Seawater reverse osmosis membrane fouling causes in a full scale desalination plant; through the analysis of environmental issues: raw water quality

Background: Membrane clogging is one of the most important problem for desalination plant operators in Iran, therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the main causes of this problem using field analysis. Methods: In this study, six continuous membranes in a reverse osmosis (RO) pressure vessel under the 33-month service period (April 2017 to November 2019) were selected. The membranes were analyzed through visual evaluation of the outer and inner membrane surface, analyzing the damages and physical harms, oxidative stress tests, iron spot test, fouling chemical analysis using loss on ignition (LOI) tests, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results: Particle size distribution in raw seawater (EC = 55 000 μs/cm, turbidity = 11 NTU) was 66.4% smaller than 1 μ and 28.3% between 1 to 1.9 μm. Physical damages were not seen on the membranes but telescopic damages were observed which was due to membrane fouling. Removal efficiencies of turbidity and silt density index (SDI) were 84% and 18%, respectively. Membrane oxidation was also seen. Most of the sediments compositions on the membranes were SiO2, Al2O3, MgO, and Fe2O3. Biological fouling was detected on the membranes surface. Conclusion: Inaccurate use of chlorine neutralizer caused the residual chlorine to be present in the membrane entering water, which damaged the membrane. Accumulation of clogging agents on membrane surface showed malfunction of pretreatment function, therefore, revision of design and operation of units is necessary. Biological fouling is due to non-effective pre-chlorination of drinking water. Metallic compounds sedimentation on the membrane is due to improper use of anti-fouling chemicals. High SDI in the influent shows the need to change the cartridge filters. Keywords: Seawater, Drinking, Chlorides, Particle size, Chloride, Spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, Ira

Studier av proteaser i humane osteoklast-liknende celler og polariserte makrofager

Osteoporose er en progressiv metabolsk skjelettsykdom som er preget av en ubalanse i beinhomeostasen mellom osteoklasters nedbrytning av bein og osteoblasters oppbygging av bein. Osteoklaster (OC) er multinukleære celler som har sitt opphav i monocytter/makrofager og har unik evne til å resorbere bein ved å skille ut ulike cysteinproteaser (f.eks. cathepsin K) og matriksmetalloproteaser (f.eks. MMP-9). I denne masteroppgaven ble regulering av cysteinproteaser (legumain, cathepsin B, K og L), deres endogene inhibitorer (cystatin C og E/M) og matriksmetalloproteaser (MMP-2 og -9) studert ved enzymaktivitetsmålinger, immunoblotting og real-time PCR i humane OC-liknende celler, mens legumainsekresjon ble analysert med ELISA. En human THP-1 monocytt-cellelinje ble brukt som cellemodell og en metode ble etablert i laboratoriet for differensiering av OC etter stimulering med forbolesteren PMA, RANKL og/eller M-CSF som førte til dannelse av multinukleære celler. Legumainaktivitet og mRNA-ekspresjon var uendret i OC-liknende celler, men RANKL og/eller M-CSF førte til oppregulering av legumain moden form (36 kDa). Differensiering i serumfritt dyrkningsmedium ga betydelig lavere totalproteinkonsentrasjoner i cellene sammenliknet med serumholdig medium. Eksponering for medium med høyt innhold av prolegumain under OC-differensiering førte til økning i legumainaktivitet i cellene, særlig for celler stimulert med M-CSF. Dette tydet på opptak og prosessering av prolegumain i OC, som ble bekreftet ved immunoblotting. Eksponering for cystatin E/M førte derimot ikke til endring i legumainaktiviteten, som indikerer at cellene ikke tok opp cystatin E/M. Siden makrofager også er involvert ved beinremodellering, så ble PMA-behandlede THP-1 celler polarisert til M1- og M2-makrofager ved bruk av henholdsvis IFNγ og LPS eller IL-4, og regulering av legumain, cathepsin B og K ble studert. M1- og M2-makrofager viste ulik morfologi, cysteinproteaseaktivitet og -mRNA-ekspresjon. M1-makrofager uttrykte og sekrerte signifikant mer legumain enn M2- eller upolariserte makrofager. Eksponering for prolegumain under polariseringen førte til opptak og prosessering av legumain i M2- og upolariserte makrofager, men ikke i M1. I bein er det et samspill mellom OC og makrofager, og proteiner skilt ut av en celletype kan tas opp av/eller påvirke en annen celletype. Denne masteroppgaven har vist at prolegumain kan skilles ut og tas opp av både OC og makrofager, men om dette har betydning for beinremodelleringen er foreløpig ikke kjent

Evaluation of germination and vigor indices associated with Fusarium-infected seeds in pre-basic seeds wheat fields

