A novel method for recovery of acidic sludge of used-motor oil reprocessing industries to bitumen using bentonite and SBS

ABSTRACT Acidic sludge is a by-product from used motor oil reprocessing industries, which thousand tons of this sludge are disposed into the environment as a hazardous waste material daily. The acidic sludge contains unsaturated compounds that are polar and asphaltene. The bitumen under certain conditions is produced from mixing of bentonite, polymer styrene – butadiene – styrene (SBS), and acidic sludge. Context and purpose: The objective of this study was the recovery of acidic sludge to bitumen using additives such as bentonite and SBS. Also, the effect of additives with different weight percentages (wt%(on the performance parameters of bitumen was evaluated. At first, spilled oil was separated from the acidic sludge by a centrifugal concentrator. Then, concentrated acidic sludge and additives were mixed in together. Finally, the performance tests were carried out to compare the quality of acidic sludge with the obtained products.The results indicated that performance parameters such as softening point (SP), weight loss, penetration degree, PI, Frass breaking point, and temperature susceptibility (TS) were promoted from 37°C, 1.3%, 230 dmm, -0.07854, -5°C and 0.0451 to 54°C, 1%, 130 dmm, 2.7094, -11°C , 0.02721, respectively. According to the paired sample t-test analysis, a significant difference was found between the bentonite dosage and the improved performance parameters from concentrated acidic sludge and obtained products (pvalue ≤.001). The bentonite and SBS with 2 and 4 wt%, respectively were determined as the suitable additives in the recovery of acidic sludge to bitumen

Feasibility study of recycling and converting acidic sludge to bitumen in used motor oil refining industries

Background and Aims: Thousand tons of acidic sludge is produced daily as by-product in the used motor oil refining industries. The acidic sludge contains unsaturated compounds which are non-polar and asphaltene. The objective of this study was performance improvement of acidic sludge by using the additives (bentonite, polymer SBS, sodium hydroxide and the lime) so that recovery to bitumen.Materials and Methods: The polymer styrene - butadiene - styrene (SBS) is bitumen modifier as one of the elastomer - thermoplastic with weight percentages (2 to 4 percent), bentonite due to the chemical structure as fillers, stabilizers and agent concentration with weight percentages (1,2,4,6,8,10) and lime and sodium hydroxide were used to decreasing acidity rate of acidic sludge and promoting the role of bentonite stability in bitumen with ratios equal (1 to 5 g) were mixed with acidic sludge of industry (samples 50 g) and their effect on the acidic sludge was investigated.Results: Evaluation of studies indicated that because of increasing acidic sludge softening point, temperature from 25 to 48 oC , decrease weight loss from 3% to 1.25, promoting the penetration degree to 230 mm, Frass breaking point to -7 and penetration index (PI) to the degree standard set (+1), the acidic sludge properties and performance were modified. The measurement of last three parameters was unavailable in primary sludge.Conclusion: Environmental and health hazards of acidic sludge will be decreases by treatment and neutralization. Also obtained products can be used in the building and road construction according to its specific bitumen criteria and characteristics.Key words: Recovery - Acidic sludge - Used motor oi

A survey of near-data processing architectures for neural networks

Data-intensive workloads and applications, such as machine learning (ML), are fundamentally limited by traditional computing systems based on the von-Neumann architecture. As data movement operations and energy consumption become key bottlenecks in the design of computing systems, the interest in unconventional approaches such as Near-Data Processing (NDP), machine learning, and especially neural network (NN)-based accelerators has grown significantly. Emerging memory technologies, such as ReRAM and 3D-stacked, are promising for efficiently architecting NDP-based accelerators for NN due to their capabilities to work as both high-density/low-energy storage and in/near-memory computation/search engine. In this paper, we present a survey of techniques for designing NDP architectures for NN. By classifying the techniques based on the memory technology employed, we underscore their similarities and differences. Finally, we discuss open challenges and future perspectives that need to be explored in order to improve and extend the adoption of NDP architectures for future computing platforms. This paper will be valuable for computer architects, chip designers, and researchers in the area of machine learning.This work has been supported by the CoCoUnit ERC Advanced Grant of the EU’s Horizon 2020 program (grant No 833057), the Spanish State Research Agency (MCIN/AEI) under grant PID2020-113172RB-I00, and the ICREA Academia program.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Trabectome Surgery Combined with Baerveldt Glaucoma Implantation Negates Tube Fenestration

