Cooperative effects in surfactant adsorption layers at water/alkane interfaces

In the present work, the properties of dodecyl dimethyl phosphine oxide (C12DMPO) at the water/decane interface are studied and compared with those obtained earlier at the interface to hexane. To simulate the interfacial behavior, a two-component thermodynamic model is proposed, which combines the equation of state and Frumkin isotherm for decane with the reorientation model involving the intrinsic compressibility for the surfactant. In this approach, the surface activity of decane is governed by its interaction with C12DMPO. The theory predicts the influence of decane on the decrease of the surface tension at a very low surfactant concentration for realistic values of the ratio of the adsorbed amounts of decane and surfactant. The surfactantrsquo;s distribution coefficient between the aqueous and decane phases is determined. Two types of adsorption systems were used: a decane drop immersed into the C12DMPO aqueous solution, and a water drop immersed into the C12DMPO solution in decane. To determine the distribution coefficient, a method based on the analysis of the transfer of C12DMPO between water and decane is also employed

Optimized Surface Code Communication in Superconducting Quantum Computers

Quantum computing (QC) is at the cusp of a revolution. Machines with 100 quantum bits (qubits) are anticipated to be operational by 2020 [googlemachine,gambetta2015building], and several-hundred-qubit machines are around the corner. Machines of this scale have the capacity to demonstrate quantum supremacy, the tipping point where QC is faster than the fastest classical alternative for a particular problem. Because error correction techniques will be central to QC and will be the most expensive component of quantum computation, choosing the lowest-overhead error correction scheme is critical to overall QC success. This paper evaluates two established quantum error correction codes---planar and double-defect surface codes---using a set of compilation, scheduling and network simulation tools. In considering scalable methods for optimizing both codes, we do so in the context of a full microarchitectural and compiler analysis. Contrary to previous predictions, we find that the simpler planar codes are sometimes more favorable for implementation on superconducting quantum computers, especially under conditions of high communication congestion.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, The 50th Annual IEEE/ACM International Symposium on Microarchitectur

Multi-objective Optimization of Different Management Scenarios to Control Seawater Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers

PublishedThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer via the DOI in this record.Seawater intrusion (SWI) is a widespread environmental problem, particularly in arid and semi-arid coastal areas. Therefore, appropriate management strategies should be implemented in coastal aquifers to control SWI with acceptable limits of economic and environmental costs. This paper presents the results of an investigation on the efficiencies of different management scenarios for controlling saltwater intrusion using a simulation-optimization approach. A new methodology is proposed to control SWI in coastal aquifers. The proposed method is based on a combination of abstraction of saline water near shoreline, desalination of the abstracted water for domestic consumption and recharge of the aquifer by deep injection of the treated wastewater to ensure the sustainability of the aquifer. The efficiency of the proposed method is investigated in terms of water quality and capital and maintenance costs in comparison with other scenarios of groundwater management. A multi-objective genetic algorithm based evolutionary optimization model is integrated with the numerical simulation model to search for optimal solution of each scenario of SWI control. The main objective is to minimize both the total cost of management process and the total salinity in aquifer. The results indicate that the proposed method is efficient in controlling SWI as it offers the least cost and least salinity in the aquifer

SNATCH TECHNIQUE VALIDATION USING COMPUTATIONAL METHODS: A GENETIC ALGORITHM APPROACH

An analytical model based on a 6 degrees of freedom robotic manipulator is adopted to represent an individual athlete during weightlifting, snatch technique. The performance of an athlete is observed and the barbell trajectory of the lifter is considered as the lifting clue of our model. The inverse kinematics problem is solved using genetic algorithm. The results could be adopted in enhancing athletic performance through provision of an alternative weightlifting technique for the individual athlete. The performance of the athlete is compared with the generated motion. It is shown that the overall torque applied to the joints can be lessened by having the trunk horizontal angle constant during the first pull. The computational support of the technique is the main focus of the paper

A study of the time of hospital discharge of differentiated thyroid cancer patients after receiving iodine-131 for thyroid remnant ablation treatment

The aim of this study was to measure the radiation exposure rate from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) patients who had received iodine-131 (131I) treatment, and to evaluate hospital discharge planning in relation to three different sets of regulations. We studied 100 patients, 78 females and 22 males, aged 13 to 79 years (mean 44.40±15.83 years) with DTC, in three Groups who were treated with 3.7, 5.5 or 7.4GBq of 131I, respectively. The external whole-body dose rates following oral administration of 131I were measured after each one of the first three hospitalization days. A multivariant linear analysis was performed, considering exposure rates as dependent variables to the administered dose for treatment, age, gender, regional and/or distant metastases, thyroglobulin (Tg), antibodies to Tg and thyroid remnant in the three dose groups. We found that the exposure rates after each of the three first days of hospitalization were 30, 50 and 70μSvh-1 at 1m. All our DTC patients had an acceptable dose rate on days 2 and 3 that allowed their hospital discharge. After only 1 day of hospitalization, just 3/11 cases showed not permissible exposure rates above 70μSvh-1. In conclusion, it is the opinion of the authors that after measuring the exposure rates, most treated, DTC patients could be discharged after only one day of hospitalization, even some of those treated with high doses of 131I (7.4GBq). Patients, who received the higher doses of 131I, should not be released before their individual exposure rate is measured

