Three Essays on Energy Efficiency Policy

This thesis is comprised of three essays which explore selected aspects of demand side energy efficiency policy of International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC). The first essay models the adoption of IECC in the U.S. between 1998 and 2010. An ordered probit model with IECC adoption as the dependent variable is used to test if a set of socio-economics, political, spatial, and environmental factors predict the residential building energy code adoption. The results show that higher energy price, relative political extraction, climate extremes, pollution level, and population growth predict IECC adoption in the sample. The diffusion variable (share of neighbor states with IECC) is shown to have large impacts on the probability of IECC adoption. The next two essays examine the effect of IECC on residential electricity consumption. The second essay investigates the impact of International Energy Conservation Codes (IECC) on per-capita residential electricity consumption for 44 U.S. states from 1981-2008. Applying the pooled mean group (PMG) model developed by Pesaran et al. (1999), and controlling for energy specific demand factors such as: prices, income, heating degree days, and cooling degree days, I find that there is an overall 2% decrease in new residential buildings per-capita electricity consumption in the states which adopted any version of IECC. The new residential buildings per-capita electricity consumption has decreased by about 2.5% and 5% in the states with IECC 2000 and IECC 2003 respectively. The third essay examines the impact of building energy code on the household electricity consumption in three states in U.S. To do so; I construct a pseudo panel using household level data from the American Community Survey (ACS) over the period 2005-2010. By constructing pseudo panel, we are able to track cohorts of relatively homogeneous individuals over time, and control for cohort unobserved heterogeneity that may bias the results of cross sectional estimates. The empirical analysis employs pseudo panel approach on pre- and post-code change comparisons method. I find that the increased stringency of energy code from IECC 2003 to IECC 2006 is associated with a 19% decrease in new house's electricity consumption

Prevalence of Hepatitis D Virus Infection Among Hepatitis B Virus Infected Patients in Qom Province, Center of Iran

Background: Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is a defective RNA virus that depends on the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) of hepatitis B virus for its replication, developing exclusively in patients with acute or chronic hepatitis B. There are little data regarding the routes of HDV transmission in Iran. The risk factors for HDV infection in Iran are blood transfusion, surgery, family history, Hejamat wet cupping (traditional phlebotomy), tattooing, war injury, dental interventions, and endoscopy.Objectives: We performed this study to determine the prevalence of hepatitis D in the general population of Qom province and the potential risk factors for acquiring HDV.Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study collected 3690 samples from 7 rural clusters and 116 urban clusters. HBs antigen was measured, and if the test was positive, anti-HDV was measured. Ten teams, each consisting of 2 trained members, were assigned to conduct the sampling and administer the questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS.Results: Forty-eight subjects (1.3%) suffered from hepatitis B, and 1 HBsAg-positive case had HDV infection. The prevalence of hepatitis D infection in Qom Province was 0.03%. The prevalence of hepatitis D infection in HBsAg-positive cases was 2%. Our anti-HDV-positive case had a history of tattooing, surgery, and dental surgery. There was no significant relationship between tattooing, surgery history, or dental surgery and hepatitis D infection.Conclusions: The prevalence of hepatitis D in Qom is the the lowest in Iran, similar to a study in Babol (north of Iran)

Risk factors associated with long covid syndrome: A retrospective study

Background: Recently, people have recognized the post-acute phase symptoms of the COVID-19. We investigated the long-term symptoms associated with COVID-19, (Long COVID Syndrome), and the risk factors associated with it. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. All the consecutive adult patients referred to the healthcare facilities anywhere in Fars province from 19 February 2020 until 20 November 2020 were included. All the patients had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. In a phone call to the patients, at least three months after their discharge from the hospital, we obtained their current information. The IBM SPSS Statistics (version 25.0) was used. Pearson Chi square, Fisher’s exact test, t test, and binary logistic regression analysis model were employed. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: In total, 4,681 patients were studied, 2915 of whom (62.3%) reported symptoms. The most common symptoms of long COVID syndrome were fatigue, exercise intolerance, walking intolerance, muscle pain, and shortness of breath. Women were more likely to experience long-term COVID syndrome than men (Odds Ratio: 1,268; 95% Confidence Interval: 1,122-1,432; P=0.0001), which was significant. Presentation with respiratory problems at the onset of illness was also significantly associated with long COVID syndrome (Odds Ratio: 1.425; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.177-1.724; P=0.0001). A shorter length of hospital stay was inversely associated with long COVID syndrome (Odds Ratio: 0.953; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.941-0.965; P=0.0001). Conclusion: Long COVID syndrome is a frequent and disabling condition and has significant associations with sex (female), respiratory symptoms at the onset, and the severity of the illness

