Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation of 2, 4-dinitrophenol in aqueous solution by magnetic carbonaceous nanocomposite: catalytic activity and mechanism

Herein, the catalytic properties of a carbonaceous nanocomposite in the catalytic ozonation process (COP) of 2, 4-dinitrophenol (2, 4-DNP) were investigated and the results were compared with those obtained from single ozonation process (SOP). Magnetic carbonaceous nanocomposite, as a novel catalyst, was applied to optimize the condition for the removal of 2, 4-DNP in the COP, and the influential parameters such as pH, catalyst dosage, addition of radical scavengers, and durability were all evaluated. The results showed that the degradation efficiency of 2, 4-DNP and COD in the COP (98.2, 92) was higher compared to the SOP (75, 61) and the highest catalytic potential was achieved at an optimal pH of 6. The first-order modeling demonstrated that the reactions were dependent on the concentration of the catalyst, with the kinetic constants varying from 0.022 (1/min) in the SOP to 1.377 (1/min) in the COP at the catalyst dosage of 4 g/L and the optimum concentration of catalyst (2 g/L). The addition of radical scavenger noticeably diminished the removal efficiency of 2, 4-DNP in the SOP from 75 down to 54, while the corresponding values for the COP dropped from 98.2 to 93. Furthermore, a negligible reduction in the catalytic properties of the catalyst was observed (~5) after five-time reuse. The results also revealed that the applied method is effectively suitable for the removal of 2, 4-DNP contaminant from industrial wastewaters. © 2015 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved

Managing Inventory on Blood Supply Chain

There is unbalance the amount of blood demand and the availability of blood for each component at Blood Transfusion Unit in Indonesia. As the result, this component run into inventory shortage so management need to maintain the strategy of blood supply chain for the patients. Purpose of this is to manage inventory on the blood component of Packed Red Cells which it to be the highest blood component requirement for patient in this case study. Managing inventory is done through several stages including forecasting method, safety stock, and re-order point. Finding of this study was obtained that exponential smoothing (α = 0.95) to be the best forecasting method. Then, to manage inventory, this agency need to prepared 34 blood bags for safety stock and 76 blood bags for re-order point. This results able to give recommendation to the Blood Transfusion Unit at Indonesia regarding with the number of blood component provided and how much re-order to be made at the time of reaching the lead time. Further study is suggested to conduct simulation method in order to evaluate policy in managing blood inventory and prepare scenario for optimizing inventory level. Keywords Blood ·Blood transfusion unit, Production Re-order point, Inventory · Safety stock, Supply cha

Population genetics of sexual conflict in the genomic era

Sexual conflict occurs when selection acts in opposing directions on males and females. Case studies in both vertebrates and invertebrates indicate that sexual conflict maintains genetic diversity through balancing selection, which might explain why many populations show more genetic variation than expected. Recent population genomic approaches based on different measures of balancing selection have suggested that sexual conflict can arise over survival, not just reproductive fitness as previously thought. A fuller understanding of sexual conflict will provide insight into its contribution to adaptive evolution and will reveal the constraints it might impose on populations

Degradation of metronidazole in aqueous solution by nano-ZnO/UV photocatalytic process

In this study, the effects of some operational factors, such as pH value, nano-ZnO loading, UV-A irradiation time, and power of radiation on the degradation efficiency of metronidazole (MNZ) in aqueous solution were discussed through photocatalytic experiments using nano-ZnO as the photocatalyst. Results show that removal of metronidazole (MNZ) and COD has a direct correlation with power of UV-A lamp and irradiation time. MNZ solution (80 mg L⁻¹) was rapidly removed by the irradiation of UV lamp OSRAM 125 W high pressure within 180 min. In nano-ZnO/UV photocatalysis reactor, irradiation time and power of UV lamp have a great effect on metronidazole degradation. Statistical analysis (One-way ANOVA) has shown that the pH (in acedic and basic condition) and variation of nano-ZnO concentration has no significant effects on MNZ removal, COD, and BOD5/COD ratio. But the maximum degradation of MNZ occurred at pH 10 and 1.5 gL⁻¹ nano-ZnO. Maximum degradation of MNZ and COD was 96.55 and 95.42%, respectively. In addition, biodegradability improved from ∼0 to 0.091 within 180 min. © 2013 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved

Fetal RHD Genotyping from Circulating Cell-Free Fetal DNA in Plasma of Rh Negative Pregnant Women in Iran

The prenatal determination of the fetal Rh genotype could lead to a substantial reduction in the use of anti-D immunoglobulin and prevention of unnecessary exposure of pregnant women carrying RhD negative fetus. The aim of this study was fetal RHD genotyping through the analysis of cffDNA in plasma samples of RhD negative pregnant women by real-time PCR technique. In this experiment, 30 plasma samples were collected from RhD negative pregnant women. DNA were extracted and real-time PCR reactions were done by specific primers for RHD, SRY and beta-globin (GLO) genes. The Rh phenotypes of mothers and their babies were determined by agglutination method and specific anti-serums. From the 30 maternal plasma samples considered for SRY genotyping, 16 samples revealed the presence of the SRY gene. Regarding the fetal RHD genotyping, 26 samples were positive for RhD and 4 samples were negative. In all cases, the predicted RhD and SRY genotypes were in concordance with the serologically determined phenotypes. The sensitivity, specificity and precision of the fetal RHD and SRY genotyping test were calculated 100 (p value <0.0005; K = 100 ). The present study confirms the precision of fetal RHD and SRY genotyping in maternal plasma by real-time PCR technique. This method helps RhD negative pregnant women about the appropriate use of anti-D immunoglobulin and also on the management and prevention of HDFN. However, superior and confirmatory studies are recommended before fetal RHD genotyping by real-time PCR is introduced as a non-invasive prenatal screening test. © 2015, Indian Society of Haematology & Transfusion Medicine

Performance of copper oxide/distilled water nanofluid in evacuated tube solar collector (ETSC) water heater with internal coil under thermosyphon system circulations

In this study, the effect of CuO/distilled water nanofluid on the performance of evacuated tube solar collector (ETSC) water heater with internal coil under thermosyphon system circulations was experimentally investigated. The volume fraction of nanoparticles was considered at 0.03–0.06%. The mass flow rate of water passing through the coil was varied from 20 to 60 L/h. ASHRAE standard 86–93 was considered to calculate the efficiency of the collector. From the study, we found that the efficiency of ETSC increase when the nanofluid was used as an absorption medium. CuO nanofluids at 0.03% volume fraction in ETSC gave enhancement up to 14%, when compared to water