73 research outputs found
Nanoporous Polyether Sulfone Membrane, Preparation and Characterization: Effect of Porosity and Mean Pore Size on Performance
Flat sheet membranes were prepared by phase inversion technique using polyether sulfone (PES) dissolved in dimethylacetamide (DMAc) with and without adding polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) or polyethyleneglycol (PEG). The characteristics of the prepared membranes were evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Optical Contact Angle (OCA) measurements, and porosity tests. The porosity test and SEM images show that increasing additives to a certain value increases the porosity of the membrane. Also, as the coagulation bath temperature is increased, the porosity of the membrane is increased. The roughness of the membrane is increased by increasing the additive concentration. The analysis of AFM images confirms the nanoporous structure of the prepared membranes, and that the membranes with appropriate pore size distribution can be prepared by the applied method. Permeability tests using single-layer membranes show that the direct relationship between porosity and the flux of pure water or salt solution is dominated by the effect of applied additive while the salt rejection shows an inverse relationship with the mean pore size regardless of the applied additive. The salt permeation flux is a function of total porosity while the salt rejection is a function of surface porosity. Pervaporation tests show that both permeation flux and enrichment factor depend on the total porosity of the support membrane
Modelling of proteolysis in Iranian brined cheese using proteinase-loaded nanoliposome
In this study, Flavourzyme was encapsulated in liposomes to accelerate the ripening of Iranian white cheese. Liposomal enzyme was prepared using a modified heating method. The influence of enzyme content, ripening time and curd retention in saturated brine on proteolysis indices and sensory perception was investigated using response surface methodology. The most influential factor on proteolysis indices was ripening time, while the content of liposomal enzyme and retention time were also significant (P < 0.05). The maximum proteolysis indices and highest sensory characteristic scores were achieved by applying 0.3% w/w enzyme, ripening for 30 days and 8-h curd retention in saturated brine
Effect of refrigerated storage on the probiotic survival and sensory properties of milk/carrot juice mix drink
Background: There is a genuine interest in the development of probiotic
milk and juice based beverages because they are a good-vehicle to
deliver probiotic microorganisms to consumers. For this purpose, the
viability and metabolism of four probiotic strains ( Lactobacillus
acidophilus LA5, Bifidobacterium lactis BB12, L. rhamnosus and L.
plantarum ) were studied in non-fermented milk and carrot juice mix
drink. The drinks were evaluated in 5 days interval for viable cell
count, pH, acidity, sedimentation and sensory quality during
refrigerated storage at 4 \ub1 2\ubaC for up to 20 days. Results:
The results showed that all strains had good viability in milk/carrot
juice drink (88-98%), but L. acidophilus LA5 seemed more stable than
three other strains. The levels of pH and acidity were ranged 5.33-6.6
and 0.13-0.31%, respectively. The drinks inoculated with L. rhamnosus
and control (non-probiotic) showed more variation in pH and acidity.
The most sedimentation was detected in drinks inoculated with L.
rhamnosus, reaching 3.73 mL/10 mL sample. Sensory assessment indicated
lowest acceptability in control and milk/carrot juice drink inoculated
with L. rhamnosus, respectively. Conclusion: This study indicated that
some probiotic bacteria can be applied by food producers to produce
functional drinks with an increased shelf-life
Investigating the Efficacy of Sumac Topical Solution Against Permethrin-resistant Human Head Lice
Background: The present study aimed at determining the efficacy of applying Rhus coriaria (Sumac) solution for the treatment of Permethrin-resistant head louse in patients, who used permethrin for at least 2 consecutive periods, but have not been cured.Methods: This study is a before-after clinical trial performed on 100 patients with pediculosis aged between 2 and 50 years old and both sexes. All patients had used Permethrin at least twice consecutively (with at least 14 days interval) according to correct instructions (on the first and 7th day), but they have not been cured. Each patient received 60ml of Rhus coriaria solution for 3 consecutive days, and the treatment was repeated again for another 3 days; then, the patients were followed-up on the 4th, 10th, and14th days after the treatment.Results: The results showed a significant difference in the severity of head lice infection and itching before the treatment and 14 days after the treatment (P<0.001).Conclusion: Rhus coriaria solution was more effective in eliminating head-louse infestations on 4, 10, and 14 days after the treatment and itching disappeared in most of the patients, while negligible complications were observed
Adsorptive Removal of Methylene Blue in Aqueous Solutions Through Raw and Modified Cantaloupe Peel Wastes: Kinetic and Isotherm Study
Since large amounts of agricultural wastes are produced in Iran and these wastes have lignocellulosic nature, the current study was performed to survey the adsorption performance of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions by means of raw and modified cantaloupe peel. The adsorbents used were characterized using techniques like scanning electron microscope (SEM), as well as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In this study, the effects of a few key variables including pH, reaction time, dye concentration, adsorbent dosage and temperature on the adsorption performance were investigated. Optimum values were attained at 0.04 and 0.08 g doses of modified and raw cantaloupe peel, pH of 7 after mixing for 120 and 90 minutes for raw and modified cantaloupe peel, respectively. The equilibrium information was fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin-Radushkevich equations and the respective data for all models were tested. An increase in adsorbent dose and temperature caused the efficiency to rise. The mechanism and rate of adsorption were ascertained by analyzing the experimental data at various contact times according to traditional kinetic equations: pseudo-first-order and second order, Elovich, and intra-particle diffusion. The findings illustrated that the data accorded closely with the pseudo-second-order model. Moreover, it was found that these wastes can be applied to remove environmental pollutants, particularly methylene blue dye
Allele and haplotype frequencies for HLA-DQ in Iranian celiac disease patients
AIM: To assess the distribution of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2 and -DQ8 in Iranian celiac disease (CD) patients and compare them to healthy Iranian controls. METHODS: To predict the HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 genes, we used six previously reported HLA-tagging single nucleotide polymorphism to determine HLA genotypes in 59 Iranian patients with 'biopsy-confirmed' CD and in 151 healthy Iranian individuals. To test the transferability of the method, 50 cases and controls were also typed using a commercial kit that identifies individual carriers of DQ2, DQ7 and DQ8 alleles. RESULTS: In this pilot study 97% of CD cases (n = 57) and 58% of controls (n = 87) were carriers of HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8 heterodimers, either in the homozygous or heterozygous state. The HLA-DQ pattern of these 57 CD patients: heterozygous DQ2.2 (n = 14) and homozygous DQ2.2 (n = 1), heterozygous DQ2.5 (n = 33) and homozygous DQ2.5 (n = 8), heterozygous DQ8 (n = 13) and homozygous DQ8 (n = 2). Two CD patients were negative for both DQ2 and DQ8 (3%). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DQ8 in our CD population was higher than that reported in other populations (25.4%). As reported in other populations, our results underline the primary importance of HLA-DQ alleles in the Iranian population's susceptibility to CD. (C) 2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved
Distal radius volar T plate versus distal clavicle pre-contoured locking plate in Neer 2b distal clavicle fracture; a randomized control trial study
Purpose The purpose of current study was to compare the clinical and radiographic outcomes of distal radius volar T plate and pre-contoured locking plate in distal clavicle fracture.
Materials and methods A total of 60 patients with Neer 2b distal clavicle fracture included in this study and undergone open reduction and internal fixation between March 2019 and November 2020 via two different plates; distal radius volar T plate and distal clavicle pre-contoured locking plate. All patients were followed at least two years post-operative. Union rate, time to union, need to device removal, and Constant-Murley score were assessed among them.
ResultsIn all patients, bony union was achieved without wound related complication. The mean time to union in distal radius volar T plate group was 3.3 0.6 and 3.6 0.7 in pre-contoured locking plate (p value=0.14). The mean Constant-Murley score was 93.1 2.2 and 92.1 2.5 in T plate group and pre-contoured plate group, respectively (p value=0.09). Five cases with T plate and eight cases with pre-contoured plated were candidate for device removal (p value=0.53)
ConclusionDistal radius volar T plate could be a reasonable choice to manage Neer 2b distal clavicle fracture as it restores functional range of motion with excellent bone union and without the necessity of device removal; beside its economical price
Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017
Since 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2—to end preventable child deaths by 2030—we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends. Here we quantified, for the period 2000–2017, the subnational variation in mortality rates and number of deaths of neonates, infants and children under 5 years of age within 99 low- and middle-income countries using a geostatistical survival model. We estimated that 32% of children under 5 in these countries lived in districts that had attained rates of 25 or fewer child deaths per 1,000 live births by 2017, and that 58% of child deaths between 2000 and 2017 in these countries could have been averted in the absence of geographical inequality. This study enables the identification of high-mortality clusters, patterns of progress and geographical inequalities to inform appropriate investments and implementations that will help to improve the health of all populations
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