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Introduction: The CRISPR/Cas9 (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-associated Protein9) method can create a nucleotide sequence complementary to the target sequence in the desired gene by Guide-RNA (gRNA) together with the Cas9 protein, which is a cutting enzyme for cutting in the both DNA strands of the desired sequence accurately and clearly. The DAZL (Deleted in azoospermia-like) gene encodes potential RNA-binding proteins that are expressed in male and female germ cells before and after birth. DAZL, which acts by post-transcriptionally binding mRNA in 3' untranslated regions, regulates the germ cell cycle. DAZL initiates the sexual differentiation of embryonic germ cells. The transfer and transplantation of gene-edited germ cells into recipient males is an effective method for targeted mutagenesis engineering. In mice knocked out for the Dazl gene, the number of testicular stem cells was reduced and it was found that the DAZL gene plays an important role in the differentiation of spermatogonial cells. The purpose of the current research is to edit the DAZL gene by knocking it out using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique and transferring the somatic cell nucleus into the genome of the Bakhtiari goat embryo. The inactivation of the gene will be investigated both at the level of the embryonic cell and the resulting embryo. There are no reports on the production of Bakhtiari goat cells and embryos edited for the DAZL gene by CRISPR technique and somatic nuclear transfer to improve any traits, including reproductive ones. Materials and methods: To target the DAZL gene and explore (predict) potential off-target genomic sites, guide RNA (20 bp sequences) immediately upstream of each 5'-NGG in the DAZL gene was designed using the CHOOPCHOOP tool. Plasmid pX459 (9151 bp) was used to insert the gRNA sequence into the CAS9 vector and determine the characteristics and replication of the vector. This plasmid encodes the Cas9 protein along with the puromycin resistance gene under the promoter/enhancer, CAGGS, as well as the gRNA scaffold under the U6 promoter. Plasmid pX459 was digested by BbsI-HF (NEB #R3539) at 37°C for 10 min, followed by purification by NucleoSpin Gel and PCR Clean-up Midi kit (#740,986.20, Machery/Nagel). The purified piece was kept at - 20°C for later use. Ligation of oligoduplex carrying diluted gRNA sequence (1:20 ratio from 10 μM source) (1 ìL), digested pX459 vector (50 ng), 10x T4DNA ligase buffer (2 ìL), and T4DNA ligase (1 ìL) in the final concentration of 20 ìL of the reaction was carried out. Ligation mixture transformation was performed with NEB 5-alpha Competent E. coli (#C2987I) and then placed on agar culture medium with 100 ìg/mL ampicillin and incubated at 37°C overnight. From the cultured plate, five colonies were selected and each was cultured in LB culture medium, followed by miniprep plasmid extraction (Genejet Plasmid miniPrep kit, #K0502). Plasmids carrying the CRISPR system were transferred into cells through an electroporation system. Results and discussion: The present results proved the possibility of knocking out the DZAL gene using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique in both fibroblast cell lines and Bakhtiari goat embryos. We performed somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to examine the embryonic developmental capacity to transition to the cleavage and blastocyst stages. The embryos created by knocking out the DAZL gene could grow and develop. The sequencing analysis using DECODR (Deconvolution of Complex DNA Repair) software showed the knock-out rate of the DAZL gene in fibroblast cells was 83.3% and in cloned blastocysts, it was 55.3%. The rate of blastocyst formation resulting from the cloning process with knockout cells was not significantly different from the control group. Based on these studies, we decided to edit the DAZL gene to produce knockout goat embryos by SCNT. The embryos were examined and evaluated with the help of PCR-RFLP test and sequencing. It turned out that in the first iteration, a knockout of 60.66% (the first ten embryos were paid), and in the second iteration, a knockout of 49.99% (the second ten embryos were paid) were achieved. Such mutations have not been described or detected in Iranian Bakhtiari goats, although polymorphisms have been identified. Using genetic sequencing, the mutations were of the INDEL type and were all in the form of frameshift, which resulted in a change in the protein. Conclusions: The CRISPR/Cas9 system easily influences the desired gene and can be used as a strategy to produce livestock animals that are superior in milk and meat production, reproduction, quality, disease resistance, etc. This research demonstrated the possibility of gene editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique in fibroblast cell lines and Bakhtiari goat embryos. The blastocytes produced can be used for transfer to the recipient animal and production of DAZL gene knockout goats for further study and optimization of spermatogonial stem cell transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiotherapy is one of the practical modalities in prostate cancer treatment, but there is a risk of developing secondary cancers caused by unintended radiation inside the non-target organs. The current study aimed to evaluate the risk of secondary cancer development in organs at risk (the bladder and rectum) following prostate cancer radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: A group of 39 patients with prostate cancer who were treated with 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) were enrolled. A dose-volume histogram (DVH) corresponding to each patient was utilized to estimate the absorbed dose for the rectum and bladder and to calculate their respective generalized equivalent uniform dose (gEUD). Finally, the risk of secondary malignancies was estimated by employing the gEUD values and recommended risk factors by the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) 116. Results: The gEUD values for the rectum and bladder ranged from 50-75 and 25-80, respectively. The mean gEUD values for the rectum and bladder were correspondingly equal to 60.97 Sv and 53.74 Sv, respectively. The mean secondary cancer risk (SCR) value for the rectum was 30.4%, while about 16.1% was estimated for the bladder. The estimated SCR in the rectum was 1.88 times higher than in the bladder. Conclusions: The rectum is more exposed to radiation and is endangered by the development of secondary