The utility and prognostic value of dipyridamole technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging SPECT in predicting perioperative cardiac events following non-cardiac surgery

Objective: A perioperative cardiac events is one of the most important medical concerns for both surgeons and patients. The purpose of the current study was to determine the prognostic value of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), using dipyridamole 99m Tc-MIBI, for the prediction of perioperative cardiac events. Materials and methods: This study included 253 patients who were candidates for non-cardiac elective surgery and underwent scanning with dipyridamole 99m Tc-MIBI. Based on normal or abnormal MPI, patients were divided into two groups and all preoperative cardiac events were recorded. Risk factors, including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, smoking and age .70 years, were compared between patients with normal and abnormal MPI and, also, in patients with or without cardiac events. Results: There were 197 patients with normal and 56 patients with abnormal MPI. In total, 14 patients had perioperative cardiac events, which included myocardial infarction (MI), hypotension, arrhythmia and death; of the 14 patients with perioperative cardiac events, 12 had abnormal and two had normal MPI. There were statistically meaningful differences between the two groups (p<0.001). Based on these findings, we determined that MPI had a sensitivity of 85.7%, a specificity of 81.6%, an accuracy of 81.8%, a positive predictive value of 21.4 % and a negative predictive value of 98.9%. Conclusion: The incidence of perioperative cardiac events is higher in patients with abnormal MPI. Dipyridamole 99m Tc-MIBI myocardial perfusion imaging can accurately detect the preoperative cardiac risk of patients undergoing major non-cardiac surgery. Based on these findings, the occurrence of perioperative cardiac events in patients with abnormal MPI should be considered, especially in the older age population (age ≥70). © The Author(s) 2013

Detection of VIM-1 and IMP-1 genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae and relationship with biofilm formation

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that is considered in recent years due to nosocomial infections resistant to treatment as well as the ability to form biofilms particularly in patients with urinary tract infection in ICU or hospital. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of VIM1, IMP1 genes and their ability to form biofilm in K. pneumoniae strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infection. In the study, using culture and biochemical methods, 1807 K. pneumoniae samples were isolated from patients with urinary tract infection hospitalized or referred to hospitals in Qom in 2013–2014. For isolation of MBL producing isolates, Double Disk Synergy Test (DDST) was used. Then MBL positive isolates were examined for the presence of VIM1, IMP1 genes using PCR method. Furthermore, all strains were investigated for biofilm formation by phenotypic microplate method. From 3165 urine samples cultured, 1807 isolates of K. pneumoniae were isolated and 109 strains (93.2%) were positive for MBL enzymes production. PCR results showed that the prevalence of VIM1 and IMP1 genes are 15.6 and 6.4%, respectively. The Phenotypic method indicated that 91.2% of isolates formed biofilm. Biofilm formation in K. pneumoniae isolates is high and there is a significant relationship between strong biofilm formation and prevalence of VIM1 and IMP1 genes. Also due to the presence of MBL genes in K. pneumoniae and horizontal transfer of genes to other bacteria, and to control the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, the hospital infection control methods must be considered

Control of saltwater intrusion by aquifer storage and recovery

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Published Online 18th August 2016This paper presents the results obtained from the application of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) technique to control seawater intrusion (SWI) in coastal aquifers. The study is based on the numerical modelling experiments performed using the SUTRA (Saturated–Unsaturated TRAnsport) finite-element code on the Wadi Ham aquifer in the UAE. A three-dimensional numerical model of this aquifer is developed and calibrated based on the available hydrogeological data in real scale. A significant amount of SWI has been calculated for the year 2015 due to the high rates of pumping from the available local well fields. To study the future responses of the aquifer to different control actions, the transient responses of SWI are simulated over a 10-year planning horizon. The proposed management measure (ASR) is implemented in repeated cycles of artificial recharge, storage and recovery using an additional set of wells defined in the model. The results show that ASR is a reliable method in controlling SWI in coastal aquifer systems besides its conventional role in subsurface water banking.The authors acknowledge their gratitude to the British Council, UK, for providing funding (project code: SH-04509) to support this research