Investigation on Efficiency of Different Chemical Coagulants on Reduction of Turbidity, Sulfate and Ammonia in the Wastewater of Zagros Petrochemical Company

Zagros Petrochemical Company, as one of the largest methanol companies in Iran, faces the problem of high levels of turbidity and sulfate and ammonia pollutants in its wastewater. So, it is required to effectively purify this wastewater for reusing in steam production in the methanol unit; also, to bring the amount of pollutants to the required environmental standards. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the coagulation process and compare the effectiveness of six different coagulants, including aluminum sulfate (alum), iron (II) sulfate, chloroferric, polyaluminum chloride and two types of cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes, in reducing the existing amount of turbidity, sulfate and ammonia in the wastewater of this company. During these experiments, the effects of effluent pH and coagulant concentration parameters on the efficiency of reducing the turbidity and the mentioned pollutants has been investigated. According to the results, and considering the long flocculation time, as well as low formation of very small and non-quick precipitating suspended particles, the coagulants alum, chloroferric and iron (II) sulfate do not have a significant effect on the removal of turbidity from the target wastewater sample. Meanwhile, the coagulants PAC, cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes, with low concentrations, are suitably effective, and, in combination with lime, can remove a significant amount of the turbidity (about 99%) and the ammonia (about 60%) from the investigated wastewater. Also, the highest amount of the sulfate reduction (about 45%) is attributed to the alum coagulant. Finally, taking into account the costs, accessibility and compatibility of the wastewater treatment package of the Zagros Petrochemical Company, the coagulant PAC in a concentration of 5 mg/L, in combination with lime at a pH of 12, has been suggested and the mentioned problems were completely resolved

Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in healthy Iranian children : A systematic review and meta-analysis

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The effect of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) on lipid profiles and glycemic indices in type 2 diabetic adults: randomized double blinded trials

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of okra consumption on serum levels of lipid profiles and glycemic indices in Type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. The present study was a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, carried out in Kerman, Iran. Sixty T2D patients were randomized into intervention and control groups and received 10 g okra powder blended in 150 g conventional yogurt or conventional yogurt alone, along with dinner and lunch, for 8 weeks. Glycemic markers and lipid profile were assessed, as well as anthropometric measures, at the beginning and end of study. The findings showed that 8 weeks okra consumption resulted in a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose (−15.61 ± 19.44 vs. −3.40 ± 24.78; p =.02), homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (−1.17 ± 1.61 vs. −0.14 ± 1.64; p =.01), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (0.01 ± 0.007 vs. 0.00 ± 0.01; p =.004), triacylglycerol (−22.30 ± 32.46 vs. −3.86 ± 30.57; p =.001), total cholesterol (−10.23 ± 10.36 vs. −2.03 ± 13.94; p =.004), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; −8.15 ± 10.01 vs. −2.31 ± 9.37; p =.02), and LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (−0.28 ± 0.37 vs. −0.08 ± 0.24; p =.01). No significant difference was observed between groups in HDL-C, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin levels, and anthropometric measures. The present study suggests that okra consumption can elicit improvements in lipid profile, as well as glycemic markers, among T2D patients.</p

Investigation of the Performance of Zeolitic Adsorbent Modified with Cu Nanoparticles for Desulfurization of Hydrocarbon Fuel

Sulfur is one of the elements in fossil fuels that is converted to sulfur dioxide, which is one of the most important air pollutants, when burned in a car engine. In the present study, the adsorption capacity of an organic sulfurized compound from a diesel fuel model containing 300 ppm thiophene was evaluated using x13 zeolite modified with 3% by weight of copper metal. Moreover, the effect of three parameters of contact time (15, 30, 60, and 120 min), adsorbent value (0.5, 1, 2.5 and 3.5 g) and temperature (25, 40, 50 and 60 °C) was assessed in a discontinuous system. In order to activate the adsorbent surface cations, x13 zeolite was washed with deionized water and 0.1 M copper nitrate salt and then copper nanoparticles were loaded on it. The maximum adsorption capacity was 2.5 g of adsorbent at 60 min at room temperature, and the amount of thiophene for adsorption modified with copper nanoparticles increased from 300 to 138 ppm. The adsorption results showed that an increase of more than 2.5 g of adsorbent would not cause a significant change in the adsorption efficiency. In addition, FT-IR, SEM and N2 physisorption studies showed that the adsorbent would maintain its regular structure after nanoparticle loading. Finally, the modified zeolite showed better performance for desulfurization of the diesel fuel model

Comparison of N-Terminal Pro B-Natriuretic Peptide and Echocardiographic Indices in Patients with Mitral Regurgitation

