Predicton of interface level height of stratified liquid-liquid flow using artficial neural network

In this study, artificial neural network (ANN) was used to predict the interface level height (ILH) of two immiscible liquids flowing in a horizontal pipe. A three-layer feed-forward back-propagation (FFBP) neural network was constructed and trained with experimental data of two different liquid-liquid flow systems reported in the literature. The all studied flow patterns were stratified flow (stratified smooth and stratified wavy with or without droplets at interface ). The input parameters of the ANN model were superficial velocity of phases, pipe diameter, the ratio of the lighter phase density to the heavier phase density (ρlp/ρhp) and the ratio of the lighter phase viscosity to the heavier phase viscosity (μlp/μhp), while the interface level height (ILH) of phases was its output. The Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm, the hyperbolic tangent sigmoid and the linear activation functions were used for training and developing the ANN. Optimal configuration of the ANN model was determined using minimizing the mean absolute percent error (MAPE) and mean square errors (MSE) between experimental and predicted ILH data by the ANN model. The results showed that the optimal configuration was a network with five neurons in hidden layer that was highly accurate in predicting the interface level. MAPE and correlation coefficient (R) between the experimental and predicted values were determined as 1.8% and 0.9962 for training, and 1.52% and 0.9996 for testing date sets, respectively

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified with iron oxide and silver nanoparticles (MWCNT-Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf>/Ag) as a novel adsorbent for determining PAEs in carbonated soft drinks using magnetic SPE-GC/MS method

The synthesis of compounds with an excellent adsorption capability plays an essential role to remove contaminants such as phthalic acid esters (PAEs) with potential carcinogenic characteristics from different food products. In this context, for the first time, a novel adsorbent (MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag) was synthesized by using iron (magnetic agent), and silver (catalytic and surface enhancer agent) to further approach in a magnetic SPE-GC/MS method for determining of PAEs in carbonated soft drink samples. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of MSPE-GC/MS were determined in six PAEs as a range of 10.8–22.5 and 36–75 ng/L, respectively. Also, the calibration curves of PAEs were linear (R2 = 0.9981–0.9995) over the concentration level of 10.000 ng/L and the recoveries of the six PAEs were ranging from 96.60% to 109.22% with the RSDs less than 8%. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and transmission electron microscopy analyses (TEM) were utilized to characterize the produced MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag. Based on the findings, the surface of MWCNT is relatively uniform, which became coarser after loading with Fe3O4/Ag particles. Also, EDX spectrum showed the carbon (C), iron (Fe), oxygen (O), Ag and copper (Cu) are the main components of synthesized MWCNTs-Fe3O4/Ag. The successful adhesion of Fe3O4/Ag on the texture of MWCNTs using a co-precipitation method was confirmed by XRD and FT-IR assays. Additionally, excellent crystallinity and clear lattice nanocrystals fringes of prepared MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag was demonstrated by TEM analysis. Based on the obtained VSM images, the prepared sorbent (MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag) has the good magnetic performance for magnetic separation and extraction processes. It was concluded that the synthesized MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag could be used as an efficient adsorbent for determining contaminants such as PAEs in different beverage samples. © 201

An efficient trio-based mini-haplotyping method for genetic diagnosis of phenylketonuria

Objective: The phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) locus has high linkage disequilibrium. Haplotypes related to this locus may thus be considered sufficiently informative for genetic diagnosis and carrier screening using multi-allelic markers. In this study, we present an efficient method for haplotype analysis of PAH locus using multiplexing dyes. In addition, we explain how to resolve the dye shift challenge in multiplex short tandem repeat (STR) genotyping. Materials and Methods: One hundred family trios were included in this descriptive study. The forward primer of a tetra-nucleotide STR and the reverse primer of a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) were labeled with three different non-overlapping dyes 5-carboxyfluorescein (FAM), 6-carboxy-N,N,N�,N�-tetramethylrhodamine (HEX) and 6-carboxy-N,N,N�,N�-tetramethylrhodamine (TAMRA). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from each family trio were multiplexed for capillary electrophoresis and results were analyzed using Peak Scanner software. Results: Multiplexing trio products decreased the cost significantly. The TAMRA labeled products had a significant predictable shift (migrated at a slower electrophoretic rate) relative to the HEX and FAM labeled products. Through our methodology we achieve, the less inter-dye shift than intra-dye shift variance. Correcting the dye shift in the labeled products, according to the reference allele size, significantly decreased the inter-dye variability (P<0.001). Conclusion: Multiplexing trio products helps to detect and resolve the dye shift accurately in each family, which otherwise would result in diagnostic error. The dye system of FAM, HEX and TAMRA is more feasible and cheaper than other dye systems

