HA/nylon 6,6 porous scaffolds fabricated by salt-leaching/solvent casting technique: effect of nano-sized filler content on scaffold properties

Nanohydroxyapatite (n-HA)/nylon 6,6 composite scaffolds were produced by means of the salt-leaching/solvent casting technique. NaCl with a distinct range size was used with the aim of optimizing the pore network. Composite powders with different n-HA contents (40%, 60%) for scaffold fabrication were synthesized and tested. The composite scaffolds thus obtained were characterized for their microstructure, mechanical stability and strength, and bioactivity. The microstructure of the composite scaffolds possessed a well-developed interconnected porosity with approximate optimal pore size ranging from 200 to 500 μm, ideal for bone regeneration and vascularization. The mechanical properties of the composite scaffolds were evaluated by compressive strength and modulus tests, and the results confirmed their similarity to cortical bone. To characterize bioactivity, the composite scaffolds were immersed in simulated body fluid for different lengths of time and results monitored by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis to determine formation of an apatite layer on the scaffold surface

Ranking the Factors Contributing to Effective Meetings in Isfahan Gas Company

Abstract The present study was aimed to identities and ranks the factors contributing to the effective meeting in Isfahan Ga

Nanostructure thin Films of titanium dioxide coated on glass and its anti UV effect for living organisms

Abstract: The increasing use of ultraviolet (UV) light in medicine, industrial environments, for cosmetic use, and even in consumer products necessitates that greater attention be paid to the potential hazards of this type of electromagnetic radiation. To avoid any adverse effects of exposure to this type of radiation, suitable protection filters were produced to block UV bands. Nanostructure composite and thin film of titanium dioxide coatings on glass have been prepared by the sol-gel method. TiO2 sol suspension was prepared by first adding titanium tetra isopropoxide (Ti(OPr)4 or TTP) to a mixture of ethanol and HCl (molar ratio TTP:HCl:EtOH:H2O = 1:1.1:10:10) and then adding a 2 wt.% solution of hydroxyl ethyl cellulose (HEC) as dispersant followed by of stirring. Precalcined TiO2 nanopowder was mixed with a sol and heat treated. Thin and composite films were deposited on the glass substrate (microscope glass slide) by spincoating them at ambient conditions. After drying, samples were heated to 500 ºC. The resulting films were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The purpose of our study was to determine if thin and composite TiO2 films with ultraviolet light have any effect on the growth of Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Bacillus species (Bacillus sp.) We have seen unusual results in which TiO2 thin and composite films protect E. coli, S. aureus and Bacillus sp from UV light. The survival of E. coli with UV alone was 3.2 % while with UV and TiO2 composite film was 91%. The UVabsorbing coatings are transparent, colorless, and exhibit high optical quality. The UV-protective coatings offer an easy method to protect the living organisms against UV

Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) –assisted extraction of protein from mung bean (Vigna radiate L.) sprout: Effect of solid to solvent ratio on the functional properties

Background & Aim: Mung bean knwn as a traditional food which has been used both as nutritional food and herbal medicine over 2000 years. Mung bean sprouts are one of the most commonly used bean sprouts and considered an as appropriate source for the extraction of highly valuable proteins. Experimental: In this study, the effect of different solid to solvent ratios (1:5, 1:10, 1:15 and 1:20 g/mL in electrohydrodynamic (EHD)-assisted extraction on the extraction yield and functional characteristics of sprouted mung bean protein isolate (SMPI) was evaluated. In addition, the structural and thermal properties of SMPI were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. Results: The highest protein extraction yield, protein solubility (PS), oil absorption capacity (OAC), foaming capacity (FC) and foaming stability (FS) were obtained in the solid to solvent ratio of 1:20 g/mL. The results of FTIR showed that in the solid to solvent ratio of 1:20, the α-helix structure in SMPI decreased and transformed to random coil structure, leading to increased protein solubility. According to the DSC analysis, the highest denaturation temperature and protein stability were attributed to the solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:20 due to higher water content. Recommended applications/industries: The present results indicated that EHD pretreatment with the solid to solvent ratio of 1:20 could improve the functional properties of SMPI and EHD-assisted extracted SMPI could be considered as a potential nutraceutical or ingredient of functional and health-promoting foods

