Determining the Reaction Rate of Electrochemical Process for Purification of Polluted Water

Abstract Aims: Turbidity in higher than standard levels, indicates failure in the water treatment plant. An electrochemical disinfection process takes place through electricity transition between two or more electrodes. This research aimed to determine the reaction rate of electrochemical process for purification of polluted water. Materials & Methods: This is a bench scale, experimental study performed in a batch system on synthetic wastewater. 1700ml of prepared synthetic wastewater was put in an electrolytic cell and constant 600mA current was flowed into the cell content through merged aluminum electrodes for 1 hour. Samples were taken from the batch in the beginning and every 10 minutes and were analyzed for, turbidity, Coliform bacteria (probably, confirmed and E. coli) and Heterotrophic Plat Count. Fisher exact test was used to analyze data. Findings: All the parameters of turbidity, HPC, total coliform, confirmed coliform and E. coli were decreased during the time. The electrochemical process reduced the average of turbidity below 3NTU after 50 minutes (91.05 removal). The HPC number reduced from 130n/ml to 2.4n/ml (98.15 removal) after 50 minutes. No coliforms were seen after 40 minutes of the electrochemical process. Conclusion: 40 minutes of electrochemical process in 600mA by aluminum electrodes is the optimum condition for removing the turbidity, Coliform bacteria (total, confirmed and E. coli) and HPC from polluted water

Combining mammaglobin and carcinoembryonic mRNA markers for early detection of micrometastases from breast cancers - a molecular study of 59 patients

Introduction: As many as 30% of node-negative breast cancer patients relapse within five years, suggesting that current histological detection methods are inadequate for identifying metastatic disease. Detecting small number of cancer cells in the breast tissue or lymph node by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays using a combination of tissue and cancer specific markers might be very useful in the early detection or monitoring of the treatment. Mammaglobin is a member of the uteroglobin gene family and appears to be expressed only in breast tissue. Carcinoembryonic antigen has been the preferred molecular marker for detection of micro metastases in lymph nodes in almost all carcinomas. Materials and Methods: Samples were collected from randomly chosen breast cancer patients undergoing modified mastectomy or breast conserving surgery between September 2003 and July 2004. RT-PCR was applied to study the expression of MMG and CEA markers. Breast cancer micrometastases in axillary lymph nodes were also assessed. Results: The MMG marker was positive in 9/10 normal breast tissues, 3/ 3 breast fibroadenomas and 37/39 of breast carcinoma tissues, giving an overall sensitivity of 94%. The sensitivity was 80% for metastatic lymph node samples. On the other hand CEA showed 95% sensitivity for malignant breast tumors and 100% sensitivity for metastatic lymph nodes. Conclusions: RT-PCR using a combination of MMG and CEA markers is a powerful tool to complement current routine histopathology techniques for detection of breast cancer metastasis in axillary nodes

Introducing genetic markers to identify and distinguish five species of Cyprinidae in the Caspian Sea using PCR-RFLP

Cyprinids are the main and most significant bony fishes found in the Caspian Sea. In this study, 15 specimens of Rutilus fish kutum (Kamensky, 1901), 10 specimens of Barbus capito (Gueldenstaedtii, 1772), 10 specimens of Bream Abramis brama (Linnaeus, 1785), 10 specimens of Redlip, Aspius aspius, and 15 specimens of Kora volba, Rutilus rutilus caspius, were collected from commercial catch stations. DNA from all specimens was extracted using the phenol-chloroform method in 500[1.1 tubes and amplified using PCR method with a pair of primers with cytochrom b gene sequence of Kora volba. For RFLP analysis, PCR products of cytochorome gene b (1117 bp) from each species were digested with five restriction enzymes under suitable conditions of incubation. DNA bands were visualized by gel electrophoresis (polyacrylamide) and staining with silver nitrate. Five enzyme Rsa I, Hinf I. Hha I , Hine II, and Mbo I showed polymorphism. Genotypes obtained from digestion of enzymes Rsa I, Hinf I, Hha I showed haplotypes AAAAA for Barbus capito, BBBB for R. rutilus caspius, CCCC for Bream Abramis brama, DDDD for Aspius aspius and EEEE for R. frisii kutum. Each of these haplotypes serves as a genetic marker for the species and is of significant importance in distinguishing them

