616 research outputs found
Investigation of the influence of Ceratophyllum demersum to refine diluted compost latex
Water pollution has always been a major problem in the environment. Polluted water is harming for human health and need to clean water from pollution factors. One of the economic and rapid methods forelements removal is displacement metals by biosorption. The purpose of this study was refining diluted compost latex by Ceratophyllum demersum that was diluted 200 times with distilled water. Diluted compost latex (DCL)accompany with aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum was located in bottles which were 6 liter in four replication. The experimental performed at the open air of Khorasgan (Isfahan, Iran) University area for 18 dayswithout aeration. Result of Chemical oxygen demand (COD) indicates that the COD was decreased from 728 mg/L to 189.5 mg/L. Also, this investigation was demonstrated that the amount of ammonium in diluted compost latex was decreased from 60 meq/L to 13.33 meq/L. The amount of nitrate in diluted compost latex has decreased from 90 meq/L to 26.66 meq/L, and the amount of Phosphorous was declined from 1.2 meq/L to 0.21 meq/L. EC of diluted compost latex was reduced from 1.02 ds/m to 0.74 ds/m. All of the consequences which were mentioned indicated that this aquatic plant (Ceratophyllum demersum) is one of the best natural ways to refine Polluted water
Role of Ceratophyllum demersum in recycling macro elements from wastewater
Water is one of the most stable and abundant complexes on nature that can be polluted with natural and human factors. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure a timely warning for possible accumulation of polluting metal in natural waters in order to protect public health. One of the economic and rapid methods for elements removal is displacement of metals by biosorption. The purpose of this study is to investigate how much Ceratophyllum demersum (C. demersum) enables to remove elements from aquatic environments. Three treatments in four replications for purifying wastewater by C. demersum were designed. The treatmentsincluded raw municipal wastewater (RMW) and treated municipal wastewater (TMW) and diluted compost latex (DCL). The experiment was performed at the open air of Khorasgan University area for 18 days withoutaeration. After this examination, the accumulation of Magnesium in C. demersum indicated that the Magnesium in TMW, RMW and DCL were increased 96.29%, 100% and 73.52% respectively. These results demonstrate that in all of the treatments C. demersum could absorb high Magnesium concentration from the aquatic environment. In addition, this investigation demonstrated that the amount of Calcium, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Sodium and Potassium accumulated in C. demersum absorbed efficiently from the aquatic environments respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that C. demersum could be used to refine polluting metal from wastewater and could be the best biosorption method for protecting the water pollution in the environment
Nanofibers-based piezoelectric energy harvester for self-powered wearable technologies
The demands for wearable technologies continue to grow and novel approaches for powering these devices are being enabled by the advent of new energy materials and novel manufacturing strategies. In addition, decreasing the energy consumption of portable electronic devices has created a huge demand for the development of cost-effective and environment friendly alternate energy sources. Energy harvesting materials including piezoelectric polymer with its special properties make this demand possible. Herein, we develop a flexible and lightweight nanogenerator package based on polyvinyledene fluoride (PVDF)/LiCl electrospun nanofibers. The piezoelectric performance of the developed nanogenator is investigated to evaluate effect of the thickness of the as-spun mat on the output voltage using a vibration and impact test. It is found that the output voltage increases from 1.3 V to 5 V by adding LiCl as additive into the spinning solution compared with pure PVDF. The prepared PVDF/LiCl nanogenerator is able to generate voltage and current output of 3 V and 0.5 µA with a power density output of 0.3 µW cm−2 at the frequency of 200 Hz. It is found also that the developed nanogenerator can be utilized as a sensor to measure temperature changes from 30◦C to 90◦C under static pressure. The developed electrospun temperature sensor showed sensitivity of 0.16%/◦C under 100 Pa pressure and 0.06%/◦C under 220 Pa pressure. The obtained results suggested the developed energy harvesting textiles have promising applications for various wearable self-powered electrical devices and systems
Subarachnoid haemorrhage secondary to traumatic intracranial aneurysm of the posterior cerebral circulation: case series and literature review
Background
To identify the clinical features, rebleed risk, timing and method of diagnosis, complications and outcome for subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) from traumatic intracranial aneurysm (TICA) of the posterior circulation. Subjects included 26 patients aged 3–54 (mean 24.8).
