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Higher harmonic cavities are widely used in low-emittance and high-current synchrotron storage rings to increase the stored beam’s lifetime and eliminate the coupled bunch instabilities. These parameters have an essential effect on the quality of synchrotron radiation and the machine’s stability. Higher harmonic cavities of the Iranian light source facility are passive, capacitive-loaded structures designed to operate at 300 MHz. These cavities can operate in the beam current range of 50–400 mA. This article comprehensively discusses analytical calculations and simulations of beam dynamics, electromagnetic, thermomechanical, and vacuum aspects of the Iranian Light Source Facility’s higher harmonic cavities. The engineering drawings are finalized after many technical discussions according to the presented results, and the fabrication process of the higher harmonic cavity has been started accordingly. The low-power RF measurement results of the first developed prototype are reported in the final section.

In a Light Source, unused synchrotron radiation is being distributed along the walls of the chambers. Due to the small conductance of the chambers, vacuum pumping will be based on the distributed concept, and then non-evaporable getter (NEG) coating is extensively used. The vacuum chambers are made of copper alloys tube, and cooling circuits are welded to the chamber to remove the heat load from the radiation generated. Filler metal creates a brazed joint between the water-cooling pipe and the vacuum chamber body. The thermal conductivity of the fillers is less than the vacuum chamber body. On the other hand, the velocity of the water in the cooling pipe is a critical parameter in thermal calculations that must be taken into account. So, in this paper, we study and investigate the effects of the filler metal and the cooling water velocity on cooling the NEG-coated chambers.

There is inconsistent evidence relating to the effects of megestrol acetate (MA) supplementation on cancer patients suffering from anorexia–cachexia syndrome. This review aimed to examine the dose–response effect of MA supplementation in patients with cancer‐associated anorexia/cachexia. Relevant keywords were searched in PubMed, Scopus and ISI Web of Science from inception to June 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effect of MA on pathologies in patients with cancer‐associated cachexia. Our primary outcomes were changes in body weight and appetite. However, fatigue and quality of life were secondary outcomes. The mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated using the random‐effects method. Thirteen trials comprising 1229 participants (mean age 60 years) were identified. The results of our highest versus lowest analysis revealed that MA supplementation was not associated with any increase in body weight (MD: 0.64 kg, 95% CI [−0.11, 1.38], P = 0.093, I2 = 69.1%; GRADE = very low certainty). Twelve trials, including 14 effect sizes derived from 1369 patients (intervention = 689, control = 680), provided data on the effect of MA on body weight. Subgroup analyses showed a significant increase in body weight following short‐term intervention (≤8 weeks) and a combination of radiation/chemotherapy as concurrent treatment. A linear dose–response meta‐analysis indicated that each 200 mg/day increment in MA consumption had a significant increase in weight gain (MD: 0.44; 95% CI [0.13, 0.74], P = 0.005; I2 = 97.1%); however, the magnitude of the effect was small. MA administration significantly affected the quality of life based on pooled effect sizes (MD: 1.15, 95% CI [0.76, 1.54], P < 0.001, I2 = 0%; n = 2 RCTs including 176 patients; GRADE = very low certainty). However, no significant effect of MA supplementation was observed on appetite (MD: 0.29, 95% CI [−0.05, 0.64], P = 0.096, I2 = 18.3%; n = 3 RCTs including 163 patients; GRADE = very low certainty) and fatigue (MD: 0.14, 95% CI [−0.09, 0.36], P = 0.236, I2 = 0%; n = 2 RCTs including 300 patients; GRADE = very low certainty). With very low certainty of the evidence, MA supplementation may not lead to a significantly increased weight gain and other outcomes.

Analysis of the characteristics and propagation behaviors of groundwater drought at different aquifer sites during past and future periods needs a proper understanding regarding its relation with meteorological droughts. Use of a robust technique of modeling (stochastic models) allowed groundwater level and precipitation to be forecasted and then the droughts were computed and analyzed using Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). In this research, Aleshtar Plain was selected as a case study. Analysis in this region was carried out by hierarchy and K-means clustering (5 clusters), because of the regional investigation of groundwater drought and large number of boreholes. The performance results of models showed that best forecasting models in cluster 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 were Auto-Regressive (AR)(1), AR(2), Moving Average (MA)(2), Mixed Autoregressive–Moving Average (ARMA)(2,2) and AR(2), respectively. Furthermore, the most appropriate model for precipitation within the study plain was ARMA(1, 2). Investigation of the relationship between meteorological and groundwater drought indicated that the strongest correlation between two types of droughts was for clusters 4 and 1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.76 and 0.63, respectively. Also, the lowest correlation was for cluster 2 with a correlation coefficient of 0.51. The results of cumulative periods related to the maximum correlation between SPI and Standardized Groundwater Level Index (SGI) showed that clusters 1 to 3 corresponded with cumulative 24-month periods of SPI and this magnitude for clusters 4 and 5 were 18 and 12 months, respectively. Moreover, results of maximum drought severity showed there was low variability between clusters considering the extreme droughts (SGI ≤ −2) during the study period. For the future period, drought severity results showed that groundwater drought of 2019 may happen with moderate value in cluster 5, severe values in clusters 2, 1 and 4, respectively, and extreme value in cluster 3. Hydrogeological evidence of the sites and results of autocorrelation structure of SGI series confirmed the time taken by meteorological drought for propagation into groundwater. Furthermore, results showed that the aquifer is controlled more by hydraulic diffusivity factor. so it would be expected that drought propagation time into groundwater would be long for the Western part and relatively short for sites located in the East, South tending to center and partially north of the aquifer. In general, these results represent an early warning system for groundwater drought preparation and mitigation of its impacts in a future time.

