The altered expression of long non-coding RNAs: GHET1, BACE1-AS, PANDA, UCA1 associated with non-small cell lung cancer

Objective: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are characterized as non-coding transcripts greater than 200 nucleotides. lncRNAs have extensive molecular connections with proteins and microRNAs, which are important in the regulation of gene expression in physiologic and pathologic states including cancer. About 18% of human LncRNAs were recently found to be associated with tumours. Many studies indicated that aberrant expression of LncRNAs play key roles in the progression and metastasis of NSCLC. In this study we evaluated the expression of long non-coding RNAs: GHET1, BACE1-AS, PANDA, UCA1 in non-small cell lung cancer. Material & Methods: In this study, RNA was extracted from tumor tissues of NSCLC and paired adjacent normal lung tissues. After cDNA synthesis, the relative expression level of lncRNA GHET1, BACE1-AS, PANDA, and UCA1 genes was studied by TaqMan Real-Time PCR, and the data were analyzed by 2-∆∆CT. The t-test was used to compare the values and P-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The data of qRT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of GHET1 gene in patients with NSCLC is increased (P= 0.0032) and BACE1-AS showed down-regulation (P= 0.0093). There was no significant change in the expression of PANDA and UCA1 genes. Conclusion: Our study sheds lights on the expression signature of several crucial lncRNAs in human lung cancer. This data not only could be further be utilized for different therapeutic approaches but also reveal the changes in biological processes of human lung tumors. &nbsp

Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of the Scientific Production of Kerman University of Medical Sciences Academic Members in Scopus Database

Background: The rapid growth of scientific production and the number of researchers has made decision makers think about scientific approaches for evaluation of the researchers’ performance. Scientometric indicators have been introduced to analyze science by quantitative methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the scientific production of academic members at Kerman University of Medical Sciences (KMU) based on Scientometric indicators. Methods: This was a analytical survey research. The study population was scientific productions of all academic members of KMU until 22nd of August, 2014. Direct search of Scopus Database and checklist were used for data collection. Results: The highest mean (median) of published articles belonged to the Pharmacy School, while the lowest belonged to the Nursing and Midwifery School [17.66(20.50) and 3.08 (0) respectively, (P<0.0001)]. The highest H-Index was 17 and approximately half of the academic members had zero H-indices. A strong positive and significant correlation was found between academic members’ work experience and H-index (r=0.8, P<0.0001).There was also a positive and significant relationship between H-index and academic rank (P<0.0001). Conclusion: The results shows that scientific production of KMU academic members is not significantly different from that of other medical universities of Iran, but it is still far away from global standards. Therefore, policy makers should provide the scientific development requirements through wise planning

Acute toxicity of Euphorbia turcomanica on Aphanius dispar

Piscicidal and molluscicidal activities of aqueous extracts of many members of the family Euphorbiaceae are well-known, but the toxicity potential of Euphorbia turcomanica was not yet studied on any aquatic animals. An acute toxicity test was performed by using a four-day static renewal test to determine the LC50 value of dried powder of E. turcomanica for the euryhaline fish, Aphanius dispar. The LC50 values at various exposure periods are 0.177±0.039 g/L for 24 hrs, 0.131±0.030 g/L for 48 hrs, 0.073±0.018 g/L for 72 hrs, and 0.052±0.013 g/L for 96 hrs. The toxicity of dried powder of E. turcomanica exhibits a positive correlation between fish mortality and exposure periods. As this is the first report about toxicity of E. turcomanica on A. dispar, the results could be only compared to that of other Euphorbiaceae as well as other fishes. It is concluded that the toxicity potential of E. turcomanica is comparable and close to that of well-documented Euphorbiaceae. It has been suggested that E. turcomanica products cannot be used directly in fish-inhabiting water reservoirs

A Novel Hybrid Framework for Co-Optimization of Power and Natural Gas Networks Integrated With Emerging Technologies

In a power system with high penetration of renewable power sources, gas-fired units can be considered as a back-up option to improve the balance between generation and consumption in short-term scheduling. Therefore, closer coordination between power and natural gas systems is anticipated. This article presents a novel hybrid information gap decision theory (IGDT)-stochastic cooptimization problem for integrating electricity and natural gas networks to minimize total operation cost with the penetration of wind energy. The proposed model considers not only the uncertainties regarding electrical load demand and wind power output, but also the uncertainties of gas load demands for the residential consumers. The uncertainties of electric load and wind power are handled through a scenario-based approach, and residential gas load uncertainty is handled via IGDT approach with no need for the probability density function. The introduced hybrid model enables the system operator to consider the advantages of both approaches simultaneously. The impact of gas load uncertainty associated with the residential consumers is more significant on the power dispatch of gas-fired plants and power system operation cost since residential gas load demands are prior than gas load demands of gas-fired units. The proposed framework is a bilevel problem that can be reduced to a one-level problem. Also, it can be solved by the implementation of a simple concept without the need for Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions. Moreover, emerging flexible energy sources such as the power to gas technology and demand response program are considered in the proposed model for increasing the wind power dispatch, decreasing the total operation cost of the integrated network as well as reducing the effect of system uncertainties on the total operating cost. Numerical results indicate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed model under different working conditions

Association of brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings with the histopathologic grading of brainstem glioma

To determine association of brainstem glioma’s grading with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings

Evaluación del grado de resiliencia física de Babol contra los terremotos

The management of natural disasters requires understanding their essence, making accurate assessments, planning, and providing appropriate solutions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the physical resilience of the 22 neighborhoods of Babol located in the north of Iran against earthquakes. The methodology of this applied research study is descriptive-analytical. In this regard, by initially studying similar national and international studies, using the expert opinion of seismology and urban planning specialists and interviewing experienced urban managers in the field of crisis management, 30 effective indices on physical resilience against earthquake risk were extracted. Then, using analytic functions of GIS software and multi-criteria models including AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR and COPRAS, the physical resilience of Babol against earthquakes was evaluated. Then, in order to obtain accurate results, using the integration models including the Statistic, BORDA and COPELAND, the physical resilience of Babol's 22 neighborhoods was evaluated. The analysis of the final GIS maps shows that neighborhoods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11 have very high physical resilience and neighborhoods 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 have very low physical resilience against earthquakes.La gestión de desastres naturales requiere comprender su esencia, realizar evaluaciones precisas, planificar y brindar soluciones adecuadas. El propósito de este estudio es evaluar la resiliencia física de los 22 barrios de Babol ubicados en el norte de Irán frente a terremotos. La metodología de este estudio de investigación aplicada es descriptiva-analítica. En este sentido, mediante el estudio inicial de estudios similares nacionales e internacionales, utilizando la opinión experta de especialistas en sismología y planificación urbana y entrevistando a gestores urbanos experimentados en el campo de la gestión de crisis, se extrajeron 30 índices efectivos de resiliencia física frente al riesgo sísmico. Luego, utilizando funciones analíticas de software GIS y modelos multicriterio incluyendo AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR y COPRAS, se evaluó la resiliencia física de Babol frente a terremotos. Luego, con el fin de obtener resultados precisos, utilizando los modelos de integración incluyendo la Estadística, BORDA y COPELAND, se evaluó la resiliencia física de los 22 barrios de Babol. El análisis de los mapas GIS finales muestra que los barrios 2, 3, 4, 5 y 11 tienen una resistencia física muy alta y los barrios 6, 8, 10, 12 y 14 tienen una resistencia física muy baja frente a los terremotos

Evaluación del grado de resiliencia física de Babol contra los terremotos

The management of natural disasters requires understanding their essence, making accurate assessments, planning, and providing appropriate solutions. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the physical resilience of the 22 neighborhoods of Babol located in the north of Iran against earthquakes. The methodology of this applied research study is descriptive-analytical. In this regard, by initially studying similar national and international studies, using the expert opinion of seismology and urban planning specialists and interviewing experienced urban managers in the field of crisis management, 30 effective indices on physical resilience against earthquake risk were extracted. Then, using analytic functions of GIS software and multi-criteria models including AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR and COPRAS, the physical resilience of Babol against earthquakes was evaluated. Then, in order to obtain accurate results, using the integration models including the Statistic, BORDA and COPELAND, the physical resilience of Babol's 22 neighborhoods was evaluated. The analysis of the final GIS maps shows that neighborhoods 2, 3, 4, 5, and 11 have very high physical resilience and neighborhoods 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 have very low physical resilience against earthquakes.La gestión de desastres naturales requiere comprender su esencia, realizar evaluaciones precisas, planificar y brindar soluciones adecuadas. El propósito de este estudio es evaluar la resiliencia física de los 22 barrios de Babol ubicados en el norte de Irán frente a terremotos. La metodología de este estudio de investigación aplicada es descriptiva-analítica. En este sentido, mediante el estudio inicial de estudios similares nacionales e internacionales, utilizando la opinión experta de especialistas en sismología y planificación urbana y entrevistando a gestores urbanos experimentados en el campo de la gestión de crisis, se extrajeron 30 índices efectivos de resiliencia física frente al riesgo sísmico. Luego, utilizando funciones analíticas de software GIS y modelos multicriterio incluyendo AHP, TOPSIS, VIKOR y COPRAS, se evaluó la resiliencia física de Babol frente a terremotos. Luego, con el fin de obtener resultados precisos, utilizando los modelos de integración incluyendo la Estadística, BORDA y COPELAND, se evaluó la resiliencia física de los 22 barrios de Babol. El análisis de los mapas GIS finales muestra que los barrios 2, 3, 4, 5 y 11 tienen una resistencia física muy alta y los barrios 6, 8, 10, 12 y 14 tienen una resistencia física muy baja frente a los terremotos

An Integrated Energy Hub System based on Power-to-Gas and Compressed Air Energy Storage Technologies in presence of Multiple Shiftable Loads

Integrated energy carriers in the framework of energy hub system (EHS) have an undeniable role in reducing operating costs and increasing energy efficiency as well as the system's reliability. Nowadays, power-to-gas (P2G), as a novel technology, is a great choice to intensify the interdependency between electricity and natural gas networks. The proposed strategy of this study is divided into two parts: (i) a conditional value-at-risk-based stochastic model is presented to determine the optimal day-ahead scheduling of the EHS with the coordinated operating of P2G storage and tri-state compressed air energy storage (CAES) system. The main objective of the proposed strategy is to indicate the positive impact of P2G storage and tri-state CAES on lessening the system uncertainties including electricity market price, power generation of the wind turbine, and even electrical, gas, and thermal demands. (ii) A demand response program focusing on day-ahead load shifting is applied to the multiple electrical loads according to the load's activity schedule. The proposed strategy is successfully applied to an illustrative example and is solved by general algebraic modeling system software. The obtained results validate the proposed strategy by demonstrating the considerable diminution in the operating cost of the EHS by almost 4.5%