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified with iron oxide and silver nanoparticles (MWCNT-Fe 3 O 4 /Ag) as a novel adsorbent for determining PAEs in carbonated soft drinks using magnetic SPE-GC/MS method

The synthesis of compounds with an excellent adsorption capability plays an essential role to remove contaminants such as phthalic acid esters (PAEs) with potential carcinogenic characteristics from different food products. In this context, for the first time, a novel adsorbent (MWCNT-Fe 3 O 4 /Ag) was synthesized by using iron (magnetic agent), and silver (catalytic and surface enhancer agent) to further approach in a magnetic SPE-GC/MS method for determining of PAEs in carbonated soft drink samples. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of MSPE-GC/MS were determined in six PAEs as a range of 10.8�22.5 and 36�75 ng/L, respectively. Also, the calibration curves of PAEs were linear (R 2 = 0.9981�0.9995) over the concentration level of 10.000 ng/L and the recoveries of the six PAEs were ranging from 96.60 to 109.22 with the RSDs less than 8. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and transmission electron microscopy analyses (TEM) were utilized to characterize the produced MWCNT-Fe 3 O 4 /Ag. Based on the findings, the surface of MWCNT is relatively uniform, which became coarser after loading with Fe 3 O 4 /Ag particles. Also, EDX spectrum showed the carbon (C), iron (Fe), oxygen (O), Ag and copper (Cu) are the main components of synthesized MWCNTs-Fe 3 O 4 /Ag. The successful adhesion of Fe 3 O 4 /Ag on the texture of MWCNTs using a co-precipitation method was confirmed by XRD and FT-IR assays. Additionally, excellent crystallinity and clear lattice nanocrystals fringes of prepared MWCNT-Fe 3 O 4 /Ag was demonstrated by TEM analysis. Based on the obtained VSM images, the prepared sorbent (MWCNT-Fe 3 O 4 /Ag) has the good magnetic performance for magnetic separation and extraction processes. It was concluded that the synthesized MWCNT-Fe 3 O 4 /Ag could be used as an efficient adsorbent for determining contaminants such as PAEs in different beverage samples. © 2018 The Author

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified with iron oxide and silver nanoparticles (MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag) as a novel adsorbent for determining PAEs in carbonated soft drinks using magnetic SPE-GC/MS method

The synthesis of compounds with an excellent adsorption capability plays an essential role to remove contaminants such as phthalic acid esters (PAEs) with potential carcinogenic characteristics from different food products. In this context, for the first time, a novel adsorbent (MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag) was synthesized by using iron (magnetic agent), and silver (catalytic and surface enhancer agent) to further approach in a magnetic SPE-GC/MS method for determining of PAEs in carbonated soft drink samples. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) values of MSPE-GC/MS were determined in six PAEs as a range of 10.8�22.5 and 36�75 ng/L, respectively. Also, the calibration curves of PAEs were linear (R2 = 0.9981�0.9995) over the concentration level of 10.000 ng/L and the recoveries of the six PAEs were ranging from 96.60 to 109.22 with the RSDs less than 8. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) and transmission electron microscopy analyses (TEM) were utilized to characterize the produced MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag. Based on the findings, the surface of MWCNT is relatively uniform, which became coarser after loading with Fe3O4/Ag particles. Also, EDX spectrum showed the carbon (C), iron (Fe), oxygen (O), Ag and copper (Cu) are the main components of synthesized MWCNTs-Fe3O4/Ag. The successful adhesion of Fe3O4/Ag on the texture of MWCNTs using a co-precipitation method was confirmed by XRD and FT-IR assays. Additionally, excellent crystallinity and clear lattice nanocrystals fringes of prepared MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag was demonstrated by TEM analysis. Based on the obtained VSM images, the prepared sorbent (MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag) has the good magnetic performance for magnetic separation and extraction processes. It was concluded that the synthesized MWCNT-Fe3O4/Ag could be used as an efficient adsorbent for determining contaminants such as PAEs in different beverage samples. © 201

