LEUCINE : AN EFFICIENT AND GREEN AMINO ACID CATALYST FOR CONVERSION OF ALDEHYDES AND KETONES INTO GEM-DIHYDROPEROXIDES WITH H2O2

Leucine amino acid, has been explored as an effective catalyst for conversion of ketones and aldehydes into corresponding gem-dihydroperoxides using 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide in acetonitrile at room temperature. The reactions proceed smoothly within short periods of time to provide the respective gem-dihydroperoxides in excellent yields. Mild reaction conditions, low reaction times, high yields, low environmental impact, use of non-expensive, recyclable and green catalyst are the main merits of the present method

Measuring Iran’s success in achieving Millennium Development Goal 4: a systematic analysis of under-5 mortality at national and subnational levels from 1990 to 2015

Background Child mortality as one of the key Millennium Development Goals (MDG 4—to reduce child mortality by two-thirds from 1990 to 2015), is included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3, target 2—to reduce child mortality to fewer than 25 deaths per 1000 livebirths for all countries by 2030), and is a key indicator of the health system in every country. In this study, we aimed to estimate the level and trend of child mortality from 1990 to 2015 in Iran, to assess the progress of the country and its provinces toward these goals. Methods We used three different data sources: three censuses, a Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), and 5-year data from the death registration system. We used the summary birth history data from four data sources (the three censuses and DHS) and used maternal age cohort and maternal age period methods to estimate the trends in child mortality rates, combining the estimates of these two indirect methods using Loess regression. We also used the complete birth history method to estimate child mortality rate directly from DHS data. Finally, to synthesise different trends into a single trend and calculate uncertainty intervals (UI), we used Gaussian process regression. Findings Under-5 mortality rates (deaths per 1000 livebirths) at the national level in Iran in 1990, 2000, 2010, and 2015 were 63·6 (95% UI 63·1–64·0), 38·8 (38·5–39·2), 24·9 (24·3–25·4), and 19·4 (18·6–20·2), respectively. Between 1990 and 2015, the median annual reduction and total overall reduction in these rates were 4·9% and 70%, respectively. At the provincial level, the difference between the highest and lowest child mortality rates in 1990, 2000, and 2015 were 65·6, 40·4, and 38·1 per 1000 livebirths, respectively. Based on the MDG 4 goal, five provinces had not decreased child mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Furthermore, six provinces had not reached SDG 3 (target 2). Interpretation Iran and most of its provinces achieved MDG 4 and SDG 3 (target 2) goals by 2015. However, at the subnational level in some provinces, there is substantial inequity. Local policy makers should use effective strategies to accelerate the reduction of child mortality for these provinces by 2030. Possible recommendations for such strategies include enhancing the level of education and health literacy among women, tackling sex discrimination, and improving incomes for families

A computer-aided methodology for the optimization of electrostatic separation processes in recycling

The rapid growth of technological products has led to an increasing volume of waste electrical and electronic equipments (WEEE), which could represent a valuable source of critical raw materials. However, current mechanical separation processes for recycling are typically poorly operated, making it impossible to modify the process parameters as a function of the materials under treatment, thus resulting in untapped separation potentials. Corona electrostatic separation (CES) is one of the most popular processes for separating fine metal and nonmetal particles derived from WEEE. In order to optimize the process operating conditions (i.e., variables) for a given multi-material mixture under treatment, several technological and economical criteria should be jointly considered. This translates into a complex optimization problem that can be hardly solved by a purely experimental approach. As a result, practitioners tend to assign process parameters by few experiments based on a small material sample and to keep these parameters fixed during the process life-cycle. The use of computer experiments for parameter optimization is a mostly unexplored area in this field. In this work, a computer-aided approach is proposed to the problem of optimizing the operational parameters in CES processes. Three metamodels, developed starting from a multi-body simulation model of the process physics, are presented and compared by means of a numerical and simulation study. Our approach proves to be an effective framework to optimize the CES process performance. Furthermore, by comparing the predicted response surfaces of the metamodels, additional insight into the process behavior over the operating region is obtained