cancer following prostate cancer radiotherapy. Nevertheless, the probability of cancer incidence in the bladder was also considerable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The basic strategy to mitigate water crisis is to save agricultural water consumption by increasing productivity, which will result in more income for farmers and sustainable production. Due to the economic importance of barley production in the country, it is necessary to study the volume of irrigation water and water productivity to produce this strategic product. Based on extensive field research on irrigation water management and application of different irrigation methods in barley farms, the innovations of this research were: a) measuring water consumed and determining water use efficiency in barley production, b) the up-to-date of the measurements and research findings, c) findings applicability for application in agricultural planning at the national and regional levels, d) the ability to development the findings in barley farms at the national level to improve water use efficiency. The hypotheses of this research are: a) barley irrigation water is various in different regions, b) water applied in barley farms is more than the required one, c) the water use efficiency of barley is different in the main production areas, and d) The applied water of barley is not the same in different irrigation methods. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to determine the water consumed and water use efficiency in barley production; to measure the water applied to barley farms in the main production areas; to compare the water measured in the production areas with the net irrigation requirement; and finally to determine water use efficiency of the barley in the main production areas in the Iran. Materials and Methods For this purpose, the volume of irrigation water and barley yield in 296 selected farms in 12 provinces (about 75% of the area under cultivation and production of barley in Iran) including Khuzestan, East Azerbaijan, Ardabil, North Khorasan, Fars, Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, Semnan, Markazi, Isfahan, Hamedan and Qazvin were measured directly. Farms in the mentioned provinces were selected to cover various factors such as irrigation method, level of ownership, proper distribution and quality of irrigation water. By carefully monitoring the irrigation program of selected farms during the growing season, the amount of irrigation water for barley during one year was measured. At the end of the season and after determining the average yield of barley during the 2020-2021 year, the values of irrigation water productivity and total water productivity (irrigation+effective rainfall) were determined in selected barley farms in each region. The volume of water supplied was compared with the gross irrigation requirements estimated by the Penman-Monteith method using meteorological data from the last ten years, and compared with the values of the National Water Document. Analysis of variance was used to investigate the possible differences in yield, irrigation water and water productivity in barley production. Results and Discussion To assess the reliability of statistical analysis, we evaluated the sufficiency of the number of measurements needed for both the quantity of irrigation water and the ley yield on the farms. Subsequently, we computed statistical indices, such as the mean and standard deviation. The results showed that the number of measurements of irrigation water and barley yield was to be 296 and 283, respectively, which was more than the number of measurements required for irrigation water (41 dataset) and yield (50 dataset). Therefore, the sufficiency of the data for the statistical analysis was reliable. The results showed that the difference in yield, volume of irrigation water and water productivity indices were significant in the mentioned provinces. The volume of barley irrigation water in the studied areas varied from 1900 to 9300 cubic meters per hectare and its average weight was 4875 cubic meters per hectare. The average barley yield in selected farms varied from 1630 to 7050 kg ha-1 and the average was 3985 kg ha-1. Irrigation water productivity in selected provinces ranged from 0.22 to 1.53 and its weight average was 0.90 kg m-3. Average gross irrigation water requirement in the study areas by the Penman-Monteith method using meteorological data of the last ten years and the national water document were 4710 and 4950 cubic meters per hectare, respectively. Irrigation efficiency of barley fields in the country is estimated at 6265% without deficit irrigation. Conclusion In order to reduce water consumption and improve water productivity, it is suggested to manage water delivery to farms during the season and deliver water rights to them according to crops water requirements. To reduce water losses and enhance productivity in the barley farms, it is suggested the application of modern irrigation systems according to the farms conditions with the suitable operation; and modification and improvement of surface and traditional irrigation methods. Note that, water is only one of several necessary and effective inputs in the optimal and economic production of barley. On the other hand, attention should be paid to the optimal application of other inputs including: seeds, fertilizers, equipment and tools etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, non-linear loads are being used in distribution systems increasingly. Despite the good features such as low initial construction cost, high efficiency, and controllability, these loads cause harmonic distortions. In previous studies, passive harmonic filters have been proposed to decrease the produced harmonics, and to do so, various techniques have been suggested. However, the probability of daily load change, possible arrangements of distribution grid taking into consideration the filter design requirements and the impact of temperature change in harmonic filter parameters have been neglected in these studies. Therefore, in the current paper, a comprehensive model based on the probabilistic rearrangement of the distribution grid has been presented for the probabilistic planning of passive harmonic filters. In the proposed method, a two-level probabilistic optimization problem has been introduced with the objective of reducing harmonic distortions, voltage profile improvement, and loss, and investment cost reduction. As a result, the optimum placement of filters, the most optimal number and type of filters, and filter