Modeling of environmental aspects related to reverse osmosis desalination supply chain

open access journalBackground: This study aimed to model optimization of strategic environmental management decisions in the operation of reverse osmosis desalination, emphasizing the costs required for the environmental protection during the production of freshwater using reverse osmosis technology. Methods: This analytical research was conducted in five cities of Hormozgan province in Iran for 18 months from February 2018 to September 2019. The research includes eight phases of defining the research problem, data collection, preliminary data analysis and decision criteria, mathematical modeling, model validation, information preparation, analysis and finally discussion, conclusions and suggestions. The main environmental issues were the carbon dioxide (CO2) release rate due to power demand and rejected brine water (RBW) were entered the mathematical model. Results: The desalination plants of Abu Musa, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Sirik, and Hormoz with water production flow rate of 2100, 89 000, 5300, 3300 and 1500 m3/d can generate 2360.82, 100053.80, 5958.260, 3709.86 and 1686.30 tons/year of CO2 emissions respectively. This output requires 1.35, 57.47,3.42, 2.13 and 0.97 million USD for controlling the process, respectively. For reduction of the negative effect of RBW 0.75, 22.79, 1.78, 1.15 and 0.55 million USD respectively, is needed. Conclusion: Recommendations for environmental impacts protection of RBW, for desalination capacity up to 50 000 m3/d, are; (a) for desalination capacity up to 50 000 m3/d; dilution the RBW using raw water before entering into the sea, (b) for capacity of 50 000-100 000 m3/d; dispersing RBW in sea using diffuser, and (c) for capacity more than 100 000 m3/d; hybrid water desalination plants and power plant. Application of power plant cooling water to dilute RBW may reduce cost

Modeling of some pistachio drying characteristics in fix, semi fluid and fluid bed dryer

Modeling of pistachio (cv. Ohadi) drying kinetic was carried out in a thin layer dryer of fix, semi fluid and fluid bed. Initial moisture content of pistachio samples was about 50.3% (d.b.).  Three drying characteristics of effective diffusivity, energy of activation and specific energy consumption were computed and influences of drying parameters were investigated.  Air temperature levels of 45, 60, 75 and 90℃ and bed conditions of fix, semi fluid and fluid bed were applied in these experiments.  Six mathematical models were used to predict the moisture ratio of pistachio samples in thin layer drying. Results showed that the Two-term model had supremacy in prediction of pistachio drying behavior.  Effective moisture diffusivity of pistachio was calculated using Fick’s second law.  Maximum and minimum values of effective moisture diffusivity calculated between 8.60×10-9 m2/sand 1.98×10-9 m2/s, respectively.  The calculated values of energy of activation for pistachio samples were computed between 30.52 kJ/mol and 35.26 kJ/mol for temperature boundary of 45 to 90℃ and bed conditions of fix to fluid bed.  Specific consumption of energy in thin layer drying of pistachio varied between 0.531×106 and 1.447×106 kJ/kg. Increase in air temperature in each bed condition cause decrease inspecific consumption of energy.  These pistachio properties are necessary to design the dryer system and to adjust the dryer in the best point.Keywords: Two-term model, thin layer drying, pistachio, diffusivity, energy&nbsp

The Role of Interleukin (IL-22) in immune response to human diseases

Background and aims: IL-22 is an alpha- helical cytokine. IL-22 binds to a heterodimeric cell surface receptor composed of IL-10R2 and IL-22R1subunits. IL-22R is expressed on tissue cells, and it is absent on immune cells. L-22 and IL-10 receptor chains play a role in cellular targeting and signal transduction to selectively initiate and regulate immune responses. The aim of this study was to investigate the Role of Interleukin (IL-22) in Immune Response in human diseases. Methods: This study was a mini-review research to investigate the role of T helper 22 (Th22) in immune response. Results: IL-22 contributes to immune disease through the stimulation of inflammatory responses, S100s and defensins. IL-22 also promotes hepatocyte survival in the liver and epithelial cells in the lung and gut similar to IL-10. In some contexts, the pro-inflammatory versus tissue-protective functions of IL-22 are regulated by the often co-expressed cytokine IL-17A. IL-22 confirms regulation of antimicrobial proteins. Targeting the IL-22–IL-22R pathway may yield new therapeutic potential for the treatment of certain human diseases. Conclusion: IL-22 is expressed constitutively by LTi-like cells within the small intestine, a tissue that is under the careful immune balance between inflammation and tolerance. Gaining a better understanding of the expression and role of IL-22 in health and disease is important for development of IL-22 as a potential drug target IL-22 is expressed constitutively by LTi-like cells within the small intestine, a tissue that is under the careful immune balance between inflammation and tolerance. Obtaining a better understanding of the expression and role of IL-22 in health and disease is important for development of IL-22 as a potential drug target

