Comparison of the Efficiency of Moving- and Fixed-bed Bioreactors for Treatment of High-strength Synthetic Wastewater

A lab-scale Plexiglas cubic container as a pre-aeration reactor with total volume of 10 L, and two integrated bioreactors including a moving-bed bioreactor (MBBR) and a fixed-bed bioreactor with total volume of 30 L separately were used for experimental study. The main purpose was to compare the performance of moving-bed and fixed-bed reactors for degradation of high organic loading in synthetic wastewater. Varying organic loadings of 0.5 to 9 kg COD m3 d–1 were applied. Generally, the total microbial mass in terms of attached biofim and VSS was higher in the MBBR. The microbial mass in the MBBR increased from 4120 to 4640 mg L–1 and in the fixed-bed bioreactor from 4124 to 4564 mg L–1. The COD removal efficiency in sequencing runs of operation in moving-bed and fixed-bed bioreactors varied from 96.27 % to 81.27 %, and from 95.2 % to 74.82 % respectively. The data obtained from this study indicate that MBBR, with the applied media in this study, was more efficient than the fixed-bed bioreactor for biodegradation of organic matter under identical operating conditions

Distribution and health risk assessment of organochlorine pesticides in agricultural soils of the Aghili plain, Southwest Iran

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) are a well-known group of persistent man-made chemicals. In the present study, 55 agricultural soil samples were collected from the Aghili plain and analyzed for 20 OCPs with the aim of determining contamination profiles, spatial distribution, influencing factors and carcinogenic risks. Among different OCPs, only aldrin, dieldrin, 4,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, and 4,4-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane were detected. The other OCPs dosages were lower than the detection limit in all samples. The results of cancer risk assessment demonstrated no carcinogenic risks to an exposed population

Business process modelling and visualisation to support e-government decision making: Business/IS alignment

© 2017 Springer-Verlag. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57487-5_4.Alignment between business and information systems plays a vital role in the formation of dependent relationships between different departments in a government organization and the process of alignment can be improved by developing an information system (IS) according to the stakeholders’ expectations. However, establishing strong alignment in the context of the eGovernment environment can be difficult. It is widely accepted that business processes in the government environment plays a pivotal role in capturing the details of IS requirements. This paper presents a method of business process modelling through UML which can help to visualise and capture the IS requirements for the system development. A series of UML models have been developed and discussed. A case study on patient visits to a healthcare clinic in the context of eGovernment has been used to validate the models

Hypoxia-enhanced Blood-Brain Barrier Chip recapitulates human barrier function and shuttling of drugs and antibodies

The high selectivity of the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts delivery of many pharmaceuticals and therapeutic antibodies to the central nervous system. Here, we describe an in vitro microfluidic organ-on-a-chip BBB model lined by induced pluripotent stem cell-derived human brain microvascular endothelium interfaced with primary human brain astrocytes and pericytes that recapitulates the high level of barrier function of the in vivo human BBB for at least one week in culture. The endothelium expresses high levels of tight junction proteins and functional efflux pumps, and it displays selective transcytosis of peptides and antibodies previously observed in vivo. Increased barrier functionality was accomplished using a developmentally-inspired induction protocol that includes a period of differentiation under hypoxic conditions. This enhanced BBB Chip may therefore represent a new in vitro tool for development and validation of delivery systems that transport drugs and therapeutic antibodies across the human BBB

Fish gene bank of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Genetic studies and gene banks preparation can identify guidelines for improving diversity and population structure and estimation, poaching and also the amount of cross breeding and provide genetic classification. In this study, sampling was performed from the important studied species habitats areas for the species such as: Dasyatis bennetti، Netuma thalassina, Netuma bilineata Carcharhinus leucas، Choerodon robustus، Pseudorhombus pentophthalmus ،Pseudorhombus arsius Thunnus tonggol ،Euthynnus affinis and Trichiurus lepturus. Total DNA extraction was performed using phenol - chloroform method which is the most common method for DNA extraction in order to achieve high quality of DNA was performed in the preparation of gene bank in this study. After relevant studies on this gene primers were designed and in use. After editing the sequences, nucleotide BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) was performed using NCBI blast main page. The sequences obtained from each sample were aligned and corrected from any ambiguities and assembled using Bio edit program .Trees were generated using maximum parsimony (MP), a character-based algorithm and neighbor joining (NJ) a distance-based algorithm for phenetic analysis. The distance matrix option of MEGA4 was used to calculate genetic distance according to the Kimura 2-parameter model of sequence evolution. Based on the results obtained, the optical density of 260 to 280 nm in the samples was recorded between 1/8 - 2, indicating good quality DNA samples. Optimized PCR reaction to 16SrRNA gene amplification using the gradient between 48 - 60° C showed that the most suitable criteria for binding primers, 54 to 58 Celsius degrees respectively. The project objectives including the identification of the genetic structure of the species, and draw the phylogenetic trees using two genes 16SrRNA, making identification and registration of specified computer storage and regulate the structure and management of mentioned species by focus on genetic resources 10 species of majour commercial and noncommercial fishes in the Persia Gulf and Oman Sea through the creation of an integrated network of aquatic genetic resources in the region to try to identify genetic resources and aquatic gene bank. This type of analysis could be considered as an important tool to be used in broodstock selection in breeding programs. Also identify the species of fish named as Pseudorhombus pentophthalmus with a new haplotype and genetic differences 7% in compare to the samples recorded in the World gene Bank can considered as a major achievements of this research

