Serum levels of triiodothyronine, thyroxin and thyrotropin in the patients with major depressive, in comparison with normal patients

زمینه و هدف: افسردگی شایع‌ترین اختلال روان‌پزشکی است که اخیراً ارتباط آن با بعضی از هورمون ها مورد توجه قرار گرفته است. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین سطوح سرمی تری یدوتیرونین (T3)، تیروکسین (T4) و هورمون محرکۀ تیروئید یا تیروتروپین (TSH) در بیماران مبتلا به افسردگی اساسی و مقایسه آن با افراد بالغ سالم در همدان صورت گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه مورد- شاهدی 32 بیمار با تشخیص اختلال افسردگی اساسی (بر اساس آزمون افسردگی بک) مراجعه کننده به بیمارستان روانپزشکی همدان و 32 بالغ سالم که از نظر سن و جنس با گروه افسرده همسان سازی شده بودند به روش در دسترس انتخاب شدند. سطوح سرمی تری یدوتیرونین، تیروکسیین و هورمون محرکه تیروئید در هر دو گروه اندازه گیری شد. داده ها با کمک آزمون های آماری کای دو، t مستقل، تحلیل واریانس یک طرفه و رگرسیون لجستیک تجزیه و تحلیل شد. یافته‌ها: متوسط سطوح سرمی T4 و TSH در افراد افسرده نسبت به سالم به طور معنی‌داری بالاتر بود (01/0P=). در حالی که متوسط سطح سرمی T3 این دو گروه تفاوت معنی‌داری نداشت )08/0 P=.). در مقایسه افراد مبتلا به افسردگی بالینی (نمره بالای 21 آزمون بک) و غیر افسرده بالینی (نمره زیر 21 آزمون بک) فقط در سطح سرمی TSH افزایش معنی‌داری وجود داشت (001/0P=). بر اساس آزمون رگرسیون لوجستیک افزایش 1 واحد در سطح سرمی T4 و TSH به ترتیب شانس ابتلا به افسردگی را 3/1 و 7/1 برابر و شانس ابتلا به افسردگی بالینی را به ترتیب 2/1 و 09/2 برابر افزایش می‌دهد. نتیجه‌گیری: بر اساس نتایج، میانگین سطوح سرمی T4 و TSH در افسردگی اساسی نسبت به گروه شاهد بالاتر بودند. با سنجش این دو هورمون در سرم ممکن است بتوان بروز افسردگی را در فرد پیش‌بینی نمود

Characterization of Near Isothermal Compression and Expansion for Energy Storage

As the global share of electricity generation from intermittent renewable energy sources increases, developing efficient and scalable electricity storage technologies becomes critical to modernizing the grid, matching the supply and demand, and raising the capacity factor of renewable generation. The Ground-Level Integrated Diverse Energy Storage (GLIDES) is an efficient energy storage technology invented at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). GLIDES stores energy by compressing gas using a liquid piston in pressure vessels benefiting from employing hydraulic turbomachinery which are more efficient than gas turbomachinery. Therefore, GLIDES has higher round-trip efficiency (RTE) than Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES). Since GLIDES employs pressure vessels, it is not geographically limited as CAES and pump storage hydro (PSH) are. Two proof-of-concept prototypes were design and built at ORNL with nominal capacity of 1 and 3 . GLIDES 2nd generation prototype achieved 98.5% isothermal compression efficiency experimentally. A physics-based performance model was developed simulating the GLIDES behavior during operation and was validated using the experimental data. For cost reduction purposes, the first cost of GLIDES when employing steel vessels, carbon fiber vessels, pipe segments, and underground pressure reservoirs was modeled. The results of the cost model showed first cost as low as and could be achieved for a grid-scale GLIDES using depleted oil/gas reservoirs and high-pressure pipe segments, respectively. Employing the studies done on liquid piston compression and direct heat exchange with micron-sized sprayed droplets in GLIDES, a one of a kind near isothermal liquid compressor (IsoLiqComp), capable of compressing any refrigerant, is designed and developed at ORNL. A secondary physics-based performance model was developed to study the condensable gas behavior. Based on simulation results, 95% isothermal efficiency can be achieved. A 1st generation IsoLiqComp prototype was built using a 0.005 compression chamber. The results of this research show GLIDES is a low-cost efficient energy storage technology competitive to conventional Lithium-ion and Lead acid batteries. Significant increase in compression efficiency in comparison to conventional compressors is achievable using IsoLiqComp. HVAC systems, natural gas transportation, and extraction systems (etc.) can highly benefit from employing IsoLiqComp and the studies performed in this research

