Since the emergence of power market, the target of power generating utilities has mainly switched from cost minimization to revenue maximization. They dispatch their power energy generation units in the uncertain environment of power market. As a result, multi-stage stochastic programming has been applied widely by many power generating agents as a suitable tool for dealing with self-scheduling strategies under uncertainty. However, Dependence Structure between stochastic variables has been almost ignored in the literature. Copula function is a new concept in the probability and statistics field which has the capability to represent the Dependence Structure among stochastic variables. However, Copula function has recently taken into account in power system studies by some articles. In this article, self-scheduling strategy of a generation utility owning thermal units is investigated while the Dependence Structure among stochastic load and market price variables is taking into account. We assume that the generation utility is a price-taker agent in a power market, and it also has to meet the load of a specific region as a retailer. The results indicates that as the stochastic Dependence Structure among load and price variables is considered in modeling load and price scenarios, the output of unit commitment problem changes so that the revenue of generation utility increases.

NiO films of different thickness ranging from 285 to 645 nm were deposited, using the electron beam physical vapor method at room temperature on glass substrates. Nano-Structures of the films were obtained using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It was observed that NiO thin films grow with (200) preferred orientation that increases with film thickness. In addition crystallite size obtained from XRD results and grain size obtained from AFM analysis increased with film thickness. Transmittance spectra of NiO films were collected between 340 and 850 nm wavelength. Refractive indices and the thickness of these films obtained using Swanepoel method. Optical functions of these films showed that films were of homogenous Structure and the results agree with reported data obtained using different methods of film deposition.

In the current research, the role of both concentrated nitric acid and ultrasound waves on oxidation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) was studied. The functionalized MWCNTs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analyzer, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. It was found that desirable modifications to MWNTs occurred after acid treatment. Carboxylic acid groups were appeared on the side surfaces of MWNTs.FTIR presented the formation of oxygen-containing groups such as C=O and COOH after modification by concentrated nitric acid. The TEM images showed that the aspect ratio of opened MWCNTs was controlled by both ultrasonic waves and acid treatment time. It was also found that the exposure of about 4 h in nitric acid led to the highest removal of the impurities with the least destructive effect.