Methods
Case series and literature search to identify all reported cases.
Results
In our series, two of three cases were fatal as a result of rebleed, and one case had a good outcome with no deficit, following prompt diagnosis and embolisation. Our key findings from the literature review were: 30.7 % of patients were age 16 and under; 88 % had an acute drop in consciousness, 46 % in a delayed manner; the mean time to diagnosis was 7.5 days; initial cerebrovascular imaging was normal in 23 %; the rebleed rate was 23 %; 61 % required emergency diversion of cerebrospinal fluid; 11 % developed vasospasm requiring treatment; 19.2 % had deficits that rendered them unable to live independently. The mortality rate was 27 %.
Conclusions
SAH from ruptured posterior circulation TICA is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A high index of suspicion as well as prompt diagnosis, repeat imaging in selected cases, and treatment of any associated TICA can be crucial to a favourable outcome
Analysis of pollution removal from wastewater by Ceratophyllum demersum
Water is one of the most stable and abundant complexes on nature that can be polluted with natural and human factors. Polluted water is harmful to human health and need to purify. One of the economic and rapid methods for elements removal is displacement of metals by biosorption. Two treatments in four replications for the purpose of purifying wastewater by Ceratophyllum demersum were designed. The treatments included raw municipal wastewater (RMW) and treated municipal wastewater (TMW). The experiment was performed at the open air of Khorasgan University area for 18 days without aeration. Result of the COD indicated that the COD of RMW and TMW were decreased from 664 to 152.75 mg/l and 260 to 64.5 mg/l, respectively. Also, this investigation demonstrated that the amount of ammonium in RMW and TMW decreased from135 to 15 meq/l and 90 to 10 meq/l, respectively. The amount of nitrate in RMW and TMW had a similar decreased from 60 to 30 meq/l as well as 4.48 to 0.53 meq/l, respectively and the amount of phosphorous in RMW and TMW declined from 13.68 to 1.15 meq/l and 4.48 to 0.53 meq/l, respectively. It could be concluded from these results that a significant amount of these macro elements were absorbed by C. demersum. The other factor that was measured in this study was the electrical conductivity (EC). Results of this factor indicated that the EC of treated municipal wastewater (from 1.34 to 0.95 ds/m) and the EC of raw municipal wastewater (from 2.68 to 2.12 ds/m) were reduced. The variation for NH4, NO3, COD and EC were < 5%. Therefore it was concluded that C. demersum can be used for refining wastewater
Nanostructured electrically conducting biofibres produced using a reactive wet-spinning process
Electrically conducting, robust fibres comprised of both an alginate (Alg) biopolymer and a polypyrrole (PPy) component have been produced using reactive wet-spinning. Using this approach polypyrrole-biopolymer fibres were also produced with single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), added to provide additional strength and conductivity. The fibres produced containing CNTs show a 78% increase in ultimate stress and 25% increase in elongation to break compared to PPy-alginate fibre. These properties are essential for studies involving the use of electrical stimulation to promote nerve regrowth and/or muscle regeneration. The resultant a novel fibres had been evaluated to develop a viable system in incorporating biological entities in the composite biomaterial. These results indicated fibres are biocompatible to living cells
Dutasteride plus Tamsulosin therapy versus Tamsulosin Monotherapy in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms: A Cost-utility analysis
Introduction: Lower Urinary Tract symptoms (LUTS)? impacts the quality of life of about 23.8% of the male population in Iran, diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, annually . The current pharmacological treatment protocol for LUTS are α-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (such as Dutasteride). This study was designed to estimate the cost-utility of dutasteride plus tamsulosin therapy for LUTS from the perspective of the Iran Health System.
