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Abstract: In this paper, the results of an investigation on a two-stage cooling system have been studied. This system consists of a nocturnal radiative unit, a cooling coil, and an indirect evaporative cooler. During the night in summer, requisite chilled water for a cooling coil unit is provided by nocturnal radiative cooling and is stored in a storage tank. During the next day, the water in the tank provides chilled water for the cooling coil unit and hot outdoor air passes through two-stages: the cooling coil unit and an indirect evaporative cooler. Three sources provide secondary air for the indirect evaporative cooler. The sources are outdoor air, the air leaving from the cooling coil, and the air leaving from the indirect stage (regenerative). The investigation has been conducted in weather conditions in the city Tehran. The results obtained demonstrate that the first stage of the system increases the effectiveness of the indirect evaporative cooler. Also, the regenerative model provides the best comfort conditions. Therefore, this environmentally friendly and energy-efficient system can be considered as an alternative to the mechanical vapor compression systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Energy consumption in buildings is heavily affected by climate change. It causes significant variations of the outdoor design conditions, cooling and heating loads. In this paper, a total of 40 years (1967–2006) of hourly temperature data were considered in four decades and outdoor design conditions for each decade were calculated. It was found that wet-bulb temperature (WBT) has increased by 3.28°C during the mentioned period, which impacts on design and selection of the cooling equipment. The results show that cooling hours is projected to increase around 15% over the whole 1967–2006 period. The most important result found in this study is the inability of direct evaporative cooling (DEC) systems in preparing comfort condition after 1997, whereas these systems provided thermal comfort in Tehran''s buildings from 1967 to 1996. The prediction of climate change impacts on the outdoor design conditions and cooling systems performance until 2020 demonstrates dry bulb temperature (DBT) and WBT increase 1.05°C and 2.42°C respectively. Hence, indirect–direct evaporative cooling systems (IDEC) may not be responsible for the years after 2016. Besides, the additional energy for absorption and vapor compression (VC) cooling systems will grow quickly in the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The key issue for decision making in stock trading is selection of the right stock at the right time. In order to select the superior stocks (alternatives) for investment, a finite number of alternatives have to be ranked considering several and sometimes conflicting criteria that often are vague and have uncertainty conditions. Therefore, we are faced with a special Multiple Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) problem. The purpose of this paper is to develop a fuzzy expert system for selecting superior stocks in order to encounter the uncertainty of stock portfolio recommendation and model the recommendation rules which experts at Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) use for portfolio recommendation. The results of implementing the designed fuzzy expert system at TSE were affirmative. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Study Design:Investigation of burden of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) using disease modeling.Objectives:The present paper is intended to estimate the SCI burden for the year 2008.Setting:Tehran, capital of Iran.Methods:Epidemiological data needed to calculate Disability-Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs) for SCI, was estimated according to prevalence, duration and relative risk of mortality using DISMOD software. For DALY calculation, the years of life lost because of premature mortality (YLL) was added to the number of years lost because of disability (YLD). To calculate DALYs for SCI, first year DALY calculated separately and for the next years, the DALY was assessed for six different clinical presentations of traumatic SCI including quadriplegia, quadriparesis, paraplegia, paraparesis, hemiplegia and hemiparesis.Results:In first year following SCI, the DALY was 3772 years, which has 0.5 DALY per 1000 people and YLL/DALY was 89.3%. Following the first year, the DALY was 435 for quadriplegia, 163 for quadriparesis, 868 for paraplegia, 164 for paraparesis, 26 for hemiplegia and 14 for hemiparesis. The total YLL for traumatic SCI was 4077 years and total YLD was 1364 years (total YLL/DALY was 74.9%) and total DALY was 5441 years, (M/F=2.0), which has 0.7 DALY per 1000 people in Tehran in 2008.Conclusions:This study showed a high burden for SCI. Identifying the risk factors of SCI, and performing cost-effective preventive interventions for reducing burden of SCI is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (CA) methods have been