Electrolyte and solvent effects on voltammetry behavior and surface morphology of Polypyrrole films deposited on glassy carbon electrode in the redox process

Polypyrrole (PPy) films were electrochemically synthesized on glassy carbon electrode in different electrolytes and solvent media. Voltammetry studies of PPy films doped with Cl−, ClO4−, NO3− anions showed that the redox activity of the polymer is affected by the nature of the anions and solvent used in the electrochemical synthesis. The mobilities of the anions exhibited a well-defined order: ClO4− < Cl− < NO3−. The electrodeposited PPy films were characterized ex situ independently by atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. The effect of solvent on the surface morphology of PPy films was clarified by AFM imaging. Our results showed that the level of doping will depend on the polarity of the solvent used. In polar solvent like DMSO, the doping of Cl− anion is predominant. The results obtained suggested the presence of chemisorbed anions on the surface of PPy films

The impact of vitamin D changes during pregnancy on the development of maternal adverse events: A random forest analysis

Background: Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with various maternal adverse events (MAE). However, the evidence regarding the effect of vitamin D supplementation on these outcomes is still inconclusive. Methods: This secondary analysis utilized a case–control design. 403 samples with MAE and 403 samples without any outcomes were selected from the Khuzestan Vitamin D Deficiency Screening Program in Pregnancy study. Random forest (RF) analysis was used to evaluate the effect of maternal vitamin D changes during pregnancy on MAE. Results: The results showed that women who remained deficient (35.2%) or who worsened from sufficient to deficient (30.0%) had more MAE than women who improved (16.4%) or stayed sufficient (11.8%). The RF model had an AUC of 0.74, sensitivity of 72.6%, and specificity of 69%, which indicate a moderate to high performance for predicting MAE. The ranked variables revealed that systolic blood pressure is the most important variable for MAE, followed by diastolic blood pressure and vitamin D changes during pregnancy. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that maternal vitamin D changes during pregnancy have a significant impact on MAE. Our findings suggest that monitoring and treatment of vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy may be a potential preventive strategy for reducing the risk of MAE. The presented RF model had a moderate to high performance for predicting MAE

Evaluating the relationship between high-resolution computed tomography findings and their extent in eosinophilic lung diseases with peripheral blood eosinophil level

Purpose: Eosinophilic lung diseases are a group of pulmonary disorders associated with peripheral or tissue eosinophilia. They can be classified into primary (idiopathic) and secondary groups based on their aetiology. On the other hand, blood eosinophilia is a common clinical problem with various causes. In many cases the lung infiltrations in patients with peripheral eosinophilia are non-eosinophilic. Herein, we aim to assess the relationship between blood eosinophilia and abnormal high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) features and their extent in idiopathic chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (ICEP) (the most common form of idiopathic eosinophilic lung disease). This can help in differentiating eosinophilic from non-eosinophilic lung infiltrations in patients with blood eosinophilia. Material and methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, all patients with proven ICEP, who were referred to Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran, Iran from 2012 to 2019, were included. The ICEP diagnosis was based on lung infiltrations on imaging, in addition to increased numbers of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, blood or lung biopsy samples, and rapid response to corticosteroids. Patients with known aetiologies for eosinophilic lung diseases were excluded. The HRCT findings and their extent in each patient were compared with the blood eosinophil level. Results: Positive correlation was found only between blood eosinophil level and frequency and extent of consolidation, and with frequency of lymphadenopathy. Conclusions: HRCT can help to differentiate eosinophilic from non-eosinophilic lung infiltrations in patients with blood eosinophilia by comparing the extent of consolidation with the blood eosinophil level

Molecular characterization of bovine Cryptosporidium using Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene

Cryptosporidium is a globally distributed protozoan parasite and one of the most common causes of infection and diarrhea in humans and cattle. The aim of the present study was to determine the species of Cryptosporidium among cattle with diarrhea by a nested PCR-RFLP technique at Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP). Fecal samples from 158 calves aged 1-20 weeks were collected from 10 dairy farms in Qazvin province, Iran. Initial identification of Cryptosporidium was carried out by Zeihl-Neelsen acid-fast staining method of stool samples. DNA was extracted from 26 (16.45 %) positive microscopically samples and Cryptosporidium genotypes were determined. Cryptosporidium parvum were identified in 80.8% of the positive samples and, Cryptosporidium andersoni in 19.2%. In conclusion the use of COWP primers could be sensitive enough to conduct a routine detection study. The nested PCR method using the COWP gene sequence can be an alternative diagnostic method to identify infected with Cryptosporidium and its genetic diversity

