Synthesis and characterization of tenorite (CuO) nanoparticles from smelting furnace dust(SFD)

Tenorite (CuO) nanoparticles were prepared from a dilute CuSO4 solution. The solution was obtained by leaching (pH=1.5) of smelting furnace dust of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex, Iran. The recovery of copper from the acidic sulphate solution was carried out by solvent extraction using Lix 984-N. Tenorite nanoparticles were synthesized by direct thermal decomposition of Langite [Cu4(OH)6SO4(H2O)2] as a precursor which was calcinated in air for 2 h at 750°C. The Samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The average diameter of the spherical pure CuO nanoparticles and their crystallite size were estimated to be 92 nm and 40nm, respectively. The simplicity of the present method suggests its potential application at industrial scale as a cheap and convenient way to produce pure CuO nanoparticles from dilute CuSO4 solutions obtained from leaching of smelting furnace dust

The effect of zinc bath temperature on the morphology, texture and corrosion behaviour of industrially produced hot-dip galvanized coatings

The purpose of this work is to identify the influence of zinc bath temperature on the morphology, texture and corrosion behavior of hot-dip galvanized coatings. Hot-dip galvanized samples were prepared at temperature in the range of 450-480 °C in steps of 10 °C, which is the conventional galvanizing temperature range in the galvanizing industries. The morphology of coatings was examined with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of the coating layers was determined using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The texture of the coatings was evaluated using X-ray diffraction. Corrosion behavior was performed using salt spray cabinet test and Tafel extrapolation test. From the experimental results, it was found that increasing the zinc bath temperature affects the morphology of the galvanized coatings provoking the appearance of cracks in the coating structure. These cracks prevent formation of a compact structure. In addition, it was concluded that (00.2) basal plane texture component was weakened by increasing the zinc bath temperature and, conversely, appearance of (10.1) prism component, (20.1) high angle pyramidal component and low angle component prevailed. Besides, coatings with strong (00.2) texture component and weaker (20.1) components have better corrosion resistance than the coatings with weak (00.2) and strong (20.1) texture components. Furthermore, corrosion resistance of the galvanized coatings was decreased by increasing the zinc bath temperature.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5937/metmateng1401041

Speed Roughness Control of an SI Engine Using Fuzzy Self Tuning Method

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Persuasive Discourse Impairments in Traumatic Brain Injury

Background: Considering the cognitive and linguistic complexity of discourse production, it is expected that individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) should face difficulties in this task. Therefore, clinical examination of discourse has become a useful tool for studying and assessment of communication skills of people suffering from TBI. Among different genres of discourse, persuasive discourse is considered as a more cognitively demanding task. However, little is known about persuasive discourse in individuals suffering from TBI. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of adults with TBI on a task of spoken persuasive discourse to determine the impaired linguistic measures. Patients and Methods: Thirteen TBI nonaphasic Persian speaking individuals, ranged between 19 to 40 years (Mean = 25.64 years; SD = 6.10) and 59 healthy adults matched by age, were asked to perform the persuasive discourse task. The task included asking the participants to express their opinion on a topic, and after the analysis of the produced discourse, the two groups were compared on the basis of their language productivity, sentential complexity, maze ratio and cohesion ratio. Results: The TBI group produced discourses with less productivity, sentential complexity, cohesion ratio and more maze ratio compared the control group. Conclusions: As it is important to consider acquired communication disorders particularly discourse impairment of brain injured patients along with their other clinical impairments and regarding the fact that persuasive discourse is crucial in academic and social situations, the persuasive discourse task presented in this study could be a useful tool for speech therapists, intending to evaluate communication disorders in patients with TBI

Estimating flood characteristics using geomorphologic flood index with regards to rainfall intensity-duration-frequency-area curves and CADDIES-2D model in three Iranian basins

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordThere is not enough data and computational power for conventional flood mapping methods in many parts of the world, thus fast and low-data-demanding methods are very useful in facing the disaster. This paper presents an innovative procedure for estimating flood extent and depth using only DEM SRTM 30 m and the Geomorphic Flood Index (GFI). The Geomorphologic Flood Assessment (GFA) tool which is the corresponding application of the GFI in QGIS is implemented to achieved the results in three basins in Iran. Moreover, the novel concept of Intensity-Duration-Frequency-Area (IDFA) curves is introduced to modify the GFI model by imposing a constraint on the maximum hydrologically contributing area of a basin. The GFA model implements the linear binary classification algorithm to classify a watershed into flooded and non-flooded areas using an optimized GFI threshold that minimizes the errors with a standard flood map of a small region in the study area. The standard hydraulic model envisaged for this study is the Cellular Automata Dual-DraInagE Simulation (CADDIES) 2D model which employs simple transition rules and a weight-based system rather than complex shallow water equations allowing fast flood modelling for large-scale problems. The results revealed that the floodplains generated by the GFI has a good agreement with the standard maps, especially in the fluvial rivers. However, the performance of the GFI decreases in the less steep and alluvial rivers. With some overestimation, the GFI model is also able to capture the general trend of water depth variations in comparison with the CADDIES-2D flood depth map. The modifications made in the GFI model, to confine the maximum precipitable area through implementing the IDFAs, improved the classification of flooded area and estimation of water depth in all study areas. Finally, the calibrated GFI thresholds were used to achieve the complete 100-year floodplain maps of the study areas.University of BasilicataCNR-IMAAOpenet TechnologiesRoyal Academy of Engineering (RAE

