Investigation of mass transfer coefficients in irregular packed liquid-liquid extraction columns in the presence of various nanoparticles

In the present study, the effect of various nanofluids on mass transfer coefficients in an irregular packed liquid-liquid extraction column was investigated. The chemical system of toluene–acetic acid–water was used. 10 nm SiO2, TiO2 and ZrO2 nanoparticles with various concentrations were dispersed in toluene-acid acetic to provide nanofluids. The influence of concentration and hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity of nanoparticle on mass transfer coefficient was discussed. The experimental results show that the mass transfer coefficient enhancement depends on the kind and the concentration of nanoparticles. The maximum enhancement of 35%, 245% and 207% was achieved for 0.05 vol% of SiO2, TiO2 and ZrO2 nanofluids, respectively. A new conceptual model was proposed for prediction of the effective diffusivity as a function of nanoparticle concentration, drop size and drop Reynolds number

Prevalence Study of Multi-drug Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Isolated from Respiratory Tract Infections

Resistant strains of Klebsiella pneumonia are one of the most prevalent cause of nosocomial and especially respiratory tract infections al-around the world. The present investigation was carried out to study the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in K. pneumonia strains of hospitalized patients suffered from RTIs. Three-hundred and fifty respiratory samples were collected from hospitalized patients of both sexes and various ages. Samples were cultured and those that were K. pneumonia-positive were subjected to 16S rRNA based-PCR amplification and disk diffusion method. Of 350 samples studied, 25 samples were positive for K. pneumonia (7.14%). Distribution of K. pneumonia in male and female patients were 8.33% and 5.88%, respectively (P <0.05). Older than 60 years old and younger than 20 years old patients had the highest prevalence of K. pneumonia. Our K. pneumonia isolates had the highest levels of resistance against gentamycin (96%), ampicillin (92%), erythromycin (84%), ciprofloxacin (76%), sulfamethoxazole (76%). Primary identification of K. pneumonia-positive patients and their treatment with imipenem antibiotic based on the results of disk diffusion method can control distribution of K. pneumonia RTIs

Effects of weeding and plant population density on chickpea weed dynamics in irrigated and rainfed conditions of khorasan

Effects of weeding and plant population density on chickpea weed dynamics in irrigated and rainfed conditions of khorasa

Long-term outcome of the right ventricular outflow tract palliation procedure in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease: A case-series study

Background: The right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) palliation has been shown to be a proper interventional procedure for lowering risk of mortality and improving clinical condition in cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) patients. Objectives: The present study aimed to assess the consequences of RVOT palliation in patients with TOF. Patients and Methods: This prospective case series was performed on 17 children who suffered from cyanotic CHD. The study end- points were assessed by pulse oximetry, echocardiography, and electrocardiography immediately and also 12 months after RVOT palliation procedure. Results: The mean age of patients was 24.76 (median 10 months). Comparing laboratory and respiratory parameters 12 months after RVOT palliation showed a significant increase in arterial oxygen saturation (from 69.34 ± 13.07 to 86.29 ± 6.64, P= 0.001), RPA index of right pulmonary artery (from 5.49 ± 1.67 mm to 7.59 ± 1.79 mm, P< 0.001), Z score of right pulmonary artery (from-1.56 ± 2.34 to 0.53 ± 2.55, P < 0.001), LPA of left pulmonary artery (from 5.64 ± 1.88 mm to 8.06 ± 2.72 mm, P < 0.001), and also in Z score of left pulmonary artery (from -1.56 ± 2.33 to 0.78 ± 2.15, P = 0.001). Also, a significant decrease in the spell rate (from 88.2% to 17.6%, P < 0.001), and in the rate of tricuspid regurgitation (from 23.5% to 11.8%, P= 0.023) was shown. Cardiac arrhythmia occurred in only one patient that was transient. Stent fracture was found in none of the patients. Stent stenosis was also found in one patient. One-year death occurred only in one child. Conclusions: The right ventricular outflow tract palliation in children with cyanotic CHD leads to long-term favorable outcome regarding improvement in oxygen saturation, increase in Z score of both left and right pulmonary arteries and also considerable decrease in spell. Also, death and complications are rare following RVOT palliation

Operationalizing Cognitive Science and Technologies’ Research and Development the “Brain and Cognition Study Group (BCSG)” Initiative from Shiraz, Iran

Recent advances in brain and cognitive science studies have revolutionized concepts in neural dynamics, regulating mechanisms, coding systems and information processing networks which govern our function and behavior. Hidden aspects of neurological and psychiatric diseases are being understood and hopes for their treatment are emerging. Although the two comprehensive mega-projects on brain mapping are in place in the United States and Europe the proportion of science contributed by the developing countries should not be downsized. With the granted supports from the Cognitive Sciences and Technologies Council (CSTC), Iran can take its role in research on brain and cognition further. The idea of research and development in Cognitive Sciences and Technologies (CST) is being disseminated across the country by CSTC. Towards this goal, the first Shiraz interdisciplinary meeting on CST was held on 9 January 2014 in Namazi hospital, Shiraz. CST research priorities, infrastructure development, education and promotion were among the main topics discussed during this interactive meeting. The steering committee of the first CST meeting in Shiraz decided to frame future research works within the “Brain and Cognition Study Group-Shiraz” ( BCSG-Shiraz). The study group comprises scientific leaders from various allied disciplines including neuroscience, neurosurgery, neurology, psychiatry, psychology, radiology, physiology, bioengineering, biophysics, applied physics and telecommunication. As the headquarter for CST in the southern Iran, BCSG-Shiraz is determined to advocate “brain and cognition” awareness, education and research in close collaboration with CSTC. Together with CSTC, Shiraz Neuroscience Research center (SNRC) will take the initiative to cross boundaries in interdisciplinary works and multi-centric research projects within the study group