such structures were electrodeposited on stainless foil from a ZnCl2 route. Well-aligned and free-standing hexagonal nanorods with 100 nm diameter and closely-packed microrods with a diameter above 1 µm could be grown normal to the substrate. The optical transition energies (absorption and emission) of samples were determined by transmittance and photoluminescence spectroscopy. We report on the fabrication of high-quality AgSchottky diodes formed on the oxygen-treated (002) facets of microrods. Diodes with a large barrier height (1.1 eV), low saturation current density (1.3 pA/cm2 ) and high rectification factor (5 × 106 at ±3 V) were fabricated. The concentration and mobility of free electrons in oxygen-treated microrods were measured as 1.4 × 1014 cm−3 and 1.2 cm2V−1 s −1 , respectively.Poredani nanoštapići ZnO, narasli na polikristalnoj podlozi, mogli bi naći primjene u optoelektroničkim napravama. Pripremili smo nove uzorke takvih naprava elektro-taloženjem na listiće nerđajućeg čelika primjenom ZnCl2. Postigli smo dobro odvojene i poredane heksagonalne nano-štapiće promjera 100 nm i gusto poredane mikro-štapiće promjera većeg od 1 µm, narasle okomito na podlogu. Primjenom propusne i fotoluminescentne spektroskopije odredili smo (apsorpcijske i emisijske) prijelazne energije uzoraka. Izvješćujemo o izradi visoko-kvalitetnih Ag-Schottky dioda izvedenih na (002) plohama mikro-štapića nakon obrade kisikom. Načinili smo diode s visokim protunaponom (1.1 eV), malom gustoćom struje zasićenja (1.3 pA/cm2 ) i velikim faktorom ispravljanja (5 × 106 na ±3 V). Odredili smo koncentraciju i pokretljivost slobodnih elektrona u kisikom-obrađenim mikro-štapićima od 1.4 × 1014 cm−3 odnosno 1.2 cm2V−1 s −1

Impact of Performing Health Promotion Model Intervention on Physical Activity of Health Volunteer of Torbat-e-Jam City, Iran

Abstract Aims: Regular physical activity can reduce the burden of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers, and can prevent early death. This study examined the impact of performing health promotion model intervention on physical activity of the health volunteers. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional research is part of a three-month Intervening study started in 2015 on 80 health volunteers in Torbat-e Jaam City, Iran, which was selected by multistage random sampling method and participants were divided into two interventional and control groups. A Demographic Questionnaire and The Persian version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire were used to collect data. The data was analyzed in SPSS 16 using independent T, Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression tests. Findings: Before the intervention the mean of perceived benefit score was 31.3±4.5 that was evaluated as “good” but self-efficacy and behavior scores were 5.8±4.1 and 912.4±750.8 that were assessed as “poor”. Physical activity had positive correlation with perceived benefits, self-efficacy, commitment, positive, emotion and situational influences and a negative correlation with perceived barriers. Overall 66.8 of the physical activity was predicted by Pender’s Health Promotion Model variables. There was a significant difference between the mean scores of physical activity and other structures of HPM in the experimental group after the intervention and its score before intervention. Conclusion: Educational program based on Pender's health promotion model is effective in improving physical activity of health volunteers

An investigation on alfalfa aphids and their parasitoids in different parts of Iran, with a key to the parasitoids (Hemiptera: Aphididae; Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

In the current study some information is presented about the distribution and associations between alfalfa aphids and their parasitoids in different regions in 11 provinces of Iran, as well as an identification key to the parasitoids. The main aphids were Therioaphis trifolii maculata (Buckton) and Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) followed by Aphis craccivora Koch and Acyrthosiphon kondoi Shinji. The distribution pattern of these aphids showed a discrepancy in different regions. Therioaphis trifolii maculata was almost distributed in all studied areas, but A. craccivora mostly distributed in lower regions including the deserts of the east and central parts of Iran. Acyrthosiphon pisum and A. kondoi were mainly occurred in higher altitude regions.Trioxys complanatus Quilis and Praon exsoletum (Nees) were found to be specific parasitoids of T. trifolii maculata, and collected, with a few exceptions, in all studied regions. The species of Acyrthosiphon were mainly attacked by Aphidius ervi Haliday followed by A. smithi Sharma & Subba Rao and A. eadyi Starý, Gonzalez & Hall. Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) was the common parasitoid of A. craccivora, but Ephedrus persicae Froggatt locally found to show host specificity on this aphid. Praon volucre (Haliday) was occasionally found to attack A. pisum and A. craccivora, but the other parasitoids including Aphidius colemani Viereck, Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay & Eady and Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) were only reared from A. craccivora. Considering the occurrence of alfalfa aphids together with their parasitoids in almost all studied areas, it seems that more attention should be paid to the parasitoids of alfalfa aphids, especially the specific ones, along with other control methods in an integrated pest management programme

Combination of gastric atrophy, reflux symptoms and histological subtype indicates two distinct aetiologies of gatric cardia cancer.