Assessment amount of the horizontal and vertical displacements of sea wall using FLAC3D software

Sea Walls are constructed to protect coastal against of waves and prevent water to coastal. In order to properly understand the behavior of these structures must have proper information of loads to the structure. One of the main significance loads over the sea wall is wave’s loads. Weight forces the walls, Weight backfill, Seawater weight on the heel wall and Forces exerted on the beach other forces that enters the coastal wall. Considering the importance of seawalls study on the stability of these structures has been the subject of study. In order to achieve the objectives of the study, three scenarios include changes in the geometry of the wall and Soil properties. In present study four geometry vertical, inclined, convex, concave, are considered and modeling with Flac 3D software. The results of this study showed that the minimum of horizontal and vertical displacement are about convex seawalls and the maximum of them is about vertical concave seawalls. Also the results showed that in the higher shear strength of soils the minimum of horizontal and vertical displacements occurred

The effect of zinc bath temperature on the morphology, texture and corrosion behaviour of industrially produced hot-dip galvanized coatings

The purpose of this work is to identify the influence of zinc bath temperature on the morphology, texture and corrosion behavior of hot-dip galvanized coatings. Hot-dip galvanized samples were prepared at temperature in the range of 450-480 °C in steps of 10 °C, which is the conventional galvanizing temperature range in the galvanizing industries. The morphology of coatings was examined with optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The composition of the coating layers was determined using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The texture of the coatings was evaluated using X-ray diffraction. Corrosion behavior was performed using salt spray cabinet test and Tafel extrapolation test. From the experimental results, it was found that increasing the zinc bath temperature affects the morphology of the galvanized coatings provoking the appearance of cracks in the coating structure. These cracks prevent formation of a compact structure. In addition, it was concluded that (00.2) basal plane texture component was weakened by increasing the zinc bath temperature and, conversely, appearance of (10.1) prism component, (20.1) high angle pyramidal component and low angle component prevailed. Besides, coatings with strong (00.2) texture component and weaker (20.1) components have better corrosion resistance than the coatings with weak (00.2) and strong (20.1) texture components. Furthermore, corrosion resistance of the galvanized coatings was decreased by increasing the zinc bath temperature. http://dx.doi.org/10.5937/metmateng1401041

Solvent-free synthesis of xanthene derivatives by Preyssler type heteropolyacid

Dimedone reacted with aromatic aldehydes and 3,4-methylenedioxyphenol or β-naphthol in the presence of a catalytic amount of Preyssler type heteropolyacid, H14[NaP5W30O110], as a green and reusable catalyst under solvent-free conditions to form a variety of  new xanthene derivatives in very good  yields.KEY WORDS: Xanthene derivatives, Solvent-free synthesis, Preyssler type heteropolyacid, 3,4-Methylene dioxyphenol, β-Naphthol, Three-component one-pot reactions Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2011, 25(3), 399-406

MAPK and JAK/STAT pathways targeted by miR-23a and miR-23b in prostate cancer: computational and in vitro approaches

The long-lasting inadequacy of existing treatments for prostate cancer has led to increasing efforts for developing novel therapies for this disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are believed to have considerable therapeutic potential due to their role in regulating gene expression and cellular pathways. Identifying miRNAs that efficiently target genes and pathways is a key step in using these molecules for therapeutic purposes. Moreover, computational methods have been devised to help identify candidate miRNAs for each gene/pathway. MAPK and JAK/STAT pathways are known to have essential roles in cell proliferation and neoplastic transformation in different cancers including prostate cancer. Herein, we tried to identify miRNAs that target these pathways in the context of prostate cancer as therapeutic molecules. Genes involved in these pathways were analyzed with various algorithms to identify potentially targeting miRNAs. miR-23a and miR-23b were then selected as the best potential candidates that target a higher number of genes in these pathways with greater predictive scores. We then analyzed the expression of candidate miRNAs in LNCAP and PC3 cell lines as well as prostate cancer clinical samples. miR-23a and miR-23b showed a significant downregulation in cell line and tissue samples, a finding which is consistent with overactivation of these pathways in prostate cancer. In addition, we overexpressed miR-23a and miR-23b in LNCAP and PC3 cell lines, and these two miRNAs decreased IL-6R expression which has a critical role in these pathways. These results suggest the probability of utilizing miR-23a and miR-23b as therapeutic targets for the treatment of prostate cancer. © 2015, International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM)