Insights into the Impacts of Synthesis Parameters on Lignin-based Activated Carbon and Its Application for: Methylene Blue Adsorption

In the current research, lignin was successfully extracted from industrial waste Kraft black liquor using the acid precipitation method. In the following step, powdered carbon was synthesized through the H3PO4-chemical activation method. The effects of synthesis parameters, including activation temperature (T) within the range of 400-600 ⁰C and two H3PO4/Lignin mass ratios (R) of 2 and 3 on activated carbon (AC) structure, were investigated. The physical and morphological properties of the ACs were obtained through BET, SEM, and FTIR analyses. The potential application of ACs was studied by measuring their adsorption capacity in the adsorption process of Methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution. The sensitized AC at R=2, and T= 500 ⁰C (AC-2-500) showed the highest specific surface area (1573.31 m2/g) and the pore volume (0.89 cm3/g), as well as the highest adsorption capacity of MB. This adsorbent was applied in the equilibrium adsorption experiments and kinetic description. The results from kinetic experiments and adsorption isotherms indicated that the pseudo-first-order model and Langmuir model were in correspondence with the experimental data most. The maximum adsorption capacity was 188 mg/g. The study proved there is a high potential for the conversion of black liquor to greatly porous Lignin-based adsorbents. Moreover, the considerable maximum adsorption capacity suggested a significant potential of Lignin-based AC for wastewater treatment

Design and Implementation of Iranian Digital Object Recognizer (DOR) Phase 1: Persian Articles

The Digital Object Recognizer (DOR) is a system for identifying Persian digital objects on the web. DOR is a unique alphanumeric string assigned by Regional Information Center for Science and Technology (RICeST) to any entity to identify content and provide a persistent link to its location on the Internet digital networks. The paper describes the construction and functions of the DOR system for Persian articles and then introduces and outlines the underlying architecture regarding DOR system. The study concluded that using DOR will enable Iranian journal publishers assign it to both print and electronic journal articles; finally enumerated the benefits of DOI for stakeholders in the scholarly communication process. DOR: 98.1000/2142-1735.2017.15.135.0.2.68.11

Study of intestinal microbial flora of local chickens to investigate the effect of probiotics Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus coagulans on the expression of ctxM and luxS pathogenic genes in isolates of Escherichia coli

Background and objective: Antibiotics are widely used worldwide. However, due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in a wide range of microorganisms, their use worldwide has failed. Probiotics are suggested as complementary and alternative medicine. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics isolated from local chickens on the expression of luxS and ctxM genes in resistant Escherichia coli. Materials and methods: 300 fecal samples were taken from patients referring to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran during May–September 2016 and Escherichia coli samples were isolated using specific culture media and biochemical tests and then the presence of luxS and ctxM genes were identified using PCR with specific primers. In order to extract the probiotics forming spores, the intestinal contents of 10 poultry that had not used any antibiotics and probiotics were cultured, isolated, and identified using biochemical and PCR methods. Commercial strains of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus coagulans were purchased to compare their effects with native bacteria. These strains were then co-cultured with resistant Escherichia coli strains containing ctxM and luxS genes. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the effect of these probiotics on gene expression Results: The results indicated that 40 isolates (7.5%) of Escherichia coli were obtained from the 300 fecal samples. Thirteen samples (32.5%) were outpatients and 27 (67.5%) were inpatients. All isolates were isolated from men and women aged 21–62. Four Escherichia coli strains were isolated from patients carrying ctxM and luxS genes. Isolation of Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis from samples was confirmed by biochemical and molecular experiments. The commercial and native strains of Bacillus coagulans reduced the expression of the luxS and ctxM genes by 3.60, 3.30, 1.58, and 2.70 times respectively. Also, the commercial and native strains of Bacillus subtilis decreased the expression of the luxS and ctxM genes by 1.37, 1.10, 2.20, and 2.80 times respectively. The results of statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the presence of native and commercial probiotics in culture and reduced expression of ctxM and luxS genes. Conclusion: According to the results, supplements of Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis increase the effect of antibiotics resistance in Escherichia coli by reducing the expression of resistance genes

