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For the first time, a bimetallic metal–organic framework of (MOF) La3+ and Ce3+ (Ce, La-MOF) was synthesized using a new solvothermal route. Also, monometallic MOFs La3+ (La-MOF) and Ce3+ (Ce-MOF) were synthesized using the mentioned method. To identify, and analyze the synthesized nanostructures, field emission scanning microscopy (FSEM), energy dispersive X-ray mapping (MAP), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravity curve (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis, Fourier transforms infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Brunauer–Emmt–Teller surface area (BET) were used. According to the XRD diffraction patterns of Ce–La-MOF nanostructure, no additional peaks are derived from La species, which confirms that the addition of La does not change the crystalline phase structure of Ce-MOF. The size of La-MOF, Ce-MOF, and Ce, La-MOF nanostructures was calculated by the Williamson-Hall method and reported as 72.97, 55.46, and 81.55 nm, respectively. The specific surface area (BET) results for La-MOF, Ce-MOF, and Ce, La-MOF nanostructures were reported as 140, 200, and 260 m2 g−1 respectively, and the mean pore volumes of the nanostructures were reported as 0.019, 0.022 and 0.030 cm3 respectively. These values allow the use of these versatile nanostructures in various applications such as biosensing, separation and purification, medicine field, and catalysts. In addition, in this study, modified electrodes for synthesized nanostructures were tested for the electrooxidation of acetaminophen. And the obtained results show better electrocatalytic behavior of bimetallic Ce, La-MOF nanostructures than monometallic La-MOF, Ce-MOF nanostructures against acetaminophen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the many attractions of solar energy, a lot of research is being done in research centers to improve the usefulness of photovoltaic systems (PVs). Despite the widespread use of PVs in different societies, one of the biggest challenges of these sources is to obtain the maximum possible output power. Up to now, several investigations are performed to achieve the maximum power point (MPP) in PV systems. In this paper, an incremental conductance (INC) in the combination of farmland fertility optimization (IFFO) based on the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) is applied to implement the MPPT controller. The proposed MPPT method applies hybrid IFFO in different temperatures and radiation situations to attain optimal voltages. Then, the ANFIS and the INC algorithm try to find the MPP as the ANFIS cannot find the precise point alone. The main advantage of the ANFIS and INC is providing less number of samples for training. Simulations are performed to confirm the advantage of the technique over the conventional approach. Achieving the global optimum point, lower oscillations around MPP and fast tracking are approved using the simulations with the suggested IFFO-ANFIS-INC method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most prevalent subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, characterized by remarkable molecular heterogeneity. This study evaluates the prevalence of MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 gene rearrangements among Iranian DLBCL patients. Method: This historical cohort study encompassed 152 patients drawn from six reference hospitals who participated in the research. Interphase dual-color break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was applied to formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded DLBCL specimens categorized as "not otherwise specified" alongside 20 normal controls. Survival data was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the Log-Rank test. Results: Among the patients, 7 (4.8%), 4 (2.9%), and 15 (10.2%) exhibited MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 rearrangements, respectively. Additionally, 1.5% of the patients demonstrated double-hit (DH) characteristics with both MYC and BCL2 rearrangements, while no triple rearrangements were observed. The presence of rearrangements appeared to be independent of clinicopathological variables. Patients with rearrangements experienced reduced survival durations, with reductions of 26.6, 31.2, 9.1, and 34.2 months for MYC, BCL2, BCL6-rearranged, and DH tumors, respectively (P > 0.05). Adverse prognosis was associated with age, activated B-cell-like phenotype, disease stage, B symptoms, lactate dehydrogenase levels, and risk grouping according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) International Prognostic Index. Conclusion: DLBCL cases featuring MYC, BCL2, and/or BCL6 translocations are relatively rare. Patients harboring these rearrangements tend to exhibit aggressive disease progression with shortened overall survival. However, these differences did not reach statistical significance, necessitating further research to validate the incorporation of such tests into the routine workup of DLBCL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Cost overruns have been identified as the most significant challenge for construction sector stakeholders. Like many developing countries, the Iranian construction industry suffers from poor cost performance. So, the current research aims to investigate the causes of cost overrun in Iranian construction projects. This paper also reviews the findings of similar studies conducted in several Asian countries. Design/methodology/approach: This paper includes a literature review and a quantitative method with a questionnaire survey. The review is limited to the studies investigating the causes of cost overrun in an Asian country in the last decade. Moreover, the current research was conducted through a questionnaire prepared based on 43 common factors identified through the literature review. The required data were gathered from the representatives involved in handling construction activities in Iran. The collected data were analyzed based on relative importance index (RII), using the SPSS software package. Findings: The results showed that poor site management, improper planning, fluctuation of prices of materials, lack of experience, and poor economic condition are the critical reasons for cost overrun in Iranian construction projects. The findings also indicated that among the studies conducted in Asian countries, the first three factors have the highest frequency. Originality/value: This paper highlighted most studies concerning the cost overrun factors in construction projects in different Asian countries in recent years. Up-to-date knowledge helps to understand the complexity of this field in various periods and therefore minimizes the risk of cost overrun. This research can also be used as a benchmark for further studies to clarify similar issues in other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Some of the patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are categorized as good prognosis based on the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R). However, these patients may have poor clinical outcomes. It seems that the current diagnostic tools and IPSS-R cannot consider genetic factors for determining the prognosis of MDS patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included all adult MDS patients of both genders who were admitted from March 2015 to March 2020 to the Hematology wards of two educational tertiary hospitals in Iran (Namazi and Faghihi, affiliated with Shiraz University of medical sciences). Study data included relevant retrospective data from medical records and the results of immunohistochemical p53 staining on bone marrow biopsies. Results: Of the 84 patients, 65 (77.4%) showed p53 expression in bone marrow. They had shorter median survival than those without p53 expression. Considering both variables of P53 IHC results and IPSS-R score, the patients who died with low-risk IPSS-R score presented high p53 expression. Conclusion: This study shows that the investigation of p53 expression by IHC at the time of diagnosis is a valuable indicator of survival rate in MDS patients. These data suggest that the immunohistochemical analysis of p53 can be a prognostic tool for MDS and should be used as an adjunct test to make decisions on the best therapeutic choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of lung cancer cases, with smoking being a critical risk factor. The identification of NSCLC patients harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, sensitized to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, has revolutionized treatment plans, resulting in improved clinical responses and reduced chemotherapy toxicity. This study aimed to assess the relationship between EGFR mutations and smoking patterns in patients diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma referred to major pathologic laboratories. Methods: This cross‐sectional study included 217 NSCLC patients aged above 18 years. Molecular abnormalities of the EGFR gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of exons 18–21 accompanied by Sanger sequencing. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS 26 software. Logistic regression analysis, χ2 test, and Mann–Whitney U test were used to evaluate the relation between EGFR mutations and smoking patterns. Results: EGFR mutations were identified in 25.3% of patients, predominantly involving deletion in exon 19 (61.8%). For most of the mutant EGFR patients, the majority were nonsmokers (81.8%), and 52.7% were female patients. Besides, the median duration of smoking was 26 years and the median frequency of smoking was 23 pack‐years in the mutant EGFR group, both of which were lower compared to the wild mutant group. Moreover, female gender, current, and heavy smoking were significantly correlated with EGFR mutations based on the univariate logistic regression analysis (p: 0.004, 0.005, and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Female gender and nonsmoker status were strongly associated with positive EGFR mutations. While guidelines traditionally recommended EGFR testing primarily for female nonsmokers with advanced NSCLC, our study in line with the recently published evidence has shown a significant prevalence of positive EGFR mutations among male patients and smokers. Therefore, routine mutation testing is suggested for all NSCLC patients. Considering the limited access to EGFR testing laboratories in developing countries, the results of such epidemiological surveys can assist oncologists in choosing the most suitable treatment plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, breast carcinoma is the most common form of malignancy and the main cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. The metastasis of cancer cells from the primary tumor site to other organs in the body, notably the lungs, bones, brain, and liver, is what causes breast cancer to ultimately be fatal. Brain metastases occur in as many as 30% of patients with advanced breast cancer, and the 1-year survival rate of these patients is around 20%. Many researchers have focused on brain metastasis, but due to its complexities, many aspects of this process are still relatively unclear. To develop and test novel therapies for this fatal condition, pre-clinical models are required that can mimic the biological processes involved in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM). The application of many breakthroughs in the area of tissue engineering has resulted in the development of scaffold or matrix-based culture methods that more accurately imitate the original extracellular matrix (ECM) of metastatic tumors. Furthermore, specific cell lines are now being used to create three-dimensional (3D) cultures that can be used to model metastasis. These 3D cultures satisfy the requirement for in vitro methodologies that allow for a more accurate investigation of the molecular pathways as well as a more in-depth examination of the effects of the medication being tested. In this review, we talk about the latest advances in modeling BCBM using cell lines, animals, and tissue engineering methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lung cancer (LC) is the second most common and deadliest cancer in the world. Despite the control of the progressive course of LC in developed countries, studies indicate an increase in the incidence of the disease in developing countries. We designed a stepwise approach-based surveillance system for registering LC in our region (fars lung cancer registry "FaLCaRe" Project). Materials and Methods: A questionnaire was designed and agreed upon by the steering committee using the Delphi method. Variables in nine fields were divided into three groups based on their importance: core, expanded core, and optional. The web-based data bank software was designed. The informative site about LC and team services was designed and launched for professional and community (www.falcare. org) educational purposes. Results: 545 variables in nine fields were designed (20 core variables). Primary data of 39 LC patients (24 men and 15 women) with a mean age of 62 years were analyzed. Twenty-six patients had a history of smoking. Moreover, 39% and 26% of patients had a history of hookah smoking and opium use, respectively. Adenocarcinoma was the most prevalent pathologic findings in cases. More than 80% of patients were diagnosed in stages 3 and 4 of cancer. Conclusion: FaLCaRe Project with the capabilities seen in it can be used as a model for national LC registration. With continuous valid data registry about LC, it is possible to make decisions at the national level for control and management its consequences while drawing the natural history of the LC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The important association of erythropoietin (EPO) serum levels and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with anemia has been inadequately studied and remains a controversial issue. We aimed to shed light on this matter by comparing EPO levels in anemic and non-anemic COPD patients, along with a review of published literature. This cross-sectional study was conducted on COPD patients referred to the pulmonary clinic of Shahid Faghihi Hospital and Motahari clinic, Shiraz, Iran, for one year. We measured complete blood count, red blood cell indices, serum iron, TIBC and ferritin levels, serum EPO levels, and body mass index. Among 35 patients in this study, 28 males and 7 females were enrolled with a mean age of 54.57 ± 8.07 years. The average Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1) was 37.26 ± 7.33% and FEV1/FVC was 0.46 ± 0.12. Mean EPO levels were 30.29 ± 2.066 mU/mL. No statistically significant association was observed among erythropoietin levels and Hb, COPD severity, and age. There was no significant difference in EPO levels between anemic and non-anemic patients. EPO level, against the traditional expectation, didn't increase in COPD patients. EPO production also didn't compensate for the anemia of chronic disease which considers as a common comorbid disorder in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recurrence of multiple myeloma is among the most challenging issues for patients and treating physicians reported after autologous stem cell transplantation. However, extramedullary involvement after chemotherapy and transplantation has been rarely reported, especially as pleural manifestations. Protein electrophoresis indicated immunoglobulin A monoclonal kappa plasma cell neoplasm in our case. Case presentation: A 48-year-old middle-eastern man was referred to our clinic with cough, dyspnea, fever, and left side pleural effusion. A year after chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow transplantation, the patient presented with features in favor of pleural relapse, without bone marrow involvement. Protein electrophoresis demonstrated immunoglobulin A monoclonal kappa plasma cell neoplasm in our case. The patient was effectively treated with dexamethasone, thalidomide, cisplatin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide with no notable adverse effects. Conclusion: Physicians should be aware of various presentations of multiple myeloma relapse, especially in autologous stem cell transplantation patients. Atypical and unique presentations such as the pleural involvement warrant further reporting of evidence to provide early management and treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opium use was recently classified as a human carcinogen for lung cancer by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. We conducted a large, multicenter case‐control study evaluating the association between opium use and the risk of lung cancer. We recruited 627 cases and 3477 controls from May 2017 to July 2020. We used unconditional logistic regression analyses to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and measured the association between opium use and the risk of lung cancer. The ORs were adjusted for the residential