Effect of preparation temperature and ions doping on size, morphology and catalytic activity of Co-B amorphous nano catalyst

Binary and quaternary amorphous nano powders are prepared by wet reduction method. Cobalt boride nano catalyst is synthesized at 10 and 60 ºC. Effect of preparation temperature on size and morphology was studied. Co-M-Zr-B (M: Cr, Mo and W) as quaternary catalysts are also prepared in order to studying ions doping on chemical and physical properties. Indeed, the obtained materials are characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, BET and ICP techniques. No distinct peak could be observed in XRD patterns indicating that the all catalysts possessed amorphous. The catalytic activity of the synthesized catalysts is investigated for the reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of excess NaBH4 in aqueous medium at room temperature (298 K). It is found that our catalysts are highly active for high concentrations of 4-NP, 25-200 ppm. KEY WORDS: Amorphous, Nano catalyst, Metal boride, Reduction, Nitrophenol Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2015, 29(1), 105-116DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v29i1.

Inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses of genetic diversity in Mehr cotton cultivar and its crossing progenies

Cotton is cultivated in Iran with diploid and tetraploid forms and hybridization is a means to increase the genetic diversity and obtain new elite cultivars in this crop. This present study considered the molecular genetic diversity in Mehr (Gossypium hirsutum) cotton cultivar and its crossing progenies. 21 of 30 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers produced 220 reproducible bands with average of 10.47 bands per primer and 80.12% of polymorphism. OPR02 primer showed the highest number of effective allele (Ne), Shannon index (I) and genetic diversity (H). Some of the cultivars had specific bands, for example the F1 progeny of Mehr X No. 200, Mehr parental genotype and Mehr X Belilzovar hybrid genotype. Results show that some RAPD bands were present in the F1 progenies, but absent in the parental genotypes. Some others were present in the parental genotypes, but were absent in their hybrids. The highest values of genetic diversity in RAPD markers were obtained in Mehr X Sindose and Mehr X Belilzovar hybrids. Nine of ten inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers used produced 113 reproducible bands with average of 54.35% polymorphism. UBC834 locus revealed the highest number of Ne, I and H values. Also, some ISSR bands occurred only in the parental genotype while some others occurred only in the hybrid genotypes. The highest values of genetic diversity in ISSR markers were obtained in Mehr X Sindose and Mehr X Belilzovar hybrids.Key words: Cotton, genetic diversity, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR)

Implementation of Recurrent Neural Network to Control Rotational Inverted Pendulum using IMC Scheme

Abstract: Problem statement:This paper presents an overview of a controller for a Rotational Inverted Pendulum (RIP) based on a New Recurrent Neural Network (NRNN) using Internal Model control (IMC). The RIP consists of a DC servo motor, arm and pendulum. The RIP is modelled in MATLAB/Simulink and the simulation results are shown besides the experimental results. The proposed experiment shows intelligent method for stabilizing the RIP, which can recommend the control designers of nonlinear systems. The outcome exposed that the NRNN controller competent of controlling the RIP system productively, as exposed in the simulation results

O ensino das ciências experimentais no liceu, em Portugal, na I República (1910-1926)

O ensino das ciências experimentais (ECE) em Portugal ficou, como pretendemos demonstrar, fortemente marcado pela instauração da República, que comemorou no ano transacto o seu centenário. A República de 1910 pretendeu reformar toda a mentalidade portuguesa, através do pilar base – a educação – pela qual seria capaz de sacudir a nossa maneira de ser, lançando desta forma o país para um progresso de nível europeu. O estudo a que nos propomos, uma investigação documental no domínio da História da Ciência1, visa aprofundar os conhecimentos existentes sobre esta época e perceber o impacto da reforma do ECE, principalmente nos Liceus, caracterizando as principais figuras, políticas e docentes responsáveis pela sua conceptualização e aplicação. Através desta investigação procuraremos lançar as primeiras bases para descobrir as origens deste pensamento, querendo ainda comparar os fundamentos psicopedagógicos, epistemológicos e sociológicos da época com as principais ideias actualmente presentes no ensino da Ciência. Com este trabalho pretendemos, num primeiro momento, apresentar e divulgar o desenho da investigação e os seus objectivos, na procura de estabelecer parcerias e receber contributos da comunidade académica interessada por esta problemática

Diagnosis of Gardenella associated vaginosis in Borujen women's outpatient Clinic, 2000

عفونت های میکروبی واژن شایع بوده و باکتری ها به اندازه عوامل قارچی و تک یاخته ای در آن دخالت دارند. گاردنرلا واژینالیس ارگانیسمی است که اغلب تصور می شود، مهم ترین نقش را در ایجاد واژینوز باکتریال ایفا نماید. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین فراوانی واژینوز باکتریال در ارتباط با گاردنرلا (Gardnerella associated vaginosis=GAV) و مقایسه معیارهای تشخیص بالینی و آزمایشگاهی آن با تشخیص باکتریولوژیک انجام گردید. بررسی به صورت مقطعی اجرا و 227 نفر خانم های دارای ترشح مهبلی را شامل گردید، که در طی دوره تحقیق، از نهم اردیبهشت تا هشتم آبان 1379 به درمانگاه تخصصی زنان و مامایی بروجن مراجعه نموده و مورد معاینه بالینی قرار گرفتند. پرسشنامه حاوی اطلاعات عمومی و بالینی برای هریک از مراجعین تکمیل و نمونه ترشح واژن از آنها گرفته و مورد بررسی آزمایشگاهی قرار گرفت. معیارهای تشخیص GAV برای مراجعین عبارت بودند از: وجود نشانه های بالینی بیماری، مشاهده سلول های کلیدی در لام رنگ آمیزی مستقیم ترشحات واژن، هموژن بودن ترشح و pH بالاتر از 4.5 آن و مثبت بودن تست آمین (Whiff test)، علاوه بر این، کشت و جداسازی گاردنرلا واژینالیس بر روی محیط کشت پیشنهادی Ison و همکاران و با کمک تست های افتراقی لازم انجام شد. از مجموع 227 نفر مراجعین، 43 نفر (18.9) به عنوان GAV تشخیص داده شدند، که 33 نفر (76.7) از آنها دارای کشت مثبت گاردنرلا بودند. تمامی خانم های مبتلا به این عفونت متاهل و اکثریت آنها (69.9) متعلق به گروه سنی 39-20 ساله بودند. نمونه تمامی بیماران دارای سلول های کلیدی، 90.7 دارای pH بالاتر از 4.5، 81.4 دارای تست آمین مثبت و 67.4 دارای ترشح هموژن بودند. باتوجه به اینکه تمامی خانم ها مبتلا به GAV متاهل بودند، وجود ارتباط فعالیت جنسی با بروز عفونت ممکن به نظر می رسد. مطالعه حاضر ارتباط معنی داری را بین استفاده از IUD و بروز واژینوز در ارتباط با گاردنرلا در افراد مورد بررسی نشان نمی دهد

Simultaneous RPD and SVC Placement in Power Systems for Voltage Stability Improvement Using a Fuzzy Weighted Seeker Optimization Algorithm

Voltage stability issues are growing challenges in many modern power systems. This paper proposes optimizing the size and location of Static VAR Compensator (SVC) devices using a Fuzzy Weighted Seeker Optimization Algorithm (FWSOA), as an effective solution to overcome such issues. Although the primary purpose of SVC is bus voltage regulation, it can also be useful for voltage stability enhancement and even real power losses reduction in the network. To this aim, a multi-objective function is presented which includes voltage profile improvement, Voltage Stability Margin (VSM) enhancement and minimization of active power losses. Voltage stability is very close to Reactive Power Dispatch (RPD) in the network. Therefore, in addition to voltage regulation with locating SVCs, considering all of the other control variables including excitation settings of generators, tap positions of tap changing transformers and reactive power output of fixed capacitors in the network, simultaneous RPD and SVC placement will be achieved. Simulation results on IEEE 14 and 57-bus test systems, applying Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Seeker Optimization Algorithm (SOA) and FWSOA verify the efficiency of FWSOA for the above claims

Mutation analysis of Phenylalanine hydroxylase gene in Iranian patients with Phenylketonuria

Background: Phenylketonuria as the most common genetic metabolic disorder is the result of disruption of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene. This study was carried out to explore the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene mutation status of Iranian phenylketonuria patients. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 30 patients, and hot spot areas of the phenylalanine hydroxylase gene, including exons 6, 7, 8, 11, and 12 were studied through polymerase chain reaction and sequencing techniques. Results: Eight different mutations, including 5 missense mutations, 1 splice mutation, 1 nonsense mutation, and 1 Silent/Splice mutation were detected. These mutations were R243X, R261Q, R261X, P281L, R241C, V399V, E280K, and IVS11+1G > C. V399V and R241C were reported for the first time in Iranian population. Three polymorphisms including Q232Q, V245V and L385L and 3 novel intronic variants including IVS10-15A > C, IVS6+44T > G, and IVS6+36 T > G were also detected in this study. Conclusion: The results of this study prove the heterogeneous status of phenylalanine hydroxylase gene mutations in the Iranian population, which can be useful in carrier testing and genetic counseling. © Iran University of Medical Sciences