used to investigate the water quality of Jajrood River (Iran) and to assess and discriminate the relative magnitude of anthropogenic and “natural” influences on the quality of river water. T, EC, pH, TDS, NH4, NO3, NO2, Turb., T.Hard., Ca, Mg, Na, K, Cl, SO4, SiO2 as physicochemical and TC, FC as biochemical variables have been analyzed in the water samples collected every month over a three-year period from 18 sampling stations along a 50 km section of Jajrood River that is under the influence of anthropogenic and natural changes. Exploratory analysis of experimental data has been carried out by means of PCA and CA in an attempt to discriminate sources of variation in water quality. PCA has allowed identification of a reduced number of mean 5 varifactors, pointing out 85% of both temporal and spatial changes. CA classified similar water quality stations and indicated Out-Meygoon as the most polluted one. Ahar, Baghgol, Rooteh, Befor Zaygan, Fasham, Roodak and Lashgarak were identified as affected by organic pollution. A Scree plot of stations in the first and second extracted components on PCA also gave us a classification of stations due to the similarity of pollution sources. CA and PCA led to similar results, though Out-Meygoon was identified as the most polluted station in both methods. Box-plots showed that PCA could approximately demonstrate temporal and spatial variations. CA gave us an overview of the problem and helped us to classify and better explain the PCA results. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper studies the energy balance between the input and the output per unit area for greenhouse cucumber production. For this purpose, the data on 43 cucumber production greenhouses in the Tehran province, Iran, were collected and analyzed. The results indicated that a total energy input of 148836.76MJha−1 was consumed for cucumber production. Diesel fuel (with 41.94%) and chemical fertilizers (with 19.69%) were amongst the highest energy inputs for cucumber production. The energy productivity was estimated as 0.80kgMJ−1. The ratio of energy output to energy input was approximately 0.64. Results indicate 10.93% and 89.07% of total energy input was in renewable and non-renewable forms, respectively. The regression results revealed that the contribution of energy inputs on crop yield (except for fertilizers and seeds energies) was significant. The human labour energy had the highest impact (0.35) among the other inputs in greenhouse cucumber production. Econometric analysis indicated that the total cost of production for one hectare of cucumber production was around 33425.70$. Accordingly, the benefit–cost ratio was estimated as 2.58. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Land surface temperature (LST) is a significant parameter for many applications. Many studies have proposed various algorithms, such as the split-window method, for retrieving surface temperatures from two spectrally adjacent thermal infrared bands of satellite data. Each algorithm is developed for a limited study area and application. In this paper, as part of developing an optimal split-window method in the southeast of Tehran province, Iran, four commonly applied algorithms to retrieve the LST from AVHRR were compared. This study was carried out in a wheat farm site located in the Pakdasht Agricultural Region. Measurements of LST over the farm were made with a manual infrared radiometer at the time of NOAA overpass for 18 days of May to June 2004. These days were cloud free over the study area. A total of 18 NOAA images were acquired for the days that LST measurements were made. The temperatures derived by the different split-window algorithms were compared to ground truth measurements. The performance of the split window algorithms was checked with three statistical indices: root mean square error (RMSE), mean bias error (MBE) and coefficient of determination (R2). The results showed that the Ulivieri split-window algorithm produced the lowest value of RMSE and MBE (2.71 and 0.26 K, respectively) and its highest value of R2 (0.92) gave more accurate results than the other algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental managers are commonly faced with sophisticated decisions, such as choosing the location of a new facility subject to multiple conflicting criteria. This paper considers the specific problem of creating a well-distributed network of hospitals that delivers its services to the target population with minimal time, pollution and cost. We develop a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis process that combines Geographical Information System (GIS) analysis with the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP), and use this process to determine the optimum site for a new hospital in the Tehran urban area. The GIS was used to calculate and classify governing criteria, while FAHP was used to evaluate the decision factors and their impacts on alternative sites. Three methods were used to estimate the total weights and priorities of the candidate sites: fuzzy extent analysis, center-of-area defuzzification, and the α-cut method. The three methods yield identical priorities for the five alternatives considered. Fuzzy extent analysis provides less discriminating power, but is simpler to implement and compute than the other two methods. The α-cut method is more complicated, but integrates the uncertainty and overall attitude of the decision-maker. The usefulness of the new hospital site is evaluated by computing an accessibility index for each pixel in the GIS, defined as the ratio of population density to travel time. With the addition of a new hospital at the optimum site, this index improved over about 6.5 percent of the geographical area. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The well-known fuzzy rule-based Takagi–Sugeno–Kang (TSK) model is combined with a set of fuzzy regressions (FR) to investigate the impact of the climate change on the electricity consumption duration. The electricity demand forecasts in the short-terms have a vital application in electricity markets. Knowing that the energy is a product of the relation between the climate change and the average consumption duration of the peak load. The paper introduces a type III TSK fuzzy inference machine combined with a set of linear and nonlinear fuzzy regressors in the consequent part to model effects of the climate change on the electricity demand. However, a simplified version of the model is applied to daily data of the average temperature in Tehran, 2004. First, based on an initially fitted nonlinear curve, an optimization model is employed to cluster data into three groups of cold, temperate and hot. The fuzzy data have been expanded to reduce the temperature volatile property. Then the relation is estimated by the fuzzy regressions in company with the TSK model. Numerical results show high efficiency of the proposed combined fuzzy model, as well as a minor decrease in the average absolute error. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Industry 4.0 Predictive Maintenance (PdM 4.0) architecture in the broadcasting chain is one of the taxonomy challenges for deploying Industry 4.0 frameworks. This paper proposes a novel PdM framework based on advanced Reference Architecture Model Industry 4.0 (RAMI 4.0) to reduce operation and maintenance costs. This framework includes real-time production monitoring, business processes, and integration based on Design Science Research (DSR) to generate an innovative Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) meta -model. The addressed model visualizes sub-processes based on experts' and stakeholders' knowledge to reduce the cost of maintenance of audiovisual services including satellite TV, cable TV, and live audio and video broadcast services. Based on the recommendation and the concept of Industry 4.0, the proposed framework tolerates the predictable failures and further concerns in similar related industries. Some empirical experiments have been conducted by using the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting's (IRIB) high-power station (located near the capital city of Iran, Tehran) to evaluate the functionality and efficiency of the proposed predictive maintenance framework. Practical outcomes demonstrate that interval times between data collection should be increased in audio and video broadcasting predictive maintenance because of the limitation of the internal processing performance of equipment. The framework also indicates the role of the Frequency Modulation (FM) transmitters' data clearance to reduce the instability and untrustworthy data during data mining. The proposed DSR method endorses using a customized RAMI 4.0 meta -model framework to adapt distributed broadcasting and communication with PdM 4.0, which increases the stability as well as decreasing maintenance costs of the broadcasting chain in comparison to state-of-the-art methodologies. Furthermore, it is shown that the proposed framework outperforms the best-evaluated methods in terms of acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to standard and assign validity and reliability of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children - TSCC-A. Normative data for the TSCC-A were based on 3.042 students participating in a prevalence child abuse study in 19 different locations of Tehran and 140 participants who had been referred to the run away children centers in Tehran. After the TSCC was validated on run away and abused children, it was made available to researchers doing larger studies on normative group. Reliability analysis of the TSCC-A scales in the normative sample demonstrated high internal consistency. The evidence for its validations (convergent, discriminate and construct validity) showed that they were significantly acceptable. This paper presents data demonstrating the psychometric reliability and validity of the TSCC-A scales in Iranian student population. We suggest to include the TSCC-A in a battery of relevant standardized tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to standard and assign validity