design parameters have been determined. The proposed procedure has been applied to the modified 33-bus IEEE network. The simulation results indicate that neglecting grid rearrangement may lead to a violation of power quality limits during some hours of the day. On the other hand, the combination of various network topologies in planning studies ensures that the total harmonic distortion (THD) level is maintained within the standard range, guaranteeing loss, line density, and filter investment cost reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conventional time-resolved laser-induced incandescence (TiRe-LII) measurements, a laser pulse heats the nanoparticles within a probe volume of aerosol, and the particle size distribution and other characteristics are inferred from the observed incandescence decay rate, which is connected to the change in sensible energy through a spectroscopic model. There is strong evidence, however, that for some aerosol systems, the incandescence signal is contaminated with other non-incandescent emission sources. Recent TiRe-LII measurements on polydisperse aerosolized silver and gold nanoparticles energized with a 1064 nm laser pulse exhibit broadband emission that is temporally aligned with the temporal profile of the laser pulse, suggesting that the signal is due to non-thermal emission. One candidate for this emission phenomenon is multiphoton-induced upconversion luminescence, in which the conduction-band electron gas is heated up to an effective lattice temperature, resulting in luminescence due to high-energy intraband transitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work examines the excessive absorption and anomalous cooling phenomena reported in laser-induced incandescence measurements on metal nanoparticles by considering the effects of aggregate structure and sintering. Experimental investigations are conducted on iron and molybdenum aerosols, which have different melting points, and thus respond differently to the laser pulse. Although aggregation enhances the absorption cross-section of the nanoparticles and allows for higher peak temperatures, this enhancement does not fully explain the observed excessive absorption. Furthermore, as the aggregates of refractory metals such as molybdenum cool, they may sinter through gradual grain boundary diffusion; this change in structure alters their absorption cross-section, manifesting as a rapid drop in the pyrometric temperature, which could explain the anomalous cooling reported for this metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of fungi and bacteria biofertilizers under salinity stress were studied on some morphological and physiological traits of quinoa. The experiment was conducted as a factorial based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The factors included NaCl (no salinity-150 mM NaCl and 300 mM NaCl), Trichoderma (no Trichoderma and Trichoderma), and bacterial biofertilizers (no biofertilizer-N biofertilizer and P biofertilizer). The highest shoot and root length and dry weight were observed in the treatment of no salinity + no Trichoderma + N biofertilizer. Salinity increased Na + and K + content and decreased K + /Na + ratio, whereas the application of Trichoderma alleviated the effect of salinity on these factors. Ca2+/Na+ and Mg2+/Na+ ratios were significantly decreased in high salinity level compared to the zero salinity level. The highest and lowest phenol content was observed in the treatments of 300 mM NaCl + Trichoderma + P biofertilizer and no salinity + no Trichoderma + N biofertilizer, respectively. Flavonoid content was higher in the treatments of no salinity + Trichoderma + N biofertilizer and no salinity + Trichoderma + P biofertilizer than in the other treatments, also The high-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that all phenolic and flavonoid compounds exhibited the greatest increase in treatments of no salinity + Trichoderma + N biofertilizer and no salinity + Trichoderma + P biofertilizer, which is consistent with the significant increase in total flavonoid content in these treatments. The results showed that using N biofertilizer can improve the growth and development of quinoa in saline soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of cropland with cadmium (Cd) induced by anthropogenic activities is a serious challenge to environmental safety and human well-being. The current research assessed the range of Cd accumulation, uptake, mobility, translocation, and health risk in a wheat–soil system in leachate-affected and control soils. The findings revealed that the entry of leachate into the soil caused severe Cd accumulation in the soil, increased enrichment factor, and ecological risk by 2.7–3 times versus the control. The mean concentration of Cd accumulation in wheat plant was as roots (1.21 mg kg−1) ≫ stems (0.19 mg kg−1) > grains (0.12 mg kg−1). This implies that the primary organs of wheat vary in their capability of absorption, accumulation, and translocation of Cd. Moreover, Cd accumulation in different parts of wheat is regulated by available Cd, Fe2O3, Al2O3, salinity, and organic matter of the soils. Except for the children's age group, the hazard quotient value was < 1 for the other population groups, indicating a low Cd risk of non-cancerous diseases caused by wheat consumption. Furthermore, the carcinogenic risk of Cd was in the low to very low range (1.00E−4 to 1.00E−6), with the highest and lowest risk calculated for children and adult men, respectively. The findings can contribute to wheat management and food security in Cd-polluted cropland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to compare the effects of four commercial herbal additives (Noviherb®, Bioessence®, Biostrong®, and Novigrow®), and a commercial antibiotic (virginiamycin) on growth performance, carcass yield, visceral organs weight, thyroid hormones, and humoral immune responses of broiler chickens. Nine hundred day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were reared in littercovered floor cages and distributed into five experimental groups with six replicates of 30 birds. Five dietary treatments tested were diets supplemented with Noviherb®, Bioessence®, Biostrong® (each of them 100g/ton of diet), Novigrow® (1000g/ton of diet), and virginiamycin (100g/ton of diet) as a positive control. Feed intake, body weight, mortality, feed conversion ratio, European broiler index, and feed cost per kilogram of body weight were measured during the experiment. Antibody titers against sheep red blood cells (SRBC), immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M, and plasma concentrations of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) were evaluated at the age of 42 days. Then, four birds per replicate were killed to determine the relative weight of carcass and organs. The GLM procedures of SAS software and Duncan's multiple range test were applied to analyze data in a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates of 30 birds per each. The effects of herbal additives on productive traits feed cost per kilogram of body weight and relative weight of organs were not significant in comparison with antibiotic treatment. Dietary inclusion of Noviherb®, Biostrong®, and Novigrow® significantly decreased feed cost per kilogram of carcass compared with Bioessence® or antibiotic treatments (p<0.05). The titers of IgG in Noviherb® and virginiamycin were significantly higher (p<0.05) than in Biostrong® and Novigrow® fed groups. The plasma concentration of triiodothyronine was significantly decreased (p<0.05) by dietary inclusion of Noviherb® and Novigrow® compared to the antibiotic. In conclusion, all the evaluated herbal additives could act as a substitute for the growth-promoting antibiotic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Process Dissociation Procedure (PDP) and Verbal Report Framework (VRF) reveal that both explicit (conscious) and implicit (unconscious) processes contribute to visuomotor adaptation. We looked to determine whether these two assessment methods establish similar processes underlying visuomotor adaptation by comparing the magnitude of explicit and implicit adaptation over time between the two assessments and to post-experiment assessments of awareness of the visuomotor distortion. Three groups of participants (PDP, VRF, VRF No-Cursor) completed three blocks of reach training in a virtual environment with a cursor rotated 40° clockwise relative to hand motion. Explicit and implicit adaptations were assessed immediately following each block, and again 5 min later. The VRF No-Cursor group completed the same assessment trials as the VRF group, but no visual feedback was presented during explicit and implicit assessment. Finally, participants completed a post-experiment questionnaire and a drawing task to assess their awareness of the visuomotor rotation and changes in reaches at the end of the experiment, respectively. We found that all groups adapted their reaches to the rotation. Averaged across participants, the magnitude and retention of explicit and implicit adaptations were similar between the PDP group and VRF group, with the VRF group demonstrating greater implicit adaptation than the VRF No-Cursor group. Furthermore, the magnitude of explicit adaptation established in the VRF group was not related to participant's post-experiment awareness of the visuomotor distortion nor how they had changed their reaches, as observed in the PDP group and VRF No-Cursor group. Together, these results indicate that, explicit adaptation established via typical VRF methods does not reflect one's awareness of the visuomotor distortion at the end of the experiment, and hence the established processes underlying visuomotor adaptation are dependent on method of assessment (i.e., PDP versus VRF). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stroke ranks as the world's second leading cause of death and third in causing disabilities, a preventable disease affecting people of all demographics. Primary prevention is crucial to mitigate its impact by addressing modifiable risk factors such as poor diet, low physical activity (PA), obesity, smoking, high blood pressure (BP), elevated cholesterol, and blood glucose levels. This study evaluated quality of diet and other stroke modifiable risk factors among New Zealand (NZ) participants recruited at the baseline phase of the PERKS-International trial. PERKS is a Phase III, multicentre, prospective, pragmatic, open-label, single-blinded endpoint, two-arm randomised controlled trial conducted across Australia and NZ(1). Participants aged >35 and ≤75 years with ≥2 modifiable risk factors for stroke were assessed using the Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score. LS7 includes seven components (BMI, BP, total cholesterol, blood glucose, dietary pattern, smoking, and PA) categorising into ideal, intermediate, and poor level. Height, weight, and BP were measured. Total cholesterol and blood glucose were measured via CardioChek PA Analyser. An online FFQ and Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered. Descriptive analyses and correlation coefficients were used to examine the characteristics of participants at the baseline. In NZ, out of 395 targeted participants, 375 (Female = 230, mean age = 57yrs) from diverse ethnic groups (NZ European = 204, Māori = 35, Pacific = 17) were recruited and assessed. Among LS7 metrics, smoking had the highest proportion of those in the ideal category (88%), followed by blood glucose (62%), total cholesterol (49%), dietary pattern (34%), BP (22%) and BMI (13%). Nearly 64% consumed <5 portions of fruits and vegetables per day. Almost half of the participants consumed beans and pulses less than once a week. About 43% and 31% consumed fibre-rich breakfast cereal and wholemeal bread less than once a week. Almost 10% drank fizzy drinks ≥4 times/week. Nearly 40% consumed sweets such as biscuits, cakes, and chocolate at least twice a week. Over half of the participants consumed red meat and chicken 2-3 times/week. In terms of other risk factors, over half of the participants were obese (BMI≥ 30 kg/m2). Only 12% were current smokers. About 10% drank alcohol 5-7 days/week. Physical activity expenditure (MET minutes/week) showed no significant sex difference. The LS7 factors correlated significantly were BMI and blood glucose (r = 0.157, p<0.01), total cholesterol and smoking (r=-0.129, p<0.01), BP and BMI (with a moderate correlation of r = 0.308, <0.001). The NZ participants in the PERKS-International trial, had poor diets, along with suboptimal lifestyle and biomedical stroke risk factors, reflecting the inclusion criteria for the study. Urgent action is required for the primary stroke prevention at population-level. The results of the trial, expected in 2024, will show the benefit of a mobile phone app on reducing these stroke risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple classifier systems (MCSs) have shown great performance for the classification of hyperspectral images. The requirements for a successful MCS are 1) diversity between ensembles and 2) good classification accuracy of each