<b>INTRODUCTION</b> Atrophic gastritis is a risk factor for non-cardia gastric cancer, and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) for oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The role of atrophic gastritis and GORD in the aetiology of adenocarcinoma of the cardia remains unclear. We have investigated the association between adenocarcinoma of the different regions of the upper gastrointestinal tract and atrophic gastritis and GORD symptoms. <b>METHODS</b> 138 patients with upper GI adenocarcinoma and age and sex matched controls were studied. Serum pepsinogen I/II was used as a marker of atrophic gastritis and categorised to five quintiles. History of GORD symptoms, smoking and H.pylori infection was incorporated in logistic regression analysis. Lauren classification of gastric cancer was used to subtype gastric and oesophageal adenocarcinoma. <b>RESULTS</b> Non-cardia cancer was associated with atrophic gastritis but not with GORD symptoms; 55% of these cancers were intestinal subtype. Oesophageal adenocarcinoma was associated with GORD symptoms, but not with atrophic gastritis; 84% were intestinal subtype. Cardia cancer was positively associated with both severe gastric atrophy [OR, 95% CI: 3.92 (1.77 – 8.67)] and with frequent GORD symptoms [OR, 95% CI: 10.08 (2.29 – 44.36)] though the latter was only apparent in the nonatrophic subgroup and in the intestinal subtype. The association of cardia cancer with atrophy was stronger for the diffuse versus intestinal subtype and this was the converse of the association observed with non-cardia cancer. <b>CONCLUSION</b> These findings indicate two distinct aetiologies of cardia cancer, one arising from severe atrophic gastritis and being of intestinal or diffuse subtype similar to non-cardia cancer, and one related to GORD and intestinal in subtype, similar to oesophageal adenocarcinoma. Gastric atrophy, GORD symptoms and histological subtype may distinguish between gastric versus oesophageal origin of cardia cancer

Assessing the Physical Activity of Health Volunteers Based on the Pender's Health Promotion Model

Abstract Aims: Physical inactivity has been identified as the 4th leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated of 3.2million deaths per year. This study aimed to assess the physical activity of health volunteers with Pender's Health Promotion Model. Instrument & Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on 80 health volunteers in Torbat-e-Jam City, Iran, in 2015. A researcher-made questionnaire with the following sections was used to gather data; perceived benefits, perceived barriers, self-efficacy, interpersonal influences, positive emotion, commitment, modeling and competing preferences. SPSS 16 sofware was used to analyze data by independent T, Pearson's correlation coefficient and linear regression tests. Findings: There was no significant difference between the scores according to educational levels, age groups, BMI score, marital status, habitat and experience as a health volunteer duration. Physical activity had positive correlation with perceived benefits, self-efficacy, commitment, positive emotion and situational influences and a negative correlation with perceived barriers. Situational influences, as the strongest predictor of the physical activity, predicted 35.1 of it and then positive emotions predicted 34.7 and self-efficacy predicted 23.4 of physical activity. Conclusion: The level of physical activity in health volunteers of Torbat-e-Jam City, Iran, is not appropriate and is less than moderate

Co-infection of Malaria and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Southeast of Iran is an endemic area for Malaria and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF). In 1999, we faced with an outbreak of CCHF in Sistan and Baluchistan Province, in the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The most cases of Malaria in Iran are also reported from this area. This article presents a 17-year- old woman who admitted to our hospital because of acute fever, headache, epistaxis, hemorrhagic lesions on the skin and vaginal bleeding. Finally, she was recognized as a case that was co –infected with CCHF and malaria

Effects of opium dependency on hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of opium on hypothalamic pituitary gonad function. Fifty-six opium dependent (28 men and 28 women; mean age, 25±5 year) were enrolled for hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. The control group considered of 56 non-opium dependent subject (28 men and 28 women; mean age 25±5 year). Decreased libido or impotency was present in 26 of 28 opium dependent men. The serum testosterone level was below 9 nmol L-1 in 24 of 28 men and was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.001). The free androgen index was below normal in 16 of 28 men and was significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.001). The serum LH level was less than 2 U L-1 in 17 of 28 men significantly lower than that in the control group (p<0.001). Serum FSH was normal in both groups. Decreased libido was present in 16 of 28 women opium dependent. Serum LH, estradiol and progesterone levels were lower in opium group. In conclusion, of all opium addicts the large majority of men and all of women developed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The results reveal that opium can extract deleterious actions upon male and female hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis and these findings suggested that further investigations are required to determine the need for endocrine work-up in opium dependent and the important substitutive therapy