and reliability of the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children - TSCC-A. Normative data for the TSCC-A were based on 3.042 students participating in a prevalence child abuse study in 19 different locations of Tehran and 140 participants who had been referred to the run away children centers in Tehran. After the TSCC was validated on run away and abused children, it was made available to researchers doing larger studies on normative group. Reliability analysis of the TSCC-A scales in the normative sample demonstrated high internal consistency. The evidence for its validations (convergent, discriminate and construct validity) showed that they were significantly acceptable. This paper presents data demonstrating the psychometric reliability and validity of the TSCC-A scales in Iranian student population. We suggest to include the TSCC-A in a battery of relevant standardized tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Comparison of the effect of hydroxychloroquine with placebo to prevent infection from the COVID -19 virus among healthcare professionals TRIAL DESIGN: Single centre, 2-arm, double-blind randomised (ratio 1:1) placebo-controlled trial PARTICIPANTS: Treatment staff who are in contact with patients and have at least 3 shifts a week in Arash hospital affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences, in Iran and who consent to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria include: History of COVID -19 virus infection, clinical symptoms such as fever, nausea, dyspnea and myalgia in the past two months, history of underlying diseases hypersensitivity to hydroxychloroquine and G6PD enzyme deficiency.Intervention and Comparator: Intervention group: Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg tablet of Amin Pharmaceutical.Control Group: placebo which is completely similar in form and taste to 200 mg hydroxychloroquine tablet and is manufactured by the same factory (Amin Pharmacy). The dosage is two tablets daily, once a week for one to three months (based on the duration of the Coronavirus epidemic in Tehran).Main Outcomes: Confirmed COVID-19 virus infection using Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is the primary outcome. The time period for measuring the primary outcome is any infection within the trial period up to one month after taking the last dose.Randomisation: The randomized block allocation method was developed using Stata version 15 software by an independent researcher, using a block size of six. Allocation to the two treatment groups will be conducted by this researcher using paper labels (random 10-digit codes) in a 1:1 ratio t The labels will be attached to the drug packages in order of randomization. Drug packages will be arranged in a box according to the randomization list.Blinding (masking): Participants and caregivers are blinded to group assignment and the data will be analyzed by an independent statistical expert who is unaware of the treatment allocation.Numbers To Be Randomised (sample Size): A total of 282 participants will be randomised with 141 participants the Hydroxychloroquineeach intervention group and 141 participants to the placebo control group TRIAL STATUS: The protocol version number is 99-1-101-47091 and the approval ID is IR.TUMS.VCR.REC.1399.001 and recruitment began April 7, 2020, and is anticipated to be complete by August 7, 2020.Trial Registration: The name of the trial register is Iranian registry of clinical trial (IRCT), registration number is IRCT20120826010664N6, date of trial registration is April 7, 2020, FULL PROTOCOL: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although mainstream allopatic medicine is the dominant model in Iran, many other kinds of healing are currently also being used. This paper aims to describe some aspects of prayer healing in Iran. This study has been carried out using participatory observation and in-depth interviews with fourteen healers who worked in Tehran. Also one hundred and seventy patients who referred to healing centers were interviewed through random sampling. The findings are summarized in terms of a description of some personal characteristic of healers, the methods of healing, healer–patient communication patterns and, finally, some consequences of visiting a prayer healer. The findings indicate that, despite the increasing growth in scientific medicine, traditional healing is still alive. It is a cultural way of coping with health problems. This essay also makes several suggestion for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For analyzing a repeated ordinal response, it is common to use a multivariate cumulative logit model. This model may fit poorly, especially when a nonsymmetric response is available. In these cases, alternative strategies should be utilized. Methods: In this paper, we present a family of power transformations for the cumulative probabilities to model asymmetric departures from the random-intercept cumulative logit model. To illustrate this method, we analyze the data from an epidemiologic study to