Comparison of Sulfur Dioxide Removal Reactions Kinetics by Na2CO3 and Other Different Sorbents from Coal-fired Power Plants

This work deals with kinetic parameters estimation of Na2CO3+SO2 reaction employing sophisticated random pore model. The temperature of experiments ranges from 100 to 250 °C, and various SO2 concentrations are within 0.13–1.12 vol.%. According to the results, the reaction rate concentration dependency follows the fractional function. The values of rate constants and product layer diffusivities are expressed at various temperatures. Finally, it was attempted to describe the significance of this sorbent for SO2 removal. Therefore, the kinetic results of Na2CO3+SO2 reaction were compared with other similar studies on SO2 reaction kinetics with CaO, CuO, and MgO sorbents. It was concluded that Na2CO3 shows advantages of higher rate constants, lower operating temperatures, and less possibility of incomplete conversion problem. The reported kinetic constants are essential for design of flue gas desulfurization reactors, especially in coalfired power plants. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

Efficacy of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Mood States of Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Background: Mood and negative emotional states and their regulation in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder have family, social and employment problems. Practices that could be helpful in this area are highly important. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the influence of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in improving mood state of combat veterans. Patients and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, participants were selected from the patients referring to the counseling center of the veterans. The participants had post-traumatic stress disorder according to diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, fourth edition, text review (DSM-IV-TR). Sixty- two patients were randomly assigned into 2 groups: (31 for MBSR and 31 for the control group). Results: Analysis showed that there were no significant differences between the groups at baseline (P < 0.05). Comparison of the results between the two groups before the two-step test showed that anger and vitality scales between the two groups have no significant differences, but on the other scales (depression, dizziness, fatigue and tension), differences between pre and post-test groups were significant in the two groups. Conclusions: It was concluded that mindfulness-based stress reduction is a useful method to regulate the mood state in veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who have difficulties in mood and emotions in Kashan

Mindfulness Training and Quality of Life Among Pregnant Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial

quality of life (QOL). Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the effect of mindfulness training on QOL among pregnant females. Methods: In this clinical trial, 80 pregnant females eligible for inclusion were selected by convenience sampling method from Akramian, Taleghani and Ketabchi health centers in Kashan, Iran. The participants were randomly allocated into experimental and control groups (n = 40, each group) by block randomization method. Females in the experimental group received eight sessions of 90-minute mindfulness training, while females in the control group only received routine prenatal care services. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire and a short-form 36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire to measure the QOL. Chi-square, independent samples T-test and repeated measures analysis of variance were used to analyze the data. Results: The results showed that the totalQOLscore and subscales of emotional role functioning, vitality, mental health, social functioning and general health in the experimental group had significant changes compared to those of the control group. However, there was no significant difference between other subscales. The mean total QOL score before intervention was 44.84 � 4.44 and after intervention and follow-up was 50.42�3.71 and 49.42�5.24, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Mindfulness training can be used as a psychological prenatal care to moderate negative emotions, improve social functioning and cope with psychological and physical changes

Spontaneous Hot Flow Anomalies at Quasi-Parallel Shocks: 2. Hybrid Simulations

Motivated by recent THEMIS observations, this paper uses 2.5-D electromagnetic hybrid simulations to investigate the formation of Spontaneous Hot Flow Anomalies (SHFA) upstream of quasi-parallel bow shocks during steady solar wind conditions and in the absence of discontinuities. The results show the formation of a large number of structures along and upstream of the quasi-parallel bow shock. Their outer edges exhibit density and magnetic field enhancements, while their cores exhibit drops in density, magnetic field, solar wind velocity and enhancements in ion temperature. Using virtual spacecraft in the simulation, we show that the signatures of these structures in the time series data are very similar to those of SHFAs seen in THEMIS data and conclude that they correspond to SHFAs. Examination of the simulation data shows that SHFAs form as the result of foreshock cavitons interacting with the bow shock. Foreshock cavitons in turn form due to the nonlinear evolution of ULF waves generated by the interaction of the solar wind with the backstreaming ions. Because foreshock cavitons are an inherent part of the shock dissipation process, the formation of SHFAs is also an inherent part of the dissipation process leading to a highly non-uniform plasma in the quasi-parallel magnetosheath including large scale density and magnetic field cavities

Personality Types and Emotional Intelligence as Predictors of Academic Achievement in Students at Kashan University of Medical Sciences

Background: Type of personality and emotional intelligence affects a person’s mental function and capabilities, which can influence academic achievement. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between emotional intelligence, type of character and academic achievement. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on students of Kashan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. In total 221 students participated in the study. In addition to demographic information, a Five Factor Personality Questionnaire and Emotional Quotient Inventory were used. Participants completed questionnaires in their classrooms. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Descriptive statistics were calculated and analysis of variance and regression analysis were used. Results: Students in the various disciplines were not statistically different in terms of personality. Students with different grade point averages were significantly different in relation to: problem-solving, happiness, self-actualization, optimism, self-respect, flexibility and total emotional quotient (EQ) scores (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were observed between personality types in students with different grade point average. All variables (EQ, agreeableness, extroversion, openness, consciousness) except neuroticism were excluded from the regression model. Conclusions: Some components of personality types and emotional intelligence are predictors of academic achievement. Therefore, attention to these issues in students is needed to ensure the best achievement gains

Chewing activity, metabolic profile and performance of high- producing dairy cows fed conventional forages, wheat straw or rice straw

In this study, production and physiological responses of high-producing dairy cows fed wheat (WS) or rice (RS) straw, as a partial forage replacement for the conventional forages lucerne hay (LH) and maize silage (MS ), were investigated. The straws were treated under dry alkaline conditions, adjusted pH (pH ~12), and then ensiled. Twelve lactating Holstein cows were used in a replicated (n = 4) 3 × 3 Latin square design experiment with three periods of 21 days. Cows were offered one of three diets that differed in their forage sources: 1) 20% LH and 20% MS (control); 2) 12.8% LH, 12.8% MS; and 12.8% WS; and 3) 12.8% LH, 12.8% MS and 12.8% RS. Diet 1 had 60% concentrate, and diets 2 and 3 had 61.6% concentrate. Diets were iso-nitrogenous and iso-energetic. Supplemental buffer (NaHCO3) was omitted from the straw diets. However, straw diets contained greater sodium and dietary cation-anion difference (DCAD) compared with the control diet. Cows fed the WS had significantly greater apparent dry matter (DM) (69.7 versus 63.9%) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (55.4 versus 42.4%) digestibility than cows fed the control. Additionally, feeding either WS or RS significantly increased dry matter intake (DMI) (27.5 versus 25.6 kg/d ) and milk production (48.4 versus 45.6 kg/d) compared with control, but milk components were unaffected by treatments. Plasma minerals and metabolites concentrations and ruminal, urinary and faecal pH were similar across treatments. Feeding WS and RS resulted in lower time spent chewing per kg DMI compared with the control ( P = 0.01 ). Although there were no significant differences in performance between WS and RS, nutrient digestibility (DM, OM, and CP) was significantly higher while total chewing was lower for the WS diet than the RS diet. Partial inclusion of dry treated straw in lactating diets (12.8% DM basis) led to increases in sodium and DCAD levels and improved digestibility, DMI and milk yield without negative effects. Keywords: Cation and anion difference, cereal straw dietary sodium, lactating [email protected]

Comparison of Artificial Neural Network and Logistic Regression Models for Prediction of Psychological Symptom Six Months after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Background: Nowadays, outcome prediction models using logistic regression (LR) and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis have been developed in many areas of healthcare research. Objectives: In this study, we have compared the performance of multivariable LR and ANN models, in prediction of psychological symptoms six months after mild traumatic brain injury. Methods: In a prospective cohort study, information of 100 mild traumatic brain injury patients, during a six months period between 2014 and 2016 were included. Data were divided into two training (n = 50) and testing (n = 50) groups, randomly. 300 ANNs and LRs were studied in the first group and then the predicted values were compared in the second group using the two final models. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and accuracy rate were used to compare these models. Results: The results showed that accuracy rate for the neural network model was 90.65, while it was 75.96 for the LR model. Conclusions: The ANN models appeared to be more powerful in predicting psychological symptoms versus the LR models

Ability of biofilm production and molecular analysis of spa and ica genes among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of biofilm formation and spa and ica genes among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Result: This cross-sectional study was performed on 146 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from hospitalized patients in Isfahan Province Hospitals. MRSA isolates were confirmed using disk diffusion test with oxacillin disk and amplification of mecA gene by PCR assays. Ability of biofilm production was evaluated targeting the icaA and icaD genes. Of 146 Staphylococcus aureus isolates, 24 (16.4) carried mecA genes and identified as MRSA strains. Strong ability of biofilm production was seen among 76.02 (111/146) S. aureus isolates and 87.5 (21/24) MRSA strains, respectively. Also, 75.0 (18/24) MRSA isolates carried icaA and icaD was not detected in these strains. Analysis of spa gene showed 70.83 (17/24) MRSA strains were spa positive. From which 14 and 3 strains identified with one band (150, 270, 300, 360, 400 bp) and two bands (150-300 bp), respectively. According to data obtained, the prevalence of MRSA isolates from Isfahan Province Hospitals is relatively high and a remarkable percentage of them show strong power in biofilm production. Also analysis of spa gene showed a fairly large diversity among MRSA strains. © 2020 The Author(s)

Quality of Life Among Veterans With Chronic Spinal Cord Injury and Related Variables

Background: In recent decades, the incidence of spinal cord injuries has increased. In a systemic review on epidemiology of traumatic spinal cord injury in developing countries reported 25.5/million cases per year. Objectives: To assess the quality of life (QOL) of the veterans among Iran-Iraq war with chronic spinal cord injuries (SCI) and to evaluate long-term impressions of SCI on their quality of life. Patients and Methods: Fifty-two veterans, all male, with chronic spinal cord injury from Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) were interviewed and examined. The mean age of veterans at the time of interview was 49.3 years (38 to 80 years). Veterans were assessed by using a 36-item short-form (SF-36), hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and the Barthel index. The presence or absence of pressure sores and spasticity were documented as well. Results: The mean age of veterans at the time of study was 49.3 years. Pearson's correlation test showed that depression and anxiety have a reverse association with mental component summary (MCS) scale and physical component summary (PCS) scale scores, respectively. Regression analysis showed a negative effect of depression and pressure sore on PCS. Moreover, no association was found between the duration of injury and age with quality of life. Conclusions: Lower QOL was found among veterans with chronic SCI. More researches on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are needed to give us a better understanding of changes in life of patients with SCI and the ways to improve them