114 research outputs found
Alkanna semiromica Ranjbar & Khalvati 2021, sp. nov.
No full text2. Alkanna semiromica Ranjbar & Khalvati, sp. nov. Fig. 10. Type: — IRAN. Isfahan: Semirom, 31°25’ 0.01”N, 51°34’0.01”E, 2950 m, 30 April 2012, Ranjbar 30880 (holotype BASU!). Fig. 11. Diagnosis: —The new species is similar to Huynhia pulchra, but differs by its smaller cauline leaves (1.2–2 cm versus 3–5 cm), pedicel in fruiting state (up to 8 mm versus up to 5 mm), blue to light violet corolla (versus sulphur yellow with purple spots), shorter corolla (12–14 mm versus 18–20 mm), calyx in flowering state (7–10 mm versus 8–14 mm), shorter style 5–7 mm (versus 9–10 mm) and stigma shallowly bilobed (versus deeply bilobed). The pollen grains are ovoid and 3-colporate, in contrast to prolate and stephanocolporate pollen in H. pulchra. Pollen characters fit Alkanna, in where the new species is similar to but differs from A. frigida. It differs by corolla dark blue (versus sulphur yellow), shorter basal leaves (8–15 × 0.5–1 mm versus 30–100 × 5–12 mm) and narrow corolla limbs (versus broad limbs). Etymology: —The specific epithet refers to Semirom, a city in Isfahan province, where the new species was found. Description: —Perennial green plant, with stout scaly stock. Stem multi-branched, branched from base, densely patent-pilose. Basal leaves, oblong to ovate, 8–15 × 0.5–1 cm, acute to subacute, tapering into the petiole, with entire, flat, or sometimes slightly undulate margins, white setose, sometimes with prominent base. Cauline leaves, oblong to lanceolate, 1.2–2 × 0.3–0.5 mm, acute or subacute, sessile, attenuate at base, with an evident midrib, veinless, densely white setose. Inflorescence a compact terminal head; 2–3 × 1.5–3 cm, pedicels short, leafy, peduncle 1–2 cm long; bracts oblong to ovate, 12–15 × 3–5 mm. Calyx 7–10 mm long in flower, up to 15 mm long in the fruiting state, broad at nearly the base; lobes linear to lanceolate, acute, densely hispid-setose with yellowish, patent setae up to 2 mm long. Corolla blue to violet light, lobes 12–14 mm long, loosely pubescent outside, slightly pilose inside, slightly constricted below the anthers. Annulus absent. Stamens inserted irregularly at different levels; three higher at the throat and two lower down in the middle of the tube. Anthers 1.5–2 mm long. Style 5–7 mm long, reaching up to the middle of the corolla tube, shallowly bilobed; lobes 0.2 mm long. Nutlet not seen. Palynology: —Pollen grains heteropolar, triangular concave, tricolporate, equatorial axis (E) 9.3 ± 1.9 μm, polar axis (P) 11.5 ± 3.85 μm, ornamentation psilate. Fig. 5. Distribution and ecology: — Alkanna semiromica was seen in the field by the first author and is known from a single specimen from the type locality that is deposited at the herbarium of Bu-Ali Sina University (BASU). The new species occurs in Isfahan province. It is endemic to southwestern Iran and known only from the type locality. It was collected from the rocky terrain along the roadside of the Black Mountains. IUCN Red List category: —A low frequency of the new species in one field locality was observed and therefore decided to classify this species as VU (Vulnerable). This category includes taxa with small populations that could be at risk, according to IUCN criteria (IUCN, 2001). We revisited the locality, where the new species was discovered and the neighboring areas in 2019. Our interpretation is based on a single known population. Pollen morphology: —Members of the family Boraginaceae represent a great array of pollen types, and thus the family is interesting for investigating the evolution of pollen characters (Noroozi et al 2021). Pollen characters can provide other elements with taxonomic significance can play important role in diversification of the group. According to previous studies, the pollen morphology of the Huynhia has been described as radial symmetric, isopolar with prolate shapes, polycolpate types, and with psilate ornamentations (Tab. 1; Coppi et al. 2015, Khatamsaz 2001). The pollen grains of the new species were observed as triangular concave and 3-colporate, which fits the ancestral state of the Lithospermeae and is realized in the genus Alkanna (Noroozi et al. 2021). The average polar axis (P) was between 11.5–15.35 μm and the average equatorial axis (E) between 9.3–11.19 μm. From this palynological information we infer the taxonomic placement of the new species in the genus Alkanna. * p: prolate; ell: elliptical; tc: triangular concave ** Data taken or adapted from Coppi et al. 2015 (2015). Taxonomic discussion: —The specimens kept at BASU, M. Ranjbar 30880, were determined morphologically as H. pulchra (Willdenow ex Roemer & Schultes) Greuter & Burdet, which are confined to Isfahan province. Herbarium material of this species is very scarce. However, when the specimens were more thoroughly examined, several characters appeared to be dissimilar to that species and other closely related species. The new species is similar to H. pulchra, especially by its habit, indumentum, number of leaflets, and shape, size, and arrangement of pods, and also differs from H. pulchra, by pollen shape, stigma shallowly bilobed, shorter style, smaller corolla, and calyx in anthesis. General and detailed characters of the vegetative parts and flowers in Huynhia are already well known from various literature. Here, two characters are worthy of mention because of their taxonomic significance; one concerning the androecial arrangement and other the stigma structure. In Huynhia the epipetalous stamens are inserted through very short filaments at different heights within the corolla tube, e.g., three higher at the throat and two lower down in the tube, however, this character also occurs in Alkanna frigida (Khatamsaz 2002) (Fig. 12). Given the payonlogical evidence from above, the new Iranian blue to light violet-corolla species is fully described here as a new species and named as Alkanna semiromica.The differences in characters of the new species and its relatives are shown in Table 2.Published as part of Khalvati, Sina & Ranjbar, Massoud, 2021, The comparative study of Alkanna and Huynhia (Boraginaceae, Lithospermeae), with description of a new species in Iran, pp. 216-234 in Phytotaxa 524 (4) on pages 227-230, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.524.4.1, http://zenodo.org/record/565635
Modifying the split-step theta-method with harmonic-mean term for stochastic differential equations
No full text[EN] In this paper, we design a class of general split-step methods for solving Ito stochastic differential systems, in which the drift or deterministic increment function can be taken from special ordinary differential equations solver, based on the harmonic-mean. This method is justified to have a strong convergence order of 1/2. Further, we investigate mean-square stability of the proposed method for linear scalar stochastic differential equation. Finally, some examples are included to demonstrate the validity and efficiency of the introduced scheme.This research was in part supported by the Research Council of Semnan University, and in part by a grant 97007950 from Iran National Science Foundation (INSF). Also, the third author acknowledges the support by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad (MINECO), the Agencia Estatal de Investigacion (AEI) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER UE) grant MTM2017-89664-P. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their careful reading, insightful comments and helpful suggestions which have led to improvement of the paper.Nouri, K.; Ranjbar, H.; Cortés, J. (2020). Modifying the split-step theta-method with harmonic-mean term for stochastic differential equations. International Journal of Numerical Analysis and Modeling. 17(5):662-678. https://riunet.upv.es/handle/10251/164481S66267817
P–N Junction Passivation in Kesterite Solar Cells by Use of Solution-Processed TiO2 Layer
No full textIn this work, we used a solution-processed TiO2 layer between Cu2ZnSnSe4 and CdS buffer layer to reduce the recombination at the p-n junction. Introducing the TiO2 layer showed a positive impact on VOC but fill factor and efficiency decreased. Using a KCN treatment, we could create openings in the TiO2 layer, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy measurements. Formation of these openings in the TiO2 layer led to the improvement of the short-circuit current, fill factor, and the efficiency of the modified solar cells.This work was supported in part by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under Grant 640868, in part by the Flemish government, Department Economy, Science and Innovation, in part by the FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme, and in part by the National Funds through FCT - Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project UID/CTM/50025/2013. The work of S. Ranjbar was supported by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation through Ph.D. grant SFRH/BD/78409/2011. The work of B. Vermang was supported by the Flemish Research Foundation FWO (mandate 12O4215N). (Corresponding author: Samaneh Ranjbar.
