Synthesis and characterization of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes based on quercetin Schiff base and using them as heterogeneous catalysts in Henry reaction

136-143Quercetin is a dietary flavonoid, which with its specialized structure can form Schiff bases and their metal complexes. Schiff base ligand has been synthesized through the condensation of quercetin and ethanolamine. In this paper, two new metal complexes involving the Schiff base ligand have been prepared by a simple method at room temperature. SBL-Cu and SBL-Ni have been characterized by elemental analysis, ICP, UV-visible, and FT-IR studies. The activity of the synthesized complexes as a heterogeneous catalyst has been assessed in Henry reaction. The complexes have shown high catalytic performance in Henry reaction. However, SBL-Cu had better catalytic activity than SBL-Ni. These catalysts can be recycled and reused five times without a significant reduction in the activity. A series of benzaldehyde derivatives have been applied in the optimized Henry reaction to investigate the effect of the substituent group on the yield of the reaction. As expected, benzaldehydes containing electron-withdrawing group have a higher yield in Henry reaction

Operational modes detection in industrial gas turbines using an ensemble of clustering methods

Operational modes of a process are described by a number of relevant features that are indicative of the state of the process. Hundreds of sensors continuously collect data in industrial systems, which shows how the relationship between different variables changes over time and identifies different modes of operation. Gas turbines’ operational modes are usually defined regarding their expected energy production, and most research works either are focused a priori on obtaining these modes solely based on one variable, the active load, or assume a fixed number of states and build up predictive models to classify new situations as belonging to the predefined operational modes. However, in this work, we take into account all available parameters based on sensors’ data because other factors can influence the system status, leading to the identification of a priori unknown operational modes. Furthermore, for gas turbine management, a key issue is to detect these modes using a real-time monitoring system. Our approach is based on using unsupervised machine learning techniques, specifically an ensemble of clusters to discover consistent clusters, which group data into similar groups, and to generate in an automatic way their description. This description, upon interpretation by experts, becomes identified and characterized as operational modes of an industrial process without any kind of a priori bias of what should be the operational modes obtained. Our proposed methodology can discover and identify unknown operational modes through data-driven models. The methodology was tested in our case study with Siemens gas turbine data. From available sensors’ data, clusters descriptions were obtained in an automatic way from aggregated clusters. They improved the quality of partitions tuning one consistency parameter and excluding outlier clusters by defining filtering thresholds. Finally, operational modes and/or sub-operational modes were identified with the interpretation of the clusters description by process experts, who evaluated the results very positively.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Effect of micro phase change materials on the thermal behavior of leather

Today, scientists are interested in the manufacturing and invention of smart textiles such as phase change materials (PCMs). The process of phase change from solid to liquid and vice versa takes place in such materials. Using materials such as PCM could change the properties of leather for better performance, and could be applied to many places such as the shoe industry. The background of the study is that using PCMs could increase thermoregulating properties of materials. For finishing leather with PCMs, several methods were suggested such as spraying, tanning, laminating, etc. In this study, first impregnated leather with 5% and 10% of PCM by spray technic are prepared and characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Finally, water vapor permeability and physical properties of the samples were analyzed for an understanding of leather comfort. The results reveal that after impregnating with 10% PCMs, significant effects on the thermal behavior of samples were observed, and this finishing had no effect on the comfort of leather

Adult Variant of Self-healing Cutaneous Mucinosis in a Patient with Epilepsy

A 52-year-old woman was admitted with a 3 weeks history of periorbital edema and lips swelling. She developed several subcutaneous firm erythematous papules and nodules on the face, scalp and two indurated plaques on the upper back and left forearm. These lesions grew rapidly. The patient had a positive history of epileptic seizures since childhood. General examination was normal. There was a mild pitting edema on her hands and feet. Laboratory data were within normal limits. Histopathological examination revealed a well circumscribed accumulation of mucin in the dermis. Alcian blue stain was positive. Clinical and histopathological findings followed by spontaneous resolution of the lesions within a period of 4 months was compatible with diagnosis of self-healing cutaneous mucinosis. Herein we report the first case of self-healing cutaneous mucinosis associated with epilepsy

The Effect of Mindfulness Interval and Transcrinal Direct Current Stimulation on Injury Anxiety and Performance in Elite Fencers