The role of T helper 9(Th9) against Infectious Diseases

Background and aims: Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites .The Th9 subset develops in response to combined signals from TGF-b and IL-4 among a cacophony of other cytokines in an extracellular milieu. T helper 9 (Th9) cells, as a novel CD4 T cell subset, seem to play a complex role in the outcome of specific immune responses. In this article, we aimed to review the role of these cells in infectious disease. Methods: In this mini-review study, we study 25 novel articles since 2009 to 2014 about the role of T helper 9 in some Infectious Diseases. Results: Pleural mesothelial cells promoted Th9 cell differentiation by presenting antigen. It significantly differentiated Th17, but not Th9 cells in the development of CVB3-induced VMC. The microenvironment of VMC seemed to contribute to the differentiation and proliferation of Th17 rather than to differentiation of Th9 cells. Having reviewed the limited number of articles considering this relevance, we came to this result that Lymphatic Filariasis and mycobacterium tuberculosis infections confirmed the existence of such relationship. In addition, Rapamycin resistant murine Th9 cells have a stable in vivo phenotype and inhibit graft-versus-host reactivity but concerning Viral Myocarditis, Th9 cells could not protect against it. Conclusion: The accurate molecular mechanisms underlying the generation and differentiation of human Th9 cells are not elucidated completely. Th9 cells exhibit Ag specific expansion in a chronic helminth infection (lymphatic filariasis), but in relevance to viral myocarditis, Th9 cells did not play an efficient role against it. However; knowing that whether Th9 cells participate in the protection against infections needs further research

Modeling of environmental aspects related to reverse osmosis desalination supply chain

Background: This study aimed to model optimization of strategic environmental management decisions in the operation of reverse osmosis desalination, emphasizing the costs required for the environmental protection during the production of freshwater using reverse osmosis technology. Methods: This analytical research was conducted in five cities of Hormozgan province in Iran for 18 months from February 2018 to September 2019. The research includes eight phases of defining the research problem, data collection, preliminary data analysis and decision criteria, mathematical modeling, model validation, information preparation, analysis and finally discussion, conclusions and suggestions. The main environmental issues were the carbon dioxide (CO2) release rate due to power demand and rejected brine water (RBW) were entered the mathematical model. Results: The desalination plants of Abu Musa, Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, Sirik, and Hormoz with water production flow rate of 2100, 89 000, 5300, 3300 and 1500 m3/d can generate 2360.82, 100053.80, 5958.260, 3709.86 and 1686.30 tons/year of CO2 emissions respectively. This output requires 1.35, 57.47, 3.42, 2.13 and 0.97 million USD for controlling the process, respectively. For reduction of the negative effect of RBW 0.75, 22.79, 1.78, 1.15 and 0.55 million USD respectively, is needed. Conclusion: Recommendations for environmental impacts protection of RBW, for desalination capacity up to 50 000 m3/d, are; (a) for desalination capacity up to 50 000 m3/d; dilution the RBW using raw water before entering into the sea, (b) for capacity of 50 000-100 000 m3/d; dispersing RBW in sea using diffuser, and (c) for capacity more than 100 000 m3/d; hybrid water desalination plants and power plant. Application of power plant cooling water to dilute RBW may reduce cost. Keywords: Mathematical modeling, Freshwater, Osmosis, Brine, Seawater

Investigating the effect of brand extensions on brand mental image (Case study: Distribution branches of Minoo Foodstuffs in Mazandaran)