Enhanced mass transfer and water discharge in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell with a raccoon channel flow field
No full textThe cathode flow channel plays an important role in the water management of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. In order to improve mass transfer and water management in traditional channels, this paper presents a new wavy flow field to increase the fuel cell performance and overall efficiency. A raccoon channel with various waviness parameters is numerically studied by a three-dimensional two-phase PEM fuel cell model. The electrochemical current-voltage performance results confirm that the PEM fuel cell's performance with the raccoon design is higher than a conventional straight channel at high current densities. The effects of uniform gas distribution, removal of the accumulated water, and sufficient water content in the membrane are crucial factors for improving cell performance. A parametric analysis is also performed by considering the amplitude and wavelength of the raccoon pattern on the fuel cell performance. The results show that the output power improves in the raccoon channel by increasing the amplitude or increasing the wavelength. The raccoon channel's output power with amplitude of 0.5 mm and a wavelength of 2 mm is enhanced by about 20%. The increase of performance in the raccoon channel is significantly higher than in the past reported studies
High Performance 8-bit Approximate Multiplier using Novel 4:2 Approximate Compressors for Fast Image Processing
No full textFluorescence microscopy for Cdc42 quantification in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
No full textIn budding yeast, a certain concentration of the GTPase Cdc42 is optimal for cell division. This optimal concentration depends on the phenotype and genetic background of the cells. Due to bet hedging, the Cdc42 concentration is different between cells in a population and it is expected that the concentration, measured for many cells, is gamma distributed. This study describes a method for determining the concentration of Cdc42 proteins depending on the phenotype of individual cells. Fluorescence microscopy images were analyzed using custom designed software for tracking single cells and detecting budding and polarization events, based on existing segmentation software. This allows for estimating the cell volume and determining the concentration distribution based on the fluorescence intensity. The estimated cell volume is larger than was expected which is proven to be caused by segmentation errors. The intensity is shown to scale linearly with the number of fluorescent sources and using this result, the distribution for the Cdc42 concentration and copy number can be determined. For calculating the absolute concentration and copy number values, a constant still needs to be determined. To assess the reliability of the obtained results, validation measurements should be performed, for example by using different galactose concentrations to control the Cdc42 production by means of a galactose promoter or by using different genetic backgrounds. Based on the results, this method shows a possible way of determining the budding and polarization events and measuring the protein concentration for individual cells.Biomedical Engineerin
Symbolic Aspect of the Novel Savushun
No full text Abstract
Savushum is a historical, artistic, epic, mysterious, realistic novel with Streaks of romanticism. Its mysterious aspect has given the work a profound historical- cultural and philosophical aspect. On the surface or narrative layer, itewcounts the 28 Mordad 1332 (19/5/1953) coup detat and the defeat of Jebhe-ve Melli (national front) as one of the significant events in the history of Iran and devotion of some political figures as well as the treachery of some others involved in the events. It also recounts the reaction of some of the intellectuals to that event. The author has given a codefunction to same of the characters, animals, things, and concepts to develop the deeper layer of the novel.To recognize the cods, the author has created some signs in various ways. In the present work an attempt is made to investigate the quality, quality, methods, types and examples of coding by the author of the novel in order to decode some of the codes. To achive this gaol, same of the guidelines by the author as well as the existing evidence in the novel and similarity of the events with the historical events have been taken as the basis of decoding
Research positioning & trend identification: a data-analytics toolbox