Methods and Results: A Markov model was developed to estimate healthcare costs and patient outcomes, measured by quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), for patients with moderate to severe LUTS. The model, compared four mutually exclusive health states in two alternative treatment options: tamsulosin (0.4 mg/day) and dutasteride plus tamsulosin (0.5mg+0.4 mg/day). time horizon was 35 years, with the duration of one year per cycle. The discount rates for utilities and costs were 3% and 5% respectively. A meta-analysis was conducted to estimate advese drug reactions (ADRs) and After Surgery Events (ASEs) probabilities. Total Cost consists of the direct costs of medications, as well as inpatient and outpatient services (general practice and urology specialist examinations, hospitalizations, laboratory services, diagnostic procedures, TURP surgical procedures, treatment of AUR, and treatment in emergency care services). One-way sensitivity testing and Probabilistic Sensitivity Analyses (PSA) were performed for virtual cohort of 1,000 patients with LUTS.
Utility weights for each health states were obtained from a meta-analysis of published studies with EQ5D method. These weights are calculated 0.86, 0.79, 0.72 and 0 in mild, moderate, severe and death states, respectively. The probability of ASEs (CI 95%) were calculated as: TUR syndrome (0-0.0109), Blood transfusion (0.0296-0.0676), Urinary incontinence (0.0198-0.1894), urethral stricture (0.0392-0.0769) and UTI (0.0169-0.0787). After 35 years, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for combination therapy was $5159, well within the threshold range typically applied in Iran. PSA showed that the probability of being cost-effective in combination therapy is 89% to 94%, also the model showed the most sensitivity to dutasteride unit price and surgery incidence with monotherapy.
Conclusions: Combination therapy has a high probability of being cost-effective in comparison to tamsulosin monotherapy in Iran
A reactive wet spinning approach to polypyrrole fibres
Electrically conducting, robust fibres comprised of both an alginate (Alg) biopolymer and a polypyrrole (PPy) component have been produced using reactive wet-spinning. Using this approach polypyrrole-biopolymer fibres were also produced with single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), added to provide additional strength and conductivity. SEM images of the PPy-Alg composite fibres clearly show the tubular multifilament form of the alginate fibre impregnated with PPy nanoparticles. The fibres produced containing CNTs show a 78% increase in ultimate stress and 25% increase in elongation to break compared to PPy-alginate fibre. Young\u27s modulus obtained for the PPy-Alg-CNT fibres showed a 30% increase compared to the PPy-alginate fibre. The fibres produced were electrochemically active and capable of electromechanical actuation with a strain of 0.7% produced at a scan rate of 100 mV s-1 of the potential. C 2011 The Royal Society of Chemistry
THE EFFECT OF PROGRESSIVE RESISTANCE TRAINING ON BIOMECHANICS OF ARTHRITIC GAIT: A SINGLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL
INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent in elderly and is associated with muscle weakness. OA progression is related to biomechanical characteristics of gait such as knee adduction moment (KAM). Progressive resistance training (PRT) improves muscle strength in this population, but PRT effects on biomechanics of gait related to OA progression are unknown. We hypothesized that PRT would reduce KAM, mediated by improvements in the strength of all lower limb muscle groups
THE EFFECT OF PROGRESSIVE RESISTANCE TRAINING ON BIOMECHANICS OF ARTHRITIC GAIT: A SINGLE-BLIND RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL
INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent in elderly and is associated with muscle weakness. OA progression is related to biomechanical characteristics of gait such as knee adduction moment (KAM). Progressive resistance training (PRT) improves muscle strength in this population, but PRT effects on biomechanics of gait related to OA progression are unknown. We hypothesized that PRT would reduce KAM, mediated by improvements in the strength of all lower limb muscle groups
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