ensemble. In this paper, we develop a new MCS method based on a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Firstly, in each ensemble of the proposed method, called PSO-MCS, PSO identifies a subset of the spectral bands with a high J2 value, which is a measure of class-separability. Then, an SVM classifier is used to classify the input image, applying the selected features in each ensemble. Finally, the classification results of the entire ensembles are integrated using a majority voting strategy. Having the benefit of the PSO algorithm, PSO-MCS selects appropriate features. In addition, due to the fact that different features are selected in different runs of PSO, diversity between the ensembles is provided. Experimental results on an AVIRIS Indian Pine image show the superiority of the proposed method over its competitor, named random feature selection method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple classifier systems (MCSs) have shown great performance for the classification of hyperspectral images. The requirements for a successful MCS are 1) diversity between ensembles and 2) good classification accuracy of each ensemble. In this paper, we develop a new MCS method based on a particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Firstly, in each ensemble of the proposed method, called PSO-MCS, PSO identifies a subset of the spectral bands with a high J2 value, which is a measure of class-separability. Then, an SVM classifier is used to classify the input image, applying the selected features in each ensemble. Finally, the classification results of the entire ensembles are integrated using a majority voting strategy. Having the benefit of the PSO algorithm, PSO-MCS selects appropriate features. In addition, due to the fact that different features are selected in different runs of PSO, diversity between the ensembles is provided. Experimental results on an AVIRIS Indian Pine image show the superiority of the proposed method over its competitor, named random feature selection method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total and strong version of the Roman domination number (for graphs) is introduced in this research, and the study of its mathematical properties is therefore initiated. We establish upper bounds for such a parameter, and relate it with several parameters concerning vertex domination in graphs. In addition, among other results, we show that for any tree T of order n (T) ≥ 3 , maximum degree Δ (T) and s(T) support vertices, the total strong Roman domination number is bounded below by n (T) + s (T) Δ (T) + 1 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactoferrin and CXCR1 genes are involved in immune responses related to mastitis infection. In this study, the polymorphism and association of lactoferrin (LF) and CXCR1 genes with milk somatic cell counts, as an indicator for mastitis detection, were investigated in Guilan native cow (Taleshi breed) using DNA blood samples of 100 cows from three different geographical zones (west, center, and east of Guilan province). The LF gene with a 301 bp fragment and CXCR1 with a fragment of 311 bp were amplified through PCR by using their specific primers. Then LF polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product was digested by EcoRI enzyme due to a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the related position (T>C) in intron 6 of LF and CXCR1 PCR product by BaeGI enzyme due to G > C SNP at position +735. Two alleles and three genotypes were observed for both genes in the studied populations. The observed genotypic frequencies of AA, AB, and BB were 52, 39, and 9% for LF and 67, 12, and 20% for CXCR1 locus, respectively. Three genotypes of LF locus were under Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05) but it was not for CXCR1 locus. The mean of somatic cell counts was 138 x 10³/mL, much lower than the reported data of pure-bred and crossbred cattle. Although there was no significant association (P<0.05%) between LF genotypes and somatic cell score (SCS), there was a tendency for association (P<0.1). The CXCR1c.+735 genotype had a significant association (P<0.05) with SCS. Sampling from different regions did not show a significant effect on SCS. The fix effects including lactation month, age, and lactation number had also no significant effect on SCS of the studied native cow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anthracnose disease caused by the fungal pathogen Colletotrichum lindemuthianum (Sacc & Magnus) Briosi & Cavara, is a disease that causes significant seed yield losses in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) worldwide. A germplasm collection of climbing beans from Guatemala was evaluated in the greenhouse for their reaction to race 73 of C. lindemuthianum that occurs in many growing areas worldwide. This germplasm mostly represents the so-called race Guatemala. Approximately 10% of 369 climbing bean accessions showed no symptoms (score of 1 on a 1–9 anthracnose severity visual score scale). Genome wide association study (GWAS) results using 78,754 SNP markers indicated that genomic regions with resistance to race 73 of C. lindemuthianum exist in Pv04 and Pv07, which have been previously reported. We also report four candidate genes located on Pv04 and Pv07 suspected to be responsible for anthracnose resistance, based on their proximity to significantly associated SNP markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Today, in addition to the acute pancreatitis, hyperamylasemia is seen among some other acute surgical conditions. Therefore, the aim of this study was to introduce a case of hyperamylasemia as a rare case in a patient with uncomplicated appendicitis. Case report: The present study was a case report in which a 10-year-old patient referred to Ali-ebn Abi Taleb Hospital in Rafsanjan city with abdominal pain. During hospitalization, serum amylase levels were monitored twice, which were 259 U/L and 287 U/L, respectively. The patient eventually underwent surgery with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis and was discharged with good general condition after 4 days of admission. Conclusion: An increase in serum amylase level should not distract the surgeon from other diagnoses of acute abdominal surgery, especially if acute appendicitis is suspected for the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that it is possible to extend the application of formalism to some special separable non-canonic cases. In this work, we extended the multi-brid idea to the multi-field separable model with a non-canonical