place, age, gender, socioeconomic status, cigarettes, and water pipe smoking. We found a 3.6‐fold risk of lung cancer for regular opium users compared to never users (95% CI: 2.9, 4.6). There was a strong dose‐response association between a cumulative count of opium use and lung cancer risk. The OR for regular opium use was higher for small cell carcinoma than in other histology (8.3, 95% CI: 4.8, 14.4). The OR of developing lung cancer among opium users was higher in females (7.4, 95% CI: 3.8, 14.5) than in males (3.3, 95% CI: 2.6, 4.2). The OR for users of both opium and tobacco was 13.4 (95% CI: 10.2, 17.7) compared to nonusers of anything. The risk of developing lung cancer is higher in regular opium users, and these results strengthen the conclusions on the carcinogenicity of opium. The association is stronger for small cell carcinoma cases than in other histology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal mast cell sarcoma is a rare variant of mastocytosis. It is a unifocal tumor with high destructive capacity and metastatic potential. Diagnosis of mast cell sarcoma can be challenging and might be so delayed that unfavorable prognosis may be expected. In this case report, we will describe our experience with a case of mast cell sarcoma in the small intestine of an elderly woman, which was diagnosed early on throughout the course of her disease and successfully treated. The patient was a 59-year-old woman who presented with abdominal pain, flushing, weight loss, and vomiting. Imaging studies supported the existence of an infiltrative neoplasm in the jejunum. Then, surgical removal of the tumor was performed. The presence of mast cells in the resected tumor was confirmed by immunohistochemistry, histopathology, and Giemsa staining. After almost a year of follow-up, the patient's overall condition was fine, and no signs of recurrence were found. This is the first reported case of successfully treated gastrointestinal mast cell sarcoma. All of the previously reported cases had been diagnosed after recurrence with no response to treatment. Our case shows the significance of early diagnosis and treatment in this condition and its impact on outcome and prognosis. That could be achieved only if the pathologist has a high suspicion for this rare disease and keeps it in the back of one's mind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Solitary plasmacytoma (SP) caused the collapse/destruction of the C2 vertebral body in a 78-year-old male. To provide sufficient posterior stabilization, the patient warranted lateral mass fusion to supplement the bilateral pedicle/screw rod instrumentation. Case Description: A 78-year-old male presented with neck pain alone. X-rays, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance studies documented C2 vertebral collapse with the complete destruction of both lateral masses. The surgery required a laminectomy (i.e., bilateral lateral mass resection), plus placement of bilateral expandable titanium cages from C1 to C3 to supplement the screw/rod occipitocervical (O-C4) fixation. Adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy were also administered. Two years later, the patient remained neurologically intact and radiographically had no evidence of tumor recurrence. Conclusion: In patients with vertebral plasmacytomas and bilateral lateral mass destruction, posterior occipital-cervical C4 rod/screw fusions may warrant the additional bilateral placement of titanium expandable lateral mass cages from C1 to C3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kell Ag, the main antigen of kell system has the greatest antigenicity after Rh antigen and the associated antibodies are very important. These antibodies are mainly of the Ig G class and can cause side effects like Hemolytic disease of the Fetus and Newborn (HDFN) or Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction (HTR), especially in patients with chronic blood transfusions such as thalassemia patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate Kell antigen in pregnant women with thalassemia minor and intermedia and to determine the appropriate strategy for transfusion in this group of patients. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study on pregnant women with thalassemia minor or intermedia. The samples were taken from patients of Shahid Motahari clinic and those with positive antigen were selected and statistically analyzed. Results: The results showed that from the 64 patients who entered this study, the results of kell ag of 58 patients were negative and 6 were positive. Therefore, 91% of the pregnant women with beta thalassemia minor or intermedia were negative for ag kell and 9% were positive. Conclusion: In summary, the results of this study indicated that a large percentage of pregnant women with beta-thalassemia minor or intermediate are Kell-negative, and due to the complications of alloimmunization, screening of pack cells and pregnant patients is very important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma is considered an uncommon tumor originating from vascular tissues. Although this disease is an extremely rare malignant cancer, its pleural subtype is even less common. We discuss a 68‐year‐old man with isolated pleural epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, along with a literature review of all similar cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Mental health problems as a consequence of cancer lower the quality of life of cancer patients. Despite increasing studies of breast cancer‐focused mobile health applications (m‐Health apps), there is less research on breast cancer patients' quality of life or well‐being. The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the usability and quality of an educational m‐Health app aimed at improving the resilience of breast cancer in women. Methods: This study was conducted in four phases. It included extracting the requirements of the app through the nominal group technique. Based on these results, an m‐Health app was developed and evaluated in terms of usability and quality by two scales, System Usability Scale and Mobile App Rating Scale questionnaires, respectively. Finally, the role of patients' age and educational backgrounds in the use of the app was assessed. The relationship between learnability and usability of the app was measured by the T‐Test. Results: The app was developed with three user interfaces. Its usability developed from the patient's point of view scored a remarkable score of 83.20 with a 95% confidence interval. This value was too indicative of high satisfaction with the usefulness and the possibility of recommending it to other cancer survivors. The results of the quality evaluation from an expert's point of view showed that this app had good functionality. Evaluation of the role of demographic information in the use of the app showed that it can be used for all age groups with different levels of education. The app did not differ significantly between learnability and usability. Conclusion: The development of m‐Health apps, based on usability principles that are suitable for all age groups with different levels of education, is welcomed by cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Giant cell tumor (GCT) is an intermediate malignant bone tumor which mostly involves long extremity bones, less commonly involving the spine with sacral predominance. Cervical spine involvement is rare. According to literature, the selective approach for the treatment of GCT is en bloc resection with spinal reconstruction. For unusual sites, such as cervical region, which is a mobile spinal segment and critically proximate to the cervical spinal cord, great vessels, and vital organs, it is almost impossible to perform the selective approach for treatment. Alternative approaches in such situations are under investigations. We present a case of C2 vertebral body GCT, who was treated with polymethylmethacrylate intravertebral injection and was followed by adjuvant therapy with denosumab. A 16-year-old boy without any past medical history presented with progressive suboccipital and axial neck pain since 3 months earlier, which had not responded to conservative treatments. There was no neurologic deficit, and pain was significantly controlled. In the 1-year follow-up, no complication and tumor recurrence was seen. Vertebroplasty with bone cement for lytic spinal GCT lesions, followed by adjuvant therapy with denosumab, not only is a less invasive treatment but also has good results in spinal stability, patient recovery, and 12-month recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inverse micelle (IM) and ultrasound-assisted inverse micelle (UAIM) techniques were used to fabricate new Bi-MOF nanostructures. The results showed that the Bi-MOF sample made by ultrasound technique has a higher thermal stability (347 °C), smaller particles sizes (9.99 nm) and a larger specific surface area (21.43 m2/g). In this efficient technique, crystallization process is formed in a shorter time under environmental conditions, the experimental factors of UAIM method are designed by 2k−1 fractional factorial method, and the effective parameters include time duration, ultrasound power and temperature. The results show that the Bi-MOF nanostructures sample synthesized by UAIM method has desirable physicochemical behaviors. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) technique is used to investigate the electrocatalytic activity of Bi-MOF for electrochemical detection of 4-Aminophenol (4-AP). The results show great efficiency of Bi-MOF in the electrochemical detection of 4-AP. The effective product, new physicochemical features, and the significant electrochemical potential developed in this study can be related to the novel Bi-MOF, efficient synthesis route and 2k−1 factorial design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Previous animal studies have shown a protective effect of 5-phosphodiesterase inhibitors on cancer therapeutics-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) of anthracyclines. Aim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effect of sildenafil on the primary prevention of CTRCD in human. Materials and Methods. In this randomized double-blind clinical trial, the primary end point was efficacy in preventing the reduction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The intervention group patients received sildenafil at a dose of 25 milligrams twice a day before starting the chemotherapeutic regimen, and the control group received placebo. All the patients at baseline and after the 6-month follow-up underwent 4D and speckle-tracking echocardiography and cardiac MRI, accompanied by hs-troponin I and NT-Pro-BNP measurement. Results. Sixty patients were enrolled in this study, and data from 52 patients (24 patients in the intervention group and 28 patients in the control group) were used in the final analysis. Our findings showed that in the intervention and control groups, LVEF was dropped from 61.28 ± 7.36 to 51.57 ± 7.67 (difference (D) = −9.71 ± 11.95, p = 0.003) and from 57.9 ± 7.29 to 50.2 ± 7.02% (D = −7.7 ± 5.93; p = 0.001), respectively (between-group difference = −2.01%, p = 0.26). CTRCD was detected in 11 patients in the control group (42.8%) and 10 in the intervention group (41.6%, p = 0.51). Conclusion. Consumption of sildenafil for primary prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity seems to be unbeneficial. This trial is registered with IRCT20180506039554N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-organic framework nanostructure of Lanthanum (III) (La-MOF) was prepared for the first time by utilizing a new ultrasonic route; and relevant analysis of Differential scanning calorimetry, Field emission scanning emission microscope, Energy-dispersive X-ray spectra, X-ray diffraction, Energy-dispersive X-ray mapping, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area, Thermo-gravimetric curve, Fourier transform infrared spectra, Vibrating sample magnetometer test, Photoluminescence and Nuclear magnetic resonance analyses were used to characterize the synthesized nanostructure. Using ultrasonic irradiation, the results revealed the possibility of producing nanostructured samples of La-MOF that possess desirable physicochemical properties. Moreover, synthesized La-MOF under optimum conditions proved to have a remarkable surface area of 2935 m2/g. Therefore, this amount makes it possible to use these efficient nanostructures in various fields such as electrochemical procedures. In addition, this study was also carried out on the electro-catalytic behavior of La-MOF against 4-aminophenol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As smart cities (SCs) emerge, the Internet of Things (IoT) is able to simplify more sophisticated and ubiquitous applications employed within these cities. In this regard, we investigate seven predominant sectors including the environment, public transport, utilities, street lighting, waste management, public safety, and smart parking that have a great effect on SC development. Our findings show that for the environment sector, cleaner air and water systems connected to IoT-driven sensors are used to detect the amount of CO2, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen to monitor air quality and to detect water leakage and pH levels. For public transport, IoT systems help traffic management and prevent train delays, for the utilities sector IoT systems are used for reducing overall bills and related costs as well as electricity consumption management. For the street-lighting sector, IoT systems are used for better control of streetlamps and saving energy associated with urban street lighting. For waste management, IoT systems for waste collection and gathering of data regarding the level of waste in the container are effective. In addition, for public safety these systems are important in order to prevent vehicle theft and smartphone loss and to enhance public safety. Finally, IoT systems are effective in reducing congestion in cities and helping drivers to find vacant parking spots using intelligent smart parking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autophagy is a conserved recycling process in cells. However, the effects of autophagy on the remission and treatment response of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients have not been clarified. Methods: The expression of MAP1LC3B, ATG5, ATG10, RB1CC1, and AMBRA1 genes was assessed in 32 newly diagnosed AML patients, 18 complete remission (CR) patients, and seven relapsed patients, as well as 15 controls, by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: The expression of all five genes was significantly higher in the newly diagnosed AML patients as compared to the controls (p < 0.0001). The MAP1LC3B, ATG5, ATG10, RB1CC1, and AMBRA1 gene expression significantly reduced in CR patients compared to newly diagnosed AML patients (p = 0.006, 0.003, 0.0002, 0.006, and 0.004, respectively). The AMBRA1 gene expression was significantly higher in the relapsed cases as compared to both newly diagnosed (p = 0.01) and CR patients (p = 0.03). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was observed between the expression of MAP1LC3B (r = 0.739, p = 0.000001), ATG5 (r = 0.682, p = 0.00001), and ATG10 (r = 0.586, p = 0.0004) genes and white blood cell (WBC) count in patients at diagnosis. Conclusion: The expression of MAP1LC3B, ATG5, ATG10, RB1CC1, and AMBRA1 genes can be examined to follow‐up the remission of AML and the patient's response to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) system has gradually become a research focus in the field of renewable energy power generation, and the output efficiency of PV system is the major concern of researchers. There are obvious non-linear characteristics in the output of PV system, and it will be greatly affected by the external environment. For achieving the maximum output power, PV system must operate under the guidance of maximum power point tracking (MPPT) methods. The tracking time and accuracy of these methods need to be improved. Therefore, this study contributes to increasing the output efficiency of PV system by improving the tracking time and accuracy with using Fuzzy Gain Scheduling of Proportional-Integral-Derivative (FGS-PID) regulator in the grid-connected mode. The suggested adaptive FGS-PID scheme is implemented using two-level control system architecture, combining the benefits of fuzzy logic as well as conventional PID regulator. Ziegler–Nichols tuning method is employed to select the initial values of PID gains. In the simulations of PV system under the varying irradiance and temperature, the tracking speed and tracking accuracy of FGS-PID (scaling factors) were higher than those of ANN, ANFIS, Fuzzy, INC, P&O, PID, and FGS-PID methods. In summary, FGS-PID (scaling factors) has better performance in tracking time and accuracy than other comparison algorithms. It can improve the output efficiency of PV system in practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance the interfacial bonding between the graphene oxide nanoplatelets (GONs) and epoxy (EP) matrix, two different types of silane coupling agents (amino‐ and EP‐silane) were applied to the GONs‐EP nanocomposites. The effects of the silane compound type and silanized GON loading (0.1–0.5 wt% at an interval of 0.2) on the dry‐sliding wear response of GONs‐EP nanocomposites were then studied. The wear tests were conducted under 20 N load and 1000 m sliding distance. The results showed that the wear properties were remarkably improved by the incorporation of silanized GONs to the matrix, and the best wear behavior was obtained at 0.3 wt% silanized GONs. Most importantly, the amino‐silane coupling agent was shown to be more effective in enhancing the wear resistance of the GONs‐EP nanocomposites. After the wear tests, the composite surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy to find the predominant mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel lanthanum (III) complex with 8-Hq = 8-hydroxy quinoline and phen-dione = 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione was synthesized using the reflux method. The complex was characterized using elemental analyses, cyclic voltammetry technique, electronic absorption spectroscopy, H-NMR spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. Then, La2O2(SO4) nanostructure (NS La-s) was obtained from the lanthanum (III) complex as a precursor after calcination at 700 °C for 4 h. The thermal stability of nanostructure was determined by the thermal gravimetric method. SEM results showed that the morphology of La2O2(SO4) was spiral-like. The cytotoxicity of La-s NS was studied using cell viability assay on neuroblastoma-N2a cell line culture. The results ranked the cytotoxicity activity of La-s NS in N2a cell line to IC50 = ~ 22 μg mL− 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Providing of energy is one of the most important issues for each country. Also, environmental issues due to fossil fuel depletion are other serious concern of them. In this regard, moving toward energy sustainability is a constructive solution for each country. This paper studies the short-term planning of generating units in renewable energy-based distribution networks equipped with plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). PEVs can cause problems for distributed energy sources in the electrical grid, as well as power units inside the grid. So, to overcome this problem, an efficient stochastic programming technique is designed to allow the control entity to control the charging behavior of PEVs for managing power units. In this paper, to obtain the least total cost, a new method is suggested to decrease the reliability expenses. In other words, the vehicle-2-grid (V2G) is applied to decrease the operating. On the other hand, a novel stochastic flow using the unscented transform is suggested to improve the model of the severe uncertainty due to the wind power, photovoltaic (PV) and charging/discharging power of PEVs. In this research work, a novel and efficient optimization algorithm called 'θ-modified krill herd (θ-MKH)" is used as an applicable technique to optimize the microgrid (MG) operation. This algorithm is useful and has many advantages like the runaway from the local optima with fast converging in comparison with other methods. Also, the satisfactory efficiency of the suggested randomized manner is validated on an MG connected to the main grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although life-threatening hemorrhage is a usual manifestation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), thrombotic events seem to be more common in APL compared to other subtypes of acute leukemia. The treatment and prophylaxis of thrombosis are controversial due to the high risk of bleeding caused by disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and thrombocytopenia. To the best of our knowledge we report the first case of APL in a patient with prosthetic heart valves successfully treated with a combination of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO). We hope this case report helps clinicians to manage different spectra of coagulopathy in APL successfully.Case Presentation: A 38-year-old Asian man presented with diagnosis of APL confirmed by bone marrow biopsy. He was on warfarin due to prosthetic mitral and aortic valves. He was at risk of both hemorrhagic events due to DIC and life-threatening valve thrombosis. Our management regimen included unfractionated heparin adjusted according to the platelet count to prevent both valve thrombosis and bleeding events. The patient tolerated treatment well without any hemorrhagic or thrombotic events, and complete molecular remission was achieved by ATRA and ATO without the need for chemotherapeutic agents.Conclusion: Although this case is exceptional, a precise evaluation may be needed to select the appropriate dose and type of anticoagulant to treat a patient with APL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) sub-microparticles were synthesized using a facile poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA)-assisted solvothermal method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirm the formation of spinel structure of ZnFe2O4 with crystallite size from 11 to 41 nm. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) images show that the samples exhibit a spherical-like morphology self-assembled by primary nanoparticles with sizes about 95–345 nm that are changed with reaction conditions. The zeta potential is increased by the addition PDDA, which indicates the colloidal stability of the sub-microparticles. Dynamic light scattering measurement shows that the presence of PDDA significantly decreased the average hydrodynamic size of the sub-microparticles from 349 nm without PDDA to 117.6 nm with 6 mL of PDDA. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurements reveal that the samples synthesized with 0 and 2 mL of PDDA exhibit superparamagnetic properties while those synthesized with 4, 6 and 8 mL of PDDA show a ferromagnetic behavior. The reaction time and different amounts of PDDA influence the crystallinity, size, magnetic property and surface area of the ZnFe2O4 sub-microparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Microgrids (MGs) are known as suitable options to accommodatethe high penetration of renewable energies, like solar and wind. MGs have provided the requirements of controlling and adjusting these sources. In addition, batteries are becoming indispensable components of MGs because of their capabilities in addressing the renewable energies' power output intermittency. In MGs, the problem of smart energymanagement along with battery sizing has been introduced as the necessity to ensure the efficient use of renewable sources and decrease traditional fossil‐fuel‐based generation technology penetration level in power systems. Accordingly, a novel method is presented in this paper to effectively address the above‐mentioned requirements, utilizing the modified shuffled frog leaping algorithm (MSFLA), applied to different case studies. The results, obtained from the numerical simulation, are compared to several well‐established optimization approaches to verify the performance of MSFLA. In terms of computational efficiency and quality of the obtained solution, the MSFLA has demonstrated promising outcomes, together with superior performance in comparison with other algorithms. The results show that the presented framework, including the battery sizing, would be very beneficial to minimize the operating cost of MGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural killer (NK) cell therapy has proven to be a promising approach for the treatment of malignancies. Osaki method for ex-vivo autologous NK cell expansion has been recently introduced in Japan. To start clinical trial phase I at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in collaboration with the Japanese group, this preclinical setting study aimed to evaluate the proliferative efficacy of the method, the activation status of expanded autologous NK cells, and the likely unwanted contamination of the final cell product. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from 5 healthy individuals' peripheral blood and transferred directly to the specified initial culture bag containing anti-CD52 and anti-CD3 and Interleukin (IL)-2. The cells were cultured for 14-17 days in an incubator, during which the cells received condition media, and underwent several passages into bigger culture bags. All the procedures were carried out in a cleanroom and associated facilities. Before and after activation PBMCs were analyzed for their phenotype and cytotoxic activity; using flow cytometry and cytokine release assay. Our results indicated that NK (CD3-CD16+/-CD56+) cells were expanded 510-fold on average (range 200-1100 fold), and the purity of NK cells per whole lymphocytes exceeded 68%. The expanded cells were highly lytic as indicated by in-vitro cytotoxic assay, with a strong expression of Natural killer group 2 member D (NKG2D) and CD16. The prepared final cell products were negative for HCV, HBV, HIV, mycoplasma, and endotoxin. In the preclinical phase, large numbers of activated and un-contaminated NK cells from healthy individuals' peripheral blood were successfully generated. The method seems to provide ample clean cell product with no contamination and has the potential to be used for NK cell therapy in future clinical trials, suitable to be infused back to the donors in phase I clinical trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is the prime approach to the management of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Influenced by different factors such as pathologic tumor characteristics, hormone receptor status, HER2 and proliferation marker expressions, response to therapy cannot be easily predicted. Pathologic complete response (pCR) has been considered as an endpoint to NACT; however, pCR rates have been unsatisfactory in such patients. In this randomized trial, we studied the efficacy of carboplatin/gemcitabine as second-line NACT while evaluating the impact of different factors affecting response.Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 52 clinically non-responsive (confirmed by palpation and/or ultrasonography) LABC patients to 4 cycles of doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide followed by 4 cycles of paclitaxel ± trastuzumab were randomly allocated to two groups. "Control" group underwent breast surgery and were further evaluated for pCR (ypT0/is ypN0). "Intervention" group received 2 cycles of carboplatin/gemcitabine and patients were further evaluated for pCR following surgery.Results: In a total of 52 patients, pCR rate was 30.7%. pCR and response rate in lymph nodes were higher in carboplatin/gemcitabine recipients (32% vs 29.7 and 44% vs 40.7% respectively), however differences were insignificant. In both the "intervention" group and total study population, most pCR cases were of the hormone receptor (HR)+/HER2+ subtype (87.5% and 75% respectively). HER2 positivity, ki67 expression, lower extent of ER positivity, higher tumor grade and tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) lead to higher pCR rates. Adverse events following addition of carboplatin/gemcitabine were mostly hematologic and none required hospitalization. Anemia was the most common grade 3 adverse event observed. No grade 4 toxicity was evident.Conclusion: Although the proposed carboplatin/gemcitabine combination could not improve pCR rates as expected, probability of immune activation following use of carboplatin in achieving response to NACT may be considered. Accounting for the highest number of pCR cases in the "intervention" group, the HR+/HER2+ subtype with high TILs may be considered as most responsive to the proposed regimen in this study. It is noteworthy that the proposed combination imposed minimal toxicity.Trial Registration: This trial was prospectively registered in IRCT.ir ( IRCT2017100136491N1 ). Date of registration: 19 November 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TA series of Graphene Oxide/ Polyacrylamide (GO/PAM) super-elastic nanocomposites with different amounts of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets (GONSs) (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 wt. %) were synthesized using an insitu polymerization in an aqueous medium in this paper. To this end, we proposed a method for obtaining super-elastic nanocomposites with a high dispersion of GONSs in the PAM chains as well as in a rapid synthesis. Fine adaptability, powerful inner interaction between embedded GONSs into the PAM chains, and remarkable enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties of synthesized GO/PAM super-elastic nanocomposites can be considered as the unique characteristics of this synthesis method in a short time. In this study, GONSs were prepared by a modified Hummer’s procedure at ambient temperature. Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), thermo-Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) were employed to characterize the internal network structure of GONSs, PAM, and GO/PAM nanocomposites. XRD investigation indicated the increase of the interlayer spacing of GONSs. The exfoliation and dispersion of GONSs in the PAM matrix were studied by XRD and FESEM. The formation of oxygen-including groups on the surface of GONSs and hydrogen linking between GONSs and PAM was confirmed by FT-IR spectra and DTA. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to evaluate the thickness of the synthesized GONSs that was measured to be about 6.85 nm. Ultraviolet-Visible (UV/vis) spectroscopy illustrated the high percent of oxidation with more oxygen-including groups on the GONSs basal surface. Raman spectroscopy was also utilized to determine the induced disorder degree in the synthesized graphene oxide and distinguish the number of its layers. Thermal properties curves of GO/PAM nanocomposites represented an improvement trend in degradation temperature and a remaining amount up to GO-loaded (1.5 wt. %). The addition of GONSs also showed the significant improvement of viscoelastic behavior in PAM chains. The highest storage modulus (G’; 6.42 MPa) and loss modulus (G”; 0.98 MPa) are related to GO/PAM nanocomposite with 1.5 wt. % GO-loading. Based on the empirical result, the GONSs could remarkably enhance the thermal conductivity of PAM which was measured to be about 0.49 W.m-1.K-1. Thermal conductivity of GO1.5/PAM nanocomposite was about 0.9 W.m-1.K-1 that showed 84 % increase compared to the PAM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) onto superparamagnetic γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 nanocomposites led to the production of 6-APA/γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 as a novel heterogeneous nanocatalyst. Protonation and deprotonation of 6-APA/γ-Fe2O3@SiO2 nanocomposites were investigated using quantum mechanical calculations. The behaviour of bifunctionality on this catalyst was examined and the results showed that it acts as an acid–base bifunctional system, and the reaction proceeds very well under mild and ambient conditions. The deprotonation of the COOH group is easier than the NH and NH2 groups with respect to the energy data and the results of the molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) analyses. In the presence of the nanocomposite, the protonation of the NH2 group is more favourable than the NH group. It was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), vibrating sample magnetometery (VSM), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). This reaction is not only kinetically stable but is also a spontaneous reaction and thermodynamically favored. The superparamagnetic nanocomposite was used in the preparation of 1,4-dihydropyrano[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives under a one-pot multicomponent reaction. The nanocomposite was recyclable for at least 10 cycles without any loss in the activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issues related to the optimal control of large-scale storage systems in electric power systems such as pumped storage (PS) plant have turned into vital challenges in the way of integrating renewable energy sources into power systems to provide reliable and economical electric energy. In this regard, this paper uses the direct power control strategy to model and simulate a variable-speed PS plant, which includes a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG). The active and the reactive power of the stator would be able to be controlled, separately. This approach has a better dynamic performance compared to other methods, while it would be quite simple to implement. But there are some shortfalls with this method, such as high ripple relating to the active power as well as reactive power together with the current harmonics. In this respect, the space vector modulation (SVM) is applied to eliminate these shortfalls. In the proposed control technique, including SVM, the dynamic performance of the studied DFIG unit is controlled using the proportional–integral (PI) controller. It should be noted that the teaching–learning-based optimization (TLBO) method is employed to tune the PI controller for controlling the DFIG system in the PS plant. Finally, in order to validate the performance of the suggested framework, a comparison is made between the results obtained by the TLBO and the ones reported by other optimization methods. The obtained results using the TLBO algorithm indicate better performance of the PI controller to reduce the ripples of the active and reactive power of the stator as well as the harmonic power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dear Editor, H syndrome is an autosomal recessive histiocytic disorder associated with mutations in SLC29A3 gene which encodes the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 (hENT3).