Polarized Deeply Inelastic Scattering (DIS) Structure Functions for Nucleons and Nuclei

We extract parton distribution functions (PDFs) and structure functions from recent experimental data of polarized lepton-DIS on nucleons at next-to-leading order (NLO) Quantum Chromodynamics. We apply the Jacobi polynomial method to the DGLAP evolution as this is numerically efficient. Having determined the polarized proton and neutron spin structure, we extend this analysis to describe 3He and 3H polarized structure functions, as well as various sum rules. We compare our results with other analyses from the literature.Comment: LaTeX, 12 pages, 11 figures, 6 tables. Update to match published versio

Effect of continuous care model on emotional health and social connection aspects of quality of life of infertile women

Background and aim: Infertility and its treatment affect as a crisis on various aspect of quality of life in women that is the most important aspects of quality of life of emotional issues and social connection. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of continuous care model on emotional health and social connection in infertile women. Methods: In this semi-experimental study, 80 infertile women referred to infertility centers affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences during 2015 were entered into study by simple (convenient) sampling method. The data were collected by demographic characteristics questionnaire and fertility quality of life questionnaire (FertiQol). 2-3 training session was held for implementation of continuous care model. Quality of life in infertile women was evaluated during two stages: before intervention and 2 months after intervention in evaluation stage. Data were analyzed using SPSS by the Independent t-test, Paired t-test, Chi-square and Exact fisher test and p< 0.05 was considered significant. Results: in the case and control groups, mean of quality of life in emotional health after the intervention was 16.75±3.572 and 8.85±3.971 and in social connection was 17.98±2.922 and 11.45±3.672, respectively. A significant difference between intervention and control group was observed (P=0.002). In the control group, a significant decrease in scores on emotional and social areas after the end of the intervention was observed (P<0.001). Conclusion: Implementation of continuous care model improves emotional health and social connection in infertile women. It is recommended that continuous care model to be used as a easy, affordable and available care model

Photo-Catalytic Activity of ZnO Supported on H-ZSM-5 Zeolite to Reduce Cr(VI) from Aqueous Solutions

Abstract Aims: The application of photocatalytic processes to remove heavy metals in aqueous solutions and industrial wastewater are regarded as extremely effective, clean and without producing waste methods. The goal of the present study was to investigate the photocatalytic activity of ZnO based on H-ZSM-5 zeolite support. Materials &amp; Methods: ZnO/H-ZSM-5 composite synthesized by impregnation method successfully, and photo-reduction of Cr(VI) was investigated via this composite in present of UV light irradiation. The prepared composite was characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM). Data was analyzed by repeated measurement statistical test. Findings: ZnO/H-ZSM-5 (79.5) had better removal photo-reduction activity than pure H-ZSM-5 (8.7; p=0.003) zeolite and ZnO (58.8; p=0.003). The initial concentration of Cr(VI) was a highly influential factor in photo-reduction of Cr(VI); In the way that when the initial concentration increased from 10 to 40mg/l, the photo-reduction percentage decreased from 92.5 to 57.7 in constant operational conditions (p=0.001). Conclusion: ZnO/H-ZSM-5 composite has higher removal photo-catalytic activity than pure ZnO and HZSM-5 zeolite. Photo-reduction of Cr(VI) by ZnO/H-ZSM-5 composite is an efficient technology for the treatment of water and wastewater containing high concentration of Cr(VI)

Petroleum hydrocarbon assessment in the wastewaters of petrochemical special economic zone and sediment benchmark calculation of the coastal area - northwest of the Persian Gulf

Petrochemical industries can potentially impact the environment due to their activities and products. This case study has considered adverse effects of petrochemical industries that are located inside the PETZONE with respect to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and total petroleum hydrocarbon in wastewater effluents. The average concentrations of ∑PAHs group I and II were lower than the guideline values, thus the effluents of the study area can be considered unpolluted. Also, the average concentration of TPH was lower than the guideline value at all almost stations except the effluent outlets of the Razi and Imam Khomeini petrochemical (BI-PC) companies which are proximal to Khowr-e Musa Bay. Thus, they may have an adverse impact on the aquatic ecosystem of the Bay. Therefore, the concentration of TPH was monitored in the sediments of the Bay (around the PETZONE coastal area) which was relatively moderate compared in the study area. Also, the sum of Chronic Potency Ratio of PAHs in sediments showed that the chronic benchmark was not more than the guideline at all stations (it is exceeded when the sum exceeds 1.0) except in the vicinity of the Aromatic effluent outlet of BI-PC. Thus, the chronic benchmark at this station indicates that it has the potential to cause a chronic effect on sediment-residence organisms like crabs, clams and worms. Moreover, PAHs concentration level in this station approached the NOAA sediment quality guideline value (ERL) of 4000 (ng/g dry weight)

Next-to-Leading order approximation of polarized valon and parton distributions

Polarized parton distributions and structure functions of the nucleon are analyzed in the improved valon model. The valon representation provides a model to represent hadrons in terms of quarks, providing a unified description of bound state and scattering properties of hadrons. Polarized valon distributions are seen to play an important role in describing the spin dependence of parton distributions in the leading order (LO) and next-to-leading order (NLO) approximations. In the polarized case, a convolution integral is derived in the framework of the valon model. The Polarized valon distribution in a proton and the polarized parton distributions inside the valon are necessary to obtain the polarized parton distributions in a proton. Bernstein polynomial averages are used to extract the unknown parameters of the polarized valon distributions by fitting to the available experimental data. The predictions for the NLO calculations of the polarized parton distributions and proton structure functions are compared with the LO approximation. It is shown that the results of the calculations for the proton structure function, $xg_1^p$, and its first moment, $\Gamma_{1}^p$, are in good agreement with the experimental data for a range of values of $Q^{2}$. Finally the spin contribution of the valons to the proton is calculated.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figures. Published in Journal of High Energy Physics (JHEP

