Multiagent System Architecture for Short-term Operation of Integrated Microgrids

The forthcoming smart grids are comprised of integrated microgrids operating in grid-connected and isolated mode with local generation, storage and demand response (DR) programs. The proposed model is based on three successive complementary steps for power transaction in the market environment. The first step is characterized as a microgrid’s internal market; the second concerns negotiations between distinct interconnected microgrids; and finally, the third refers to the actual electricity market. The proposed approach is modeled and tested using a MAS framework directed to the study of the smart grids environment, including the simulation of electricity markets. This is achieved through the integration of the proposed approach with the MASGriP (Multi-Agent Smart Grid Platform) system

Nintinol Self-Expandable Metallic Stenting in Management of Malignant Obstructive Jaundice: A Case Series

Background and Aims: Palliation therapy is the only available therapeutic method for most patients with tumor-induced obstructive jaundice. Metallic stents are now performed percutaneously as an alternative route to the endoscopic approach. It is widely accepted because of its safety, good patency rate, and minimal invasiveness. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term results of metallic self-expandable stent insertion in patients with malignant stenosis of the biliary tree. Methods: It is a longitudinal study of patients with percutaneously biliary stenting from September 2005 to March 2009. The patients had unresectable malignant biliary obstruction with unsuccessful endoscopic stenting and access. Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram performed after adequate local anesthesia, under sonographic or fluoroscopic guidance. Stenting or balloon dilation was performed through the hydrophilic guide wire. Among 50 patients, 45 stents were placed in biliary tree stenosis sites. Patients' follow-up was during the first, second, third, and then the sixth month after insertion of biliary stents. Stent patency was considered successful in our patients, when there were no lab results or sonographic appearance of biliary tree obstruction. Results: 10(20) patients' stent placement treatment failed because of unsuccessful technical procedure. The stenosis of biliary tract was complete and passage of guide wire was not possible through the tumor growth. 6 (15 ) patients with successful stent placements died within one month (mean, 22 days). Total serum bilirubin resolved to below 1.5 mg/dl within 30 days for 36 (90) patients with successful stent placements. Early complications not leading to death occurred in 28 of cases. The mean survival time for all patients who underwent stent placement was 140 days (16-420days). The mean patency rate for all stents was 147 days. Conclusions: Percutaneous biliary stenting is a safe procedure with few technical complications and a high success rate of palliation for patients with malignant biliary jaundice. Early complications are mostly managed conservatively and death is mainly due to systemic effects of the malignant disease

EVALUATION OF HYPOGLYCEMIC AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF INTERNAL SEPTUM OF WALNUT FRUIT IN ALLOXAN-INDUCED DIABETIC RATS

Background: Todays, the popularity of herbal medicine is increasing worldwide. Due to importance the evaluation of medicinal herbs efficacy and safety, the present study was conducted to investigate the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of internal septum of walnut fruit (ISWF) ethanolic extract in diabetic rats. Materials and methods: Alloxan diabetic rats treated orally with ethanolic extract of ISWF (0-400mg/kg) for 28 days. To evaluate its anti-diabetic activity, the animals fasting blood glucose were determined on the first, 14th and 29th days. Moreover, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in diabetic rats at the last day of the study. After 24h of last administration, the blood samples were collected, and the Plasma lipids and liver enzymes levels were measured in fasting overnight rats. Results: The extract significantly decreased blood glucose (

Geochemical and Hydrothermal Alteration Patterns of the Abrisham-Rud Porphyry Copper District, Semnan Province, Iran

In this study, the zonality method has been used to separate geochemical anomalies and to calculate erosional levels in the regional scale for porphyry-Cu deposit, Abrisham-Rud (Semnan province, East of Iran). In geochemical maps of multiplicative haloes, the co-existence of both the supra-ore elements and sub-ore elements local maxima implied blind mineralization in the northwest of the study area. Moreover, considering the calculated zonality indices and two previously presented geochemical models, E and NW of the study have been introduced as ZDM and BM, respectively. For comparison, the geological layer has been created by combining rock units, faults, and alterations utilizing the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) algorithm. The rock units and faults have been identified from the geological map; moreover, alterations have been detected by using remote sensing and ASTER images. In the geological layer map related to E of the study area, many parts have been detected as high potential areas; in addition, both geochemical and geological layer maps only confirmed each other at the south of this area and suggested this part as high potential mineralization. Therefore, high potential areas in the geological layer map could be related to the mineralization or not. Due to the incapability of the geological layer in identifying erosional levels, mineralogy investigation could be used to recognize this level; however, because of the high cost, mineralogy is not recommended for application on a regional scale. The findings demonstrated that the zonality method has successfully distinguished geochemical anomalies including BM and ZDM without dependent on alteration and was able to predict erosional levels. Therefore, this method is more powerful than the geological layer

A novel deletion mutation in ASPM gene in an Iranian family with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly

How to Cite This Article: Akbarizar E, Ebrahimpour M, Akbari S, Arzhanghi S, Abedini SS, Najmabadi H, Kahrizi K. A Novel Deletion Mutation in ASPM Gene in an Iranian Family with Autosomal Recessive Primary Microcephaly. Iran J Child Neurol.  2013 Spring;7(2):23-30. ObjectiveAutosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a neurodevelopmental and genetically heterogeneous disorder with decreased head circumference due to the abnormality in fetal brain growth. To date, nine loci and nine genes responsible for the situation have been identified. Mutations in the ASPM gene (MCPH5) is the most common cause of MCPH. The ASPM gene with 28 exons is essential for normal mitotic spindle function in embryonic neuroblasts.Materials & MethodsWe have ascertained twenty-two consanguineous families withintellectual disability and different ethnic backgrounds from Iran. Ten out of twenty-two families showed primary microcephaly in clinical examination. We investigated MCPH5 locus using homozygosity mapping by microsatellite marker. ResultSequence analysis of exon 8 revealed a deletion of nucleotide (T) in donor site of splicing site of ASPM in one family. The remaining nine families were not linked to any of the known loci. More investigation will be needed to detect the causative defect in these families.ConlusionWe detected a novel mutation in the donor splicing site of exon 8 of the ASPM gene. This deletion mutation can alter the ASPM transcript leading to functional impairment of the gene product. References1. Pattison L, Crow YJ, Deeble VJ, Jackson AP, Jafri H, Rashid Y, et al. A Fifth Locus for Primary Autosomal Recessive Microcephaly Maps to Chromosome 1q31. Am J Hum Genet 2000;67(6):1578-80.2. Darvish H, Esmaeeli-Nieh S, Monajemi G, Mohseni M, Ghasemi-Firouzabadi S, Abedini S, et al. A clinical and molecular genetic study of 112 Iranian families with primary microcephaly. Journal of Medical Genetics 2010;47(12):823-8.3. Tolmie JL, M M, JB S, D D, JM C. Microcephaly: genetic counselling and antenatal diagnosis after the birth of an affected child. Am JMed Genet 1987;27583-94.4. Cowie V. The genetics and sub-classification of microcephaly. J Ment Defic Res 1960;4:42-7. 5. Woods C. Human microcephaly. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2004;14(1):112-7.6. Kaindl AM PS, Kumar P, Kraemer N, Issa L, Zwirner A, Gerard B, Verloes A MS,et al.Many roads lead to primary autosomal recessive microcephaly. Prog Neurobiol 2010;90:363-83.7. Kumar A BS, Babu M, Markandaya M, Girimaji SC. Genetic analysis of primary microcephaly in Indian families: novel ASPM mutations. Clin Genet 2004;66:341-8.8. Jackson AP, Eastwood H, Bell SM, Adu J, Toomes C, Carr IM, et al. Identification of microcephalin, a protein implicated in determining the size of the human brain. The American Journal of Human Genetics 2002;71(1):136-42.9. Roberts E, Jackson AP, Carradice AC, Deeble VJ, Mannan J, Rashid Y, et al. The second locus for autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH2) maps to chromosome 19q13. 1-13.2. European journal of human genetics: EJHG  1999;7(7):815.10. Kousar R, Hassan MJ, Khan B, Basit S, Mahmood S, Mir A, et al. Mutations in WDR62 gene in Pakistani families with autosomal recessive primary microcephaly. BMC neurology 2011;11(1):119.11. Evans PD, Vallender EJ, Lahn BT. Molecular evolutionof the brain size regulator genes<i> CDK5RAP2</i>and<i> CENPJ</i>. Gene 2006;375:75-9.12. Nagase T, Nakayama M, Nakajima D, Kikuno R, Ohara O. Prediction of the coding sequences of unidentified human genes. XX. The complete sequences of 100 new cDNA clones from brain which code for large proteins in vitro. DNA research 2001;8(2):85-95. 13. Jamieson CR GC, Abramowicz MJ. Primary autosomal recessive microcephaly: homozygosity mapping of MCPH4 to chromosome 15. Am J Hum Genet 1999;65:1465-9.14. Genin A, Desir J, Lambert N, Biervliet M, Van Der Aa N, Pierquin G, et al. Kinetochore KMN network gene CASC5 mutated in Primary Microcephaly. Human molecular genetics 2012.15. Bond J, Roberts E, Mochida GH, Hampshire DJ, Scott S, Askham JM, et al. ASPM is a major determinant of cerebral cortical size. Nature genetics 2002;32(2):316-20.16. Fish JL, Kosodo Y, Enard W, Pääbo S, Huttner WB. Aspm specifically maintains symmetric proliferative divisions of neuroepithelial cells. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2006;103(27):10438-43.17. Leal G, Roberts E, Silva E, Costa S, Hampshire D, Woods C. A novel locus for autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH6) maps to 13q12.2. Journal of Medical Genetics 2003;40(7):540-2.18. Kumar A. Mutations in STIL, encoding a pericentriolar and centrosomal protein, cause primary microcephaly. The American Journal of Human Genetics 2009;84(2):286-90.19. Hussain MS, Baig SM, Neumann S, Nurnberg G, Farooq M, Ahmad I, et al. Atruncating mutation on CEP135 causes primary microcephaly and disturbed centrosomal function.AMJ,HumGenet 2012;90:871-8.20. Guernsey DL, Jiang H, Hussin J, Arnold M, Bouyakdan K, Perry S, et al. Mutations in centrosomal protein CEP152 in primary microcephaly families linked to MCPH4. The American Journal of Human Genetics 2010;87(1):40-51.21. Gul A, Hassan MJ, Mahmood S, Chen W, Rahmani S, Naseer MI, et al. Genetic studies of autosomal recessive primary microcephaly in 33 Pakistani families: novel sequence variants in ASPM gene. Neurogenetics 2006;7(2):105-10.22. Roberts E, Hampshire D, Springell K, Pattison L, Y C, Jafri H, et al. Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly: an analysis of locus heterogeneity and phenotypic variation. J Med Genet 2002;39:718–721.23. Woods CG BJ, Enard W. Autosomal recessive primary microcephaly (MCPH): a review of clinical, molecular, and evolutionary findings. Am J Hum Genet 2005 May;76(5):717-28.24. Kouprina N, Pavlicek A, Collins NK, Nakano M, Noskov VN, Ohzeki JI, et al. The microcephaly ASPM gene is expressed in proliferating tissues and encodes for a mitotic spindle protein. Human Molecular Genetics 2005;14(15):2155-65.25. Bond J, Scott S, Hampshire DJ, Springell K, Corry P, Abramowicz MJ, et al. Protein-Truncating Mutations in< i> ASPM</i> Cause Variable Reduction in Brain Size. The American Journal of Human Genetics 2003;73(5):1170-7.26. Pichon B, Vankerckhove S, Bourrouillou G, Duprez L, Abramowicz MJ. A translocation breakpoint disrupts the ASPM gene in a patient with primary microcephaly. European journal of Human Genetics 2004;12(5):419-21.27. Garshasbi.M, Motazacker M, Kahrizi K, Behjati F, Abedini S, Nieh S, et al. SNP array-based homozygosity mapping reveals MCPH1 deletion in family with autosomal recessive mental retardation and mild microcephaly. Hum Genet 2006 Feb;118(6):708-15.28. Jackson A, McHale D, Campbell D, Jafri H, Rashid Y, Mannan J, et al. Primary autosomal recessive microcephaly (MCPH1) maps to chromosome 8p22-pter. Am J Hum Genet 1998 Aug;63(2):541-6.29. Moynihan L, Jackson A, Roberts E, Karbani G, Lewis I, Corry P, et al. A third novel locus for primary autosomal recessive microcephaly maps to chromosome 9q34. Am J Hum Genet 2000 Feb;66(2):724-7.30. Bond J, Roberts E, Springell K, Lizarraga S, Scott S, Higgins J, et al. A centrosomalmechanism involving CDK5RAP2 and CENPJ controls brain size. Nat Genet.2005 Apr;37(4):353-5. Nat Genet 2005 Apr;37(4):353-5.31. Jamieson C, Govaerts C, Abramowicz M, J. Primary autosomal recessive microcephaly: homozygosity mapping of MCPH4 to chromosome 15. Am J Hum Genet. 1999;65:1465-9