[1] This multisystem disorder is characterized by hyperpigmentation with overlying hypertrichosis which appears bilaterally and symmetrically, mainly on the medial aspect of the thighs. A constellation of findings in this patient beside suggestive pathologic features of H syndrome found under microscope convinced us not to put extortionate price of genetic study upon the patient. By the way, this is the first report of a patient with H syndrome and ITP which could be resulting from unknown pathologies during this syndrome's course or could just be an accidental concomitancy between these two disorders. [Extracted from the article]

During the past years, hybrid solar-wind power systems containing photovoltaic (PV) and wind generators are used to minimize the intermittency problem of renewable power generation units. The improved modeling and control schemes for a grid-tied hybrid PV–wind system is presented in the current research work. The maximum power point tracking namely "MPPT" algorithm together with controlling the pitch angle are used, respectively, for the PV system and wind power generation to attain the maximum power for any given external weather conditions. A radial basis function network sliding mode known as the RBFNSM method is used to control the pitch angle in the wind energy system, while the PV system uses a proportional–integral–derivative controller equipped with the fuzzy gain scheduling in order to enhance the transient state and mitigate the settling time to ensure the stability of the mentioned system. To test the suggested control scheme's effectiveness, MATLAB simulations are carried out under various scenarios of the wind speed as well as solar irradiation. The obtained results show the efficiency of the adaptive MPPT method to harness the highest power under very challenging scenarios. The merits of the developed schemes are quickly and precisely tracking the maximum power output of the hybrid PV–wind system. Besides, the power flowing between the utility grid and the hybrid source with a fast transient response and improved stability performance is effectively controlled using the offered schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two typical metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), i.e. tris(pyridine-2-carboxylato)-cobalt(III) monohydrate (MOF-1) and (μ2-pyridine 2,6-dicarboxylato)(pyridine 2,6-dicarboxylato) pentaaqua dicobalt(II)dihydrate (MOF-2) were employed for preparation of cobalt Fischer–Tropsch catalysts. Both MOF-derived catalysts were obtained by direct pyrolysis in N2 atmosphere at 500 °C. The pyrolysis of desired MOFs resulted nanoparticles embedded in the porous carbon matrix. Such catalysts can serve as useful catalysts for FT synthesis. Co-MOF-1 derived catalyst exhibited carbon monoxide conversion of 74.8% and selectivity towards long-chain hydrocarbons (C5+) of 49.2%. Also, it showed selectivity for short-chain hydrocarbons (C2–C4) of 36.19% for 50 h on steam while Co-MOF-2 derived catalyst displayed CO conversion of 81.6% and selectivity for long-chain hydrocarbons (C5+) and short-chain hydrocarbons of 56.8% and 28.2%. The superb activity and catalytic efficiency can be ascribed to the MOF precursors structures. This study investigated the relationship between MOF structure and catalytic performance and presented a new approach to design novel super active catalysts with preferable selectivity for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis by opting the suitable MOF precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Heterogeneity of breast cancer, the most common cancer in women, complicates approach to its treatment. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in the treatment of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) with the endpoint of achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) is not always successful. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinicopathologic characteristics, biomarker status and response of LABCs to NAC. Patients and methods: Core biopsies and post-surgical specimens of LABC patients were evaluated after receiving NAC. Their lymph node involvement, tumor staging, grading, size, tumoral and stromal lymphocytic infiltration (TLI, SLI), hormonal status, ki67, p53 and HER2 expression were evaluated. Response to NAC was assessed using pCR, Miller-Payne grading and residual cancer burden. Results: In a total of 71 patients, pCR rate was 5.6%. Strong association was observed between ki67 positivity and p53 expression (P-value˂0.001). Also ki67, TLI and SLI showed association with triple negative tumor subtype (P-value 0.011, 0.002 and 0.014). Good response to NAC was associated with p53 expression. Nodal metastatic residue was also associated with primary tumor's nuclear grade. Conclusion: Strong correlation of ki67 and p53 can suggest probable interchangeability of both markers in the prognosis of LABC. In this study p53 even showed superiority to ki67 having association with good response. Strong association of ki67, TLI and SLI with triple negative tumor subtype can be parallel to an overall better response rate of this subtype. We can also propose the effectiveness of defining nuclear grade as a prognostic factor towards residual lymph node involvement post NAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary renal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a very rare upper urinary tract neoplasm. Renal SCC has a poor prognosis because it usually presents in advanced stages. We report a 64-year-old woman with a right paravertebral mass; after right radical nephroureterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy, pathologic examination revealed primary SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the fifth cause of cancer death among women worldwide and represents a global health concern due to the lack of effective therapeutic regimens that could be applied to all disease groups. Nowadays, strategies based on pharmacogenomics constitute novel approaches that minimize toxicity while maximizing drug efficacy; this being of high importance in the oncology setting. Besides, genetic profiling of malignant tumors can lead to the development of targeted therapies to be included in effective drug regimens. Advances in molecular diagnostics have revealed that breast cancer is a multifaceted disease, characterized by inter-tumoral and intra-tumoral heterogeneity and, unlike the past, molecular classifications based on the expression of individual biomarkers have led to devising novel therapeutic strategies that improve patient survival. In this review, we report and discuss the molecular classification of breast cancer subtypes, the heterogeneity resource, and the advantages and disadvantages of current drug regimens with consideration of pharmacogenomics in response and resistance to treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photovoltaic (PV) generation is growing increasingly fast as a renewable energy source. Nevertheless, the drawback of the PV system is intermittent because of depending on weather conditions. Therefore, the wind power can be considered to assist for a stable and reliable output from the PV generation system for loads and improve the dynamic performance of the whole generation system in the grid connected mode. In this paper, a novel topology of an intelligent hybrid generation system with PV and wind turbine is presented. In order to capture the maximum power, a hybrid fuzzy-neural maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method is applied in the PV system. The average tracking efficiency of the hybrid fuzzy-neural is incremented by approximately two percentage points in comparison with the conventional methods. The pitch angle of the wind turbine is controlled by radial basis function network-sliding mode (RBFNSM). Different conditions are represented in simulation results that compare the real power values with those of the presented methods. The obtained results verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method which has the advantages of robustness, fast response and good performance. Detailed mathematical model and a control approach of a three-phase grid-connected intelligent hybrid system have been proposed using Matlab/Simulink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work was carried out to study the effects of silane functionalization of graphene oxide (GO) nanoplatelets and their loadings on the mechanical properties of basalt fiber (BF)/epoxy composites. At first, the GO nanoplatelets were organically modified by grafting of N-(3-trimethoxysilylpropyl)ethylenediamine (3-TMSPED) compound. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results demonstrated that silane compound can be covalently grafted to the surface of GO. The multiscale silanized graphene oxide (SGO)/BF/epoxy composites with various weight percentages of SGO in the matrix (0-0.5 wt.% in the step of 0.1) were fabricated. According to the experimental data, the 0.4 wt.% SGO-filled composite showed the maximum improvement by 18 %, 59 %, and 61 % in the tensile, flexural and compressive strengths of BF/epoxy composite, while the maximum improvement by 46 %, 54 %, and 66 % in the tensile, flexural and compressive moduli, respectively was observed for the 0.5 wt.% SGO-filled composite. Additionally, the SGO was more effective in mechanical property enhancement of fibrous composites in comparison with GO, due to its silane-functionalization. From the fracture surface examination of the specimens, it was found that the incorporation of GO or SGO improved the BF-epoxy interfacial bonding. A theoretical model based on Euler-Bernoulli beam-based method was utilized to predict the compressive properties of composites, which was in an excellent agreement with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of GONP modification and S‐GONPs loading on the mechanical properties of UBF/epoxy composite were investigated. The introduction of the silane organic chains on the surface of GONPs was evaluated by FTIR, STA, and Raman spectroscopy. Out of the specimens, the highest values in mechanical strengths were obtained at 0.4 wt% S‐GONPs. The tensile, flexural, and compressive strengths of this specimen were 16%, 47%, 51% greater, respectively, than that of UBF/epoxy composite. Improvements in the mechanical moduli were also obtained. It was also found that silane modification of GONPs had a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the specimens. Microscopic studies showed a better interfacial bonding between UBF and matrix in nanofiller‐filled specimens. The experimental results for compressive strength and modulus were compared with an Euler–Bernoulli beam‐based model. The model predictions were in very good agreement with experimental results. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E2472–E2482, 2018. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preparation of Fe3O4–NiCr2O4 nano-oxide (2) is reported via thermal decomposition of [Fe(phen)2(H2O)2]2[(ox)2Cr(μ-ox)Ni(phen)(μ-ox)Cr(ox)2] (1) [phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; ox = oxalate] precursor complex for the first time. The complex 1 was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The thermal stability of complex 1 was also investigated. The composition of the nano oxide 2 was confirmed by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis and the cubic structure, was supported by powder X-ray diffraction. In addition, uniform morphology of the nano-oxide was illustrated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. The elemental mapping was carried out and presented the distribution of Cr, Fe and Ni ions in nano oxide. In vitro antibacterial activity of 2 was investigated by using IZ and bacterium as per the colony count method against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria. All the experiments revealed that the nano oxide had good effect on deactivating of bacteria. Finally, ferromagnetic behavior of 1 and paramagnetic feature of 2 were measured by vibrating sample magnetometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a hybrid method is proposed to damp frequency and power oscillations in the power system equipped with unified power flow controller (UPFC) and power system stabilizer (PSS) controllers. The method is robust with respect to operating point’s changes. This hybrid method consists of two stages: offline and online. In the offline stage, the coefficients of PSS and UPFC controllers for different operating points have been found by PSO algorithm; then in the second stage, online new fuzzy controller is proposed to select the best PSS and UPFC coefficients according to operating point. The proposed method is simulated for single machine infinite bus system-associated PSS and UPFC for three different operating points in MATLAB software, and results of proposed method simulation are investigated and compared with conventional PSS (CPSS) + UPFC, CPSS controllers. Simulation results show that the proposed method has a better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present research describe applicability of tin oxide hydroxide nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon (Sn6O4 (OH)4-NPs-AC) which recognized via by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the rapid simultaneous removal of Methyl orange (MB) and methylene blue (MB) in mixture in the presence of ultrasonic wave. The central composite design (CCD) pattern as branch of response surface methodology (RSM) give useful information about influence of five most important operating variables is separate and combination nature namely pH (4.0–8.0), initial MO (8–24 mg L−1) and MB concentration (4–12 mg l−1), sonication time (2–6 min) and adsorbent mass (0.01–0.03 g) on the ultrasound under study dyes assisted adsorption. After surveying the experiment data and finding regression analysis correspond to experimental data, mathematical model and equation was constructed and derived which applied for optimizing ultrasound assisted adsorption and revel serious dependency of response to variables like adsorbent mass and sonication time s. F values of 114.5 and 165.5, coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9978 and 0.9985, adjusted-R2 of 0.9891 and 0.9925, adequate precision (AP) of 39.11 and 40.23, coefficient of variation (CV) of 0.653 and 1.988% for MB and MO respectively, implied the satisfactory adjustment of the quadratic model. Based on CCD, the optimum conditions was set as pH of 6.0; 0.02 g adsorbent; 20 and 12 mg l−1 of MO and MB concentration and 2 min sonication time. The predicted removal of MO and MB in binary system were 98.19 and 98.02% which was good agreement with their experimental R% MO and MB value of 98.00% for both at optimum condition. The equilibrium data has good agreement with Langmuir with maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 30.90 and 25.70 mg g−1 for MO and MB respectively. Investigation of time dependency of adsorption data revel more applicability pseudo-second order in cooperation with intraparticle diffusion description of the mechanism and adsorption rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, photovoltaic (PV) generation is growing fast as a renewable energy source. Nevertheless, the drawback of PV system is intermittent for depending on weather conditions. In this paper, a novel topology of intelligent PV system is presented. In order to capture the maximum power, hybrid fuzzy-neural maximum power point tracking method is applied in PV system. As a result, the effectiveness of the proposed method is represented and average tracking efficiency of the hybrid fuzzy-neural is incremented by approximately two percentage points in comparison with the conventional methods. It has the advantages of robustness, fast response and good performance. Detailed mathematical model and a control approach of a three-phase grid-connected intelligent hybrid system have proposed using MATLAB/Simulink. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]