Background Malnutrition is seen in COVID-19 patients, and reducing malnutrition with appropriate therapies may improve these patients' health. This case–control study aimed to assess and compare serum levels of some inflammatory factors, oxidative stress, and appetite in COVID-19 patients with respiratory infections that receive glutamine treatment with a control group. Methods In this study, patients who consented to use glutamine were considered as the case group and other patients who did not use glutamine were considered as a control group. Two hundred twenty-two COVID-19 patients (51.2 ± 6.7) using l-Glutamine and 230 COVID-19 patients (51.3 ± 8.2) with similar age, gender, and clinical status, as the control group, were included in the study. For 5 days, the case group consumed 10 g of glutamine supplement three times per day. At the end of the 5 days, blood samples were taken again to test for serum levels of IL1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, malondialdehyde, and total antioxidant capacity, then all data were analyzed. Results Serum levels of β-1 interleukin, tumor necrosis factor-α and hs-CRP were significantly reduced with five days of glutamine supplementation (p < 0.05), and patients’ appetite during 5 days of glutamine supplementation compared with the control group had a significant increase (p < 0.05). Conclusion Glutamine supplementation in COVID-19 patients with respiratory infection significantly reduces serum levels of interleukin-1 β, hs-CRP, and tumor necrosis factor-α and significantly increases appetite, so glutamine supplementation may be useful for COVID-19 patients in the hospital.

Because of the lack of upstream grid support and low inertia, independent microgrids are very susceptible to load variations and uncertainty in the generation of renewable energy sources. Disruption of microgrid frequency stability causes severe damage to various system equipment and frequency-sensitive loads. By taking into account the effects of electric vehicles (EVs), this paper introduces an innovative control strategy with a master-slave configuration for frequency control of interconnected microgrids. In the proposed configuration, an integer-order controller serves as the master, while a merely fractional-order integrator acts as the slave controller. The master and slave controllers are concurrently optimized by the JAYA intelligent algorithm to achieve robust effectiveness. Additionally, nonlinearities in the system are implemented, such as diesel generator operating limits, signal controllers, and sending/receiving time delays. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in a two-area microgrid, six basic scenarios are investigated: sudden load changes, perturbations at the inputs of renewable energy-based units, parametric uncertainties, time-delay effects as a nonlinear factor, complicated working conditions, and EVs impacts. Moreover, the controller’s performance on a simple closed-loop system has been carried out in order to confirm the viability of its practical implementation, and a comparison of experimental and simulation findings has also been provided. Studies demonstrate the proposed controller’s robustness as well as its fast-response capability. Besides, this controller features a simple structure that allows extra design flexibility.

Background and Objectives: The Mediterranean diet’s bioactive components are suggested to strengthen the immune system and to exert anti-inflammatory actions. This study investigated the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet with serum inflammatory factors, total antioxidant capacity, appetite, and symptoms of COVID-19 patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 600 Iranian COVID-19 patients selected by a simple random method. The ten-item Mediterranean diet adherence questionnaire was used to assess diet adherence. At the beginning of the study, 5 cc of blood was taken from all patients for measurement of serum interleukin 1β) IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). A human ELISA kit with serial number 950.090.096 produced by the Diaclone Company was used to test this cytokine using the sandwich ELISA method. Results: One hundred and five patients presented a high adherence and 495 patients presented a low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. The incidence of fever, cough, diarrhea, taste changes, and pneumonia severity index were significantly lower in patients who adhered to the Mediterranean diet more than other patients. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (5.7 ± 2.1 vs. 6.9 ± 2.8 p = 0.02), interleukin 1 beta (3.2 ± 0.02 vs. 4.9 ± 0.01 p = 0.02), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (17.08 ± 4.2 vs. 19.8 ± 2.5 p = 0.03), and malondialdehyde (5.7 ± 0.2 vs. 6.2 ± 0.3 p = 0.02) were significantly lower in patients who adhered more to the Mediterranean diet than other patients. Conclusion: The Mediterranean diet can improve the symptoms and elevated serum inflammatory factors in COVID-19 patients, so clinical trial studies are suggested to confirm this effect.

It is becoming more important to use electric networks efficiently as power grids expand and modernize. Reducing existing challenges, such as excessive power losses, poor voltage profiles, voltage instability, unreliable operation, etc., is essential due to the high cost of constructing and expanding power grids. Today, minimizing losses in network distribution is crucial. On the other hand, distribution networks are using distributed generation sources (DGs) much more commonly. o prevent these problems, Distribution Synchronous Static Compensator (D-STACTOM) can be used in electric distribution networks as a shunt compensator device. Economic feasibility, needed quality, dependability, and availability should all be considered while deciding on the best location and size for D-STACOM. Therefore, by picking the appropriate place and size, these resources can play a crucial part in lowering the power losses of distribution networks. D-FACTS tools like D-STATCOM in distribution networks and DGs can significantly contribute to reducing losses and compensating reactive power. The optimal sizing & placement of DGs and D-STATCOM in the radial distribution network is covered in this article. The proposed method’s desired outcomes include lowering active power losses, enhancing voltage stability and profile, and minimizing costs. The Artificial Rabbits Optimization (ARO) algorithm has resolved this optimization issue. The IEEE 33 bus standard system tests the suggested method for analysis. The results are compared with two algorithms, Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) and Emperor Penguins Colony (EPS), to investigate the capability of the algorithm proposed for optimal sizing and placement problems. According to the simulation results, the ideal placement and size for DGs and D-STATCOM can significantly lower network losses and enhance the voltage profile.

This article introduces a single-switch non-isolated quadratic DC-DC converter with ultrahigh step-up gain. The proposed configuration incorporates a voltage multiplier cell and a coupled inductor to enhance the voltage gain. This converter offers numerous advanced features, such as high voltage gain at low duty cycles and low coupled inductor turn ratios, minimal switch voltage stress, low ripple in continuous input current, simple design, and a common ground between the source and load. This topology provides soft switching conditions for particular diodes and employs a single low ON-state resistance switch, hence reducing the converter’s switching losses and enhancing the efficiency. All operational modes, dynamic and steady-state study, and a comparison of the proposed converter with other pertinent ones are detailed to evaluate the enhanced performance of this topology. The parasitic components are also considered in the circuit to provide an accurate reading of the actual voltage gain. To evaluate its efficacy under various conditions, a laboratory prototype of the converter is also constructed. Afterwards, the results for an 18V input, 212V output, and 300W output power are included in the investigations.