Introduction Echocardiographic indices can form the basis of the diagnosis of systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in patients with Mitral regurgitation (MR). However, using echocardiography alone may bring us to a diagnostic dead-end. The aim of this study was to compare N-Terminal pro B-natriuretic peptide (BNP) and echocardiographic indices in patients with mitral regurgitation. Methods 2D and Doppler echocardiography and BNP serum level were obtained from 54 patients with organic mild, moderate and severe MR. Results BNP levels were increased with symptoms in patients with mitral regurgitation (NYHAI: 5.7 ± 1.1, NYHAII: 6.9 ± 1.5, NYHAIII: 8.3 ± 2 pg/ml, P < 0.001). BNP plasma level were significantly correlated with MPI (myocardial performance index) (r = 0.399, P = 0.004), and following echocardiographic indices: LVEDV (r = 0.45, P < 0.001), LVESV (r = 0.54, P < 0.001), LVEDD (r = 0.48, P < 0.001), LVESD (r = 0.54, P < 0.001), dp/dt (r = −0.32, P = 0.019) and SPAP (r = 0.4, P = 0.006). Conclusion The present study showed that BNP may be useful in patients with MR and may confirm echocardiographic indices

Evaluating the controls on Tourmaline Crystallization in the mylonitic granite-gneiss pluton in the Northeastern of Jan mine (Lorestan province)

Introduction The study area is a part of the Sanandaj- Sirjan zone that is located in the NW of Azna city and NE of the dimension stone mine of Jan between 49° 11' 41"and 49° 16' 07" E longitude and 33° 36'35" and 33° 38'12" N latitude., A pluton of mylonitic granite-gneiss is exposed in the area which contains abundant tourmalines as black and patchy or subgrain association. Geochemically, the studied granite-gneiss is A-type, peraluminous to slightly metaluminous and calc – alkaline to slightly alkaline (Moradi et al., 7). The electron microprobe analyses of the tourmalines display shorl-dravite in composition with more tendency to shorl (Moradi et al., 2015). In this paper we try to study the petrological sites of tourmaline formation with associated minerals, controller factors of crystallization using mineral chemistry of tourmaline, comprehensive behavior of trace elements in the tourmaline, synthetic phase diagrams and finally relationships between the associated minerals. Materials and methods The results of trace-element and major-element analyses were obtained from one polished thin section including 2 tourmaline grains. Major-element analyses of tourmaline were obtained at Oklahama City University of America using the JEOL 8200 electron microprobe with a spot size of 5 μm and trace-element analyses were performed on just a sample by Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (LA-ICP-MS) a 193nm ArF excimer laser ablation system (MicroLas GeoLas 200Q) in combination with a quadrupole ICP-MS (Micromass Platform ICP) at Utrecht University of Netherland. Representative EMP and LA-ICP-MS analyses of tourmaline samples are presented in Tables1 and 2. Results The results of LA-ICP-MS on tourmalines of Jan mine in the North east of mylonitic granite-gneiss body show that distribution and diffusion of trace elements during the growth of tourmaline trend is positive on the plots of binary Mn versus Fetot / (Fetot +Mg) and it represents the formation of the tourmaline mineral from the melt is along with the progress of the differentiation (Jolliff et al., 1987; Kontak et al., 2002). Also the average composition of tourmaline – bearing mylonitic granite-gneiss pluton normalized spider diagram for the studied tourmaline shows positive anomaly and negative anomaly in Eu that indicates tourmaline minerals surrounded by quartz and feldspar grains (Copjakova et al., 2013). Secondary phases such as zircon and allanite very much effect on the REE patterns (Rollinson, 1993). Therefore, in the final stages of differentiation, allanite appeared earlier than it appeared in areas without tourmaline crystalliziation and LREE soon after tourmaline crystalized and they are deposited (Cuney and Friedrich, 1987). Using a combination of phase diagrams, the controlling factors of creation of tourmaline associated with biotite-tourmaline can be assessed, and the relationship between tourmaline and associated minerals, chemistry of tourmaline – bearing granitoid pluton, and location of petrological minerals tourmaline can be sought (Pesquera et al., 2005). Discussion The results of LA-ICP-MS on tourmalines of mylonitic granite-gneiss body in the north east of Jan mine in Sanandaj – Sirjan Zone represents tourmaline crystallization from the melt along with the progress of the differentiation. Also, the average composition of tourmaline – bearing mylonitic granite-gneiss pluton normalized spider diagram for the studied tourmaline shows positive anomaly and negative anomaly in Eu that indicates that tourmalines are surrounded by quartz and feldspar grains. According to petrographic evidence of tourmaline and biotite, it can be seen with muscovite. Therefore, where tourmaline is dominant, biotite and associated minerals are limited or do not exist. Using a combination of phase diagrams controlling factors of tourmaline crystallization associated with biotite-tourmaline can be assessed, and the relationship between tourmaline and associated minerals, chemistry of tourmaline – bearing granitoid pluton, and location of petrological of tourmaline minerals can be sought. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank the Shahrekord University for providing the budget for this research. References Copjakova, R., Skoda, R., Galiova, M.V. and Novak, M., 2013. Distributions of Y + REE and Sc in tourmaline and their implications for the melt evolution; examples from NYF pegmatites of the Trebic Pluton, Moldanubian Zone, Czech Republic. Journal of Geosciences, 58(2): 113–131. Cuney, M. and Friedrich, M., 1987. Physicochemical and crystalchemical controls on accessory mineral paragenesis in granitoids: implications for uranium metallogenesis. Bulletin Mineralogie, 110(2-3): 235–247. Jolliff, B.L., Papike, J.J. and Laul, J.C., 1987. Mineral recorders of pegmatite internal evolution: REE contents of tourmaline from the Bob Ingersoll pegmatite, South Dakota. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 51(8): 2225–2232. Kontak, D.J., Dostal, J., Kyser, K. and Archibald, D.A., 2002. A petrological, geochemical, isotopic and fluidinclusion study of 370 Ma pegmatite–aplite sheets, Peggys Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Canadian Mineralogist, 40(5): 1249–1286. Moradi, A., Shabanian Boroujeni, N. and Davodian Dehkordi, A.R., 2015. Geochemistry and determination genesis of tourmalines in the mylonitic granite-gneiss pluton in Northeastern of Jan mine (Lorestan province(. Journal of Petrology, 23(6): 65-82. (in Persian with English abstract) Moradi, A., Shabanian Boroujeni, N. and Davodian Dehkordi, A.R., 2017. Geochemistry of granitoid pluton in northeastern of mine Jan (province Lorestan). Journal of Economic Geology (in Persian with English abstract). (in print) Pesquera, A., Torres-Ruiz, J., Gil-Crespo, P.P. and Jiang, S. Y., 2005. Petrographic, chemical and B-isotopic insights into the origin of tourmaline-rich rocks and boron recycling in the Martinamor antiform (Central Iberian Zone, Salamanca, Spain). Journal of Petrology, 46(5): 1013–1044. Rollinson, H., 1993. Using geochemical data: evolution, presentation, interpretation. Longman Scientific and Technical, London, 352 pp