Objective Kidney health and dietary protein consumption are incompatible. This study aimed to examine the association between different types of proteins (total, animal, and plant) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for articles published up to May 7, 2023. We included prospective cohort studies that reported the association between dietary intake of total, animal, or plant proteins and the risk of CKD, based on predefined eligibility criteria. Results Ten prospective cohort studies involving 218,741 participants and 10,794 CKD events were included. Meta-analysis indicated that higher intake of animal protein (relative risk [RR] = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.77–0.97; GRADE: high certainty) and plant protein (RR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67–0.98; GRADE: moderate certainty) was significantly associated with a reduced risk of CKD. However, no significant association was found between total protein intake and CKD risk (RR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.75–1.19; GRADE: low certainty). A significant linear dose-response relationship was observed between plant protein intake and lower CKD risk ( P  < 0.001). Conclusion In conclusion, while no significant association was observed between total protein intake and CKD risk, both animal and plant protein consumption were associated with a reduced risk. These findings highlight the potential protective role of protein sources in kidney health. Future research should explore the underlying mechanisms of these associations and examine the effects of specific protein sources in diverse populations over longer follow-up periods.

Background Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a rare metabolic disorder resulting from functional defects in methylmalonyl-CoA mutase. Mutations in the MMAB gene are responsible for the cblB type of vitamin B12-responsive MMA. Results This study used Whole-exome sequencing (WES), Sanger sequencing, linkage analysis, and in-silico evaluation of the variants’ effect on protein structure and function to confirm their pathogenicity in a 2-day-old neonate presenting an early-onset metabolic crisis and death. WES revealed a homozygous missense variant on chromosome 12, the NM_052845.4 ( MMAB ):c.557G > A, p.Arg186Gln, in exon 7, a highly conserved and hot spot region for pathogenic variants. After being confirmed by Sanger sequencing, the wild-type and mutant proteins’ structure and function were modeled and examined using in-silico bioinformatics tools and compared to the variant NM_052845.4 ( MMAB ):c.556C > T, p.Arg186Trp, a known pathogenic variant at the same position. Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis showed a significant reduction in the stability of variants and changes in protein–protein and ligand–protein interactions. Interestingly, the variant c.557G > A, p.Arg186Gln depicted more variations in the secondary structure and less binding to the ATP and B12 ligands compared to the c.556C > T, p.Arg186Trp, the known pathogenic variant. Conclusion This study succeeded in expanding the variant spectra of the MMAB , forasmuch as the variant c.557G > A, p.Arg186Gln is suggested as a pathogenic variant and the cause of severe MMA and neonatal death. These results benefit the prenatal diagnosis of MMA in the subsequent pregnancies and carrier screening of the family members. Furthermore, as an auxiliary technique, homology modeling and protein structure and function evaluations could provide geneticists with a more accurate interpretation of variants’ pathogenicity. Graphical Abstract

Background Continuing hyperglycemia causes and exacerbate oxidative stress. Betanin as the principal pigment of red beet root has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potency of betanin on antioxidant defense in STZ-induced diabetic rats’ livers. Methods STZ at a single dose of 60 mg/kg body weight was intraperitoneally injected and betanin (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 28 days. Malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), protein carbonyl (PC) levels, and the enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalases and glutathione peroxidases (GPx) were evaluated in the liver. Furthermore, gene expression of Nrf2 and mentioned antioxidant enzymes were measured by Real-time PCR. Results Betanin (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly reduced PC levels and increased antioxidant enzyme activity in diabetic rats compared to the control diabetic group (P < 0.01). In comparison to the diabetic control group, all studied genes expression in diabetic rats were increased significantly with betanin at doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg (P < 0.02). The increase in gene expression at 20 mg/kg of betanin was significantly stronger than others (P < 0.015) except for the catalase (P = 0.201), that was almost the same. Moreover, treatment of diabetic rats with 20 mg/kg of betanin could significantly increase TAC levels (P < 0.05) and decrease MDA levels (P < 0.001) compared to diabetic control group. Conclusions Betanin could increase the antioxidant capacity of liver tissue associated with the Nrf2-mediated pathway in a dose-dependent manner.

Groundwater is generally influenced by overexploitation and climatic stresses particularly in arid and semi-arid areas of the world. The present research was conducted to identify the relative contribution of drought and overexploitation to groundwater budget deficit in an unconfined aquifer system. In order to simulate groundwater, the simulated recharge from WetSpass-M model was applied in the MODFLOW model along with other required packages. Moreover, the groundwater budget deficit caused by stressors was quantified through the use of calibrated groundwater model predictions. In order to better understand how the stressors affect the groundwater deficit, the aquifer was divided into Clusters 1, 2, and 3. Locally, the results showed that the contribution of stressors to groundwater budget deficit was the highest in Cluster 1 due to the groundwater overexploitation and quick reaction of the groundwater level to the droughts. Overall, this research showed that both drought and overexploitation, with an average of 2.44 and 3.32 million cubic meters, respectively, played a significant role in groundwater storage deficit. Furthermore, the effect of groundwater overexploitation was approximately 36% more than droughts.

Gold price prediction is a very complex nonlinear problem which is severely difficult. Real-time price prediction, as a principle of many economic models, is one of the most challenging tasks for economists since the context of the financial agents are often dynamic. Since in financial time series, direction prediction is important, in this work, an innovative Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) is utilized to obtain accurate Two-Step- Ahead (2SA) prediction results and ameliorate forecasting per- formances of gold market. The training method of the proposed network has been combined with an adaptive learning rate algorithm and a linear combination of Directional Symmetry (DS) is utilized in the training phase. The proposed method has been developed for online and offline applications. Simulations and experiments on the daily Gold market data and the benchmark time series of Lorenz and Rossler shows the high efficiency of proposed method which could forecast future gold price precisely.