Reproductive maturation of sub adult Indian carps in earthen ponds

Carp culture in extensive and semi-extensive systems: i.e., earthen ponds, natural and semi-natural water resources, reservoirs and the paddy field has widspred distribution. Indian major carps including Catla (Catla catla), Roho (Labeo rohita), Mrigal (Cirrhinus mirgala) which have faster growth and good feed value than other warm water fishes introduced to many countries including India, Thailand, Burma, Philippines, Japan and the former Soviet Union are also considered and are reared. Sex steroids are important in the control of reproduction in fish. Development of methods for Indian education programs for proliferation requires knowledge of the hormonal changes during sexual maturation and spawning is. Testosterone, progesterone and 17 ϐ-estradiol are steroid hormones that play an important role in controlling Tuesday reproduction and sexual maturity of the fish are. This study aimed to investigate the changes in steroid hormones testosterone and 17 beta-estradiol including Catla (Catla catla), Roho (Labeo rohita), Mrigal (Cirrhinus mirgala) were conducted in different seasons. 40 specimen of carps breeders were investigated in southern (Aquaculture Research Institute) and north (North Aquaculture Research Institute) of Iran and maintained in different seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). Fish were caught by netting vetch and spring 1 cm. Blood samples were collected from the fish caudal blood serum by centrifugal separation model Labofuga 200 was made in Germany. Testosterone, and estradiol RIA (Radioimmunoassy) using an automatic gamma counter LKB model made in Finland made in France using the Immunotech kit hormone were measured. The results showed that the average level of 17 betaestradiol in the female in the spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively, 82/12 ± 75/107, 66/13 ± 2/80, 73/17 ± 8/122 and 72/17 ± 25/104 ml, respectively. Mean testosterone levels in the female in the spring, summer, autumn and winter, respectively, 004/0 ± 092/0, 002/0 ± 05/0, 003/0 ± 11/0 and 006/0 ± 1/0 ng ml, respectively. Overall, the highest levels of 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone in female Roho were recorded in autumn. Also, low levels of 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone in female Roho was observed in summer. Highest and lowest levels of the male hormone, respectively, were recorded in winter and spring. The relationship between the hormone 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone with environmental factors such as pH and dissolved oxygen were discussed. there was a positive correlation between testosterone levels in males only the amount of dissolved oxygen .results revieled that sex hormone levels were increased during winter and autumn would be the signe for reproductive performance and spawning seasone in three species

Designing and establishment of ISO/IEC 17025 in laboratories of national inland water aquaculture center and south Iran aquaculture research center

The project was carried out between June of 2011 and November of 2012,8 laboratories of research center in Anzali (Plankton, Algae, Hydrochemistry, Physiology, Ichthyology, Bentose, Parazitology, Virology) and 7 laboratories of research center in Ahvaz (Clinical pathology, Plankton, Hydrochemistry, Physiology, Ichthyology, Bentose, Parazitology, Virology) were selected for accreditation. The main stages for establishment of the system consisted of: 1-Conducting a gap analysis to compare the present state of the laboratories with ISO/IEC 17025 2-Training General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories Validation of methods Estimation of uncertainty Internal audits 3- Performing of technical and management requirements 4-Submit of quality manual to ASCB center in England in order to accredit In August of 2012 The main results were including: 1-Increase the accuracy of measurement in laboratories 2-Improvement of the Repeatability and Reproducibility of the test methods 3-Traceability and standardization of test methods 4- Calibration of measurement instruments 6- Updating of test methods 7-Standardization of physical condition of the laboratories 8- Getting the certification from ASCB center i