Study of intestinal microbial flora of local chickens to investigate the effect of probiotics Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus coagulans on the expression of ctxM and luxS pathogenic genes in isolates of Escherichia coli

Background and objective: Antibiotics are widely used worldwide. However, due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in a wide range of microorganisms, their use worldwide has failed. Probiotics are suggested as complementary and alternative medicine. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of probiotics isolated from local chickens on the expression of luxS and ctxM genes in resistant Escherichia coli. Materials and methods: 300 fecal samples were taken from patients referring to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran during May–September 2016 and Escherichia coli samples were isolated using specific culture media and biochemical tests and then the presence of luxS and ctxM genes were identified using PCR with specific primers. In order to extract the probiotics forming spores, the intestinal contents of 10 poultry that had not used any antibiotics and probiotics were cultured, isolated, and identified using biochemical and PCR methods. Commercial strains of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus coagulans were purchased to compare their effects with native bacteria. These strains were then co-cultured with resistant Escherichia coli strains containing ctxM and luxS genes. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate the effect of these probiotics on gene expression Results: The results indicated that 40 isolates (7.5%) of Escherichia coli were obtained from the 300 fecal samples. Thirteen samples (32.5%) were outpatients and 27 (67.5%) were inpatients. All isolates were isolated from men and women aged 21–62. Four Escherichia coli strains were isolated from patients carrying ctxM and luxS genes. Isolation of Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis from samples was confirmed by biochemical and molecular experiments. The commercial and native strains of Bacillus coagulans reduced the expression of the luxS and ctxM genes by 3.60, 3.30, 1.58, and 2.70 times respectively. Also, the commercial and native strains of Bacillus subtilis decreased the expression of the luxS and ctxM genes by 1.37, 1.10, 2.20, and 2.80 times respectively. The results of statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between the presence of native and commercial probiotics in culture and reduced expression of ctxM and luxS genes. Conclusion: According to the results, supplements of Bacillus coagulans and Bacillus subtilis increase the effect of antibiotics resistance in Escherichia coli by reducing the expression of resistance genes

Efficacy and safety of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the treatment of pemphigus: A comprehensive literature review and future perspective

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a protein involved in B-cell-receptor signaling and B-cell proliferation. The pathophysiology of several autoimmune diseases, such as pemphigus disorder, relies on the BTK signaling pathway. Therefore, BTK inhibitors were found to be beneficial alternatives to conventional treatmentsThe current study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of BTK inhibitors in treating pemphigus. A complete search was performed on databases including PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, as well as Google Scholar search engine for studies published by September 20th, 2023. The current review indicates that BTK inhibitors alone or in combination with conventional treatments are promising options in the management of pemphigus. The overall safety profile of BTK inhibitors has been acceptable, and the reported adverse reactions were not severe or life-threatening

Predictors of Genetic Testing Decisions: A Systematic Review and Critique of the Literature

Abstract Genetic testing is increasingly available in medical settings and direct-to-consumer. However, the large and growing literature on genetic testing decisions is rife with conflicting findings, inconsistent methodology, and uneven attention across test types and across predictors of genetic testing decisions. Existing reviews of the literature draw broad conclusions but sacrifice nuanced analysis that with a closer look reveals far more inconsistency than homogeny across studies. The goals of this paper are to provide a systematic review of the empirical work on predictors of genetic testing decisions, highlight areas of consistency and inconsistency, and suggest productive directions for future research. We included all studies that provided quantitative analysis of subjective (e.g., perceived risk, perceived benefits of testing) and/or objective (e.g., family history, sociodemographic variables) predictors of genetic testing interest, intentions, or uptake, which produced a sample of 115 studies. From this review, we conclude that self-reported and test-related (as opposed to disorderrelated or objective) predictors are relatively consistent across studies but that theoretically-driven efforts to examine testing interest across test types are sorely needed