Sustainable wastewater management and energy production from sludge incineration process in industrial wastewater treatment plants

One major issue in industrial wastewater treatment plants is sludge handling and management with associated significant costs. Furthermore, the accumulated sludge handling such as the American Petroleum Institute (API) process can lead to environmental issues and health challenges such as cancer for workers in the site. This study applies combustion methods to analyse nexus of sludge incineration process and energy production potentials for this solid waste as a by-product of wastewater purification process. The methodology is demonstrated by its application to a real-world case study of petroleum refinery wastewater treatment in Iran. For this purpose, sludge samples were taken from the accumulation site and tested by calorimetry bomb, PARR 1266, Preiser Scientific, USA. In this study, 15 samples were evaluated from different points of the sludge in the case study. Measurements show that the average heat value is equal to 3,100 kcal/kg. The experimental results show that increasing water content in the sludge can lead to decreasing the net heat value. On the other hand, increasing Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in wastewater can result in increasing the harvested energy. In total, the sludge accumulation in the plant over the eight past years is around 4,000 tonnes which is equivalent to the thermal value of 12,400 GCal of potential energy that will be otherwise leads to environmental and health problems if not released through incineration process. This can highlight the significance of wastewater-energy-pollution nexus in sludge management of petroleum refineries by converting a threat to an opportunity

New Advances in Postharvest Technology: An Overview for Feed Production from Postharvest Wastes and By-Products

Globally agricultural production system generates a substantial proportion of postharvest waste that causes environmental pollution resulting in economic losses and human health-related problems. It is therefore important to make an assessment of this loss and turn it back to the consumption cycle. Processing and conversion of by-products, residues, and agricultural wastes and their reuse in the production cycle is a suitable solution for the economic use of these types of postharvest waste, especially in feeding livestock animals or in related industries. This chapter provides an overview of the assessment of the postharvest wastes that are generated in the field or on the farm at the time of harvest or processing industry. After introducing the potential use of technologies to upgrade postharvest waste for animal feed purposes and briefly discussing livestock performance, this review presents the latest and most interesting research on the use of postharvest wastes as feed

Combined KRAS-MAPK pathway inhibitors and HER2-directed drug conjugate is efficacious in pancreatic cancer

Targeting the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains clinically unsuccessful. We aim to develop a MAPK inhibitor-based therapeutic combination with strong preclinical efficacy. Utilizing a reverse-phase protein array, we observe rapid phospho-activation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in PDAC cells upon pharmacological MAPK inhibition. Mechanistically, MAPK inhibitors lead to swift proteasomal degradation of dual-specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6). The carboxy terminus of HER2, containing a TEY motif also present in extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), facilitates binding with DUSP6, enhancing its phosphatase activity to dephosphorylate HER2. In the presence of MAPK inhibitors, DUSP6 dissociates from the protective effect of the RING E3 ligase tripartite motif containing 21, resulting in its degradation. In PDAC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models, combining ERK and HER inhibitors slows tumour growth and requires cytotoxic chemotherapy to achieve tumour regression. Alternatively, MAPK inhibitors with trastuzumab deruxtecan, an anti-HER2 antibody conjugated with cytotoxic chemotherapy, lead to sustained tumour regression in most tested PDXs without causing noticeable toxicity. Additionally, KRAS inhibitors also activate HER2, supporting testing the combination of KRAS inhibitors and trastuzumab deruxtecan in PDAC. This study identifies a rational and promising therapeutic combination for clinical testing in PDAC patients

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND: Disorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021. METHODS: We estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined. FINDINGS: Globally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer. INTERPRETATION: As the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Presentation of Intercultural Competence in English Language Textbooks : The Case of a Private Language School in Iran

As the objective of learning a foreign language is now defined in terms of intercultural competence, all aspects of an English as a foreign language (EFL) program are expected to be geared towards cultivating interculturality. The issue is specifically significant in the Iranian context, because of the indeterminate status of English language in the country, and also the growing need of intercultural competence for Iranians. The present study investigated to what extent the learning tasks in textbooks for adult courses in a private language institute aimed at increasing learners’ intercultural competence, and what dimensions of intercultural competence they addressed. The methodology centered on qualitative theory-based content analysis of the textbooks (targeted at an international audience), categorized according to the themes in Byram’s (1997) model of Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC). Indicating the little emphasis on developing intercultural competence, and also the unequal share of the different dimensions of intercultural competence in the textbooks, the findings of the study cast doubt on the appropriateness of these so-called “global” English textbooks, especially for Iranian learners. Hence, the results of the study can have pedagogical implications for stakeholders in EFL education in general, and for curriculum developers and material designers in Iran, in particular.peerReviewe

Intercultural Awareness of Iranian English Language Learners : An Exploration

The present paper reports on a qualitative study investigating how Iranian learners of English as a foreign language understand culture and the extent to which this understanding meets the needs of efficient intercultural communication. In order to gather data, in-depth semistructured interviews were conducted with eight participants. The interviews were designed and thematically analyzed using Baker’s (2011) model of intercultural awareness. The model, which served as the analytical framework of the study, has been used to account for the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to communicate through English as a lingua franca. Based on the findings of the study, the main elements of the model are relevant in accounting for intercultural awareness—which varied among the participants—not only in English as a lingua franca setting but also in contexts where partners with different cultural backgrounds speak the same first language. Moreover, with the aim of developing learners’ intercultural awareness, the policies and practices of English as a foreign language teaching in Iran need to be revised.peerReviewe

On the role of English in Iranian learners’ intercultural awareness

This dissertation investigated the role of English in Iranians learners’ understanding of culture and intercultural awareness, from the perspective of both the formal teaching of English and of learners’ informal experiences of learning and using English. The theoretical framework drew on research on English as a global lingua franca in an increasingly globalized world and research on the role of culture in language teaching and learning. Methodologically, the study was qualitative in nature and content analysis and thematic analysis were applied in analyzing the data. Two data sets, comprising seven global English textbooks and in-depth interviews with eight – young adult – learners were analyzed. The results were reported in three substudies. The first substudy, focusing on the formal teaching of English, analyzed an English language textbook series used in a private language institute. This specific study is important given the enormous popularity of private language institutes in Iran and the central role textbooks play in the courses they offer. The second substudy focused on the nature and quality of learners’ understanding of culture and intercultural awareness. As the role of English is not limited to formal education, the third substudy focused on learners’ informal experiences in learning and using the language outside the classroom and the ways in which it enhanced or hindered their intercultural awareness. The results showed that English played a positive role in learners’ development of intercultural awareness. English provided them with numerous resources and opportunities to learn and expand their horizons. This positive role was most clearly observed in learners’ reports of their personal experiences in learning and using English rather than the formal textbook-centered education they had received in private institutes. The results also showed English as feeding into cultural stereotypes. This was manifested both in the reductionist and essentialist portrayal of cultures in the textbooks, mainly in their reliance on national paradigms, and in how the participants made sense of others in their intercultural interactions in English. Moreover, the results highlighted the twofold role of English in an era of globalization. On the one hand, English was the primary medium for accessing mainstream cultural products and ideologies, mainly from a Western point of view, while on the other it acted as a bridge to alternative cultures beyond the uniformity and the homogeneity of – mainstream – cultural products and values. The findings of this research thus indicate the multiple and complex role of English in learners’ understanding of culture and intercultural awareness in the context of Iran. Keywords: intercultural awareness, intercultural competence, English as a lingua franca, culture, English language learners, globalization, cultural stereotypesVäitöstutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin englannin roolia iranilaisten oppijoiden kulttuurikäsitysten ja kulttuurienvälisen tietoisuuden kehittymisessä. Aihetta tutkittiin formaalin englanninopetuksen ja toisaalta osallistujien epävirallisten englannin oppimis- ja käyttökokemusten näkökulmista. Teoreettisen viitekehyksen väitöskirjalle muodostivat tutkimukset, joissa tarkastellaan englantia globaalina lingua francana sekä kulttuurin roolia kieltenopetuksessa ja -oppimisessa. Tutkimus oli laadullinen, ja aineiston tulkinnassa käytettiin sisällönanalyysiä ja temaattista analyysiä. Tarkastelun kohteena oli kaksi eri aineistoa: seitsemän globaalin englannin oppikirjaa ja kahdeksan nuorten aikuisten syvähaastattelua. Tulokset raportoitiin kolmessa osatutkimuksessa. Ensimmäisessä, formaaliin englanninopetukseen keskittyvässä osatutkimuksessa analysoitiin yksityisessä kielikoulussa käytettävää englannin oppikirjasarjaa. Tämä osatutkimus on tärkeä, koska yksityiset kielikoulut ovat erittäin suosittuja Iranissa ja oppikirjoilla on keskeinen asema niiden tarjoamilla kursseilla. Toinen osatutkimus kohdistui osallistujien käsityksiin kulttuurista ja kulttuurienvälisestä tietoisuudesta. Koska englannin merkitys ei rajoitu vain formaaliin koulutukseen, kolmannessa osatutkimuksessa kartoitettiin oppijoiden arkikokemuksia kielen oppimisesta ja käytöstä luokan ulkopuolella sekä sitä, kuinka ne vahvistivat tai heikensivät heidän kulttuurienvälistä tietoisuuttaan. Tulokset osoittivat englannin vaikuttavan myönteisesti oppijoiden kulttuurienvälisen tietoisuuden kehittymiseen. Englannin kieli antoi osallistujille lukuisia keinoja ja mahdollisuuksia oppia ja laajentaa horisonttiaan. Myönteinen vaikutus näkyi selvemmin osallistujien kuvatessa omakohtaisia oppimis- ja käyttökokemuksiaan kuin yksityiskouluissa saatua formaalia, oppikirjakeskeistä opetusta. Tulosten perusteella englanti myös näyttää ruokkivan kulttuurisia stereotypioita. Tämä ilmeni siinä yksinkertaistavassa ja olemuksellisessa tavassa, jolla oppikirjoissa kuvataan eri kulttuureita pääasiassa kansallisiin paradigmoihin nojautuen sekä siinä, kuinka osallistujat tulkitsivat toisia englanninkielisissä kulttuurienvälisissä vuorovaikutustilanteissa. Tulokset toivat esiin myös englannin kaksitahoisen roolin globalisaation aikakaudella. Yhtäältä englanti oli ensisijainen keino, jolla voi päästä käsiksi lähinnä länsimaisesta näkökulmasta valtavirtaa edustaviin kulttuurisiin tuotteisiin ja ideologioihin. Toisaalta englanti toimi siltana vaihtoehtokulttuureihin, joita löytyy – valtavirtaisten – kulttuurituotteiden ja kulttuuriarvojen yhdenmukaisuuden ja homogeenisuuden takaa. Kaiken kaikkiaan tutkimustulokset osoittavat, että englanti vaikuttaa monimutkaisesti ja monin eri tavoin oppijoiden kulttuurikäsityksiin ja kulttuurienväliseen tietoisuuteen Iranissa. Asiasanat: kulttuurienvälinen tietoisuus, kulttuurienvälinen osaaminen, englanti lingua francana, kulttuuri, englannin oppijat, globalisaatio, kulttuuriset stereotypia

La conduite du pouvoir local dans la cité (étude de deux cas de la démocratie participative en France et en Iran)

En partant d'une problématique générale sur la place de la démocratie participative dans la politique publique territoriale, nous proposons de recentrer la notion de "participation de la société civile". Les démocraties contemporaines se cherchent un nouvel esprit, de nouveaux fondements. Les formes classiques de la représentation politique suivent, mais leur légitimité s'amenuise et leur efficacité décline. La crise de la représentation politique et des formes de gouvernement s'accompagnent d'une contestation du pouvoir scientifique et technique à partir duquel sont aussi légitimées les politiques publiques. Dans un contexte de remise en question du rôle de l'Etat, la participation des habitants constituerait un facteur favorisant, à la fois une nouvelle légitimité politique et une modernisation de la gestion publique locale. La participation incite à engager de larges réflexions en interrogeant la démocratie française et iranienne et le rôle des habitants en dehors des périodes électorales dans un système représentatif.Starting from a general problem of the role of participatory democracy in the territorial public policy, we suggest to apply the concept of "participation of civil society." Contemporary democracies seek a new spirit, a new Traditional foundation. Traditional forms of political representation follow, but diminishes their legitimacy and effectiveness declines. The political crisis of representation and forms of government are accompanied by a challenge to the scientific and technological power from which are also legitimated the public policy. In a context of questioning the role of the State, citizen participation would be a contributing factor, both a new political legitimacy and modernization of local public management. People participation engage a broad reflections by querying the French and banian democracy and the role of people outside election periods in a representative system.PARIS7-Bibliothèque centrale (751132105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Dow’s fire and explosion index: a case-study in the process unit of an oil extraction factory

Introduction: The incidence of fires and explosions have led to severe damage in many industries, primarily in industries’ financial losses. This study was conducted to estimate losses due to fire and explosion and the impact of control measures on the number of losses applying Dow's Fire and Explosion Index. Methods: This is a case study conducted in one of the process units of an oil extraction factory. Dow's Fire and Explosion Index Hazard classification guide, 7th edition, issued by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers was applied. Data were obtained mainly through interviews and consultation with experts, as well as reported operating parameters and process documents. Results: The Dow Index of the processing unit was estimated to be 243.68, and the most probable base damage was approximately $4.15 million in 2008. The actual damages were estimated to be$2,863,500, and the number of lost work days to be 64.56 days. The interruption losses were estimated to be $15,817,200 and the total losses to the system to be$18.67 million. These results demonstrated that losses resulting from production interruptions are greater than losses due to the destruction of equipment. A series of corrections was then proposed and risk analysis was performed again to examine the effects of reforms. The comparison shows that by applying reforms the FEI can change to 86.62 and the total loss can reduce to $9.03 million. Conclusion: This study shows that Dow's Index is a systematic tool to examine the impact of control measures. It also enhances resource management considering an optimal insurance contract. Considering the priority of reducing damage factors, several correction actions were suggested, such as modifying the drainage system, installation of hexane detectors, an automatic sprinkler system, fire detectors on the cable tray, and finally, using the water spray washing on the tanks