identify risk factors of hypothermia among newly born infants in some referral university hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Results: For hypothermia data, using this family of transformations and comparing the goodnessof-fit statistics showed that a model with the cumulative complementary log-log link gives us a better fit compared to a model with the cumulative logit link. Conclusion: In some areas, using the ordinary cumulative logit link function does not lead to the best fit. So, other link functions should be evaluated to discover the best transformation for the cumulative probabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tehran metropolitan area is one of the mega cities of the world and has an annual domestic water consumption close to one billion cubic meters. The sewer system mainly consists of traditional absorption wells. Therefore, the return flow from the domestic consumption has been one of the main sources of groundwater recharge. Some part of this sewage is drained into local rivers and drainage channels and partially contaminates the surface runoff and local flows. These polluted surface waters are used in conjunction with groundwater for irrigation purposes in the southern part of the Tehran. In this paper, a systematic approach to surface and groundwater resources modeling in the study area, with its complex system of water supply, groundwater recharge, and discharge, is discussed. A dynamic programming optimization model is developed for conjunctive use planning. The objective function of this model is developed to supply the agricultural water demands, to reduce pumping costs, and to control groundwater table fluctuations. To develop the response function of the aquifers located in the study area, a mathematical model for simulation of the Tehran aquifer water table fluctuations has been developed and calibrated with the available data. Different scenarios are defined to study the long-term impacts of the development projects on conjunctive use policies and water table fluctuations. Comparison of the results showed how significant is the effects of an integrated approach to the surface and groundwater resources allocation in Tehran metropolitan area. The proposed model is a useful tool for irrigation planning in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper couples a Forward Feature Selection algorithm with Random Forest (FFS-RF) to create a transition index map, which then guides the spatial allocation for the extrapolation of urban growth using a Cellular Automata model. We used Landsat imagery to generate land cover maps at the years 1998, 2008, and 2018 for the Tehran-Karaj Region (TKR) in Iran. The FFS-RF considered the independent variables of slope, altitude, and distances from urban, crop, greenery, barren, and roads. The FFS-RF revealed temporal non-stationary of drivers from 1998–2008 to 2008–2018. The FFS-RF detected that altitude and distance from greenery were the most important drivers of urban growth during 1998–2008, then distances from crop and barren were the most important drivers during 2008–2018. We used the Total Operating Characteristic to evaluate the transition index maps. Validation during 2008–2018 showed that FFS-RF produced a transition index map that had predictive power no better than an allocation of urban growth near existing urban. Simulation to 2060 extrapolated that Tehran, Karaj, and their adjacent cities will interconnect spatially to form a gigantic city-region. [Display omitted] • A Forward Feature Selection - Random Forest (FFS-RF) model describes urban growth. • FFS-RF found temporal non-stationarity of drivers in Iran's Tehran-Karaj region. • The Total Operating Characteristic evaluated the transition index map (TIM). • FFS-RF produced a TIM that has predictive power no better than a baseline TIM. • FFS-RF and Cellular Automata extrapolated urban growth to the year 2060. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lifestyle intervention may have a critical effect on the association between genetics and obesity. This study aimed to investigate changes in FTO and IRX3 gene expression in obese and overweight male adolescents undergoing a lifestyle intervention and the role of FTO genotype in this interaction.Methods: This study was a field trial of 62 adolescents from boys' high schools in Tehran, Iran. Two schools were randomly allocated as the intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 32) schools. The rs9930506 SNP in FTO was genotyped at baseline and the level of FTO and IRX3 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Anthropometric measurements were assessed at baseline and after 18 weeks of intensive lifestyle intervention.Results: Our results showed that IRX3 expression in the intervention group was significantly up-regulated compared to baseline (P = 0.007) and compared to the control group (P = 0.011).The intervention group had significantly up-regulated transcripts of IRX3 only in rs9930506 risk allele carriers of the intervention group compared to risk allele carriers of the control group (P = 0.017). Moreover, our data showed that the FTO expression was up-regulated in AA genotype carriers and down-regulated in AG/GG genotype carriers (P = 0.017).Conclusion: Lifestyle modification may exert its effects on obesity through changes in the expression level of the FTO and IRX3 genes. However, FTO genotype plays a role in the extent of the effect of lifestyle changes on gene expression. Further studies are crucial to have a better understanding of the interaction between lifestyle, genetics and anthropometric measurements. Trial registration This paper reports a comprehensive intervention study (Interactions of Genetics, Lifestyle and Anthropometrics study or IGLA study), which is retrospectively registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials as IRCT2016020925699N2. Date registered: April 24, 2016. ( https://www.irct.ir/searchresult.php?id=25699&number=2 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind is the carrier of pollutants and any other gaseous or particle matters in the atmosphere. Stable atmosphere with low wind provides favourable conditions for high contamination of pollutants in urban areas. The importance of mesoscale atmospheric flows in air pollution dispersion has been recognized in the past three decades and has been the focus of intensive research; both observational and numerical. Mesoscale or local scale circulations are more prominent when the synoptic pressure gradients are weak, allowing horizontal temperature contrasts to develop, which in turn lead to mesoscale pressure perturbations. Tehran, a city which is situated at the southern foothills of the Alborz Mountain chain has an average elevation of 1500m, and covers an area of 864 km². Alborz Mountains have a significant influence on the dynamics and thermodynamic modification of wind regime over the city. At the same time, the Urban Heat Island effect (UHI) can cause its own mesoscale flow, complicating an already complex local scale flow. The topography and the urban fabric can cause slope flows, mountain flows, and valley flows amongst many other factors. This paper focuses on the use of state-of-the-art atmospheric numerical model - The Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) - in an ideal situation to study the characteristics of the mesoscale flow systems that prevail over Tehran when air quality is unfavourable. So average sound of Radiosonde at Mehrabad station, for almost all the fair days of cold seasons from 2005 to 2008 was selected as an ideal initial condition and boundary condition with 10 x 10 km spatial and 12-hour temporal resolution. The simulations were carried out for a 3-day period in December 2005 when an aircraft, due to low visibility caused by high concentration of air pollution, crashed 2 miles away from the end of runway into an inhabited area. Three simulations were prepared. For the first experiment, called control run, we used the default urban setting of Tehran. In the second simulation, urban properties of Tehran were removed completely from the land-use fed to the model to investigate the effect of urban area on thermally induced circulation in Tehran. This simulation was called NoURB simulation. To investigate the role of the roughness in the urban area, a 3rd simulation was prepared. In this simulation, which was referred to as HiFric simulation, three urban categories were used; class 31 of USGS land use/land cover was used for "Low Intensity Residential", which included areas with a mixture of constructed materials and vegetation. These areas were most commonly included as single-family housing units in which the population densities were lower than those in high intensity residential areas. Class 32 of USGS represented "High Intensity Residential" which included highly developed areas where people resided in large numbers. Finally class 33 of USGS was used for "Commercial/Industrial/Transportation", which included infrastructures (e.g. roads, railroads, etc.) and all highly developed areas not classified as High Intensity Residential. The results indicated that urban areas near complex topography can increase transfer of material (pollution) and energy from boundary layer to the free atmosphere. Besides the ideal simulation, we investigated some observational aspects of the transition time by wind persistence charts. The results showed that we have a 2 to 3-hour lag time at the evening transition of northern and southern part of the city which could improve the pollution potential in this period. This fact may play an important role in Tehran megacity management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conference paper on factors contributing to emotional and behavioral disorders during the puberty period among girl students in Tehran, Iran, is presented. Results reveal that 47.4% of students admit their parents are not good role models for them, and 48.4% believe there is a discrimination in their family. Around 80% of girl students report that their mothers are main sources of information about puberty period.