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mindfulness and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on psychological factors such as injury anxiety and performance improvement. There are models of the relationship between psychological factors and injury showing that stress, anxiety and worry can limit cognition, increase muscle tension, increase distractibility and lose focus. Finding a way to reduce anxiety and improve performance is important for professional athletes. This study was conducted in the form of an experiment involving two experimental groups (mindfulness training group and electrostimulation group) and a control group with a pretest-posttest design. The statistical sample of this study consists of 36 volunteers who participated in this study. The statistical population of this study was all elite fencers who had at least third place in Tehran province in their record. Anxiety inventory questionnaire prepared by Cassidy (2006) and sports performance questionnaire prepared by Charbonio (2001) were used to measure injury anxiety and performance. Data were measured with descriptive statistics to show the mean and standard deviation of the data, and inferential statistical tests through paired t-tests and Fisher’s tests to show the differences between groups, using SPSS-25 software. The results showed that mindfulness and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) had a significant effect on the pretest in both performance and anxiety variables by paired t-tests. By Fisher’s test, the variables of injury anxiety in the two groups of mindfulness and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) showed no significant difference. In this study, it can be concluded that both mindfulness and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation had a significant effect on these variables and that mindfulness is a suitable, inexpensive and accessible way for athletes to access it

Relationship between β-Thalassemia minor and Helicobacter pylori infection

Background: Until now, no study has been reported investigating the association between β-thalassemia minor and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. This study was designed to compare H. pylori infection rate between β-thalassemia minor patients and healthy controls. Methods: A number of 100 β-thalassemia minor patients (50 males, 50 females) and 100 gender-matched healthy controls were prospectively recruited in this study in a period of 3 months. The study population consisted of the people who referred to a health center in Babol, North of Iran, for premarital counseling. H. pylori status was assessed by measuring the anti-H. pylori IgG antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Demographic information and informed consent were collected from all participants. Results: The overall H. pylori infection rate was 43%. The infection was significantly more prevalent in thalassemia patients (53%) than in the controls (33%) in both univariate (OR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.3-4.06) and multivariable analyses (OR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.12-3.76). Age was the only significant factor which was positively correlated with the infection in β-thalassemia minor cases (OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.2). Gender, blood groups, residency, and education level were not related to the infection. Conclusions: According to the results, it can be concluded that β-thalassemia minor patients are possibly more susceptible to H. pylori infection than healthy people. Further studies are needed to discover more about the exact mechanisms of increased susceptibility to H. pylori infection in β-thalassemia minor patients

The survey statistical and biological of sturgeon in the southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran waters)

This study have been conducted entitle biological and statistical sturgeon in the southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran waters)” from 2009 to 2013. Sampling was manthly. Overal, 1859 specimens of different species of sturgeon was caught including Acipenserpersicus (69%), A. stellatus (19%), Husohuso (6%), A. nudiventris (4%) and A. guldenstaedtii (2%). Totally, the meat and caviar of five species were found 53263.6 kg and 5633 kg respectively and caviar to meat ratio was 10.6%. The results show that ration of meat and caviar whole species reduced from 2009 to 2012 in which the meat and caviar of A. persicus was declined from 12146 to 4465 kg in meat and caviar from 1358 to 487 kg were extremely reduced respectively. The CPUE (catch per unit effort) of sturgeon has fluctuated from 2009 to 2012. Totally, the CPUE of A. persicus was decreased from 0.150 (2009) to 0.130 (2012) kg boat per day, A. stellatue from 0.009 (2009) to 0.021 (2012) kg boat/day, A. guldenstaedtii from 0.002 (2009) to 0.003 (2012) kg boat/day, A. nudiventris from 0.027 (2009) to 0.001 (2012) kg boat/day and H. huso from 0.123 (2009) to 0.018 (2012) kg boat /day. 1061 specimens of fish has been caviar including A. persicus with 69%, A. stellatus (18.1%), H. huso (5.5%), A. guldenstaedtii (2.7%). The frequency of caviar categorize was included 1 , 2, 3 and massive with 49.6%, 38%), 10.6% and 1.9%, respectively. The highest of meat and caviar belong to A. persicus with 31414 kg and 3515.7 kg, respectively were found and the lowest was 841kg and 105.9 kg pertain to A. guldenstaedtii. The results show that 65.9% of sturgeon was caught by legal catch (landing) and 34.1% by beach seine remained. 391 individuals was age determined that the minimum and maximum age was 9 and 41 year comprised to H.huso and A. stellatus, respectively. A. persicus and A. stellatus were majority caught compare to other species. A. persicus has the highest frequency in 14-15 year age groups with 50% and 57% in 2009 and 2011, respectively and 15-16 year age group with 41% and 56% in 2010 and 2012, respectively. The results show that mean of fork length, body weight, caviar weight of A. persicus was declined because the FL and weight average (±SD) obtained from 152.4±16.7cm and 25.8±9.2 kg in 2009 to 146.5± 18.7cm and 22.1±9.2kg in 2012, respectively. In contrast, the average (±SD) FL and weight of H. huso was increased from 218.8±41.1cm and 137.3±96.6kg in 2009 to 231.3±45.2cm in FL and 146.2±78.5kg body weight in 2012, respectively. Consequently, the results show that stocks of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea has a trend declined because of some species in IUCN categorize list was Endangered in 2006 but at this moment lie in Critically Endangered list of IUCN categorize were down which could be a serious alarm for the valuable sturgeon fish in the Caspian Sea. Therefore, recommendation that trade catch of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea must be forbidden and continue legal catch for spawner fish that needede to artificial propagation only