مشخصات روانشناختی دانشجویان با و بدون سابقه انضباطی: یک مطالعه مقایسه ای

مقدمه: پژوهش حاضر با هدف مقایسه نیمرخ روانشناختی دانشجویان با و بدون سابقه انضباطی انجام شد.روش‌ کار: جامعه آماری این مطالعه توصیفی و علی- مقایسه‌ای شامل کلیه دانشجویان مقطع کارشناسی دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد با رأی کمیته انضباطی دانشگاه در سال‌های تحصیلی 98-1397 و 99-1398 و کلیه دانشجویان مقطع کارشناسی بدون سوابق انضباطی در همان سال تحصیلی بودند. از هر جامعه 200 نفر از دانشجویان مقطع کارشناسی به روش نمونه گیری هدفمند انتخاب شدند. هر دو گروه به پرسشنامه سلامت عمومی (GHQ-28) و پرسشنامه پنج عاملی NEO  (NEO-FFI) پاسخ دادند. برای تجزیه و تحلیل داده ها از آمار توصیفی و استنباطی استفاده شد.یافته‌ها: نتایج نشان داد که بین دو گروه در افسردگی (001/0=P)، اضطراب (006/0=P) و سلامت روان کلی (01/0=P) تفاوت معنی‌داری وجود دارد. به طور مشابه، تفاوت معنی داری در روان رنجورخویی (001/0=P)، گشودگی به تجربه (001/0=P)، توافق پذیری (001/0=P) و وظیفه شناسی (001/0=P) مشاهده شد. دانش آموزان با سابقه انضباطی نسبت به دانش آموزان بدون سابقه انضباطی مشکلات روانی بیشتری نشان دادند. علاوه بر این، برای صفات منفی نمرات بالاتری و برای صفات مثبت نمرات پایین تری داشتند.نتیجه‌گیری: بر اساس این یافته‌ها، دانشجویان دارای سوابق انضباطی ممکن است مشکلات شخصیتی خاصی داشته باشند و نیاز به کمک روان‌شناختی بیشتری داشته باشند. همچنین، این یافته ها می تواند به تدوین قوانین انضباطی برای جلوگیری از تخلفات دانش آموزان کمک کند

COVID-19 Pandemic and the Mental Health of Caregivers of the Elderly With Chronic Diseases

Objectives: The social support of caregivers is fundamental, and their quality of life, mental health, and the burden of caring are related to the social support they receive during their interaction with people. Because the coronavirus pandemic and related quarantine have affected people’s participation and social support, the caregivers’ lifestyle has changed, and they have become more isolated and lonely. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of the burden of care in the relationship between social support and mental health of family caregivers of elderly Iranians with chronic diseases of the nervous system during the coronavirus pandemic. Methods: We recruited a sample of 249 family caregivers of the elderly with Alzheimer, Parkinson, and stroke. The study data were collected by electronic questionnaires of perceived social support of Zimet, Novak care burden, and Goldberg mental health questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using the Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling. Results: This study showed that family caregivers experience high social support, a moderate care load, and their mental health is on the verge of illness during the coronavirus epidemic. The results of the Pearson correlation and structural equation modeling showed a positive and significant relationship between social support perceived by caregivers and their mental health, and the burden of care has a mediating role in this relationship. Discussion: Finally, because social support is effective in reducing the distress experienced by caregivers and improving their performance and mental health, future plans and interventions are expected to consider strengthening social support as primary prevention to protect caregivers from mental health symptoms