Identification of Critical Source Areas (CSAs) and Evaluation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) in Controlling Eutrophication in the Dez River Basin

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are commonly used to control pollution in the river basins. Prioritization of BMPs helps improve the efficiency and effectiveness of pollution reduction, especially in Critical Source Areas (CSAs) that produce the highest pollution loads. Recently, the Dez River in Khuzestan, Iran, has become highly eutrophic from the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides. In this basin, dry and irrigated farming produce 77.34% and 6.3% of the Total Nitrogen (TN) load, and 83.56% and 4.3% of the Total Phosphorus (TP) load, respectively. In addition, residential, pasture, and forest land uses together account for 16.36% of the TN and 12.14% of the TP load in this area. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was implemented to model the Dez River basin and evaluate the applicability of several BMPs, including point source elimination, filter strips, livestock grazing, and river channel management, in reducing the entry of pollution loads to the river. Sensitivity analysis and calibration/validation of the model was performed using the SUFI-2 algorithm in the SWAT Calibration Uncertainties Program (SWAT-CUP). The CSAs were identified using individual (sediment, TN, TP) and combined indices, based on the amount of pollution produced. Among the BMPs implemented, the 10 m filter strip was most effective in reducing TN load (42.61%), and TP load (39.57%)

A Predictive Model for the Strength of a Novel Geopolymer Construction Material Produced by Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Waste

Carbon dioxide emission and consumption of large amounts of natural resources are the environmental hazards observed in the production process of various commonly used construction materials, like Portland cement and clay bricks. Also, debris from the demolition of old buildings and disposing of the waste of construction material factories also cause environmental pollution. Producing environmentally friendly geopolymer materials with recycling construction wastes containing aluminosilicate resources and alkaline activators could be an effective method for reduction of environmental hazards. This paper is an innovative feasibility study of geopolymer material production using the waste autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) powder. Here, a mix of AAC powder together with activator solution containing sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate at different concentrations was used to prepare the geopolymer mortar samples. The specimens were oven-cured at different temperatures. The effects of sodium hydroxide concentration and curing temperature on the compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, as well as water absorption of the samples, were investigated. The main contribution of this study is the feasibility of the successful fabrication of geopolymer material based on AAC waste powder with desirable mechanical properties. Namely, the compressive strength of the base AAC blocks used here was 3 MPa and the maximum strength of the produced geopolymer material using the AAC powder was about 21 MPa. The test results were used to develop a model to predict the compressive strength of the proposed geopolymer AAC material to the effective parameters by Gene Expression Programming. The model predictions were confirmed using an extra series of test results implemented by the authors

The effect of exercise mode and intensity of submaximal physical activities on salivary testosterone to cortisol ratio and α-amylase in young active males

We examined the effect of exercise intensity and mode on the acute responses of free testosterone to cortisol ratio and salivary α-amylase. We also evaluated the relationship between cortisol and salivary α-amylase. Ten healthy young active males participated voluntarily in this study in six single sessions. They exercised on a cycle ergo meter, treadmill, and elliptical instrument at intensities of 70% and 85% maximum heart rate for 25 minutes. Saliva samples were collected 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after each exercise session. No significant changes were observed for cortisol. Free testosterone to cortisol ratio increased during each exercise session (F5, 45=3.15, P=0.02). However, these changes are only significant after exercise on the treadmill at 70% maximum heart rate (t=2.94, P=0.02) and 85% maximum heart rate (t=0.53, P=0.03). Salivary α-amylase significantly varied among exercise sessions (F5, 45=3.97, P=0.005), and a significant decline was observed after exercise on the elliptical instrument (t=2.38, P=0.04) and treadmill (t=3.55, P=0.006) at 85% maximum heart rate. We found that the free testosterone to cortisol ratio is dependent on the exercise mode, while the salivary α-amylase response is dependent on the intensity of exercise. The increase of free testosterone to cortisol ratio in this study may indicate lower physiological stress in response to performing these exercises. Applying muscular strength with moderate intensity weight-bearing exercises possibly activates the anabolic pathways. Although the cortisol and salivary α-amylase responses were opposite in the majority of the exercise sessions, no significant inverse relationship was observed

Development of rheumatoid arthritis during treatment of multiple sclerosis with interferon beta 1-a. Coincidence of two conditions or a complication of treatment: A case report

AbstractCoexistence of multiple sclerosis (MS) with other autoimmune diseases has been attributed to common background genetic or environmental factors. This study presents development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during treatment of MS. The MS was confirmed by the Mc Donald criteria and the diagnosis of RA was confirmed by the ACR/EULAR criteria. A 35years old women with 9years of MS who was receiving interferon beta 1-a (INF) for 7years and who did not respond to conventional therapy of RA over 8months developed clinical manifestations of RA. But a rapid response was observed after discontinuation of INF. These findings suggest a possible contribution of INF in the development of RA