Static and Dynamic Lung Volumes in Swimmers and Their Ventilatory Response to Maximal Exercise

Purpose While the static and dynamic lung volumes of active swimmers is often greater than the predicted volume of similarly active non-swimmers, little is known if their ventilatory response to exercise is also different. Methods Three groups of anthropometrically matched male adults were recruited, daily active swimmers (n = 15), daily active in fields sport (Rugby and Football) (n = 15), and recreationally active (n = 15). Forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) was measured before and after exercise to volitional exhaustion. Results Swimmers had significantly larger FVC (6.2 ± 0.6 l, 109 ± 9% pred) than the other groups (5.6 ± 0.5 l, 106 ± 13% pred, 5.5 ± 0.8, 99% pred, the sportsmen and recreational groups, respectively). FEV1 and MVV were not different. While at peak exercise, all groups reached their ventilatory reserve (around 20%), the swimmers had a greater minute ventilation rate than the recreational group (146 ± 19 vs 120 ± 87 l/min), delivering this volume by breathing deeper and slower. Conclusions The swimmers utilised their larger static volumes (FVC) differently during exercise by meeting their ventilation volume through long and deep breaths

narrating traditional iranian carpet merchants

Iranian carpet merchants developed a collective identitary narrative to enhance their capital creation in the social field of the German market, the field of Iranian foreign trade, and transnational bazari networks. This chapter goes beyond the practicalities of juggling resources across social fields: it explains the motivation behind this agency. Building on David Graeber's anthropology of value, as well as on studies about identity marketing and ethnic entrepreneurship, I show how the merchants' resources were evaluated between the 1950s and today to explain by which systems of value these social fields were shaped. From the confrontation between changing systems of value emerges Iranian carpet merchants' potential to increase the efficiency of their capital creation by—collectively—trying to redefine the meaning of their resources

The behavior of the composite multi-layer cylindrical shells subjected to blast load

Today, with the increasing damages of explosion, it is of great significance to assess the performance of structures against such damages that established by explosive load. Accidental explosions exert great and intense dynamic forces to surrounding structures. Recently, composite shells have been used in structures to protect them against explosion which is due to its high resistance to volume ratio, flexibility and resistance to shock forces. Thus, it is essential to assess how structures protected by such materials behave against these forces. In this paper, we have used Abaqus software to analyze data pertaining the behavior of composite shells against explosive loads. We assessed the various parameters affecting the behavior of CRFP and E-Glass Epoxy and how they were affected by explosive load. Some of the parameters assessed include loading, curving rate, number of layers and size of interior angle. In practice, it is necessary to include openings in the composite shell, thus it is important to evaluate the effect of these openings on the behavior of the composite shell. The survey showed that use of the opening has fallen down shift. The reason for this phenomenon is reduction of area that effected by explosive load in composite shel

Prostate Cancer Screening Behaviors and the Related Beliefs among 50- to 70-year-old Men in Hamadan: Appraisal of Threats and Coping

Background and Objective: Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in men, and prostate cancer screening behaviors play an important role in reducing the incidence of this disease. Thus, we performed this study to investigate beliefs related to prostate cancer screening behaviors among men visiting retirement communities in Hamadan, Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 403 men visiting retirement communities was performed in Hamadan, west of Iran, in 2016. The participants were selected using the multistage random sampling method. The data collection tool consisted of items on demographic characteristics and the protection motivation theory constructs. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation coefficient in SPSS, version 16. Results: The mean age of the participants was 60.2±5.74 years. According to the findings, the frequency rates of performing prostate-specific antigen and digital rectal examinations were respectively 21.6% and 5.7%, showing an inappropriate condition. In addition, the level of perceived susceptibility to prostate cancer was at a low level (44.91%), but the levels of perceived response and reward efficacy were 77.88% and 75.9%, signifying a relatively desirable level. Conclusion: Based on our results, the levels of perceived susceptibility, perceived reward, fear, and perceived self-efficacy were undesirable. Thus, considering these findings in planning educational interventions seems to be necessary