Hemiballismus, Hyperphagia, and Behavioral Changes following Subthalamic Infarct

The function of subthalamic nucleus (STN) which is a part of the basal ganglia system is not clear, but it is hypothesized that this component might be involved in action selection. Unilateral damage to STN, which can commonly occur due to the small vessel stroke mainly, causes hemiballismus and sometimes hemichorea-hemiballismus. This paper deals with a 60-year-old patient with sudden onset of abnormal movements in his right limbs. He had increased appetite and hyperphagia and also developed mood and behavioral changes (aggressiveness, irritability, anxiety, and sometimes obscene speech). The magnetic resonance imaging revealed infarct area in left subthalamus. In our case, hemiballismus is caused by infarction in left subthalamic area. Occurrence of irritability, anxiety, and some behavioral changes such as aggressiveness and obscene speech can be explained by impairment of STN role in nonmotor behavior and cognitive function as a result of infarct

Silver Doped TiO2 Nanostructure Composite Photocatalyst Film Synthesized by Sol-Gel Spin and Dip Coating Technique on Glass

New composite films (P25SGF-MC-Ag, MPC500SGF-MC-Ag, and ANPSGF-MC-Ag) have been synthesized by a modified sol-gel method using different particle sizes of TiO2 powder and silver addition. Nanostructure TiO2/Ag composite thin films were prepared by a sol-gel spin and dip coating technique. while, by introducing methyl cellulose (MC) porous, TiO2/Ag films were obtained after calcining at a temperature of 500°C. The as-prepared TiO2 and TiO2/Ag films were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, and scanning electron microscopy to reveal the structural and morphological differences. In addition, the photocatalytic properties of these films were investigated by degrading methyl orange (MO) under UV irradiation. After 500°C calcination, the microstructure of MC-TiO2 film without Ag addition exhibited a microstructure, while significant sintering effect was noticed with Ag additions and the films exhibited a porous microstructure. Nanostructure anatase-phase TiO2 can be observed with respect to the sharpening of XRD diffraction peaks. The photodegradation of porous TiO2 deposited with 5×10−4 mol Ag exhibited the best photocatalytic efficiency, where 69% methyl orange can be decomposed after UV exposure for 1 hour

Photochemical Characterization and Photocatalytic Properties of a Nanostructure Composite TiO2 Film

An efficient and new composite titania film photocatalyst was fabricated by sol-gel technique, using precalcined nanopowder titanium dioxide filler mixed with a sol, spin coating, and heat treatment. The structural and photocatalytic properties of these films were characterized using SEM, XRD, and UV/Vis spectroscopies. Problems of film inhomogenity and defects which caused peeling and cracking during calcination because of film shrinkage were overcome by using methylcellulose (MC) as a dispersant. Composite films heat-treated at approximately 500∘C have the greatest hardness values. Surface morphology of composite deposits by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the composite films have much rougher surface than films made without MC. Photocatalytic activities of the composites film were evaluated through the degradation of three commercial diazo textile dyes, Light Yellow X6G (C.I. Reactive Yellow 2), Solophenyl red 3BL (C.I. Direct 80), and Tertrodirect light blue R (C.I. Direct blue 71) as a model pollutant

The Effect of the Spirituality in the Workplace on the Social Undermining with Mediating Role of Organizational Ethical Climate (Department Social Security of Isfahan as a Case Study)

