Background: We developed a Reference point by applying a doping attitude and propensity tool to prevent doping in sports athletes. Methods: Performance Enhancement Attitude Scale (PEAS) was investigated on 768 registered athletes with the Korea Sports Association. Independent sample t-test and ANOVA were applied to confirm the doping attitude and propensity according to anti-doping education and event type. To establish the criteria for PEAS, the intersection was confirmed through the group comparison method, and EasyOZ by Excel was applied at this time. In addition, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to confirm the validity of the Reference point. Results: First, in the case of anti-doping education, it was confirmed that more than 90% of the anti-doping education was completed in all sports. Second, there was no statistically significant difference in PEAS according to the type of sport, and there was only a difference in the PEAS according to whether or not anti-doping education was provided and whether or not there was anti-doping education. Third, the point of contact established in the group comparison method was 29. 5 points, and as a result of validating the validity based on this, 30 points were found to be the most suitable index. Conclusion: This study could be used as important information in that it suggests a different method for evaluating PEAS and establishes a Reference point that can be used more effectively in the actual field.

This study aims to examine the adaptation level of the Reference point, the dynamic level of this point, and the intensity of investors' reaction to gains and losses based on prospect theory. The basis of the study is the adaptation of the Reference point based on the received stimuli and considering the disposition effect. In this regard, a sample of 103,937 firm-year observations of the firms listed on the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE) during the years 2008 to 2020 and an integrated panel data approach was used to examine the research hypotheses. The results show that, because investors act on the stimuli they receive to correct their Reference point, the Reference point cannot be fixed. Five variables (stimuli) – gain (loss) amount, gain (loss) duration, simultaneous effect of amount and duration of gain (loss), positive (negative) EPS adjustment, and positive (negative) coverage percentage of EPS – have a significant effect on trading volume and Reference point adaptation level, and they can be mentioned as adaptation determinant factors of the Reference point. The results show that the intensity of investors' reaction to gains and losses is not the same. In most studies, the Reference point is assumed to be fixed and static. The Reference point does not appear to be static and varies according to the conditions and stimuli received. In this research, the researchers intend to identify the factors affecting the Reference point, to provide a dynamic model that can explain how investors' Reference point is adapted.

Urban land use planning which is one of the main components of urban planning typically defined as a multi-objective planning problem in optimal use of urban space and existing facilities. Among numerous land use maps, urban planners are usually interested in choosing the map which is contiguous to the optimal land use map of an interested vision. Reference point multi-objective optimization algorithms provide possibility of introducing the optimal values for different objectives as a Reference point and producing optimal solutions near to Reference points. In this study, the implementation and efficiency of Reference-point-Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (R-NSGA II) for urban landuse allocation is investigated and a method for chromosomes coding is proposed. Maximizing compatibility of adjacent land use, land suitability, accessibility to roads and main socio-economic centers, and minimizing resistance of land use to change are defined as the main objectives. Then the optimal values of objectives were introduced to the algorithm as Reference points. Consequently, planners will be able to select within proposed land use maps according to their priorities. The results of land use allocation modeling for Shiraz city in 2011 indicate that the decision maker is able to choose a better decision with more reliability comparing to situations with a single solution. This achievement indicates proposed model ability for simulation of different scenarios in land use planning.

