Electrochemical Process for Diazinon Removal from Aqueous Media: Design of Experiments, Optimization, and DLLME-GC-FID Method for Diazinon Determination

In the present study, electrochemical process was studied via removal of diazinon (O,O-diethyl O-2-isopropyl-6-methylpyrimidin-4-yl phosphorothioate) as an insecticide/ acaricide organic case study. Influences of three operational parameters including initial ferrous ion concentration, initial hydrogen peroxide concentration, and initial diazinon concentration were measured and optimized in diazinon removal process. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to design the experiments. The experimental data collected in a laboratory-scaled batch reactor equipped with four graphite bar electrodes as cathode and an aluminum sheet electrode as an anode. Quantitative analysis of diazinon was done with gas chromatography equipped with flame photometric detector. Disperse liquid–liquid microextraction was used prior to gas chromatography in order to extraction and preconcentration of diazinon from aqueous media to extraction phase. Acetone and chlorobenzene were used as disperser and extraction solvent, respectively. Maximum diazinon removal efficiency of 87% (0.85mg mass removal) in C0 of 2mg/L and 80% (120mg mass removal) in C0 of 300mg/L was achieved under different experimental conditions. The obtained experimental data were used for model building by RSM approach. Finally, optimization process was carried out using RSM algorithm. © 2015, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals

COATING OF POLYMERIC SUBSTRATE CATALYSTS ON METALLIC SURFACES

This article presents results of a study on coating of a polymeric substrate ca-talyst on metallic surface. Stability of coating on metallic surfaces is a proper specification. Sol-gel technology was used to synthesize adhesion promoters of polysilane compounds that act as a mediator. The intermediate layer was coated by synthesized sulfonated polystyrene-divinylbenzene as a catalyst for production of MTBE in catalytic distillation process. Swelling of catalyst and its separation from the metal surface was improved by i) increasing the quantity of divinylbenzene in the resin’s production process and ii) applying adhesion pro¬moters based on the sol-gel process. The rate of ethyl silicate hydrolysis was intensified by increasing the concentration of utilized acid while the conden¬sation polymerization was enhanced in the presence of OH–. Sol was formed at pH 2, while the pH should be 8 for the formation of gel. By setting the ratio of the initial concentrations of water to ethyl silicate to 8, the gel formation time was minimized

Adjustment and Completion of BASNEF Model to Provide a New Model for Educating Large Populations in Relation to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Background: Educational models that have been created for educating small populations do not have enough efficacy for educating large populations, so based on this premise and also high prevalence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in the Islamic Republic of Iran and lack of efficient methods for CL control, this study was designed and done with the aim of applying BASNEF model to provide a new model for educating large populations in relation to Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. Methods: In a quasi-experimental study, 60 Volunteer Health Workers (VHWS) and 120 households that were resident in endemic areas of CL in Yazd were selected through census and multi-stage sampling method, respectively. Then, educational intervention was designed and implemented on the basis of BASNEF model. After educating VHWS based on BASNEF model, they were asked to educate households on the basis of BASNEF model. Before and after 3 months of VHWS training activities, data were collected in intervention and control groups via valid and reliable questionnaires and were analyzed with the SPSS software. Results: The mean score of knowledge, attitude, behavioral intention, enabling factors, behaviors and influence of subjective norms after educational intervention in households in experimental were significantly increased (P<0.05) while the changes in control group were not significant. Conclusions: This educational program led to empowering of VHWS and a change in their educational behavior which in turn led to preventive measures in households under study region. It can be concluded that the new educational model presented in this research, formed based on the BASNEF model, is able to educate a large population. Keywords: BASNEF Model, Volunteer Health Workers, Health Education, Cutaneous Leishmaniasi

Integration of Vibro-Acoustography Imaging Modality with the Traditional Mammography

Vibro-acoustography (VA) is a new imaging modality that has been applied to both medical and industrial imaging. Integrating unique diagnostic information of VA with other medical imaging is one of our research interests. In this work, we establish correspondence between the VA images and traditional X-ray mammogram by adopting a flexible control-point selection technique for image registration. A modified second-order polynomial, which simply leads to a scale/rotation/translation invariant registration, was used. The results of registration were used to spatially transform the breast VA images to map with the X-ray mammography with a registration error of less than 1.65 mm. The fused image is defined as a linear integration of the VA and X-ray images. Moreover, a color-based fusion technique was employed to integrate the images for better visualization of structural information

Monitoring hydroperoxides formation as a measure of predicting walnut oxidative stability

It is believed that lipids are the most important factor affecting nuts shelf-life. In the present study, an accelerated shelf-life testing by means of elevated temperatures 62, 72, and 82 °C was conducted to predict the oxidation stability of walnuts over a long-term storage. Peroxide value (PV) was employed to monitor the lipid oxidation progression in the walnuts. A range of 74.01–79.57 kJ mol−1 K−1 energy was required for formation of primary oxidation products. The reaction changes followed an apparent first-order kinetic. Formation of hydroperoxides in walnut kernels was found to be a temperature-dependent reaction with Q10 of 2.1. Walnut kernels were also kept in normal condition (temp: 20–30 °C; relative humidity (RH): 35–45%) for 12 months to validate the shelf-life estimation approach. The results showed that PV could provide a proper estimation for oxidative stability of the walnuts stored in ordinary condition

Effect of replacement of Caspian Sea gammarus meal by partial kilka fish meal on growth performance, feed conversion ratio and survival of juveniles of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The effects of using different of gammarus meal levels (0, 5, 10 and 20%) instead of kilk fish meal as a protein source on growth performance, feed conversion ratio and survival of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fingerlings were studied over 8 weeks. Rainbow trout fingerlings (mean body weight 5.48 ± 0.32g) were reared in a completely randomized design with three replications in the same conditions. Based on the results, no significant difference was observed in the final length and weight and specific growth rate among treatments. Increase of gammarus meal in diet led to increase of feed conversion ratio and decrease of survival, but the difference was not significant among treatments. Commercial analysis showed that the cost price of feed increased with increase of gammarus meal in diet, significantly. Thus, results of our study showed that adding up to 10% of gammarus meal instead of kilka fish meal in rainbow trout fingerlings diet is suitable, considering gammarus abundance in the shores of south Caspian Sea and lack of significance in difference on growth, feed conversion ratio and survival