The Evaluation of Yield and Advantage Indices for Agroforestry of Populus euramericana and Medicago sativa in Karaj, Iran

Today, agroforestry production systems as viable strategy for sustainable agriculture, is appreciated by both researchers and farmers, as it increases the efficiency of natural resources uses and may enhance the combined production of wood and crop products and hence income of the rural communities. In order to investigate the benefits of the agroforestry system of Euramerican poplar (Populus euramericana clone of 92/40) and alfalfa fodder plant (Medicago sativa), an experiment was carried out in the form of Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications at the Alborz Research Station in the south of Karaj, Iran. The treatments included poplar pure culture, alfalfa pure culture, and poplar-alfalfa mixed culture. Alfalfa plants were planted between the rows of poplar (Populus euramericana clone of 92/40) which were planted in March 2015 at a distance of 3 × 4 m, in late autumn 2016. The height and diameter at breast height (DBH) of the poplar trees were measured at the end of each growing season for three consecutive years, and then the annual increment in growth of height, diameter and stem volume (m3/ha) were calculated and evaluated using the T-Test. The plant height and dry weight of alfalfa were measured for the three years and its total annual fodder dry mass yield was obtained. Competitive and economic evaluation of each of the pure and agroforestry cultivations was done based on the indices of land equality ratio (LER), relative value total (RVT) and advantage index (IA). In 2019 and 2020, there was a statistically significant difference in the DBH and stem volume in pure and agroforestry cultivations, indicating the highest values for both parameters in pure poplar culture. In 2018, the highest alfalfa fodder dry mass yield was obtained in agroforestry cultivation with 11320 kg ha-1 but the highest alfalfa fodder dry mass in 2019 (with 10928 kg ha-1) belonged to its pure cultivation. In all the studied years, LER was greater than one and ranged from 1.27 to 2.39, with the three-year average being 1.78. The values for RVT in 2018, 2019, and 2020 were 1.6, 0.69 and 0.41 and those for IA were 6.53, 4, and 2.81, respectively. Therefore, adopting agroforestry by cultivation of poplar and alfalfa will enable the farmers to receive 160%, 69%, and 41% increases in income compared to the income from pure cultivation of poplar and alfalfa for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively

Ocena początkowego modułu ścinania tkanin dżinsowych na podstawie struktury geometrycznej i właściwości mechanicznych

A new theoretical analysis is presented which predicts the initial shear modulus of twill woven denim fabrics (T3/1) in terms of fabric mechanical and geometrical properties under conditions of small strain. The warp and weft yarn lengths in a unit repeat for a twill weave (T3/1) structure are theoretically estimated by using geometrical parameters including the contact angles between warp and weft yarns based on yarn crimp values. The values of initial shear modulus predicted are compared with experimental values obtained by a Sirofast Tester 3. The results show that the predicted and experimental shear modulus values are linearly correlated (R2 = 0.904) with a performance factor (PF/3) value of 15%.Przedstawiono metodę przewidywania początkowego modułu sprężystość tkanin dżinsowych w funkcji właściwości mechanicznych i struktury geometrycznej tkaniny w warunkach małych naprężeń. Długości nitek osnowy i wątku w obrębie jednego splotu dla splotu skośnego (T3/1) zostały określone teoretycznie przy wykorzystaniu parametrów geometrycznych, w tym konta pomiędzy wątkiem, a osnową. Otrzymane wartości teoretycznie porównano z doświadczalnie pomierzonymi na wyprodukowanych tkaninach. Uzyskano liniową korelację przy R2 = 0.904