The aim of the present paper is to study the effect of brand extensions on brand mental image distribution branches of Minoo Foodstuffs in Mazandaran during 2013. In this paper, the effects of the related variables were studied such as the effects of mental image of Initial Brand and its fitness with the perceived one based on the brand extensions approach, its fitness with the mental and its effect between initial and final mental image, the effect of mental fitness based on the brand extensions approach and also the brand extensions approach based on the final mental and the perceived fit based on the brand extensions approach. This paper is a functional and measuring study based on its aim and method, respectively. The method used for collecting data is field as well a standardized questionnaire in the papers of Martinez et al. There are 24 questions in this questionnaire, which were arranged in the form of Likert Scale. The statistical method in this paper is structural equations which were analyzed by Lisrel software. In this paper, 7 hypotheses were presented as all of them were confirmed except 5th one

Investigating the effect of brand extensions on brand mental image (Case study: Distribution branches of Minoo Foodstuffs in Mazandaran)

The aim of the present paper is to study the effect of brand extensions on brand mental image distribution branches of Minoo Foodstuffs in Mazandaran during 2013. In this paper, the effects of the related variables were studied such as the effects of mental image of Initial Brand and its fitness with the perceived one based on the brand extensions approach, its fitness with the mental and its effect between initial and final mental image, the effect of mental fitness based on the brand extensions approach and also the brand extensions approach based on the final mental and the perceived fit based on the brand extensions approach. This paper is a functional and measuring study based on its aim and method, respectively. The method used for collecting data is field as well a standardized questionnaire in the papers of Martinez et al. There are 24 questions in this questionnaire, which were arranged in the form of Likert Scale. The statistical method in this paper is structural equations which were analyzed by Lisrel software. In this paper, 7 hypotheses were presented as all of them were confirmed except 5th one

The Effect of Students'Role on Parents' Performance on Waste Disposal in Maragheh

Background and objective: Nowadays, recycling has attracted interest as an effective method in waste management. Teaching recycling to students is of great importance due to the important role this group plays in the participation of parents. This research dealt the effects of recycling educator students on operation of parents in the separation of waste. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, a school as the experimental group and a school as the controls group were randomly selected. The parents of students selected, 100 Person (50 in the experimental group and 50 than the control group) participated in the study. After the needs assessment by researcher, a questionnaire was developed that included question on demographic, awareness, attitude, performance, and participation of the parents. One session of discussion with these parents was held to attract their cooperation with the students and also Educational program for students in the field of waste separation was performed. Then The effect of education on parents, one month and three months after intervention in both groups were assessed by questionnaire and data analyzed in spss16 with using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: The results showed that, after the educational intervention, Separation of recyclable waste from non-recyclable, with 58%, was the highest scores. Also, after the intervention in the experimental group mean on awareness, attitude, performance, and participation of the parent’s changes were significant (P< 0.001).        Conclusion: Findings of this research showed the positive effects of the students on their parents’ participation in recycling at source. Paper Type: Research Article

Quantity and Quality of Vision Using Tinted Filters in Patients with Low Vision Due to Diabetic Retinopathy.

[en] PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of tinted filters on visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity and patient satisfaction in diabetic retinopathy associated with low vision. METHODS: In a prospective study, 51 patients with diabetic retinopathy and low vision were assessed. We chose a simple random sampling method and used the patient's files for data collection. LogMAR notations were applied for assessing VA and a contrast sensitivity chart (CSV-1000) was employed for measuring contrast sensitivity. First, measurements were performed without tinted filters and then using them. Appropriate lenses were given to the patients for 2 days, and they were questioned about their satisfaction using them in different places. RESULTS: A total of 20 male and 31 female patients with mean age of 57.3 years participated in the study. With a 527 ± 10 nm filter, mean VA improved significantly (P ≤ 0.05). Using the 527 ± 10 nm and 511 ± 10 nm filters, mean contrast sensitivity was improved significantly at 3 and 6 cycles/degree frequencies (P < 0.05). The effect of other filters on VA and contrast sensitivity was not significant. Patient satisfaction rate was generally high. CONCLUSION: Tinted filters are able to rehabilitate low-vision patients due to diabetic retinopathy. The 527 ± 10 and 511 ± 10 nm wavelength filters improved contrast sensitivity and the 527 ± 10 nm filter improved VA to some extent. Further investigations are recommended to assess the effect of these filters in patients with other causes of low-vision