Experimental Investigation of Spray Cooling/Heating of a Near-Isothermal Hydro-Pneumatic Energy Storage System

Proposing experimental investigation of spray cooling/heating of a near-isothermal, scalable, efficient, high density, hydro-pneumatic integrated energy storage system; capable of spray cooling/heating during gas compression/expansion and capable of excess heat integration. The invented Ground-Level Integrated Diverse Energy Storage (GLIDES) is an energy storage technology capable of storing energy in high-pressure vessel using hydro-pneumatic concept. Indicated roundtrip efficiencies of 98% can be reached using the proposed technology marking an isothermal compression/expansion energy storage

Theoretical Techniques for Determining Precise Thermophysical Properties

Quantum mechanics (QM) calculations, coupled with statistical mechanics (SM), provide a means to obtain thermophysical properties from first principles. Because of the limitations in modern computational resources, many of these properties are obtained for isolated molecules. Despite this limitation, QM is still very useful for thermophysical property generation in an ideal gas reference state where the molecules are isolated. In this thesis, a combination of quantum mechanics and statistical mechanics calculations is used to generate entropies of aromatic compounds in the ideal gas reference state. This information is necessary for practical calculations such as the determination of the free energy of a reaction involving these compounds and the equilibrium distribution between isomers. The QM and SM calculation procedure is used to generate entropies of simple aromatic compounds—benzene, toluene, p-xylene, m-xylene and o-xylene— in the ideal gas state from 250 K to 540 K. Having accurate experimental frequencies and entropies for these compounds from literature, we systematically examine how the choice of the QM level of theory impacts the agreement between theory and experiment. The calculated entropies fall within 0.5% of experimentally determined values for these compounds. We acknowledge that given the state of the art of computational quantum mechanics today, all levels of theory require an empirical scaling factor for vibrational frequencies. This empirical scaling factor largely eliminates the advantage in accuracy of more sophisticated levels of theory. Thus we see that our “purely computational” estimates of the entropy still have a fundamental connection to experiment through this single empirical scaling factor

Experimental and theoretical justifications for the observed discriminations between enantiomers of prochiral alcohols by chirally blind EI-MS

To all appearances, electron impact mass spectrometer (EI-MS) is considered a "chirally blind" instrument. Yet, numerous non-identical R (right) and S (left) configurations of prochiral alcohols' mass spectra alcohols have appeared in the literature with almost no justification. Such observations are often attributed to impurities, experimental circumstances, inaccurate measurements, etc. In an experimental attempt to explain this phenomenon, here we have avoided the above mentioned pitfalls by conducting control experiments using different pure enantiomers under the same circumstances. Hence, we report the mass spectra of R- and S-enantiomers of 2-octanol (1R, 1S) and 1-octyn-3-ol (2R, 2S) collected by running 20 independent experiments for each R- and S-enantiomer. Statistical analyses confirmed that the peak intensities were significant to an acceptable level of confidence. The 1R and 1S enantiomers were separated reasonably in the PC space, implying that the chirally blind EI-MS is able to discriminate between R and S prochiral alcohols. Theoretically, self-complexation through H-bonding for S (or R) appears to give a new chiral center at the H-bonded oxygen atom, producing a new dimeric pair of diastereomers SRS and SSS (or RRR and RSR) before ionization, and SRS.+ and SSS.+ (or RRR.+ and RSR.+) after ionization. The results of our calculations have explicitly shown that these hydrogen bonds formed. Interestingly, the latter four ionized diastereomers appear with different structural and thermodynamic parameters at the M06-2X/6-311++g (d,p) level of theory

Effects of Current on Arc Fabrication of Cu Nanoparticles

Arc-fabricated copper nanoparticles (Cu Nps) size, morphology and the crystalline structure, as well as the yields of Nps appear sensitive to the applied currents (50–160 A) in distilled water. The results indicate that the sizes of Cu Nps are directly proportional to the currents employed. At 50 A, TEM, XRD, and SEM analyses show fabrication of relatively purest, the most dispersed, face-centered cubic (fcc) brown Cu Nps with rather smallest average size of 20 nm. At the same current, the TGA-DTA analysis reveals neither weight loss nor gain, indicating thermal stability of the fabricated Cu Nps

The Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Aspirin in Septic Animal Models

Background: Sepsis is a systemic body reaction to invasive microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, it is one of the top ten main causes of death among all patients admitted to the hospital. Multiple potential drug therapies have been investigated in this area; however, an effective pharmacotherapy for sepsis remains undiscovered. Therefore, we explored the effect of Aspirin or Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) on the treatment outcomes and reduction of sepsis complications concerning the parameters involved in the oxidative damage of liver tissue. To perform an in vivo experiment, an experimental inflammatory model Cecal Ligation and Puncture (CLP) was performed in rats. Methods: The investigated rats were divided into 4 groups (n=40), as follows: 1. Controls; 2. Laparotomy (LAP) group; 3. CLP group; and 4. The treatment group with aspirin 2 mg/kg bw for 48 h after CLP induction. Then, the explored rats were anesthetized and blood samples were collected from their hearts. Next, the animals were sacrificed and the liver tissue was separated for histopathologic and biochemical studies. Results: The obtained data suggested that the treatment of animals with aspirin was effective in adjusting the antioxidant and inflammatory parameters. Pathological studies also indicated that sepsis led to injuries in the liver tissues, which could be improved by interventions. Conclusion: In conclusion, sepsis caused oxidative damage in the liver tissue, and using aspirin was effective in preventing and improving these injuries

Photochemistry of beta-Methyl-beta-Nitrostyrene and Its Derivatives

o-CH3, o-CH3O, m-CH3O and p-CF3-β-methyl- β-nitrostyrene (compounds not previously reported) were synthesized using the method of Lappin13 and Robertson.14 These styrenes were irradiated in the U.V. region. The yield of corresponding oximes varied from 85 to 100% in aqueous ethanol. This variation in yield of the oximes was attributed to the effect of the substituent on the phenyl rings of the corresponding styrenes. Electron donating substituents promoted the nitro-nitrite rearrangement and electron-withdrawing groups inhibited this rearrangement. A mechanism is proposed for this reaction which unifies and includes ideas proposed by Chapman2, Pinhey5 and Matsurra.3 The effect of solvent on the irradiation was also studied. The results obtained indicated that the solvent employed does have an effect on the photorearrangement of beta-nitrostyrenes

A New Nano-Chitosan Irrigant with Superior Smear Layer Removal and Penetration

Our primary objective was to measure root canal penetrations of aqueous antibacterial nano-chitosan (Nano-CS), for the first time. The second objective was to compare and contrast such penetrations to those of chitosan (CS) itself, as well as sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), chlorhexidine (CHX) and ethylenediamintetraacetic acid (EDTA), at the routinely used concentrations. Molar roots were split longitudinally by a rotary diamond saw. Nano-CS was made by dissolving CS in acetic acid and adding tripolyphosphate (TPP), followed by a freeze-drying process. Dentin penetrations are estimated through measurements of sessile contact angles. Penetrations of the probed irrigants were assessed as inverse functions of their sessile contact angles. Accordingly, all Nano-CS solutions showed smaller sessile angles compared to those of NaOCl, CS, and EDTA samples. Hence, Nano-CS appeared to be a superior irrigant for demonstrating a higher penetration than the latter three. It fell only behind CHX, yet, the superb chelating ability of Nano-CS enabled it to remove smear layer to a larger extend than all of our other irrigants including CHX. Nano-CS could be considered as a new irrigant. Higher penetration was its main advantage over CS, and commercial NaOCl, and EDTA. This was verified by  the smaller sessile contact angle of Nano-CS. Anticipated chelating effect of Nano-CS could anchor more efficient removal of smear layer. This was another advantage of Nano-CS over other irrigants including CHX. Other advantages of Nano-CS included its reported biocompatibility, biodegradability and antibacterial effects. Commercialization of Nano-CS was deemed in the near horizon

Anti-microbial Activity of Acrylic Resins with In-Situ Generated Nanosilver on Cariogenic Planktonic and Biofilm Bacteria

Abstract Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA