Contamination of Hospital Water Supplies in Gilan, Iran, with Legionella pneumophila, Escherichia coli,

This study is designed to determine the contamination degree of hospital water supplies with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila, and E. coli in Gilan, Iran. Samples were collected directly into sterile containers and concentrated by centrifuge. Half part of any sample transferred to yeast extract broth and the second part transferred to Trypticase Soy Broth and incubated for 3 days. DNA was extracted by using commercial kit. Four rounds of PCR were performed as follows: multiplex PCR for detecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Integron 1, and Metallo-β-lactamases gene; PCR for detecting Legionella pneumophila and mip gene separately; PCR for detecting E. coli; and another PCR for detecting whole bacterial presence. Contamination rates of cold, warm, and incubator water samples with P. aeruginosa, were 16.6%, 37.5%, and 6.8% consequently. Degrees of contamination with L. pneumophila were 3.3%, 9.3%, and 10.9% and with E. coli were zero, 6.2%, and zero. Total bacterial contamination of cold, warm, and incubator water samples was 93.3%, 84.4%, and 89.0% consequently. Metallo-β-lactamases gene was found in 20.0% of all samples. Contamination degree with P. aeruginosa was considerable and with L. pneumophila was moderate. Metallo-β-lactamases gene was found frequently indicating widespread multiple drug resistance bacteria. We suggest using new decontamination method based on nanotechnology

Synthesis and Application of Ce-doped TiO\u3csub\u3e2\u3c/sub\u3e Nanoparticles Loaded on Activated Carbon for Ultrasound-assisted Adsorption of Basic Red 46 Dye

Ce was doped on TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs), and this association was loaded on activated carbon (Ce-TiO2-NPs-AC). The characterization was completed by FE-SEM, TEM, and XRD, and finally these NPs were used for the ultrasonic-assisted adsorption of Basic Red 46 (BR 46) from aqueous solution. An experimental model suggested by the central composite design (CCD)—as a branch of response surface methodology (RSM)—provides insight into the influence of variables, such as BR 46 concentration, pH, adsorbent mass, and sonication time, on BR 46 removal. Experimental results revealed that setting conditions at 25 mg L−1 of BR 46, pH 5.0, 0.02 g of Ce-TiO2-NPs-AC and 4 min sonication resulted in a high coefficient of determination (R2 \u3e 0.99) and low probability values. The difference in the values is likely due to the accumulation of more than 99% of BR 46, while equilibrium data described by Langmuir isotherm model with a high adsorption capacity of 58.61 mg g−1 and adsorption process were successfully correlated with pseudo-second-order kinetics model

Magnetic Dual-Template Molecularly Imprinted Polymer Based on Syringe-To-Syringe Magnetic Solid-Phase Microextraction for Selective Enrichment Of P-Coumaric Acid and Ferulic Acid from Pomegranate, Grape, And Orange Samples

Magnetic dual-template molecularly imprinted polymer (Fe3O4@SiO2-MDMIP) was prepared to enrich and determine both p-Coumaric acid (p-CA) and ferulic acid (FA) based on syringe-to-syringe magnetic solid-phase microextraction (SS-MSPME). The obtained MDMIP was characterized and recognized, and then its adsorbing performance was studied. Based on the results, the Fe3O4@SiO2-MDMIP indicated selective recognition towards p-CA and FA with large adsorption capacity. The optimization of MDMIP–SS-MSPME conditions (pH, Fe3O4@SiO2-MDMIP mass, NaCl concentration, number of cycle, and elution volume) were conducted using the central composite design (CCD). Under the optimum conditions, an effectual and a convenient method was established to determine p-CA and FA in pomegranate, grapes, and orange samples based on SS-MSPME coupling with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV). Our developed method showed the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.08 ng mL−1 for p-CA and 0.07 ng mL−1 for FA. The method also indicated good linearity with R2 \u3e 0.99 and good recoveries of 85.12–94.96% with RSDs ≤ 5.58% spiked at three various concentration levels in pomegranate, grapes, and orange samples

Diagnosis and Treatment of Fasciola Infection with Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in Ardabil, Northwest of Iran: Two Case Reports

Here we report biliary fascioliasis in two women 27 and 54 years old from Ardabil Province, Iran who presented with nausea, anorexia, weight loss, and pain between shoulder blades. Endoscopic ultrasound showed distal common bile duct strictures (CBD) and a lesion in its proximal. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) was performed and live parasites were diagnosed and successfully managed into the duodenal lumen. The clinical findings of the patient improved after the procedure. This report emphasizes that the prevalence of Fasciola in Ardabil is predictable and this infection could be simultaneously diagnosed and treated by the ERCP

Optimization of ceramic waste filter for bathroom greywater treatment using central composite design (CCD)

The present study aims to develop a filtration system consisting of ceramic wastes as a treatment process of bathroom greywater to reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD), Total suspended solids (TSS), Total nitrogen (TN), and turbidity. Optimization of the reduction efficiency was investigated using response surface methodology (RSM) as a function of the ceramic practical sizes (0.25–1.18 mm) and hydraulic retention time HRT (1–3 h). The functional groups on the surface of the ceramic filter media were determined using Fourier transform irradiation (FTIR), while the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to determine the microstructure and the surface morphology of the ceramic particles. Results revealed that the optimal reduction of COD, TSS, TN, and turbidity was influenced by active sites of the filter media (C]C, C]O, CeOeH, and OH−) and was achieved under the operating conditions of 0.25 mm of ceramic particles after 3 h of HRT, the observed and predicted reduction for COD, TSS, TN, and Turbidity were 38.8 vs. 39.8%; 58.47 vs. 59.59%; 66.66 vs. 67.32%; 88.31 vs. 89.02%, respectively. It can be concluded that the effectiveness of the ceramic filter media is a potential source for the filtration of bathroom greywater

Preparation and optimization of macroalgae-derived solid acid catalysts

Solid acid catalysts were synthesized from macroalgae Sargassum horneri via hydrothermal carbonization followed by sulfuric acid sulfonation. A three-variable Box-Behnken design and optimization was used to maximize surface acidity. The optimal preparation conditions were found to be at the carbonization temperature of 217 °C, the carbonization time of 4.6 h and the sulfonation temperature of 108.5 °C. Under these conditions, the highest surface acidity achieved was 1.62 mmol g−1. Physical and chemical properties of prepared solid acid catalyst were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The results proved the grafting of –SO3H groups on an amorphous carbon structure. The catalyst activity was evaluated by the esterification of oleic acid with methanol. The sample prepared achieved 96.6% esterification yield, which was higher than the 86.7% yield achieved by commercial Ambersyst-15 under the same reaction conditions

Leishmania infection in cats and feline leishmaniosis: an updated review with a proposal of a diagnosis algorithm and prevention guidelines

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Investigation of Kinetics and Equilibrium Isotherms of Direct Red 12B Dye Adsorption on Hazelnut Shells

In this work, efficiency and performance of Hazelnut shells (HS) adsorbent was examined for the removal and recovery of Direct Red 12B (DR12B) from wastewater. The absorbance of DR12B was measured spectrophotometrically at λmax=523 nm before and after adsorption of DR12B. The maximum removal was 99.8% for 30 mg L–1 ofDR12B concentration on 0.3 gr HS adsorbent. Acidic pH was favourable for the adsorption of DR12B. The influence of variables including pH, concentration dye, particle size, amount of adsorbent, temperature, in column method and kinetics, isotherm, contact time on the dye removal has been investigated in batch method by one at a time optimization method. The effect of foreign cations, anions and other dyes was investigated on removal efficiency. In order to investigate the efficiency of DR12B adsorption on the HS, pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich and intra-particle diffusion kinetic models were studied. The graphical correlation of various adsorption isotherm models like, Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin have been carried out for this adsorbent. </span