No full textAIDA was an initiative of TU Delft scientific staff in cooperation with TU Delft Library and Leiden University’s Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS). The aim of the AIDA project was to provide TU Delft researchers and faculties with easy-to-use tools for research positioning and trend identifi cation.This booklet introduces a toolbox that will help a wide range of end-users – such as PhD candidates, researchers, group leaders, and university policymakers – to position their research and identify important patterns and trends within their domains of interest. The information provided and the case studies presented were developed based on the questions received from end-users at TU Delft. In compiling this information, extensive use was made of the experience of Leiden University’s Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) and the Research Support of TU Delft library. The presentation style is meant to be visual and easy to use, and to provide practical benefits.In this booklet, we first introduce the researcher’s toolbox, which consists of data collection, analysis, and communication tools. We then provide a list of frequent questions that we have received from our end-users and for each question we indicate the pages in which relevant case studies can be found. Each case study shows some of the methods that can be used to position research and identify trends. We provide a sample illustration and its description for each case study. We explain WHAT the case study is about, WHY it is important, WHO can benefi t from it, and HOW you can replicate it or make similar ones based on the data at hand.Transport Engineering and Logistic
Deviation From the Balanced Time Perspective and Depression and Anxiety Symptoms: the Mediating Roles of Cognitive-Behavioral Emotion Regulation in a Cross-Cultural Model
No full textAbdollahpour Ranjbar, Hamed/0000-0002-2923-5829; Habibi Asgarabad, Mojtaba/0000-0002-5011-2823Background Time perspective (TP) influences how individuals perceive and classify their past, present, and future, impacting their cognition, behavior, and psychological outcomes. Deviation from the balanced time perspective (DBTP) is associated with mental health problems (e.g., depression and anxiety). Emotion regulation (ER) encompasses cognitive and behavioral processes to regulate emotions, with maladaptive strategies like rumination and withdrawal linked to depression and anxiety. Despite extensive research on TP and ER, their joint impact, particularly in the context of depression and anxiety, and cultural differences remain underexplored.Method Participants (N = 513 Iranian, N = 470 Turkish) completed self-report questionnaires on time perspective, cognitive and behavioral ER, anxiety, and depression symptoms. A moderated mediation model was assessed, incorporating the exogenous variable of DBTP, with ER strategies as mediators, and endogenous variables of depressive and anxiety symptoms. The model accounted for cultural variations in the paths as a moderator.Results Significant associations were found between DBTP, ER strategies, depression, and anxiety symptoms. Mediation analyses revealed that both cognitive and behavioral ER strategies (except for adaptive behavioral ER strategies) significantly mediated the associations between DBTP and depression and anxiety. Additionally, multigroup analyses suggested that these mediating effects were consistent across Iranian and Turkish samples, with exceptions in adaptive cognitive ER strategies.Conclusion The study highlights the crucial role of TPs and ER strategies in predicting anxiety and depression symptoms, with notable cultural nuances. Specifically, maladaptive strategies exacerbate symptoms, while adaptive strategies mitigate them primarily in Iranian contexts. Cultural subtleties are discussed in detail.The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.Science Citation Index Expanded - Social Science Citation Inde
Corresponding Author Oral Diazepam effect on surgical patient's postoperative blood sugar 1
No full textABSTRACT Background: The hormonal and metabolic changes which follow injury or surgery. Insulin concentration may decrease after the induction of anesthesia and during surgery. Acute hyperglycemia makes the patient's hospital stay longer and later discharge and more expenses, so controlling hormonal changes can be useful for patient, physician and health system either. We conducted this study to find an easy and available way to getting this aim. Methods: 80 patients, ASA I and II were allocated in to two groups randomly. Patients in first group received 5mg oral Diazepam with 50cc water at the night before surgery and in the morning of surgery. Patients in control group received no drugs. Blood samples were taken before anesthesia induction and 15min after induction. They were sent to the lab to measure blood sugar level. The data was analyzed using t Student and Chi square test with SPSS software. Results: Rang of pre anesthesia blood sugar in study group were 68-118 mg/dl and in control group was 80-131 mg/dl. These values in intra operative phase in first group were 67-110mg/dl and in control group were 90-131mg/dl (P<0.0001). Conclusions: These results supported that using oral Diazepam as a premedication drug attenuates the hyperglycemic response due to surgical stress-induced release of Catecholamine and Cortisol. So the less hormonal changes, sooner patient discharge, fewer occupied beds in hospitals and less expenses for patients, hospital and health system
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