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and survival rates of the same session ab interno trabeculectomy with trabectome and Baerveldt glaucoma implant (BT) compared to Baerveldt implant alone (B). Method: A total of 175 eyes undergoing primary glaucoma surgery were enrolled in this retrospective comparative case series, including 60 eyes which underwent BT and 115 eyes which received B alone. Participants were identified using the procedural terminology codes, and their medical records were reviewed. The primary outcome measure was surgical success defined as 5 mmHg > IOP ≤ 21 mmHg and IOP reduction ≥ 20% from baseline, no reoperation for glaucoma, and no loss of light perception vision. Secondary outcome measures were intraocular pressure, the number of glaucoma medications, and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: The cumulative probability of success at 1 year was 61% in BT, and 50% in B. IOP decreased significantly from 23.6±8.9 mmHg at baseline to 13.7±3.9 mmHg at the final follow up in BT (P= 0.001). The corresponding numbers for B were 23.3±7.5 and 14.2±4.5, respectively (P= 0.001). There was no significant difference in IOP at the final follow-up (P=0.56). The number of medications at baseline was comparable in both groups (2.1±1.1 in BT versus 2.4±1 in B, p=0.07). However, BT needed statistically significant fewer drops in all postoperative time intervals and used 0.9±0.9 (BT) and 1.6±1.2 eyedrops (B) at the final follow-up visit (P= 0.004). No dangerous hypertony or hypertension occurred in BT. Conclusion: Similar rates of success and IOP reduction were observed in BT and B. Eyes who underwent trabectome surgery needed significantly fewer glaucoma medications during 1-year follow-up period while tubes did not require fenestration resulting in fewer postoperative hypotony or hypertension

Combining Baerveldt Implant with Trabectome Negates Tube Fenestration: A Coarsened-matched Comparison

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and survival rate of the Trabectome-mediated ab interno trabeculectomy combined with non-fenestrated Baerveldt glaucoma implant compared with the Baerveldt glaucoma implant alone. Method: In this retrospective comparative case series, 175 eyes undergoing primary glaucoma surgery (Baerveldt–Trabectome [BT] group: 60 eyes and Baerveldt [B] group: 115 eyes) were included. Participants were identified using the procedural terminology codes. Groups were then matched by Coarsened Exact Matching that resulted in the inclusion of 51 eyes in each group. The primary outcome measure was surgical success defined as 5 mmHg < intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg, and IOP reduction ≥ 20% from baseline, and no need to reoperation for glaucoma. Secondary outcome measures were IOP, number of glaucoma medications, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: The cumulative probability of success at one year was 61% in the BT group and 50% in the B group. IOP decreased from 23.5 ± 2.4 mmHg at baseline to 14.1 ± 2.7 mmHg at the final follow-up in the BT group (P = 0.001). The corresponding values for the B group were 23.2 ± 2.0 mmHg and 13.9 ± 1.6 mmHg, respectively (P = 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of IOP at the final follow-up (P = 0.56). The number of medications at baseline was 2.3 ± 0.3 in both groups. However, the BT group needed fewer drops at all postoperative time intervals and used 1.1 ± 0.3 versus 2.0 ± 0.4 eye drops (group B) at the final follow-up visit (P = 0.004). Eyes in B with phacoemulsification had a significantly higher IOP on day 1 compared to B (23.2 ± 14.3 versus 17.9 ± 11.4, P = 0.041). During the one-year follow-up, 7 (13.7%) patients in BT group and 18 (35.2%) in B group experienced hypotony (P = 0.04). No dangerous hypotony or hypertension occurred in BT group. The mean BCVA at baseline was 0.64 ± 0.85 logMAR and changed to 0.55 ± 0.75 logMAR in BT and B groups, respectively (P = 0.663). The corresponding numbers for the final follow-up visit was 0.72 ± 1.07 and 0.63 ± 0.97 logMAR, respectively (P = 0.668). Conclusion: We observed similar rates of success and IOP reduction using BT and B techniques. BT group needed fewer glaucoma medications. Tube fenestration was unnecessary in BT group resulting in less postoperative ocular hypotony and hypertension. The results of our study indicate that additional trabectome procedure makes Baerveldt glaucoma implant safer, easier to handle, and more predictable in the most vulnerable patients with advanced glaucoma