kinetic term, mainly DBI (Dirac–Born–Infeld) action. Multi-brid stands for multi-component hybrid inflation which is based on δN formalism. To be more explicit, we considered the DBI model for two different limits, viz., speed limit and constant sound speed, as examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let k ≥ 1 be an integer and G be a simple and finite graph with vertex set V (G). A signed Roman k-dominating function (SRkDF) on a graph G is a function f : V (G) → {−1, 1, 2} such that (i) every vertex v with f (v) = −1 is adjacent to at least one vertex u with f (u) = 2, (ii) Σu ϵN[v]f (u) ≥ k holds for any vertex v. The weight of a SRkDF f is ΣuϵV (G)f (u), and the minimum weight of a SRkDF is the signed Roman k-domination number (G) of G. In this paper, we investigate the (G) signed Roman k-domination number of graphs, and we establish some bounds on (G). In the case that T is a tree, we present lower and upper bounds on (T) for k ∈ {3, 4} and classify all extremal trees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total Roman dominating function on a graph G is a labeling f : V (G) → { 0 , 1 , 2 } such that every vertex with label 0 has a neighbor with label 2 and the subgraph of G induced by the set of all vertices of positive weight has no isolated vertex. A set { f 1 , f 2 , ... , f d } of total Roman dominating functions on G with the property that ∑ i = 1 d f i (v) ≤ 2 for each v ∈ V (G) , is called a total Roman dominating family (of functions) on G. The maximum number of functions in a total Roman dominating family on G is the total Roman domatic number of G , denoted by d tR (G). In this paper, we investigate the properties of total Roman domatic number in graphs. In particular, we present some sharp bounds for d tR (G) and we determine the total Roman domatic number of some special graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double Roman dominating function (DRDF) on a graph G = (V , E) is a function f : V (G) → { 0 , 1 , 2 , 3 } such that (i) every vertex v with f (v) = 0 is adjacent to at least two vertices assigned a 2 or to at least one vertex assigned a 3 and (ii) every vertex v with f (v) = 1 is adjacent to at least one vertex w with f (w) ≥ 2. The weight of a DRDF is the sum of its function values over all vertices. The double Roman domination number γ dR (G) equals the minimum weight of a DRDF on G. The concept of criticality with respect to various operations on graphs has been studied for several domination parameters. In this paper, we study the concept of criticality for double Roman domination in graphs. In addition, we characterize double Roman domination edge super critical graphs and we will give several characterizations for double Roman domination vertex (edge) critical graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment investigated the effects of different doses of Bacillus subtilis spore as a probiotic on the immune response, intestinal morphology and ileal dry matter digestibility in broiler chicks exposed to stress induced by corticosterone (CORT). Two hundred and eighty-eight one-day-old Ross 308 male broiler chicks were randomly assigned to six treatments in a completely randomized factorial design with and without CORT injection and 3 levels (0, 0.8x106, and 1.6x106 cfu/g) of B. subtilis spore supplementation. At 7 to 9 days of age (for 3 days), the chicks received one of the subcutaneous injections of CORT or corn oil (as control) at 2 mg/kg BW twice a day. The same injections were repeated at 25 to 27 days of age. Corticosterone injection led to significant (P<0.05) changes in intestinal morphology including villus height, ratio of villus height to crypt depth, and dry matter digestibility (as measured by TiO2 marker). These same parameters, however, increased in the experimental chicks relative to the control as a result of probiotic supplementation. Heterophil/lymphocyte ratio increased (P<0.05) as a result of corticosterone injection but exhibited no significant effect of probiotic supplementation. While corticosterone injection decreased lymphocyte density in the medulla of the bursa of Fabricius, this adverse effect was reversed by probiotic supplementation, which was more effective at a 1.6 x 106 concentration than at 0.8 x 106. As a general conclusion, it may be claimed that administration of B. subtilis-based probiotic alleviates certain negative effects of the stress induced by the corticosterone injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background and Objectives: Ulcerative Colitis is an inflammation of colon mucosa that is treated by corticosteroids. Our aim in this study was to report a case of immunodeficiency in this disease caused by long-term corticosteroid treatment. Case Report: This study was a case report of ulcerative colitis patient, who has been using prednisolone from five years ago till now without the doctor's prescription. The patient had referred to the Ali-ebn Abi-Taleb Hospital in Rafsanjan with respiratory complaint which was treated as staphylococcal pneumonia, but no improvement was made. During BAL and sputum culture, mucormycosis was diagnosed and treated. Conclusion: This case report indicates the importance of following up in patients treated by corticosteroids, because if this drug was properly discontinued, he would not face this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rational function models (RFMs) are known as one of the most appealing models which are extensively applied in geometric correction of satellite images and map production. Overfitting is a common issue, in the case of terrain dependent RFMs, that degrades the accuracy of RFMs-derived geospatial products. This issue, resulting from the high number of RFMs' parameters, leads to ill-posedness of the RFMs. To tackle this problem, in this study, a fast and robust statistical approach is proposed and compared to Tikhonov regularization (TR) method, as a frequently-used solution to RFMs' overfitting. In the proposed method, a statistical test, namely, significance test is applied to search for the RFMs' parameters that are resistant against overfitting issue. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated for two real data sets of Cartosat-1 satellite images. The obtained results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method in term of the achievable level of accuracy. This technique, indeed, shows an improvement of 50-80% over the TR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize the clinical symptoms and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of unilateral cortical FLAIR-hyperintense Lesions in Anti-MOG-associated Encephalitis with Seizures (FLAMES). Methods: This is a case report and systematic review of the literature to identify cases of unilateral cortical FLAMES. Cases were reviewed to determine the frequency of clinical symptoms (seizures, headache, fever and cortical symptoms referable to FLAMES location), and to determine whether MRI abnormalities are restricted to the unilateral cortex in this syndrome. Results: We identified 20 cases of unilateral cortical FLAMES for review. Among them, 17/20 (85%) had seizures, 14/20 (70%) had headache, 13/20 (65%) had fever, 11/20 (55%) reported cortical symptoms referable to the FLAMES location, and 19/20 (95%) reported at least two of these four findings. On MRI 4/20 (20%) had some contralateral hemispheric cortical signal abnormality, and 6/20 (30%) had MRI findings concerning for meningeal inflammation. Conclusions: In patients with unilateral cortical FLAMES, the clinical symptoms of seizures, headache, fever and cortical symptoms referable to the FLAMES location are frequent. Although initially described as a unilateral cortical encephalitis, bilateral cortical involvement and possible meningeal inflammation could indicate a broader disease spectrum. Recognition of this distinct clinico-radiographic syndrome may facilitate prompt diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel hybrid model was developed in order to study the membrane-based liquid separation process. The membrane system was a continuous hollow-fiber membrane module for contacting two aqueous and organic phases for reactive extraction of benzoic acid (BA) from aqueous solution. Two simulation approaches were utilized in order to build a robust hybrid model. The hybrid model is composed of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) elements. First, the CFD approach was used in order to capture the mass transfer of the system, whereas ANFIS was trained using the obtained CFD results. The hybrid model was used to predict the concentration distribution of solute in the membrane contactor. The combined simulation methodology can reduce the computational costs and time significantly, while it predicts the process with high accuracy. The ANFIS was trained based on the extracted data of concentration distribution from the CFD simulations, and the training and test analyses indicated great agreement. Different membership functions were evaluated, and it was revealed that using three functions, an R 2 {R^{2}} of 0.996 was obtained. The simulation results reveal that the BA concentration was changed along the membrane length and diffusional mass transfer is more significant in order to improve the separation efficiency of BA using membrane contactors. The developed hybrid simulation methodology is capable of design and optimization of membrane-based separation at low computational expenses and provides a predictive tool for process intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an immunocompetent patient with transverse myelitis (TM) during acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, as evidenced by a reactive serum CMV IgM and CMV viremia. The patient had an excellent outcome after receiving only high-dose methylprednisolone. Given concerns that practitioners may have around the use of immunosuppressive therapy for this potentially infectious myelopathy, we systematically reviewed the literature to assess outcomes after administration of high-dose corticosteroids to this population. Despite severe disease at clinical nadir with inability to ambulate, immunocompetent patients with acute CMV-associated TM who received high-dose corticosteroids had good clinical outcomes 1 month to 1 year after presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is associated with morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. In this case-control study, we determined the association between posttransplant PCP and 3 variables: cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, allograft rejection, and prophylaxis. Methods Eight transplant centers participated. For each case (SOT recipient with PCP), 3–5 controls (SOT recipients without PCP) were included. Controls were matched to the cases based on transplant center, type of allograft, and date of transplantation (±6 months). Results We enrolled 53 cases and 209 controls. Transplant types included kidney (n = 198), heart (n = 30), liver (n = 15), kidney-pancreas (n = 14), and lung (n = 5). PCP occurred beyond 12 months after transplantation in 43 (81.1%) cases. Thirty-four cases (64.1%) required admission to the intensive care unit, and 28 (52.8%) had mechanical ventilation. Allograft failure occurred in 20 (37.7%) cases, and 14 (26.9%) died. No patient developed PCP prophylaxis breakthrough. The proportion of female sex (P =.009), kidney dysfunction (P =.001), cardiac diseases (P =.005), diabetes mellitus (P =.03), allograft rejection (P =.001), CMV infection (P =.001), and severe lymphopenia (P =.001) were significantly higher in cases. In the logistic regression model, CMV infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 4.6 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 2.0–10.5]) and allograft rejection (aOR, 3.0 [95% CI, 1.5–6.1]) significantly increased the likelihood of PCP. Conclusions PCP was mostly a late-onset disease occurring after complete course of prophylaxis, particularly among patients with CMV infection or allograft rejection. PCP is associated with significant allograft loss. Extended prophylaxis targeting recipients with allograft rejection or CMV infection may reduce the risk of PCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving soil microbial activity and using microbial synergistic relations, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), are of major importance for plant growth in contaminated soils with heavy metals. In this study, growth of Russian knapweed (Acroptilon repens L.) inoculated with either AMF or PGPR was studied in a soil spiked with 0, 10, 30, 100 mg kg− 1 cadmium (Cd). AMF colonization rate in roots significantly declined by an average of 63.6% as soil Cd level increased. Similarly, shoot dry weight significantly declined as soil Cd level increased, but inoculation with either AMF or PGPR showed a promoting effect on shoot biomass compared with the non-inoculated plants. Cd concentrations in the shoots were higher in the PGPR-treated plants compared with control plants, whereas Cd concentrations in the roots were higher in the AMF-treated plants. The highest amount of Cd extraction