Seed-borne diseases of wheat such as Fusarium head blight (FHB), a fungal disease caused by several species of Fusarium, results in reduced yield and seed quality. The aim of this study was to identify the Fusarium species, the effect of Fusarium-infected seeds on germination and vigor indices and to determine the location of Fusarium spp. in seeds, as well as to investigate the pathogenicity and variability of aggressiveness of the isolates obtained from pre-basic seeds wheat fields in Iran. According to morphological and molecular characters, the species F. graminearum, F. culmorum, F. avenaceum and F. poae were identified. Among the isolates, F. graminearum was the predominant species with the highest frequency and relative density of 92.9% and 70.9%, respectively. We observed that germination and vigor indices were decreased due to increased Fusarium-infected seeds. Results indicated significant differences among cultivars and seed-borne Fusarium levels. While a higher infection level of Fusarium spp. most commonly occurred in the seed coat, only F. graminearum was observed in embryos. Our study about pathogenicity showed that 77.3% of the Fusarium spp. isolates were not pathogenic and 22.7% isolates of Fusarium spp. were pathogenic or weakly pathogenic. Our results indicated that variability in aggressiveness among isolates of a species and positive correlation may be determined by pathogenicity tests. This is the first time the location of Fusarium spp. in seeds has been identified. It is also the first time that Fusarium-infected seeds in pre-basic seeds wheat fields of Iran have been evaluated

Uncovering Hidden Insights with Long-Memory Process Detection: An In-Depth Overview

Long-memory models are frequently used in finance and other fields to capture long-range dependence in time series data. However, correctly identifying whether a process has long memory is crucial. This paper highlights a significant limitation in using the sample autocorrelation function (ACF) to identify long-memory processes. While the ACF establishes the theoretical definition of a long-memory process, it is not possible to determine long memory by summing the sample ACFs. Hassani’s −12 theorem demonstrates that the sum of the sample ACF is always −12 for any stationary time series with any length, rendering any diagnostic or analysis procedures that include this sum open to criticism. The paper presents several cases where discrepancies between the empirical and theoretical use of a long-memory process are evident, based on real and simulated time series. It is critical to be aware of this limitation when developing models and forecasting. Accurately identifying long-memory processes is essential in producing reliable predictions and avoiding incorrect model specification

Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism as the Initial Clinical Presentation of Gastric Cancer: A Case Report

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) is a clinically critical disease, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of which can lead to increased rate of mortality. For prevention of recurrence of PTE, recognition of its risk factors or underlying diseases is of great importance. PTE is common in patients with cancer and has high morbidity and mortality rates. Although cancer is a lethal condition, PTE accelerates death in these patients. In the current study, we reported the case of a 50-year-old male presenting with dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain, and non-massive hemoptysis indicating pulmonary embolism. Anticoagulant therapy was initiated, but after 12 days of treatment, new deep vein thromboses in the left upper and right lower limbs were diagnosed. However, no specific risk factors or laboratory abnormalities were detected. History of weight loss during the recent months encouraged further investigation for ruling out malignancy, which led a diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma. He did not have any complaints of gastrointestinal disorders

Preparation of Recombinant Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 at Laboratory Scale

Introduction: Millions cases of bone fracture are reported annually worldwide. The conventional methods for the repair often fail. The complications of using routine methods include stimulation of bone repair which should be performed without infection risk and immunologic responses. The aim of this study was cloning and expression of bone morphogenenic protein 2 (BMP2), a key growth factor used in bone repair. Materials and Methods: mRNA was extracted from human maxillary osteosarcoma and reverse transcribed. The BMP2 gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into pETDuet vector and was expressed. Results: The BMP2 gene was expressed successfully and expression was confirmed by western blotting using anti- His tag antibody. Conclusion: Recombinant protein preparation method has been recognized to be accessible and the production is cost effective

Rejuvenation of facial skin and improvement in the dermal architecture by transplantation of autologous stromal vascular fraction: a clinical study

Introduction: The rejuvenation characteristics of fat tissue grafting has been established for many years. Recently it has been shown that stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of fat tissue contributes to its rejuvenation properties. As the SVF is a minimal processed cell population (based on FDA guidance), therefore it is a suitable cell therapy for skin rejuvenation. This clinical trial was aimed to evaluate the ultrastructural improvement of aging skin in the facial nasolabial region after transplantation of autologous SVF. Methods: Our study was conducted in 16 patients aged between 38 and 56 years old that were interested in face lifting at first. All of the cases underwent the lipoaspiration procedure from the abdomen for sampling of fat tissue. Quickly, the SVF was harvested from 100 mL of harvested fat tissue and then transplanted at dose of 2.0×107 nucleated cells in each nasolabial fold. The changes in the skin were evaluated using Visioface scanner, skin-scanner DUB, Visioline, and Cutometer with multi probe adopter. Results: By administration of autologous SVF, the elasticity and density of skin were improved significantly. There were no changes in the epidermis density in scanner results, but we noticed a significant increase in the dermis density and also its thickness with enrichment in the vascular bed of the hypodermis. The score of Visioface scanner showed slight changes in wrinkle scores. The endothelial cells and mesenchymal progenitors from the SVF were found to chang the architecture of the skin slightly, but there was not obvious phenotypic changes in the nasolabial grooves. Conclusion: The current clinical trial showed the modification of dermis region and its microvascular bed, but no changes in the density of the epidermis. Our data represent the rejuvenation process of facial skin by improving the dermal architecture