Introduction Meaning in life is a psychological phenomenon that is conceptualized as a cognitive characteristic of personality. It also roots in the human personality and is different from a person to another. Spirituality refers to the exploration of meaning in goal in the life. According to Berker and Wang (1988), meaning in life is perception of order, integration, and goal in the life from one side, and achieving valuable goals from other side. Frankl (1988) indicates that there is an extreme meaning in the life that is independent from others, individual goals, and status. Such a meaning is related to God and is the main meaning of spirituality. Indeed, spirituality is an unnatural part of life. Spirituality is emerged in the crisis time in which it is not possible to control the situation. It should be noted that spirituality is not limited to crisis and other unpleasant events, but it may emerge in the thought and emotions of people. Broadly speaking, lack of spirituality may lead to alienation. Development and reinforcement of spirituality in the workplaces may result in moral work environment. Increasingly complexity of current organizations and increased immoral and illegal activities in them call the managers’ attention to morality and moral workplace. The results of a survey, in which 4000 employees were participated, revealed that about 25% of employees believe that moral conditions are ignored in their organization and only 17% of them indicate that their organization encourages immoral values in the employees for achieving organizational goals. Organizational morality, which is a common believe in the employees, is resulted from moral policies and procedures in the organizations. It also is considered as a psychological concept. Morality is important for organizations, as it affects employees’ moral behaviors. Indeed, organizational morality refers to perception of right or wrong in the organization. It also provides employees with norms for accepting or rejecting organizational behaviors (Rahimnian and Nikkhah Farahani, 2013: 36). In the current conditions, destructive and inhumane behaviors of employees in the workplaces are the main challenges of most organizations. Such behaviors and activities have considerable costs for organizations. Based on the results of past studies, destructive behaviors of employees root in their moral and religious beliefs. Lack of spirituality is one the main reasons of such behaviors in the workplaces. Erikson (2010) refers to the immorality and lack of moral criteria in the organizations as the main reasons of destructive behaviors. Social abrasion is one of the main destructive behaviors in the organizations that calls the attention of scholars to itself. Social abrasion refers to the degree in which an employee is accepted or rejected by his/her colleagues. Social abrasion may lead to emergence of destructive behaviors in the organization such as hostility, subversion, non-constructive criticism, insulting others, creating an obstacle in achieving organizational goals, and destroying others’ reputations. In such a condition, an unhealthy workplace will be created. Given the destructive effects of social abrasion in organizations and its antecedents (such as immorality in workplace), the present study aims to investigate the effect of morality in workplace on the social abrasion through mediating role of organizational morality in Isfahan Social Security Organization. For this purpose, the following hypotheses were developed. H1: spirituality in workplace affects social abrasion significantly. H2: spirituality in workplace affects organizational morality significantly. H3: organizational morality affects social abrasion significantly. H4: spirituality in workplace significantly affects social abrasion through organizational morality.  Materials and methods The present study aims to investigate the effect of spirituality in workplace on the social abrasion through mediating role of organizational morality. This study is a practical research from goal perspective and is a descriptive-quantitative one from research methodology view. The statistical population of this study includes 270 employees of Isfahan Social Security Organization. A sample of 195 employees was selected randomly. The sample size was determined through Morgan Sampling Table. In order to collect the research data, three questionnaires were used. These include standardized questionnaire of spirituality in workplace (Milimin et al., 2003), questionnaire of social abrasion (Daffy et al., 2002), and questionnaire of organizational morality (Viktor and Kolten, 1993). In order to measure validity of questionnaire, both face and construct validities were used. Also Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was used for measuring and confirming reliability of questionnaire. The coefficients were 0.94, 0.88, and 0.96 for questionnaires of spirituality in workplace, social abrasion, and organizational morality respectively. The coefficients confirm reliability of questionnaire. In order to analyze the research data and test the hypotheses, Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test and Structural Equating Modeling were used in the SPSS21 and AMOSS21 respectively. Discussion of results and conclusion Our findings revealed that spirituality in workplace (average: 3.142) has the most score and social abrasion (average: 2.354) has the least score in the studied case. The results of Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test tell us that there is a significant relationship between spirituality in workplace and organizational morality (r: 0.724); there is a significant negative relationship between spirituality in workplace and social abrasion (r: -0.414); there is a significant negative relationship between social abrasion and organizational morality (r: -0.312). In order to test the hypotheses, both “P” and “CR” should be investigated. If the CR is more than 1.96, the hypothesis will supported and vice versa. Based on the results, spirituality in workplace affects social abrasion significantly (path coefficient: -0.45); organizational spirituality affects social abrasion (path coefficient: -0.35); spirituality in workplace affects organizational morality (path coefficient: 0.78). The results of the fourth hypothesis showed that the hypothesis is supported (path coefficient: -0.27). In other words, spirituality in workplace significantly affects social abrasion through organizational morality. Since the effect of spirituality in workplace on the social abrasion through organizational morality (path coefficient: -0.27) is more than the effect of spirituality in workplace on the social abrasion (path coefficient: -0.45), it can be concluded that the mediating role of organizational spirituality in the relationship between spirituality in workplace and social abrasion is significant. Based on the results of this study, the following suggestion are developed for managers and administrators of Isfahan Social Security Organization: Promoting organizational culture based on the spirituality principles Developing and improving spirituality in workplace based on the Islamic-Iranian principles  Developing the Islamic spirituality virtual such as religious ceremonies at organization level  Establishing moral principles according to organizational culture Encouraging managers for implementing the established moral principles  Using social capitals in improving morality in the organization Implementing workshops in terms of interpersonal communications Expanding justice at organization level