Zinc application mitigates copper toxicity by regulating cu uptake, activity of antioxidant enzymes, and improving physiological characteristics in summer squash

Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential micronutrients for the plant’s growth, development, and metabolism, but in high concentrations, the elements disrupt normal metabolic processes. The present study investigated the effects of different concentrations (added to a Hogland-based solution) of zinc (control, 5, 10 mg L−1 ZnSO4) and copper (control, 0.1, 0.2 mg L−1 CuSO4) on the growth characteristics and biochemical indices of summer squash (Cucurbita pepo L.). Compared with control, a single application of Cu or Zn at both concentrations significantly declined fruit yield, growth traits, pigments content, and high content of these minerals and values of stress-related indices. Increased Cu concentration in the nutritional solutions reduced the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX). Copper at high concentrations intensified ROS production, aggravated oxidative stresses, and decreased the plant yield and productivity. Nonetheless, combining Cu and Zn could alleviate stress intensity by boosting antioxidant enzymes, redox regulation, and a resultant diminishment in the content of H2O2, proline, malondialdehyde, and minerals. The obtained results corroborate that the co-application of zinc in Cu-contaminated areas can improve the plant’s economic yield and physiological parameters by hindering copper toxicity and enhancing the photosynthetic capacity.GAIN (AxenciaGalega de Innovación) | Ref. IN607A2019/0

Effect of Integrated Teaching on Students' Learning

Background: Currently medical education in Iran consists of basic sciences, physiopathology and clinical stages. Medical students learn them separately and often are confused that how basic sciences materials would be helpful for the patient’s diagnosis and treatment. Integration of various related subjects during medical education is one the proposed strategy to overcome this problem. Objectives: The present study was conducted to assess the effect of an integrated teaching approach on medical students’ attitudes and knowledge about infection diseases. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in the infectious disease ward of Valiae-asr Hospital affiliated to Birjand University of Medical of Sciences, Birjand, Iran. A total of 60 medical students (stagers) were randomly selected and assigned to the control and intervention groups. The two groups were matched based on their grade point average (GPA), age, and gender. An integrated teaching approach was adopted in the intervention group by four epidemiology, microbiology, infectious diseases, and pharmacology professors. The students’ knowledge was assessed by a written exam, and their attitude was evaluated using a questionnaire. Data was analyzed by SPSS version 16 and using paired and independent samples t-test. Results: The analyses showed that 52% of the participants were male. The mean scores in the cognitive and emotional domains were not correlated with students’ gender, and they were not significantly different before (p= 0.12) and after (p= 0.25) the intervention. The students’ final learning scores were significantly higher in the intervention group than that of the control group (16.16±1.17 vs 14.12±1.73; p=0.001). Conclusion: The integration of basic and clinical subjects helps students to better understand the physiopathology of diseases and enhances their satisfaction. Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Integrated Teaching, Learning, Medical Student

A Comparative Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Findings of COVID-19 between Intensive Care Unit and Non-Intensive Care Unit Pediatric Patients: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study from Iranian Network for Research in Viral

Introduction: To date, little is known about the clinical features of pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). Objective: Herein, we aimed to describe the differences in demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, clinical presentations, and outcomes of Iranian pediatric COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU versus those in non-ICU settings. Methods: This multicenter investigation involved 15 general and pediatrics hospitals and included cases with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection based on positive real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) admitted to these centers between March and May 2020, during the initial peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. Results: Overall, 166 patients were included, 61 (36.7%) of whom required ICU admission. The highest number of admitted cases to ICU were in the age group of 1–5 years old. Malignancy and heart diseases were the most frequent underlying conditions. Dyspnea was the major symptom for ICU-admitted patients. There were significant decreases in PH, HCO3 and base excess, as well as increases in creatinine, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and potassium levels between ICU-admitted and non-ICU patients. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, and acute cardiac injury were the most common features among ICU-admitted patients. The mortality rate in the ICU-admitted patients was substantially higher than non-ICU cases (45.9% vs. 1.9%, respectively; p<0.001). Conclusions: Underlying diseases were the major risk factors for the increased ICU admissions and mortality rates in pediatric COVID-19 patients. There were few paraclinical parameters that could differentiate between pediatrics in terms of prognosis and serious outcomes of COVID-19. Healthcare providers should consider children as a high-risk group, especially those with underlying medical conditions