Partial Purification and Characterization of a Thermoalkalophilic Lipase Originated from Bacillus atrophaeus FSHM2 and its Application for Ester Synthesis

A thermoalkalophilic lipase producing bacterial strain, identified as Bacillus atrophaeus FSHM2 using 16S rDNA sequencing analysis was isolated from salty soil and its lipase was partially purified and characterized. The obtained results revealed that glucose, hazelnut oil, urea and calcium ion positively affected the lipase production by increasing the lipolytic activity to 13582.5, 6270, 4442 and 5505 U LG1, respectively compared to that of basal medium (4150 U LG1). The partially purified lipase acted optimally at pH 9 and retained 88.2% of its initial activity after 1 h of incubation at 100°C. A two fold increase in the relative activity of the partially purified lipase was obtained in the presence of 4 M of NaCl. Application of the partially purified lipase for the synthesis of ethyl and methyl valerate in the organic solvent medium (xylene) resulted in 81.6 and 62.4% esterification, respectively, after 24 h of incubation

The Capacity of Police Organizations to Prevent Crime with an Emphasis on Interpol and Europol

The spread of organized crime with the advancement of transportation systems and the facilitation of transnational crime using the Internet are among the consequences of the age of communication, which makes it more difficult to deal with crime than in the past. Therefore, mutual cooperation between governments in the field of public security is essential given the current situation. Law enforcement and security officials have come to the conclusion that traditional crime control strategies and repression strategies will not have much of an effect on solving problems, and more than crime control, it must be prevented. This is the basis for the current research. One of the main objectives of this article is to review the cooperation agreements between international police organizations and various countries and the potential for preventive activities. This article is based on descriptive-analytical documents and references, using library resources. The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), as the most important international body after the United Nations and the European Union's criminal police, is one of the most influential international organizations in the field of police cooperation. As part of the goals of its charter adopted by the General Assembly of these organizations, these organizations have provided technical training and information and operational support in member countries in order to prevent the occurrence of crime. This goal is achieved by concluding international agreements in which these organizations are required to send troops to member countries, as well as to hold training workshops. Also, the production and dissemination of educational content to communities about the existence of crimes increases public awareness of the types of crimes that exist. The present paper addresses the organizational capacities of Interpol and Europol in crime prevention

Dosimetric investigation of a new high dose rate Ir brachytherapy source, IRAsource, by Monte Carlo method

PurposeThe purpose of the present study was to perform an independent calculation of dosimetric parameters associated with a new 192Ir brachytherapy source model, IRAsource.Materials and methodsThe parameters of air kerma strength (AKS), dose rate constant (DRC), geometry function (GF), radial dose function (RDF), as well as two-dimensional (2D) anisotropy function (AF) of IRAsource 192Ir source model were calculated in this study. The MC n-particle extended (MCNPX) code was also employed for simulating high dose rate (HDR), IRAsource and 192Ir source; and formalism was used for calculating dosimetry parameters based on task group number 43 updated report (TG-43 U1).ResultsThe results of this study were consistent with the ones reported about the IRAsource source by Sarabiasl et al. The AKS per 1mCi activity and the DRC values were also equal to 3.65 cGycm2h–1mCi–1 and 1.094 cGyh–1U–1; respectively. The comparison of the results of the DRC and the RDF reported by Sarabiasl et al. also validated the 192Ir IRAsource simulation in this study. Moreover, the AFs of IRAsource source model were in a good agreement with those of Sarabiasl et al. at different distances, which could be attributed to identical geometries.ConclusionIn line with those reported by Sarabiasl et al., the results of this study confirmed the IRAsource 192Ir source for clinical uses. The calculated dosimetric parameters of the IRAsource source could be utilized in clinical practices as input data sets or for validation of treatment planning system calculations

بررسی همبستگی بین گروه خونی ABO و عوارض جانبی دوز اول و دوم واکسیناسیون کووید 19: یک بررسی مقطعی در دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهید بهشتی تهران