Introduction: The expected values of hematologic and serum biochemical parameters in domestic animal species can be affected by breed, age, environment, and nutrition. Established breed-specific Reference intervals (RI) are an important tool for monitoring the health of sheep. There is a lack of published data on biochemical RI for Sngsari sheep. Thus, the aims of this study were to establish RI for select of serum biochemical parameters for Sangsari sheep by Reference Value Advisor (RVA) method and provide information on the studied parameters for both sex of this breed in order to form a basis for clinical interpretation. Materials and Methods: Sixty healthy Sangsari sheep including 26 ewes and 34 rams (2– 4 years old) were chosen from the breeding station of Sangsari sheep among 150 sheep in Damghan, Semnan, Iran. The type of feeding, all the animals had free access to water and to good-quality alfalfa hay (90. 0 % DM, 15. 8 CP % DM, 50. 4NDF%DM, 31. 6ADF%DM, 5. 8 lignin% DM, and 2. 2 EE % DM). Concentrate (23 % oats, 36 % corn, 38 % barley, and 3%mineral and vitamin supplements) was provided once daily (200 g per animal per day). In the sampling day, breeder signed a subscription form and completed a primary questionnaire consisting of specific questions about past and current health status, sexual status, medications used, and familial and reproductive medical history. Complete physical examinations were performed by the same experienced veterinarian on each sheep. In order to reduce stress, blood samples were taken in the station with minimal changes in the usual schedule of the sheep. Blood samples (taken from the jugular vein) were collected in simple tubes in order to separate the serum (centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10 min) for biochemical analysis. Samples transported at +4 ° C to the laboratory department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan, Iran. Biochemical parameters were measured by a autoanalyzer. These parameters included alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyletransferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total protein (TP) and albumin (Alb). For statistical analysis, data were analyzed by Reference Value Advisor and outliers were deleted if detected according to Tukey or Dixon. RIs, according to sample size, were determined using a robust method and following Box-Cox transformation of data. The data were normally distributed, and differences between sexes in biochemical parameters were analyzed using independent sample T test. A value of P<0. 05 was considered as significant. Results and Discussion: The RI of biochemical parameters obtained from adult healthy Sangsari sheep includes the following: ALP 49. 24-564. 84 u/l; GGT 24. 14-62. 23 u/l; AST 10. 86-338. 40 u/l; BUN 6. 91-26. 43 mg/dl; TP 5. 19-13. 95 gr/dl and Alb 0. 92-3. 63 gr/dl. Established RI of biochemical parameters for ewes and rams, respectively including: ALP 29. 98-702. 89 u/l; GGT 22. 41-54. 49 u/l; AST 1. 36-279. 89 u/l; BUN 5. 9526. 86 mg/dl; TP 5. 75-12. 83 gr/dl; Alb 0. 84-2. 77 gr/dl and ALP 106. 08-568. 55 u/l; GGT 20. 80-58. 30 u/l; AST 360. 12 u/l; BUN 8. 15-26. 04 mg/dl; TP 4. 66-15. 59 g/dl and Alb 0. 74-3. 77 g/dl. Interpretation of the biochemical results in different breeds of sheep, with regard to RI for each parameter, in conjunction with history, clinical findings and other paraclinical tests helps the clinician to reach a definitive diagnosis. A unique feature of Sangsari sheep is that they are highly adaptable with desert and mountain ranges with high tolerance of drought conditions. This breed is also relatively small size and light weight, and most studies have focused on genetic characteristics associated with this trait. In view of the characteristics mentioned above and considering the lack of Reference range for biochemical parameters, it is necessary to determine Reference intervals in Sangsari sheep. In order to establish a comprehensive Reference interval in Sangsari sheep, a select biochemical parameters were evaluated in the present study. Almost most of the established RI for biochemical parameters in this study differed from previously published RI, so that the lower and upper limits of RI of theses parameters (with the exception of BUN) were lower and higher than the values previously reported. Differences between obtained RI for the Sangsari sheep and previously reported RI for other breeds may be attributed to variations in hormonal influences, hydration status, dietary differences, or adaptations to a desert environment, age, breed, season of study and analytic method. Conclusion: The obtained data provided Reference interval for biochemical parameters in Sangsari sheep for the first time. Present study demonstrates significant differences in most of the biochemical parameters. Reference intervals determined in this study provide a baseline for interpreting biochemical results in Sangsari sheep, and contribute to optimization of the management of this species.

The present paper proposes an adaptive control method for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) in photovoltaic (PV) systems. To improve the performance of the MPPT, the study develops a two-level adaptive control structure that can facilitate system control and efficiently handle uncertainties and perturbations in the PV systems and in the environment. The first control level is a ripple correlation control (RCC), and the second is a model Reference adaptive control (MRAC). The paper emphasizes mainly on designing an MRAC algorithm that improves the underdamped dynamic response of the PV system. The original state-space equation of the PV system is time-varying and nonlinear, and its step response contains oscillatory transients that damp slowly. Using the extended state-dependent Riccati equation (ESDRE) approach, an optimal law of the controller is derived for the MRAC system to remove the underdamped modes in the PV systems. An algorithm of scanning the P-V curve of the PV array is proposed to seek the global maximum power point (GMPP) in the partial shading conditions (PSCs). It is shown that the proposed control algorithm enables the system to converge to the maximum power point in partial shading conditions in milliseconds.