The survey statistical and biological of sturgeon in the southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran waters)

This study have been conducted entitle biological and statistical sturgeon in the southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran waters)” from 2009 to 2013. Sampling was manthly. Overal, 1859 specimens of different species of sturgeon was caught including Acipenserpersicus (69%), A. stellatus (19%), Husohuso (6%), A. nudiventris (4%) and A. guldenstaedtii (2%). Totally, the meat and caviar of five species were found 53263.6 kg and 5633 kg respectively and caviar to meat ratio was 10.6%. The results show that ration of meat and caviar whole species reduced from 2009 to 2012 in which the meat and caviar of A. persicus was declined from 12146 to 4465 kg in meat and caviar from 1358 to 487 kg were extremely reduced respectively. The CPUE (catch per unit effort) of sturgeon has fluctuated from 2009 to 2012. Totally, the CPUE of A. persicus was decreased from 0.150 (2009) to 0.130 (2012) kg boat per day, A. stellatue from 0.009 (2009) to 0.021 (2012) kg boat/day, A. guldenstaedtii from 0.002 (2009) to 0.003 (2012) kg boat/day, A. nudiventris from 0.027 (2009) to 0.001 (2012) kg boat/day and H. huso from 0.123 (2009) to 0.018 (2012) kg boat /day. 1061 specimens of fish has been caviar including A. persicus with 69%, A. stellatus (18.1%), H. huso (5.5%), A. guldenstaedtii (2.7%). The frequency of caviar categorize was included 1 , 2, 3 and massive with 49.6%, 38%), 10.6% and 1.9% , respectively. The highest of meat and caviar belong to A. persicus with 31414 kg and 3515.7 kg, respectively were found and the lowest was 841kg and 105.9 kg pertain to A. guldenstaedtii. The results show that 65.9% of sturgeon was caught by legal catch (landing) and 34.1% by beach seine remained. 391 individuals was age determined that the minimum and maximum age was 9 and 41 year comprised to H.huso and A. stellatus, respectively. A. persicus and A. stellatus were majority caught compare to other species. A. persicus has the highest frequency in 14-15 year age groups with 50% and 57% in 2009 and 2011, respectively and 15-16 year age group with 41% and 56% in 2010 and 2012, respectively. The results show that mean of fork length, body weight, caviar weight of A. persicus was declined because the FL and weight average (±SD) obtained from 152.4±16.7cm and 25.8±9.2 kg in 2009 to 146.5± 18.7cm and 22.1±9.2kg in 2012, respectively. In contrast, the average (±SD) FL and weight of H. huso was increased from 218.8±41.1cm and 137.3±96.6kg in 2009 to 231.3±45.2cm in FL and 146.2±78.5kg body weight in 2012, respectively. Consequently, the results show that stocks of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea has a trend declined because of some species in IUCN categorize list was Endangered in 2006 but at this moment lie in Critically Endangered list of IUCN categorize were down which could be a serious alarm for the valuable sturgeon fish in the Caspian Sea. Therefore, recommendation that trade catch of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea must be forbidden and continue legal catch for spawner fish that needede to artificial propagation only

Green synthesis of triclinic (anorthic) phase AgCoPO4nanoparticles: opticalstudies and theoretical modelling

We report the plant-mediated synthesis, structural investigation, optical properties and theoretical modelling of atriclinic (anorthic) phase AgCoPO4nanoparticles for thefirst time. As part of green chemistry, the secondarymetabolites in the leaf extract ofCanna indicawere engaged as the reducing/capping agent for the metal nano-particles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed the presence of an anorthic AgCoPO4phase, crystallised in a triclinicstructure with P -1 space group. Optical studies using UV-vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence are reported.Transmission electron microscopy suggests the formation of quasi-nanocube morphology, unlike the conventionalspherically-shaped nanoparticles via plant-mediated reduction method. Elemental composition of the nanohybridwas confirmed by energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (E.D.S.). Evidence of crystallinity was supported byselected area electron diffraction (SAED). Study of the dynamic anisotropy of the nanohybrid at optimised statesuggests its proposed application as optical material in colourimetric metal nanoparticles-mediated sensors