Background and aim: The rapid global spread of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strained healthcare resources and caused the rapid introduction of Covid-19 vaccines to combat this virus. Due to this rapid launch and development, it is necessary to monitor complications after vaccination. On the other hand, it has been observed that the ABO blood group may affect the side effects experienced by people who receive the COVID-19 vaccine. This aim of study was association between blood types and the side effects of three types of COVID-19 vaccines (Sputnik, AstraZeneca, and Sinopharm). Methods: This research was cross-sectional. The research population includes 420 employees of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, who received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The association between blood group and symptoms related to the vaccination of COVID-19 after doses 1 and 2 was analyzed with SPSS version 23 software at a significance level of 0.05. Results: Most of the study participants were male (58.7%). 18.6% were vaccinated with Sputnik vaccine, 75.1% with Sinopharm and 6.3% with AstraZeneca. The results of the research showed that there was no statistically significant relationship between blood groups and side effects of the first and second doses of vaccination for any of the studied vaccines. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination may cause reactions and symptoms. However, ABO blood types do not seem to be a predictor of vaccine reactivity and there was no significant relationship between blood groups and the prevalence of symptoms.سابقه و هدف: گسترش سریع جهانی کروناویروس جدید SARS-CoV-2 منابع مراقبت­های بهداشتی را تحت فشار قرار داد و باعث شد واکسن‌های کووید-19 به سرعت برای مقابله با این ویروس معرفی شوند. با توجه به این راه‌­اندازی و توسعه سریع، نظارت بر عوارض پس از واکسیناسیون ضروری است. از طرفی مشاهده شده است که گروه خونی ABO ممکن است بر عوارض جانبی تجربه شده توسط افرادی که واکسن کووید-19 را دریافت می­کنند، تأثیر بگذارد. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی همبستگی عوارض جانبی سه نوع واکسن کووید-19 (اسپوتنیک، آسترازنکا و سینوفارم) با گروه­‌های خونی انجام شد. روش کار: اين پژوهش از نوع مقطعي بود. جامعه پژوهش شامل 420 کارمند دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهید بهشتی تهران است که هر دو دوز واکسن کووید-19 را دریافت کرده بودند. ارتباط بین گروه خونی با علائم مربوط به واکسیناسیون کووید-19 پس از دوز 1 و 2 با نرم­‌افزار SPSS نسخه 23 در سطح معناداری  0/05 مورد آنالیز قرار گرفت. یافته­‌ها: اکثر شرکت‌کنندگان مطالعه مرد (7/58%) بودند و 6/18% با واکسن اسپوتنیک، 1/75% با سینوفارم و 3/6% با آسترازنکا واکسینه شدند. نتایج پژوهش نشان داد که هیچ ارتباط آماری معنی‌داری بین گروه­‌های خونی و عوارض جانبی دوز اول و دوم واکسیناسیون برای هیچ یک از واکسن‌های موردمطالعه وجود نداشت. نتیجه‌­گیری: واکسیناسیون کووید-19 ممکن است باعث واکنش‌­زایی و بروز علایمی شود. اما، به نظر نمی­رسد که گروه خونی ABO پیش­بینی کننده واکنش­زایی واکسن باشد و هیچ ارتباط معنی‌داری بین گروه‌های خونی و شیوع علائم وجود نداشت

Comparison of the hypothetical 57 Co brachytherapy source with the 192 Ir source

Aim of the study : The 57 Co radioisotope has recently been proposed as a hypothetical brachytherapy source due to its high specific activity, appropriate half-life (272 days) and medium energy photons (114.17 keV on average). In this study, Task Group No. 43 dosimetric parameters were calculated and reported for a hypothetical 57 Co source. Material and methods : A hypothetical 57 Co source was simulated in MCNPX, consisting of an active cylinder with 3.5 mm length and 0.6 mm radius encapsulated in a stainless steel capsule. Three photon energies were utilized (136 keV [10.68%], 122 keV [85.60%], 14 keV [9.16%]) for the 57 Co source. Air kerma strength, dose rate constant, radial dose function, anisotropy function, and isodose curves for the source were calculated and compared to the corresponding data for a 192 Ir source. Results : The results are presented as tables and figures. Air kerma strength per 1 mCi activity for the 57 Co source was 0.46 cGyh–1 cm 2 mCi–1. The dose rate constant for the 57 Co source was determined to be 1.215 cGyh–1U–1. The radial dose function for the 57 Co source has an increasing trend due to multiple scattering of low energy photons. The anisotropy function for the 57 Co source at various distances from the source is more isotropic than the 192 Ir source. Conclusions : The 57 Co source has advantages over 192 Ir due to its lower energy photons, longer half-life, higher dose rate constant and more isotropic anisotropic function. However, the 192 Ir source has a higher initial air kerma strength and more uniform radial dose function. These properties make 57 Co a suitable source for use in brachytherapy applications