The Effectiveness of Mindfulness Therapy by VR (Virtual-Reality) With a Focus on Death Anxiety in a Patient With Cerebellar Cancer (Case Report)

Background: Cancer has many potential physical, psychological and social consequences for the patient. This single case study explored the efficiency of mindfulness therapy with the aid of virtual reality (VR) focusing on minimizing anxiety especially death anxiety in a patient with cerebellar cancer.Methods: In this case study research the patient met and consulted 3 times in the first week, and the aim of these meetings was to break the patient’s resistance through meditation and psychological treatment. After that, 8 sessions each one 2 hours were planned at the patient’s home. In the second week, a subsidiary device called VR (large eye crystal capable of playing 3D film) was used as a method to assist the patient.Results: The data collected from the pre/posttest of Beck anxiety showed significant progress in blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature, and increased up to its normal levels. In addition, the sense of satisfaction expressed by the patient during the sessions was noticeably significant.Conclusion: According to results mindfulness therapy by VR with a focus on anxiety reduction as a complementary therapy has remarkable efficacy on improving quality of life in the cancer patient

Investigation of Initial Fouling Rates of Calcium Sulfate Solutions under Non-Boiling Conditions (Work-in-Progress)

This study initiates an experimental investigation of how process variables such as temperature and velocity affect the initial precipitation fouling rate of the inverse solubility salt, calcium sulfate, under sensible heating conditions. The effect of fluid velocity and temperature on the delay time is also being measured

EXPERIMENTS AND MODELLING OF CALCIUM SULPHATE PRECIPITATION UNDER SENSIBLE HEATING CONDITIONS: INITIAL FOULING AND BULK PRECIPITATION RATE STUDIES

Crystallization of calcium sulphate, an inverse solubility salt, on a heated surface under sensible heating conditions has been studied. A temperature measurement technique was employed to detect initial fouling rates. Fouling experiments were carried out to determine how process variables such as surface temperature and velocity affect the initial fouling rates of calcium sulphate scaling. Experimental results show that, at a given surface temperature, there exists a maximum initial fouling rate for a range of fluid velocities. Also, this maximum rate and the fluid velocity at which it occurs both increase as the surface temperature increases. These observations are all qualitatively in agreement with the Initial Fouling Rate Model (IFRM) of Epstein (1994). The fouling experiments were supplemented by kinetic batch experiments to make a comparison between fouling activation energies and purely chemical activation energies

FORMATION OF GUM AND DEPOSITS IN AN OXYGENATED NAPHTHA STREAM

Gums formed when organic fluids are in contact with air can cause fouling of process equipment. The oxidation and formation of gum in a naphtha stream was studied in a stirred batch reactor as a function of temperature (96 to 130ºC) and at a total pressure of 584 kPa. Mixtures of air and nitrogen in the pressurizing gas gave dissolved oxygen contents in the range 10-270 ppm wt. Peroxide and existent (dissolved) gum contents were measured over periods of up to 80 hours. Rates of reaction were low, with maximum concentrations of peroxide typically below 4 meq/L, and gum formation rates of 4-5 mg/L-h. Fouling experiments were attempted in a re-circulation loop equipped with either steam or electrically heated annular probes. With bulk temperatures of about 90ºC, and test section pressures of 825 kPa, initial surface temperatures from 125oC to 185ºC were investigated. At lower surface temperatures, no significant decline in heat transfer coefficient was measured, and deposits were recovered only from the dead zones at the ends of the annular unit after times up to 450h. At higher surface temperatures of 185ºC, rapid fouling occurred when dissolved gum content had reached ~2300 mg/L. Gum and deposit analyses were similar, showing oxygen contents of about 20% wt., and carbon contents of 71% wt. Further experimentation is needed to link the gum formation step with the fouling rate

Knowledge, attitude and practice of university managers towards green management: A cross-sectional survey in Qom University of Medical Sciences

Background and Aims: The establishment of green management to reduce the consumption of resources is now a high priority for the government. Organizational managers play a key role in the implementation of green managementplans. The present study was, therefore, aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of managers in Qom University of Medical Sciences towards green management.Materials and Methods: According to the aim of study, the present research is considered as an applied crosssectional study. A questionnaire survey consisting of 50 managers of Qom University of Medical Sciences was performed to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards green management, as well as theirdemographic factors. All stages of research were conducted ethically. Data were analyzed with independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation coefficient using SPSS software.Results: The results of this study showed that the managers mean scores on knowledge, attitude, and performance were 97.04 ±17.28, 32.60 ±7.70, and 29.86±50, respectively. The respective attributable maximum scores acquiredwere 120, 40, and 40. The data analyzed suggests, therefore, that about 82% of managers had a good (positive) knowledge, and 70% positive attitude to take part in green management plans. However, only around 52% of respondents preferred to take practices about green management. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant relationship between the knowledge and demographic variables in this study.Conclusion: This study found that managers had a relatively good knowledge, attitude and practice to green management. It should also be noted that besides a proper environmental knowledge and attitude, the implementationof green management system requires the allocation of credit and funding, formation of green management committee, as well as training and cultural programs.Keywords: Green management, Managers’ knowledge, attitude, and practice, Qom University of Medical SciencesFor downloading the full text please click here

Technical Feasibility of Recycling Waste Cooking Oils (WCO) Produced in Qom to Biodiesel

