On the capability of rhamnolipids for oil spill control of surface water

Since the risk of oil spills will never diminish and they continue to be a recurring event, methods to manage them are required to be cost efficient and effective. Dispersants are one of the practical responses to oil spills at sea to break the slick into fine droplets. To reduce toxicity of dispersants in the marine environment and enhance biodegradation of the dispersed oil, biosurfactants can be used instead of chemical surfactants in the dispersant formulations. The objective of this research was to evaluate the capability of the biosurfactant rhamnolipid (JBR425) in dispersing oil slicks and ways to improve its efficiency. At 25C̕ and salinity of 35[per thousand], JBR425 (2%) in saline applied at a dispersant-oil ratio (DOR) of 1:2, could disperse 65% of Brut crude oil into the water without settling, but the percentage drops to 12.5% after 2 min of settling. Different solvents and additives were used to increase its efficiency in terms of percentage dispersion and stabilization of the dispersed oil in water. Starch and cellulose, as natural polymeric additives, were used to increase the stability of the emulsion but they were not effective. (Abstract shortened by UMI.

The Immediate Effects of Static versus Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching with Kinesiology Taping on Hamstring Flexibility in Teenage Taekwondo Players

Introduction: This study evaluated the acute responses to static stretching versus the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching technique with and without applying kinesio tape on hamstring muscle flexibility, as scarce evidence exists in this field. Materials and Methods: Twenty teenage professional black/red belt taekwondo players participated in this study. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and static hamstring stretching was performed for both legs of each subject. Then a Y-shape Kinesio Tape (KT) with 30% tension was applied over one leg chosen randomly. Active Knee Extension Test (AKET) and Passive Straight Leg Raise (PSLR) were performed at base line, immediately and 24 hours after interventions. Results: Repeated measures ANOVA was used to statistically analyze the data. PSLR test results demonstrated a significant increase in hamstring flexibility over time, while the AKET results showed no significant changes. No significant differences were observed between PNF and Static stretch (SS) or the KT and Non-Taped (NT) groups immediately or after 24 hours. Conclusion: The current study showed that there is no superiority in SS or PNF stretching techniques for increasing hamstring flexibility, and using KT over stretched muscles could not help improve flexibility.Keywords: Flexibility; Kinesiology taping; Stretching; Taekwondo playe

Candida lipolytica UCP0988 Biosurfactant: Potential as a Bioremediation Agent and in Formulating a Commercial Related Product

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential application of the biosurfactant from Candida lipolytica grown in low-cost substrates, which has previously been produced and characterized under optimized conditions as an adjunct material to enhance the remediation processes of hydrophobic pollutants and heavy metals generated by the oil industry and propose the formulation of a safe and stable remediation agent. In tests carried out with seawater, the crude biosurfactant demonstrated 80% oil spreading efficiency. The dispersion rate was 50% for the biosurfactant at a concentration twice that of the CMC. The biosurfactant removed 70% of motor oil from contaminated cotton cloth in detergency tests. The crude biosurfactant also removed 30–40% of Cu and Pb from standard sand, while the isolated biosurfactant removed ~30% of the heavy metals. The conductivity of solutions containing Cd and Pb was sharply reduced after biosurfactants' addition. A product was prepared through adding 0.2% potassium sorbate as preservative and tested over 120 days. The formulated biosurfactant was analyzed for emulsification and surface tension under different pH values, temperatures, and salt concentrations and tested for toxicity against the fish Poecilia vivipara. The results showed that the formulation had no toxicity and did not cause significant changes in the tensoactive capacity of the biomolecule while maintaining activity demonstrating suitability for potential future commercial product formulation

The Effects of Dry Needling in Combination with Physical Therapy on Improvement of Pain and Hip Internal Rotation Range in Patients with Piriformis Syndrome

Introduction: Piriformis syndrome may be a source of low back, buttock pain or sciatica, due to existence of myofascial trigger point in piriformis muscle. The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of dry needling on improvement of pain and hip internal rotation range in piriformis syndrome. Materials and Methods: 40 athletes participants with piriformis syndrome were randomly divided into two groups, experimental group (conventional physiotherapy besides dry needling) (n=20) and control group (conventional physiotherapy) (n=20). 5 sessions of conventional physiotherapy was performed for both groups, but dry needling was performed at the end of 1th, 3th and 5thsessions. Hip internal rotation and pain were respectively measured by goniometer and visual analog scale. All the data were measured before applying intervention, and at the end of odd sessions. The repeated measures ANOVA with between subjects factor was used to analyze the data and significant level was set at P<0.05. Results: The results showed that there were significant reduction in pain and significant increase in hip internal rotation at different time in two groups (P<0.05) and this differences was more apparent in the experimental group. Conclusion: The result of this study showed that, the use of dry needling plus conventional physiotherapy has a superiority immediate effect on pain and hip internal rotation range.Keywords: Piriformis syndrome, Dry needling, VAS, Hip internal rotatio

Effect of Duration of Smartphone Use on Cervical Repositioning Error in Forward Head Posture and Normal Posture