Evaluation and optimization of chitosan derivatives-based gene delivery system via kidney epithelial cells

Purpose: Non-viral vectors have been widely proposed as safer alternatives to viral vectors, and cationic polymers have gained increasing attention because they can form self-assembly with DNA. Chitosan is also considered to be a good candidate for gene delivery systems, since it is already known as a biocompatible, biodegradable, and low toxic material with high cationic potential. However, low solubility and transfection efficiency need to be overcome prior to clinical trial. In this work, we focus on alkyl modified chitosan which might be useful in DNA condensing and efficient gene delivery. Methods: N, N- Diethyl N- Methyl (DEMC) and N- Triethyl Chitosan (TEC) were synthesized from chitosan polymer. In order to optimize the polymers for gene delivery, we used FITC-dextran (FD). Then the optimized polymer concentrations were used for gene delivery. Fluorescent microscope was used, in order to evaluate the polymers’ efficiency for gene delivery to human embryonic kidney epithelial cells (HEK 293T). Results: This modification increased chitosan’s positive charge, thus these chitosan derivatives spontaneously formed complexes with FD, green fluorescence protein plasmid DNA (pEGFP), red fluorescence protein plasmid DNA (pJred) and fluorescent labeled miRNA. Results gained from fluorescent microscope showed that TEC and DEMC were able to transfer FD, DNA and miRNA (micro RNA) to HEK cell line. Conclusion: We conclude that these chitosan derivatives present suitable characteristics to be used as non-viral gene delivery vectors to epithelial cells

Experimental Study on Vibration-Assisted Magnetic Abrasive Finishing for Internal Surface of Aluminum Tubes

In this research, a new apparatus is designed and set to polish the internal surface of aluminum tube in the presence of axial vibration (AV) for the poles. Several parameters influence the quality of polished surface during magnetic abrasive finishing. The effect of such parameters has been the subject of researches to achieve the best finished surface with desired characteristics. This paper has a statistical approach to investigate the effects of four parameters, i.e., mesh size of the abrasives, the weight of the abrasive powders, the number of cycles and especially vibration frequency of the poles on surface roughness and material removal weight in finishing process. Design of experiments (DOE) methods and analysis of variance are applied to determine the significant factors. Microscopic view of the working surface is also presented for better understanding the parameters effect on the finished surface

Comparing the effects of combined oral contraceptives containing progestins with low androgenic and antiandrogenic activities on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Different products of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) can improve clinical and biochemical findings in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the effects of COCs containing progestins with low androgenic and antiandrogenic activities on the HPG axis in patients with PCOS. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases (1980-2017) to identify randomized controlled trials or nonrandomized studies investigating the effect of COCs containing progestins with low androgenic and antiandrogenic activities, including the products containing desogestrel, cyproterone acetate, and drospirenone, on the HPG axis in patients with PCOS. In this meta-analysis, fixed and random effect models were used. Outcomes of interest were weighted mean differences (WMD) of hormonal parameters, including the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), LH-to-FSH ratio, estradiol, total testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin. Potential sources of heterogeneity were investigated using meta-regression and subgroup analyses. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the used progestin compound and treatment duration. We assessed quality of included studies and their risk of bias using Cochrane guidelines. Publication bias was assessed using Egger test and funnel plot. Results: COC use was significantly associated with a decrease in gonadotropin levels, including FSH and LH. Use of products containing cyproterone acetate was associated with a decrease in FSH levels after 3 months (WMD=-0.48; 95 CI -0.81 to -0.15), 6 months (WMD=-2.33; 95 CI -3.48 to -1.18), and 12 months (WMD=-4.70; 95 CI -4.98 to -4.42) and a decrease in LH levels after 3 months (WMD=-3.57; 95 CI -5.14 to -1.99), 6 months (WMD=-5.68; 95 CI -9.57 to -1.80), and 12 months (WMD=-11.60; 95 CI -17.60 to -5.60). Use of COCs containing drospirenone for 6 months decreased FSH (WMD=-0.93; 95 CI -1.79 to -0.08) and LH (WMD=-4.59; 95 CI -7.53 to -1.66) levels. Data for products containing desogestrel were few, but this compound generally had no statistically significant influence on gonadotropin levels similar to that observed with COCs containing cyproterone acetate and drospirenone. Use of COCs was not associated with any significant change in LH-to-FSH ratio. COCs containing cyproterone acetate showed maximum effect on gonadotropin suppression. COCs containing cyproterone acetate significantly decreased estradiol concentrations, whereas those containing drospirenone exhibited no such effect. All COCs demonstrated improvement in androgenic profile and had the same effects on total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin concentrations. Progestin compound and treatment duration had no statistically significant effects on changing total testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin levels. Conclusions: COCs containing cyproterone acetate can effectively suppress gonadotropins, leading to a decrease in androgenic parameters. Although different products of COCs could significantly suppress the androgenic profile, it seems that products containing cyproterone acetate are more effective in suppressing gonadotropin and estradiol levels in patients with PCOS. © Mina Amiri, Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani, Fatemeh Nahidi, Ali Kabir, Fereidoun Azizi