The Angiogenic Paracrine Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Tissue engineering and regenerative medicine are branches of biomedical sciences that facilitate the use of cells and biocompatible scaffolds in favor of tissue restoration. In this regard, restoration and maintenance of angiogenesis and blood supplementation could be an effective strategy for injured tissue removal, accelerating healing rate, and successful transplantation of cells and scaffolds into target sites. It has been elucidated that mesenchymal stem cells have the potency to promote angiogenesis via paracrine activity and trans-differentiation into the endothelial lineage. In this chapter, we highlighted the paracrine property of mesenchymal stem cells to modulate angiogenesis in the target tissues

Antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts of Mentha longifolia L. and hydroalcoholic extract of Zataria multiflora Boiss. plants against important human pathogens

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the potential antibacterial activity of ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts from Mentha longifolia L. (M. longifolia) and hydroalcoholic extract of Zataria multiflora Boiss. (Z. multiflora) against important human pathogens.MethodsPseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumonia), Enterobacter cloacae, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Staphylococcus aureus were kinds of pathogenic bacteria to determine the antibacterial effect of aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of M. longifolia and hydroalcoholic extract of Z. multiflora using broth microdiluation method.ResultsThe lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for K. pneumonia and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.25 and 2.5 mg/mL) were observed by the hydroalcoholic extract of Z. multiflora and the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values for K. pneumonia and Serratia marcescens (2.5 and 5 mg/mL) were observed by the aqueous extracts of M. longifolia.ConclusionsIn conclusion, it seems that Z. multiflora and M. longifolia extracts could inhibit the growth of all of the mentioned bacteria

Amalgam Surface Treatment by Different Output Powers of Er:YAG Laser:SEM Evaluation

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate amalgam surfaces treated by different output powers of erbium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Er:YAG) laser by scanning electron microscope (SEM).Methods: Twenty-one amalgam blocks (8 mm × 8 mm, 3 mm thickness) were prepared by condensing silver amalgam (into putty impression material. After keeping them for 24 hours in distilled water, they were divided into 7 groups as follow: G1: Er:YAG laser (1 W, 50 mJ), G2: Er:YAG laser (2 W, 100 mJ), G3: Er:YAG laser (3 W, 150 mJ), G4: Sandblast, G5: Sandblast + Er:YAG laser (1 W, 50 mJ), G6: Sandblast +Er:YAG laser (2 W, 100 mJ) and G7: Sandblast +Er:YAG laser (3 W, 150 mJ). Then after preparation of all samples, they were examined by SEM.Results: The SEM results of amalgam surfaces treated by different output powers of Er:YAG laser showed some pitting areas with non-homogenous irregularitiesConclusion: It seems that the application of sandblasting accompanied by Er:YAG laser irradiation can provide proper surface for bonding of orthodontic brackets

Population density and spatial distribution pattern of Hypera postica (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Ardabil, Iran

The alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal), feeds almost exclusively on alfalfa, Medicago saliva L. in most region of the world where forage crop is grown. It has been investigated the population density and spatial distribution of alfalfa weevil on alfalfa in Ardabil during 2010. Using a 0.25 m(2) quadrate sample unit a reliable sample size was 65, with maximum relative variation of 15%. The relative variation (RV) of the primary sampling data was 13.6. The highest population density of the alfalfa weevil was recorded on 17(th) April. To estimate the spatial distribution pattern of this pest, data were analyzed through index of dispersion. Lloyd's mean crowding. Morisita's index and two regression models (Taylor's Power Law and Iwao's Patchiness Regression). Taylor's model showed an aggregated distribution pattern for all life stages. Iwao's patchiness regression indicated that larvae, adult and total life cycle had aggregated spatial distribution (t(c

CD34 positive cells as endothelial progenitor cells in biology and medicine

CD34 is a cell surface antigen expressed in numerous stem/progenitor cells including hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which are known to be rich sources of EPCs. Therefore, regenerative therapy using CD34+ cells has attracted interest for application in patients with various vascular, ischemic, and inflammatory diseases. CD34+ cells have recently been reported to improve therapeutic angiogenesis in a variety of diseases. Mechanistically, CD34+ cells are involved in both direct incorporation into the expanding vasculature and paracrine activity through angiogenesis, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-apoptosis/fibrosis roles, which support the developing microvasculature. Preclinical, pilot, and clinical trials have well documented a track record of safety, practicality, and validity of CD34+ cell therapy in various diseases. However, the clinical application of CD34+ cell therapy has triggered scientific debates and controversies in last decade. This review covers all preexisting scientific literature and prepares an overview of the comprehensive biology of CD34+ cells as well as the preclinical/clinical details of CD34+ cell therapy for regenerative medicine