مطالعة بینافرهنگی انسجام واژگانی در مقالات سیاسی روزنامه

This study examined the use of lexical cohesion in English political news articles published in local and international English newspapers. To this end, a corpus of 40,000 words (20,000 in each corpus) were randomly collected from political news articles published in international English newspapers (e.g. the Washington Post, the New York Times) and local English newspapers (e.g. Iran Front Page, Tehran Times) from January to December, and were analyzed based on Tanskanen’s classification of lexical cohesion. The findings showed that international English newspapers used statistically more substitution, equivalence, contrast, activity related, and elaborative collocations than local English newspapers. On the other hand, local English newspapers used significantly more simple repetition, complex repetition, generalization, specification, co-specification, and order set collocation when writing political news article. Additionally, there was a significant difference between the two groups in subset of reiteration and collocation.پژوهش حاضر به بررسی استفاده از «انسجام واژگانی» در مقالات سیاسی در روزنامه‌های انگلیسی‌زبان محلی و بین‌المللی می‌پردازد. به همین منظور، پیکره‌ای متشکل از 40،000 کلمه (در هر گروه 20000 کلمه) به طور تصادفی از مقالات اخبار سیاسی منتشر شده به صورت آنلاین در بخش تحریریه روزنامه‌های بین‌المللی انگلیسی (به عنوان مثال: واشنگتن پست، نیویورک تایمز) و روزنامه‌های محلی انگلیسی (به عنوان مثال، روزنامه ایران فرانت پیج و تهران تایمز) در بازة زمانی دی ماه 1397 تا دی ماه 1398 جمع آوری شد، و براساس طبقه‌بندی انسجام واژگانیِ تانسکانن (2006) مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفت. یافته‌ها نشان داد که فراوانی ادوات جایگزین‌سازی، هم‌سنگی، تقابل، فعالیت‌های مرتبط و هم‌نشینی تفصیلی در روزنامه‌های بین‌المللی انگلیسی بطور معنی‌داری بیش از روزنامه‌های محلی انگلیسی می‌باشد. از طرف دیگر، روزنامه‌های محلی انگلیسی هنگام نوشتن مقاله اخبار سیاسی از تکرار ساده‌تر، تکرار پیچیده، تعمیم، مختصه، مختصه مشترک و هم‌نشینی ترتیب مجموعه استفاده می‌کردند. علاوه بر این، بین دو گروه در زیر مجموعه تکرار و هم‌نشینی تفاوت معنی‌داری وجود داشت

Application of isothermal titration calorimetry for characterizing thermodynamic parameters of biomolecular interactions : peptide self-assembly and protein adsorption case studies

The complex nature of macromolecular interactions usually makes it very hard to identify the molecular-level mechanisms that ultimately dictate the result of these interactions. This is especially evident in the case of biological systems, where the complex interaction of molecules in various situations may be responsible for driving biomolecular interactions themselves but also has a broader effect at the cell and/or tissue level. This review will endeavor to further the understanding of biomolecular interactions utilizing the isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) technique for thermodynamic characterization of two extremely important biomaterial systems, viz., peptide self-assembly and nonfouling polymer-modified surfaces. The advantages and shortcomings of this technique will be presented along with a thorough review of the recent application of ITC to these two areas. Furthermore, the controversies associated with the enthalpy-entropy compensation effect as well as thermodynamic equilibrium state for such interactions will be discussed.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

FREE STONE FREQUENCY AFTER PERCUTANEOUS NEPHROSTOLITHOMI WITH FLEXIBLE NEPHROSCOPE

Introduction: The prevalence of urinary stones is 2-3"10.Therefore well treatment of the stones is vwre important PCNL is the new method sor excluding the stones from kidney with minimal pain, convalescence, convalescence, complications and cost. The flexible nephroscope role is evaluated in this study.
 Methods: All 60 patients that PCNL was done on them in Al-Zahra hospital 0 Esfahan From Farvardin to Dei 1378 are evaluated in this study. At firt pyelocalyceal system is checked with rigid nephroscope and stones are excluded. Then pyelocalyceal system is checked with flexible nephroscope and if the residual stone presents, it will be excluded.
 Results: With flexible nephroscope stone excluded from kidney in 45% in PCNL patients. Stone free rate was 75%. The mean of the stone surface was 668±415mm2. The stones were staghorn or multiple in 90% of patients. Complications were 6.7% of case containing: fever and late hematuria. The hospitalization time was 2.7±1 day. Sequence percentage of upper, middle, lower calyces that been seen by rigid nephroscope were in srder: 31.7%, 8.8%, 86.7% and by flexible nephroscope were in order: 95%, 70.2%, 95%.
 Discussion: Flexible nephroscope considerably increases stone free rate in PCNL patients and to see the upper and middle calyces significantly helps the surgen. The use of flexible nephroscope is recommended for all PCNL patients all over the country

