Thermoelectric energy harvesting from single-walled carbon nanotube alkali-activated nanocomposites produced from industrial waste materials

A waste-originated one-part alkali-activated nanocomposite is introduced herein as a novel thermoelectric material. For this purpose, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were utilized as nanoinclusions to create an electrically conductive network within the investigated alkali-activated construction material. Thermoelectric and microstructure characteristics of SWCNT-alkali-activated nanocomposites were assessed after 28 days. Nanocomposites with 1.0 wt.% SWCNTs exhibited a multifunctional behavior, a combination of structural load-bearing, electrical conductivity, and thermoelectric response. These nanocomposites (1.0 wt.%) achieved the highest thermoelectric performance in terms of power factor (PF), compared to the lower SWCNTs’ incorporations, namely 0.1 and 0.5 wt.%. The measured electrical conductivity (σ) and Seebeck coefficient (S) were 1660 S·m−1 and 15.8 µV·K−1, respectively, which led to a power factor of 0.414 µW·m−1·K−2 . Consequently, they have been utilized as the building block of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) device, which demon-strated a maximum power output (Pout ) of 0.695 µW, with a power density (PD) of 372 nW·m−2, upon exposure to a temperature gradient of 60 K. The presented SWCNT-alkali-activated nanocomposites could establish the pathway towards waste thermal energy harvesting and future sustainable civil engineering structures

Emission of charged particles from excited compound nuclei

The production and decay processes of compound nuclei are studied in the framework of the dinuclear system model, using proximity potentials. Cross-sections for the emission of complex fragments are computed and compared against the experimental data for the reactions 78,82,86Kr + 12C. A good consistency between the results of this work and the experimental data is obtained

Comparison of the effects of intrapleural bupivacaine and morphine on post-thoracotomy pain

Background: Post-thoracotomy pain is the most severe types of postoperative pain. This study compares the effects of intrapleural bupivacaine and morphine on post-thoracotomy pain. Methods: In a double blind clinical trial study, 30 patients candidate for unilateral thoracotomy were randomly divided into bupivacaine and morphine groups. Patients in the morphine group received 0.2 mg/kg morphine and those in the bupivacaine group received 1 mg/kg bupivacaine by an intrapleural catheter placed at the end of surgery by direct vision. Intrarpleural morphine and bupivacaine continued every 4 hours for the next 24 hours. If required, systemic analgesia with morphine (patient-controlled analgesia, PCA) also used as a postoperative analgesic. The amount of morphine consumption and level of postoperative pain at 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours after surgery were recorded. Results: Patients did not differ significantly in terms of age, gender and duration of surgery. There were no significant differences between the two groups with regard to their mean score of pain at 2 and 6 hours of the surgery; however, the level of pain was significantly lower in the bupivacaine group compared to the morphine group at 12 and 24 hours of the surgery. In the bupivacaine group, the mean level of intravenous opioid used over the 24 hours following surgery was significantly lower than in the morphine group. Discussion: Intrapleural injection of bupivacaine can be more effective in reducing postthoracotomy pain compared to intrapleural morphine. © 2015, American University of Beirut. All rights reserved

The Study of Mentor\'s Performance from Students View in Alborz University of Medical Sciences 2013

Background: students are exposed to stress for many reasons and there are situations which they need guidance. Mentorship programs have been successful in managing these situations. These programs are one of the main university tasks, which sometimes get less attention which affects its performance. The study aim is to determine the mentor's performance from students view in Alborz University of medical sciences. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 304 students randomly entered to the study. A self administrated&nbsp;questionnaire&nbsp;were used after reliability and validity&nbsp;been confirmed. Independent-T Test, one way ANOVA and bonferroni post hoc, and Chi-square tests were used for data analysis. Results: Mean performance score was 78.53(&plusmn;22.54) which assumed as to be moderate performance. The score was different between different fields of study (P<0.0001). There was no significant difference by mentor's or student's gender; however the performance score were higher when mentor and student had same sex (P<0.042). &nbsp; 52.6% were satisfied of having a mentorship program in the university. Groups that had more visits had higher satisfaction rates (P<0.0001) but their mean performance score was lower (P<0.0001). Conclusion: It is necessary to identify and resolve barriers of proper mentorship program running. Measures and incentives to make mentors put sufficient time&nbsp; &nbsp;and also strategies to increase students' participation in selecting their mentors, the professor, students and mentors having, using of higher grade students to help new students under supervision of mentor must be considered. It is needed to survey program performance in medical universities by the Ministry of Health using a similar and standard instrument

Identification and characterization of probiotic lactic acid bacteria isolated from traditional persian pickled vegetables

Background: The pickle, a traditional fermented product, is popular among Iranians. Much research has been conducted worldwide on this food group. Due to a lack of related data in Iran, this study was conducted to isolate and identify dominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in pickles and salted pickles.Materials and methods: Seventy samples were collected from different regions of Iran. The isolated bacteria were identified as LAB by Gram staining and catalase by using MRS agar. Then, those strains were identified at the species level by physiological tests (e.g., gas production from glucose, arginine hydrolysis, CO production from glucose in MRS broth, carbohydrate fermentation) and growth at temperatures of 15°C, 30°C, and 45°C in MRS broth for 3 days. The probiotic characteristics of these bacteria were studied using acid and bile tolerance. The corresponding results were verified using PCR analyses of the 16S rDNA region. Results: 114 presumptive lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with Gram-positive and catalase-negative properties were obtained from the samples. The results revealed that all isolated bacteria were identfied as ,, , , and. The predominant LAB in these pickles was which was isolated from most of the samples. Among the 114 LAB, 7 isolated species have probiotic potential. Six out of seven were recognized as and one remained unidentifiable by biochemical testing. PCR analysis and sequencing of the 16S rDNA region using 27f and 1522r primers showed that all of the probiotic strains were .Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the dominant LAB in traditional Persian pickled vegetables are , , , and . Moreover, was recognized as a probiotic species in pickled vegetables. The raw data obtained from this study can be used in the pickling industry to improve the nutritional value of products

The impact of nurses' perceptions of systems thinking on occurrence and reporting of adverse events: a cross-sectional study

AIMS: To assess systems thinking level and its relationship with occurrence and reporting of adverse events in Iranian nurses. BACKGROUND: Systems thinking has recently emerged important element of patient safety and quality improvement in health care systems. It helps healthcare professionals to understand the different elements of healthcare systems, the interrelatedness, and interdependencies of these elements in the healthcare systems. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was carried out in ten teaching hospitals in Tehran, Iran. A total of 511 nurses were selected using simple random sampling. Systems thinking was measured using the validated Systems Thinking Scale. Data analysis was performed by descriptive analyses, independent t-test, and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The average score for total systems thinking was a mean of 49.45 (SD = 12.10; range 0-80). In total, 67.5 of participants reported the experience of the occurrence of adverse events leading to harm to patients and 65.2 of them responded as having appropriate adverse events reporting behaviors. Nurses who had higher scores in systems thinking were found to be more likely to report adverse events (Odds ratio = 1.07; 95 CI = 1.05 - 1.09), whereas they were less prone to experience adverse events (Odds ratio = 0.97; 95 CI = 0.95 - 0.98). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that the nurses' systems thinking level was moderate. Systems thinking had a significant role in preventing the occurrence of adverse events as well as improving the reporting of adverse events. Therefore, it is recommended to enhance the competency of nurses' thinking systems to prevent the occurrence of adverse events and to improve the reporting of adverse events. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Nursing managers need to focus on the systems thinking weaknesses and the occurrence and the reporting of adverse events in policymaking, practice, and research. Also, systems thinking should be integrated with the health care system for preventing the occurrence of adverse events and improving reporting of adverse events. They should support, lead, and allocate the essential pragmatic strategies and resources for the involvement of all health care members in policymaking

Routine versus selective chest and abdominopelvic CT-scan in conscious blunt trauma patients: a randomized controlled study

Purpose: CT-scan is increasingly used in blunt trauma, but the real impact on patient outcome is still unclear. This study was conducted to assess the effect of performing routine (versus selective) chest and abdominopelvic CT-scan on patient admission time and outcome in blunt trauma. Methods: Conscious and hemodynamically stable high-energy trauma patients were included (n = 140). Routine chest and abdominopelvic CT-scan was requested in addition to the conventional radiography and ultrasound for the intervention group and selective CT-scan according to clinical presentation was done for the control group. Patient admission times in the emergency room and surgery ward, complications, and performed surgical procedures were assessed. “Unsuspected injuries” defined as additional findings on CT-scan, which were not expected before CT-scan, were evaluated. Results: Admission time in the emergency ward and admission time in hospital were significantly shorter in the intervention group. Complications were similar in both groups. Abdominopelvic CT-scan in the intervention group revealed nine (7.8%) unsuspected injuries. All of these nine patients had also a positive clinical examination and injuries in other body regions. Chest CT-scan in the intervention group led to additional diagnoses in 17 patients (24.28%) leading to tube thoracostomy in 13 patients (18.57%). Conclusion: Routine chest and abdominopelvic CT-scan in conscious blunt trauma patients decreases the hospitalization time, but has no impact on patient outcome and probably might lead to overtreatment of occult injuries. The option of using a selective approach should be further evaluated to decrease radiation exposure and facility overuse. © 2017, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany

Routine versus selective chest and abdominopelvic CT-scan in conscious blunt trauma patients: a randomized controlled study

Purpose: CT-scan is increasingly used in blunt trauma, but the real impact on patient outcome is still unclear. This study was conducted to assess the effect of performing routine (versus selective) chest and abdominopelvic CT-scan on patient admission time and outcome in blunt trauma. Methods: Conscious and hemodynamically stable high-energy trauma patients were included (n = 140). Routine chest and abdominopelvic CT-scan was requested in addition to the conventional radiography and ultrasound for the intervention group and selective CT-scan according to clinical presentation was done for the control group. Patient admission times in the emergency room and surgery ward, complications, and performed surgical procedures were assessed. �Unsuspected injuries� defined as additional findings on CT-scan, which were not expected before CT-scan, were evaluated. Results: Admission time in the emergency ward and admission time in hospital were significantly shorter in the intervention group. Complications were similar in both groups. Abdominopelvic CT-scan in the intervention group revealed nine (7.8) unsuspected injuries. All of these nine patients had also a positive clinical examination and injuries in other body regions. Chest CT-scan in the intervention group led to additional diagnoses in 17 patients (24.28) leading to tube thoracostomy in 13 patients (18.57). Conclusion: Routine chest and abdominopelvic CT-scan in conscious blunt trauma patients decreases the hospitalization time, but has no impact on patient outcome and probably might lead to overtreatment of occult injuries. The option of using a selective approach should be further evaluated to decrease radiation exposure and facility overuse. © 2017, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany

A Probiotic Supplement, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, and Kefir Separately Can Improve Mood and Exhibit Potential Anti-Depressant-Like Activities in Mice

Depression is a common psychiatric disorder that can be continuous or recurrent. It has been previously reported that intestine probiotics play an essential role in the bidirectional communication of the intestine and brain. This study aims to investigate the antidepressant effects of kefir, a probiotic supplement, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and their potentials in depression-like behaviour treatment in two-week and four-week treatments. In the present study, BALB/c mice were used for this purpose. The saline- and fluoxetine-treated groups were designed as negative and positive control groups, respectively. The forced swimming and tail suspension tests have been performed to assess the level of depression-like activity. We have observed that two-week treatment reduces the duration of depression-like activities, and four-week treatment enhances the antidepressant properties. Overall, our results suggest that kefir, L. rhamnosus GG, and the investigated probiotic supplement have antidepressant-like properties

Multi-walled carbon nanotube dispersion methodologies in alkaline media and their influence on mechanical reinforcement of alkali-activated nanocomposites

The focus of present research is the establishment of a practical procedure for effective incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into alkali-activated materials (AAMs) with the aim of mechanical reinforcement. Investigated composite in this work was an alkali-activated matrix composed of fly ash (FA) and ground-granulated blast furnace-slag (GGBS) as solid aluminium-calcium-silicate precursors along with highly concentrated sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as liquid alkaline activators. Na2SiO3, NaOH, and a combination of them were used for dispersion of MWCNTs. An anionic surfactant, naphthalene sulfonate (NS), and ultrasonication were applied to assist in the preparation of nanofluids. Optical microscopy, integral light transmission (ILT), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed to assess the colloidal behaviour of MWCNTs in the nanofluids. The possible dispersion mechanisms were furthermore hypothesised for each alkaline medium. Based on the outcomes, MWCNTs had the best dispersion performance in the Na2SiO3 based nanofluids. The relevant nanocomposites accordingly, in comparison to the other preparation methodologies in this research, indicated the highest improvements in flexural (65%) and compressive (30%) strengths as a consequence of 0.050 wt% MWCNT incorporation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) further clarified the reinforcement functionality and microstructure refinement of the MWCNTs dispersed in the Na2SiO3 based nanofluids. Altogether, this paper represents a broad insight concerning a better understanding of MWCNTs’ interactions in alkaline activators, i.e. dispersion media, and AAMs, i.e. host matrices, to obtain the highest possible mechanical and microstructural performance of reinforced nanocomposites