Background: The aim of this research was to study the technical feasibility of recycling waste cooking oils (WCO) produced in Qom to biodiesel. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Qom in the first half of 2013. In this study, 147 domestic, commercial, and industrial sources producing WCO were identified, selected, and asked to collect and deliver the WCO produced by them within a week. The samples obtained from the sources were mixed separately at a ratio of one to one, and finally, a WCO sample was obtained from each source. Then, some characteristics of samples such as chemical profiles were analyzed and the esterification and transesterification process were used to convert WCO into biodiesel. Finally, some of the technical characteristics of produced biodiesel such as flash point, viscosity, density, moisture, and acidic number were determined and compared with the standard. Results: In terms of basic properties, domestic WCO had the best quality for conversion to biodiesel. Also, in terms of viscosity, density, acidic number and flash point, biodiesel produced from domestic WCO had more favorable conditions. In terms of the percentage of humidity, biodiesel produced from industrial WCO was the best one. Conclusion: WCO produced from domestic and commercial sources has the potential to be converted into biodiesel with standard features but WCO produced from industrial sources due to their very poor quality needs more pre-treatment processes

Optimization of Wastewater Refinery in Shokoohiyeh Industrial City of Qom Before Entering RO System Using Chlorophyll, Alum and PAC Coagulators

The effluent from the active sludge treatment plant of Qom Shokoohiyeh industrial flows into surface water and reuse of water in industrial process is necessary. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of aluminum sulfate, chlorofluorocarbons and poly aluminum chloride in removing turbidity and other parameters in industrial wastewater before entering RO in Shokoohiyeh Qom industrial refinery. This study was applied in a laboratory scale using a jar-test and experiments based on varying concentrations of coagulants (200, 400, 700, 800, 1000, 1200 mg/L) and pH=2.4.6.7.8.10 has been done. Steady mixing, slow mixing and stagnation have been performed and factors such as turbidity, pH, COD, BOD5, EC, SVI and TSS have been investigated. Coagulants are effective in removing turbidity. The highest removal rate was for polyvinyl chloride (95%) and the least amount of turbidity removal was in chlorofacry (50%). The highest and lowest levels of pH were detected at pH=2 (72%) and pH=8 (10%), respectively. The lowest BOD5 removal efficiency in poly aluminum chloride was 88% at pH=4 and the highest removal rate of BOD5 was found in chloroformate coagulant with pH=4 (96%). The highest COD reduction was observed in poly aluminum chloride at pH=9 (89%) and the lowest COD reduction was observed at a concentration of 800 mg/L alum with 34%. The highest reduction in electric conductivity in poly aluminum chloride with 87% and the lowest amount of electrical conductivity reduction occurred at a concentration of 500 mg per liter of alum with 12%. The highest total removal of suspended solids in chlorofacrylic coagulant was 88% and the lowest amount was removed in chloroform with up to 18%. The maximum amount of sludge deposited at  pH=9 (240 mg/L) in aluminum chloride and the lowest amount of sludge deposited at pH=2 (5 mg/L). The use of coagulant materials can increase the purification efficiency, eliminate opacity and return water to the cycle. PAC and Alum coagulant have high efficiency in removing turbidity and other wastewater treatment parameters that can be used to treat wastewater for RO systems

Efficiency of multi walled carbon nanotubes for removing Direct Blue 71 from aqueous solutions

Dye wastewater produced from industrial activity is usually toxic, resistant to biodegradation and persistent in the environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) for decolorization of Direct Blue 71 (DB71). In this experimental study, the effect of various variables including contact time, solution pH, adsorbent dose, and initial dye concentration was evaluated in a batch reactor. The adsorption and kinetic models were evaluated to explain the adsorbed dye and dynamic reaction. The results of this study showed that the efficiency of dye removal increased, as the contact time and adsorbent dose increased, but as pH and initial dye concentration increased, removal efficiency decreased. The maximum efficiency of Direct Blue 71 removal was observed at acidic solution (pH=3), contact time of 90 minutes, adsorbent dose of 0.6 g/l and initial dye concentration of 25 mg/l. The adsorption of direct blue 71 best fitted the Langmuir isotherm (R2=0.87) and pseudo first order kinetic equation (R2=0.99). According to the results obtained, multiwalled nanotubes was offered as an effective adsorbent for removing direct blue 71. © Authors

Sludge quality in wastewater treatment plant in Shokohieh industrial Park of Qom province in Iran

The general attitude of the wastewater treatment process in our country is focus on the effluent quality and unfortunately waste sludge quality is rarely considered. Since multiple natural hazards and routes the contact with sludge requires a comprehensive approach to protect public health and the environment. The aim of this study is an assessment of sludge management and finding out the potential use of sludge for land application. The study was conducted in January to December 2014. samples were gathered in four seasons, winter, spring, summer and autumn from wastewater treatment plant in industrial park of Shokohieh of Qom province according to the instructions in standard method. Sampling was moments and composite. Numbers of Samples were 24 that 2 samples were captured in every month. Samples measured base on standard method for water wastewater examination references and then data was analyzed by SPSS and t-test. The results show that the Physical Parameters qualities and nutrients qualities in sludge are good. The Phosphate quality is not suitable. Based on t-test, the results show that levels of fecal coliform and total coliform in cold and warm seasons are different (