Comorbidity of Mitral Valve Stenosis with Influenza in Pregnancy, A Case Report

In this case, a 44-year-old pregnant woman at a gestational age of 28 weeks and 6 days with symptoms of cold, shortness of breath, and cough since a week ago. She had received remdesivir ampoule, Tamiflu tablet, meropenem and linezolid, and dexamethasone. She received oxygen through a 14-liter reservoir bag mask and hydrocortisone, heparin, and ceftriaxone. Nine hours after hospitalization, the patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, resuscitation was performed, and the patient was intubated. Emergency cesarean section was done in the intensive care unit. Finally, the patient suffered a cardiorespiratory arrest, prop was placed for the patient, and evidence of severe Mitral stenosis and right ventricle dilation were observed. The cardiopulmonary resuscitation operation continued for an hour, but unfortunately the patient died. So, it is important to be careful about influenza during pregnancy and in the case of heart failure symptoms, it is necessary to consider the presence of underlying mitral stenosis

Comparison of Complications of Arteriovenous Fistula with Permanent Catheter in Hemodialysis Patients: A Six-month Follow-up.

BACKGROUND Arteriovenous fistula (AVF), permanent catheter (PC), and vascular graft are three vascular access types used for hemodialysis procedure. Due to insufficient reliable information on the comparison between AVF and PC, this study was conducted to compare AVF and PC regarding dialysis adequacy. MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective study was carried out from March, 2013 to September, 2013. In this study, 76 hemodialysis patients were enrolled and assigned to two unequal groups of AVF and PC. Before and after the dialysis session, blood samples were taken for laboratory examinations and measurement of urea reduction ratio (URR) and Kt/V. The patients were followed up for six months, and then laboratory examinations were repeated. RESULTS Of the 76 hemodialysis patients, 30 had AVF and others PC. During the 6-month follow-up, 24 patients in PC group but only one patient in AVF group showed infection (P = 0.006), while in each group, three cases of thrombosis were seen (P = 0.58); however, catheter dysfunction was seen in 13 patients of PC group but no patients of AVF group (P = 0.004). There was no difference between the two groups in Kt/V and URR at the beginning of the study; however, after six months, Kt/V and URR were greater in AVF group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In addition to some advantages of AVF over PC, such as lower rate of infection and thrombosis, we also found better dialysis adequacy in AVF group. We recommend that AVF be created in all of patients with chronic kidney disease who are candidates for hemodialysis

Right upper quadrant abdominal pain due to malposition of the tip of the distal catheter of ventriculoperitoneal shunt

There are few reports about abdominal pain due to shunt malposition which have been located in right lower quadrant. In this case, we reported a 17-years old boy with history of medulloblastoma surgery and shunt insertion who had severe abdominal pain especially in right upper quadrant without any history of fever, nausea and vomiting and any symptoms of ICP rising. Physical examination revealed a moderate tenderness on the right upper quadrant, but rebound tenderness was absent. Laboratory data including CSF analysis were normal. Plain abdominal films showed the tip of the catheter in the right upper quadrant. Abdominal ultrasound showed a very mild collection at entrance site of shunt in peritoneal cavity. After exploration, there was not any surgical finding. The only thing that could explain the abdominal pain, was location of the tip of distal catheter toward the liver around the falciform ligament. The distal catheter was exited and repositioning performed. After surgery, the abdominal pain of the patients was relieved dramatically. After one year follow up, the patient has not any problem with his shunt. Keywords: Shunt malposition, Abdominal Pain, Ventriculoperitoneal shun

Synthesis and Characterization of Biodegradable HemostatGelatin Sponge forSurgery Application: Biodegradable hemostat gelatin sponge

Production and characterization of soft cross-linked gelatin sponge by using glutaraldehyde for blood hemostasis application, is the goal of this study.Biodegradable hydrogels were prepared through crosslinking of gelatin with glutaraldehyde followed by freeze drying. The effects of gelatin concentration, amount of crosslink agent and freeze drying temperature on mechanical properties andelasticity, stability and degradation rate, swelling and water absorption ability,hemostatic effect and cytotoxicity were investigated. As the freezing temperature was lowered, the density of freeze-dried sponges increased. Density of samples is strongly dependent on the freezing temperature before freeze-drying. The addition of GTAas cross linker agent changed density very slightly, but no direct relationship between the amount of cross linker and the density was observed. Gelatin sponges prepared by freeze-drying after freezing at -10 and -25 ºC had large pores. Network structure of heterogeneous pores. The rate of weight loss decreased with increasing degree of crosslinking of the samples, and the higher degree of cross-linking in gelatin sponges causes more resistance to degradation in PBS solution. Gelatin concentration increase had very sharp effect on raising the compression module, and freezing temperature changed inner structure of sponges and can affect mechanical behavior