Low intake or tissue concentrations of the n-6 PUFA, especially to the major n-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA), and low exercise cardiac power (ECP) are both associated with CVD risk. However, associations of the n-6 PUFA with ECP are unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore cross-sectional associations of the serum total n-6 PUFA, LA, arachidonic acid (AA), γ-linolenic acid (GLA) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA) concentrations with ECP and its components. In total, 1685 men aged 42–60 years from the Kuopio Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Factor Study and free of CVD were included. ANCOVA was used to examine the mean values of ECP (maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max)/maximal systolic blood pressure (SBP)) and its components in quartiles of the serum total and individual n-6 PUFA concentrations. After multivariable adjustments, higher serum total n-6 PUFA concentration was associated with higher ECP and VO2max (for ECP, the extreme-quartile difference was 0·77 ml/mmHg (95 % CI 0·38, 1·16, P for trend across quartiles < 0·001) and for VO2max 157 ml/min (95 % CI 85, 230, P for trend < 0·001), but not with maximal SBP. Similar associations were observed with serum LA concentration. Higher serum AA concentration was associated with higher ECP but not with VO2max or maximal SBP. The minor serum n-6 PUFA GLA and DGLA were associated with higher maximal SBP during exercise test and DGLA also with higher VO2max but neither with ECP. In conclusion, especially LA concentration was associated with higher ECP. This may provide one mechanism for the cardioprotective properties of, especially, LA.

A mathematical model has been developed to determine the best geometry of a compact heat exchanger in this research study. Accordingly, an objective function was introduced to define the optimized structure of the exchanger. Two main targets were pursued in this regard. First was the rate of existing discrepancy between the possible heat transfer rate in the exchanger and the maximum rate. Second was possible heat transfer consideration between exchanging gasses and incoming air of the furnace. A sample shell and tube heat exchanger of existing tube in a processing industry has been studied and the calculations have been performed to solve the relevant equations. In addition, a comprehensive code to design an optimized compact heat exchanger for heat recovery of the furnaces has been presented. Then, data gathering and model synchronization caused to a preliminary evaluation of model quality. Thus, for increasing accuracy level of mentioned research, along with measurements’ correction program, model modification has been done and new results were calculated. Optimization model analysis showed that by using this approach, not only significant heat conservation can be achieved, but also suggested procedure might be completely economical.

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a pro-inflammatory milieu that may partially account for its association with an increased cardiovascular risk. We aimed to (1) evaluate the serum concentrations of twelve cytokines and growth factors (epidermal growth factor (EGF), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-1α/-1β/-2/-4/-6/-8/-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), TNF-α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) in 303 individuals with or without the MetS; and (2) explore their relationship with the presence of the MetS. Patients with the MetS had significantly higher serum concentrations of IFN-γ, EGF, IL-1α/-1β/-2/-4/-6/-8/-10, MCP-1 and TNF-α, whilst serum VEGF concentrations were markedly lower compared with the control group (e.g. 38·55 v. 82·18 pg/ml; P< 0·05). Amongst these parameters, IFN-γ and IL-1α emerged as the most significant independent predictors of the MetS. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that patients with the MetS had an altered blood cytokine and growth factor profile that may partially account for its adverse clinical outcomes. Further prospective studies in larger multi-centre settings are required to unravel the role and association of the emerging biomarkers with the MetS and their implication in therapeutic intervention.

In the provided research, the design of CHE (Compact Heat Exchanger) is evaluated and discussed from the heat transfer aspect. Benefiting from present equations and considering the objective concepts, the procedural chart is proposed for achieving optimal design. The main goal of this research study is implementing a new algorithm for optimization to modify a conventional design of CHE. Nonlinear gradient mathematical modeling with different scenarios on free or related variables is developed to cover the purpose of maximizing total heat transfer capacity. By mathematical programming analysis, a model has been provided for optimal design and developed in the GAMS (Generalized Algebraic Modelling System) software. Also for further model test rig development purpose, the proposed model has been incorporated in Matlab software using independent variants and the accuracy of the responses was again evaluated. The comparison indicated 109W/K difference in the exchanged thermal energy rate compared to the optimal exchanger operation conditions. After introducing case study to this model, an acceptable response with 0.997W/K difference on optimal point was achieved. Solving the model indicated 0.833W/K difference with the optimal point, which confirms the resulted technical responses.

The present research study includes thermal energy performance analysis of a flat plate solar collector, in order to cover a sensitivity analysis about effective variables contributed to performance increasing approach. To obtain that, energy and momentum governing equations on a flat plate thermal collector were developed to achieve air output temperature and velocity profiles both in model and experiment. The model theory is validated with experiments by a set of flat plate thermal collectors, those located in (35◦44′35′′ N, 50◦57′25′′ E) coordinates and then were applied to carry out experimental activities. Quantitative results depicted that the mean difference between predicted and measured output air temperature in natural and forced convection scenarii is 1.47 ◦C (3.5%) and 0.9 ◦C (1.5%), respectively; however earlier research works and studies mentioned in literature, include error percentages in the range of 4–10%. Another quantification about, the average error percentages of estimated amounts of output air velocity profile values in natural and forced convection scenarii is 9% and 4%, respectively. This issue realizes the developed model in forced convection scenario more accurate than natural convection scenario.

The balancing of robotic systems is an important issue, because it allows significant reduction of torques. However, the literature review shows that the balancing of robotic systems is performed without considering the traveling trajectory. Although in static balancing the gravity effects on the actuators are removed, and in complete balancing the Coriolis, centripetal, gravitational, and cross-inertia terms are eliminated, but it does not mean that the required torque to move the manipulator from one point to another point is minimum. In this paper, “optimal spring balancing” is presented for open-chain robotic system based on indirect solution of open-loop optimal control problem. Indeed, optimal spring balancing is an optimal trajectory planning problem in which states, controls, and all the unknown parameters associated with the springs must be determined simultaneously to minimize the given performance index for a predefined point-to-point task. For this purpose, on the basis of the fundamental theorem of calculus of variations, the necessary conditions for optimality are derived that lead to the optimality conditions associated with Pontryagin's minimum principle and an additional condition associated with the constant parameters. The obtained optimality conditions are developed for a two-link manipulator in detail. Finally, the efficiency of the suggested approach is illustrated by simulation for a two-link manipulator and a PUMA-like robot. The obtained results show that the proposed method has dominant superiority over the previous methods such as static balancing or complete balancing.

Stimuli from a prospective mate increase the secretion of luteinising hormone (LH) in sheep. This ‘male effect’ in ewes and ‘female effect’ effect in rams is predominantly mediated by olfactory signals, though it is thought that non-olfactory signals play synergistic or substitutive roles. In this study, we tested whether exposure to visual or audio–visual stimuli from a prospective mate would stimulate an increase in LH secretion in ewes (Experiment 1) and rams (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, groups of eight Merino ewes were exposed to one of three stimuli midway through a frequent blood-sampling regimen: full ram contact, still images of rams, a video of ewes and rams mating. Control ewes (n = 8) were completely isolated from rams. Exposure to still images of rams appeared to stimulate an increase in mean LH concentrations (P < 0.05) and tended to increase LH pulse frequency (P < 0.1), but the response was significantly smaller than that observed in ewes exposed to rams (P < 0.01). Audio–visual stimuli had no effect on any parameters of LH secretion (P > 0.1). In Experiment 2, Merino rams were allocated to either an Exposure (n = 7) or a Control (n = 7) group. Exposure rams underwent two exposure periods midway through a frequent blood-sampling regimen; exposure to still images of ewes and audio recorded during mating of ewes and rams (audio–visual exposure); exposure to oestrous ewes (ewe exposure). Control rams were sampled at the same frequency but remained isolated from ewe stimuli. Exposure of rams to the audio–visual stimuli did not affect any parameters of LH secretion (P > 0.1). In contrast, exposure to oestrous ewes increased LH pulse frequency (P < 0.05) and advanced the onset of the next LH pulse (P < 0.05). In conclusion, visual signals appear to be involved in eliciting the neuroendocrine response of ewes to rams and are of greater importance to this phenomenon in ewes (male effect) than rams (female effect). However, overall the visual and audio–visual signals used in this study were far less effective than stimulus animals, suggesting that these stimuli are less important than olfactory signals, or a combination of olfactory and audio–visual signals.

Genetic improvement of farm animals is the process of selecting animals of higher genetic merit than average to be parents of the next generation such that the average genetic merit of their progeny will be higher than the average of the parental generation. In practical dairy cow breeding programmes, many traits such as milk production and fitness traits (consisting of health, fertility, calving ease, temperament and length of herd life) are commonly included in breeding objectives among which milk production is the most important trait and also the main determinant of income to dairy farmers. On the other hand, age at first calving is economically important because it determines when an animal begins its productive life and therefore could influence the lifetime productivity of an animal. Moreover, age at first calving can be considered as a measure of heifer fertility performance associated with reproductive efficiency. The main aim of the present research is multivariate genetic analysis of first lactation milk yield at different calving ages of Iranian Holstein heifers in Khorasan province of Iran.

Genetic parameters, which are based upon (co) variance components, are necessary elements in dairy cattle genetic evaluation programmes for either productive or reproductive traits that are of economic importance. Recently, there has been an increasingly interest in applying Bayesian-based methods as an alternative over classical linear models such as REML to estimate more accurate genetic parameters of the traits under consideration in animal breeding data (Gianola, 2000). However, as compared to classical methods such as REML, Bayesian estimation of genetic parameters is theoretically more complex and also needs much more computational time that could be a potential a limiting factor in practical application of the Bayesian methods. In this study the main objective is to estimate of heritability of complete lactation milk yield of Iranian Holstein heifers with the use of Bayesian (based on Gibbs Sampling that is a Monte Carlo method) and REML (based on Analytical Gradients technique) approaches.