MyoRing implantation in keratoconic patients: 3 years follow-up data

Purpose: To evaluate long-term follow-up data on implantation of a full-ring intra-corneal implant (MyoRing) for management of keratoconus. Methods: A total of 40 keratoconic eyes of 37 consecutive patients who had undergone MyoRing implantation using the Pocket Maker microkeratome (Dioptex, GmbH, Linz, Austria) and completed 3 years of follow-up appointments were included in this retrospective study. Uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refraction and keratometry (K) readings were measured and evaluated preoperatively, and 3 years, postoperatively. Results: No intraoperative complications were observed in this case series. Three years postoperatively, there was a significant improvement in UDVA, CDVA, K readings, spherical equivalent (SE), and manifest sphere and cylinder (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). UDVA was significantly improved from 1.14 ± 0.27 to 0.30 ± 0.21 LogMAR (P = 0.001), CDVA was also improved from 0.52 ± 0.23 to 0.18 ± 0.12 LogMAR (P = 0.001), SE was decreased by 4.35 diopters (D) and average keratometric values were reduced by 2.34 D (P = 0.001). Overall, 81 of subjects were moderately to highly satisfied 3 years after surgery and 64.90 agreed to have the fellow eye implanted with MyoRing. Conclusion: MyoRing implantation using the Pocket Maker microkeratome was found to be a minimally invasive procedure for improving visual acuity and refraction in the majority of the patients with keratoconus. © 2016 Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research

LASEK for the correction of hyperopia with mitomycin C using SCHWIND AMARIS excimer laser: one-year follow-up

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and predictability of laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratectomy (LASEK) for the correction of hyperopia using the SCHWIND AMARIS platform. METHODS: This retrospective single-surgeon study includes 66 eyes of 33 patients with hyperopia who underwent LASEK with mitomycin C (MMC). The median age of patients was 35.42±1.12y (ranging 18 to 56y). In each patient LASEK was performed using SCHWIND AMARIS excimer laser. Postoperatively clinical outcomes were evaluated in terms of predictability, safety, efficacy, subjective and objective refractions, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (BSCVA) and adverse events. RESULTS: The mean baseline refraction was 3.2±1.6 diopters (D) (ranging 0 to 7 D). The mean pre-operative and postoperative spherical equivalent (SE) were 2.34±1.76 (ranging -1.25 to 7 D) and 0.30±0.84 (ranging -0.2 to 0.8 D) respectively (P=0.001). The mean hyperopia was 0.63±0.84 D (ranging -1.75 to 2.76 D) 6 to 12mo postoperatively. Likewise, the mean astigmatism was 0.68±0.43 D (range 0 to 2 D) with 51 (77.3) and 15 (22.7) eyes within ±1 and ±0.50 D respectively. The safety index and efficacy index were 1.08 and 1.6 respectively. CONCLUSION: LASEK using SCHWIND AMARIS with MMC yields good visual and refractive results for hyperopia. Moreover, there were no serious complications. Copyright 2015 by the IJO Press

Estimating the completeness of lung cancer registry in Ardabil, Iran with a three-source capture-recapture method

Cancer registration is an important component of a comprehensive cancer control program, providing timely data and information for research and administrative use. Capture-recapture methods have been used as tools to investigate completeness of cancer registry data. This study aimed to estimate the completeness of lung cancer cases registered in Ardabil Population Based Cancer Registry (APBCR) with a three-source capture-recapture method. Data for all new cases of lung cancer reported by three sources (pathology reports, death certificates, and medical records) to APBCR for 2006 and 2008 were obtained. Duplicate cases shared among the three sources were identified based on similarity of first name, last name and father's names. A log-linear model was used to estimate number of missed cases and to control for dependency among sources. A total of 218 new cases of lung cancer was reported by three sources after removing duplicates. The estimated completeness calculated by log-linear method was 26.4 for 2006 and 27.1 for 2008. The completeness differed according to gender. In men, the completeness was 26.0 for 2006 and 28.1 for 2008. In women, the completeness was 36.5 for 2006 and 46.9 for 2008. In conclusion, none of the three sources can be considered as a reliable source for accurate cancer incidence estimation. © 2016, Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

The effectiveness of multimedia of philosophy for children on K-6 students’ problem solving

Background and Objectives:One of the most suitable methods whose main purposes is to teach problem-solving skills is Philosophy is for children. The interest in teaching thinking skills dates back to the late 1960s, when Professor Lippmann was teaching philosophy at Columbia University (New York) and realized that his students lacked the power of judgment and clear reasoning. After a while, he realized that it was too late to strengthen the thinking power of these students. Strengthening these abilities should have been done in their childhood. In other words, when these students were in childhood and adolescence, they had to start a series of special courses in critical thinking or problem solving or any other skill related to formal and non-formal logic. Different educational content can be provided to learners with various tools from books and lectures to the Internet or even computers. Given the importance of philosophical content for children and considering the capacity of new technologies such as multimedia and metamedia, it is possible to use them to provide effective and continuous learning. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of multimedia of philosophy for children on K-6 students’ problem solving in Javanroud town. Method and Materials: To attain this aim, researchers used quasi pre-test and post-test experimental method with experimental and control groups. The statistical population included all the sixth grade elementary school students in Javanroud town studying in academic year of 2016-2017. Sixty students were selected through randomized cluster sampling to represent the experimental group (30 students) and control group (30 students). The instruments used in this study was Heppner's problem solving. Both groups were given a pretest, and at the end of the course a posttest was administered. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics including covariance analysis. Findings:The findings showed that multimedia of philosophy for children is effective on improving the assertiveness. Conclusion: Other researchers are advised to study the effectiveness of teaching philosophy to children in the context of technology on other important variables in education. It is also suggested that similar research be conducted in other educational levels. The most important limitations of the present study were the limited statistical population to sixth grade elementary school students. Also, the mere use of questionnaires and not using other methods of data collection such as observation and interviews are other limitations of this study

Relationship between urbanization and cancer incidence in Iran using quantile regression

Quantile regression is an efficient method for predicting and estimating the relationship between explanatory variables and percentile points of the response distribution, particularly for extreme percentiles of the distribution. To study the relationship between urbanization and cancer morbidity, we here applied quantile regression. This cross-sectional study was conducted for 9 cancers in 345 cities in 2007 in Iran. Data were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the relationship between urbanization and cancer morbidity was investigated using quantile regression and least square regression. Fitting models were compared using AIC criteria. R (3.0.1) software and the Quantreg package were used for statistical analysis. With the quantile regression model all percentiles for breast, colorectal, prostate, lung and pancreas cancers demonstrated increasing incidence rate with urbanization. The maximum increase for breast cancer was in the 90th percentile (β=0.13, p-value < 0.001), for colorectal cancer was in the 75th percentile (β=0.048, p-value < 0.001), for prostate cancer the 95th percentile (β=0.55, p-value < 0.001), for lung cancer was in 95th percentile (β=0.52, p-value=0.006), for pancreas cancer was in 10th percentile (β=0.011, p-value < 0.001). For gastric, esophageal and skin cancers, with increasing urbanization, the incidence rate was decreased. The maximum decrease for gastric cancer was in the 90th percentile(β=0.003, p-value < 0.001), for esophageal cancer the 95th (β=0.04, p-value=0.4) and for skin cancer also the 95th (β=0.145, p-value=0.071). The AIC showed that for upper percentiles, the fitting of quantile regression was better than least square regression. According to the results of this study, the significant impact of urbanization on cancer morbidity requirs more effort and planning by policymakers and administrators in order to reduce risk factors such as pollution in urban areas and ensure proper nutrition recommendations are made. © 2016, Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention

Estimating the completeness of gastric cancer registration in Ardabil/Iran by a capture-recapture method using population-based cancer registry data

Background: Knowledge of cancer incidences is essential for cancer prevention and control programs. Capture-recapture methods have been recommended for reducing bias and increasing the accuracy of cancer incidence estimations. This study aimed to estimate the completeness of gastric cancer registration by the capture-recapture method based on Ardabil population-based cancer registry data. Materials and Methods: All new cases of gastric cancer reported by three sources, pathology reports, death certificates and medical records that reported to Ardabil population-based cancer registry in 2006 and 2008 were enrolled in the study. The duplicate cases based on the similarity of first name, surname and fathers names were identified between sources. The estimated number of gastric cancers was calculated by the log-linear method using Stata 12 software. Results: A total of 857 new cases of gastric cancer were reported from three sources. After removing duplicates, the reported incidence rates for the years 2006 and 2008 were 35.3 and 32.5 per 100,000 population, respectively. The estimated completeness calculated by log-linear method for these years was 36.7 and 36.0, respectively. Conclusions: These results indicate that none of the sources of pathology reports, death certificates and medical records individually or collectively fully cover the incident cases of gastric cancer. We can obtain more accurate estimates of incidence rates using the capture-recapture method

Modelling Temperature Variation of Mushroom Growing Hall Using Artificial Neural Networks

The recent developments of computer and electronic systems have made the use of intelligent systems for the automation of agricultural industries. In this study, the temperature variation of the mushroom growing room was modeled by multi-layered perceptron and radial basis function networks based on independent parameters including ambient temperature, water temperature, fresh air and circulation air dampers, and water tap. According to the obtained results from the networks, the best network for MLP was in the second repetition with 12 neurons in the hidden layer and in 20 neurons in the hidden layer for radial basis function network. The obtained results from comparative parameters for two networks showed the highest correlation coefficient (0.966), the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) (0.787) and the lowest mean absolute error (MAE) (0.02746) for radial basis function. Therefore, the neural network with radial basis function was selected as a predictor of the behavior of the system for the temperature of mushroom growing halls controlling system