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of the duration of smartphone usage on repositioning error in the cervical spine in forward head posture and normal posture. Materials and Methods: Thirty subjects (normal group: mean age 22.2±.90 years, mean height 161.00±.87 cm, mean weight 56.46±1.40 kg; and FHP group: mean age 24.26±.98 years, mean height 165.80±1.69 cm, mean weight 61.66±1.52 kg) were classified into two groups (15 forward head posture and 15 normal subjects) whose used their own smartphone for 20 minutes. Cervical repositioning error (for flexion, extension, right and left rotation) was calculated for all subjects before and after use of smartphone. All statistical analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 24. Results: Position sense error for flexion in normal group had a significant difference before and after using the smartphone. However, there was no significant difference in FHP groups and between the two groups. There was no significant difference either in extension and left rotation before and after use of smartphone and between two groups. Position sense error for the right rotation before and after using the smartphone in two groups had no significant difference, but after using the smartphone there was significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in cervical repositioning error before and after use of smartphone in the normal group and FHP group as well as between the two groups.Keywords: Cervical, Forward Head Posture, Repositioning Error, Smart Phon

Analgesic Effect of Low Energy Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Trial

Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is the most prevalent cause of pain in heels and widely treated using the shockwave therapy. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (12 males and 18 females) randomly participated in this single blind clinical trial study that aimed to evaluate the effects of low energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy on pain in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Group 1 patients were treated with low energy shockwave and stretch, and group 2 control patients were treated by stretch and a placebo shockwave. The groups were demographically similar with respect to age, gender, and BMI. The patients were assessed for pain using the visual analog scale (VAS). Results: After 2 weeks of treatment, a significant difference in pain was observed between the two groups. The VAS results showed 76% reduction of pain in group 1 and 46% in group 2. Discussion: The use of low energy radial shockwave has significant short-term effects on pain relief in chronic plantar fasciitis and is, thus, recommended as a relatively painless and safe therapy prior to surgery.Keywords: Extracorporal Shockwave, Low Energy, Plantar Fasciiti

The effect of movement system impairment-based classification treatment compared to routine physiotherapy on pain, disability, alignment, and movement impairments in individuals with tibiofemoral rotation syndrome: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Knee pain is a common musculoskeletal problem. Lower extremity movement impairments could alter stresses in different planes and contribute to knee pain. Classifying these impairments may be helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of knee problems. Movement system impairment (MSI)-based classification is a system to evaluate movement impairments. Trials that involve this classification are limited. Therefore, it will be of interest to examine the effect of movement system impairment-based classification treatment compared to routine physiotherapy in individuals with tibiofemoral rotation syndrome. Methods Twenty-two individuals with knee pain aged 18–40 years (2 males, 20 females) diagnosed with tibiofemoral rotation (TFR) syndrome were included. After initial evaluation, individuals were randomly assigned into two treatment groups (MSI-based treatment and routine physiotherapy). Both treatment groups contained 8 treatment sessions over 4 weeks. Alignment and movement impairments data form, a numeric rating scale (NRS), and the Kujala Disability Questionnaire were assessed at baseline and after a four-week intervention. Independent samples t-test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for quantitative variables, and Fisher’s exact test was employed for qualitative variables to compare the groups. One-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and paired samples t-test were utilized to within-group changes of quantitative variables, and qualitative variables were analyzed with the McNemar test. Results The results showed that pain intensity and disability significantly decreased within and between groups after intervention (P > 0.05). There were also statistically significant differences between treatment groups for 3 out of 6 alignment and movement impairments (PS-FAdd/IR, Step down-Add/Valgus, and STS-Add/Valgus) (P > 0.05). Within-group differences for alignment and movement impairments were significant only for the MSI-based treatment group (P > 0.05). Conclusions The findings suggest that a specific MSI-based treatment, considering a homogenous group of individuals with knee pain, may contribute to pain, disability, and alignment and movement impairments improvement. Therefore, it is important to notice the classification-based treatment for individuals with knee pain. Trial Registration Number (TRN) and date of registration The trial was registered at the ( https://www.irct.ir ), (IRCT20210505051181N3) on 17/7/2021

TEST-RETEST RELIABILITY OF WAVELET-BASED SPECIFIC FREQUENCY BANDS OF POSTURAL CONTROL DURING TWO STANDING TASK CONDITIONS

Background: The evaluation of balance measures can help identify postural control processes, but traditional data collection for the center of pressure (COP) may not reveal differences in postural control mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate the reliability of the frequency component of postural sway using wavelet analysis of COP signals. Methods: Fifteen healthy male subjects (average age: 39.16±7.2 years, average weight: 72±11.06 kg, average height: 171±6.31 cm) participated in this project. They were requested to perform three trials of single-leg and tandem stance conditions for 20-second with and without vision on a force plate. The frequency content of COP signals, including the energy, root mean square (RMS), and velocity of the COP in four frequency bandwidths of postural sway, was evaluated. The test-retest reliability of COP parameters was tested using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Among different COP parameters, the energy of the COP within a moderate (1.56–6.25 Hz) frequency band (.79≤ ICC ≤.97) with standard error measurement (SEM) ranged from .14 to .23, the RMS of COP within low (.39–1.56Hz) (.79≤ ICC ≤.93) and ultralow (< .10 Hz) (SEM ranged from .000 to .002) (.78≤ ICC ≤.94) in a tandem stance and the RMS of COP in a bandwidth of < .10 Hz (SEM=.00) in a single-leg stance (.70≤ ICC ≤.99) with the eyes closed and open showed good to excellent reliability. Conclusion: The results of this study showed moderate to excellent reliability of wavelet-based COP measures; therefore, these parameters can be used for the identification of postural control mechanisms