was observed for PGPR-inoculated plants, followed by AMF-inoculated plants, and control plants. Elevated Cd level in the soil decreased the photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids, but AMF- and PGPR-treated plants alleviated this effect compared with control plants. Similarly, relative water content (RWC) of Russian knapweed plants decreased with elevated Cd level in the soil, but RWC was higher in the inoculated plants in all Cd levels in the soil. Inoculation of Russian knapweed plants with AMF and PGPR may effectively contribute to restoration of Cd-contaminated soils and can promote phytoremediation processes. Further research could focus on the effectiveness of Russian knapweed plant inoculation with AMF and PGPR in alleviating heavy metal toxicity in different soil types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A double Roman dominating function (DRDF) on a graph G=(V,E) is a function f:V→{0,1,2,3} having the property that if f(v)=0, then vertex v must have at least two neighbors assigned 2 under f or one neighbor w with f(w)=3, and if f(v)=1, then vertex v must have at least one neighbor w with f(w)≥2. The weight of a DRDF f is the value f(V)=∑u∈Vf(u). The double Roman domination numberγdR(G) of a graph G is the minimum weight of a DRDF on G. Beeler et al. (Discrete Appl Math 211:23-29, 2016) observed that every connected graph G having minimum degree at least two satisfies the inequality γdR(G)≤6n5 and posed the question whether this bound can be improved. In this paper, we settle the question and prove that for any connected graph G of order n with minimum degree at least two, γdR(G)≤8n7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motion equations of diatomic molecules are here extended from the absolute vibrational case to a more general and real rotational and vibrational (rovibrational) case. The rovibrational Hamiltonian is heuristically formed by substituting the respective number and angular momentum operators for the vibrational and rotational quantum numbers in the energy eigenvalues of a diatomic molecule which was first introduced by Dunham. The motion equations of observable quantities such as the position and linear momentum are then determined by implementing the well-known Heisenberg relation in quantum mechanics. We face with the second-order imaginary differential equations for describing the temporal variations of the relative position and the linear momentum of two oscillating atoms, which are coupled in thex–yhorizontal plane. The possible rovibrational oscillations are distinguished by the three quantum numbersn,landmassociated with the energy and angular momentum quantities. It is finally demonstrated that the simultaneous solutions of rovibrational equations satisfy the energy conservation during all quantised oscillations of a diatomic molecule in space. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cognitive heterogeneous network is a promising technology to meet the requirements of future wireless networks in cost and energy efficiency. By using vertical handover (VHO) between different network tiers, such as macro and femto, the traffic congestion can be potentially alleviated, and the spectral efficiency is significantly increased. However, performing VHO for a cognitive handover user (CHU) and simultaneously guaranteeing the quality of service of the primary user (PU) is the most challenging issue in such a network. This paper proposes an efficient VHO strategy in a cognitive heterogeneous network, which considers both adaptive average received signal and spectrum availability, namely, average received signal and spectrum availability. To analyse the performance of the proposed average received signal and spectrum availability algorithm, several metrics are investigated. First, the assignment probability of a CHU from a macro base station to a femto base station is evaluated and simplified in a closed-form expression. Then, the outage probability of a CHU and collision probability of the PU are theoretically investigated for the proposed algorithm and are compared with 2 well-known algorithms, the modified received signal strength-α and the received signal strength and wireless transmission loss. We also introduce a new performance metric, referred to as figure of merit, which jointly considers the assignment and outage probability of a CHU, collision probability of a PU, and the number of unnecessary handovers of a CHU. Figure of merit effectively shows the superiority of the proposed handover algorithm to conventional ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total Roman dominating function (TRDF) on a graph is a function satisfying the conditions (i) every vertex for which is adjacent at least one vertex for which and (ii) the subgraph of induced by the set of all vertices of positive weight has no isolated vertex. The weight of a TRDF is the sum of its function values over all vertices. A total Roman dominating function is called a global total Roman dominating function (GTRDF) if is also a TRDF of the complement of . The global total Roman domination number of is the minimum weight of a GTRDF on . In this paper, we initiate the study of global total Roman domination number and investigate its basic properties. In particular, we relate the global total Roman domination and the total Roman domination and the global Roman domination number. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA-sequencing is a new method of transcriptome characterization of organisms. Based on identity and relatedness, there are large genetic variations among different cattle breeds. The goal of the current study was to sequence the transcriptome of Guilan native cow and compare with available reference genome using RNA-sequencing method. Blood samples were collected from 14 Guilan native cows and then were pooled with same ratios of 3 micrograms per sample. Sequencing of the pooled sample was carried out using Illumina Hiseq 2000 from both end and 100 base pair of reading length. Tophat2 software was used to align the reads with reference genome and identify splice junctions and insertions and deletions. Cufflinks software was used to assemble transcripts and calculate their abundances. Total numbers of sequenced RNA fragments were 28434708 and the overall reading map was 87.4 percent. Total numbers of expressed genes were 24616 genes, which 19994 genes from these were protein coding genes and 3825 genes were non-coding. Adenosine triphosphate synthase 6 (ATP6) and ribosomal protein, large, P1 (RPLP1) genes showed the highest abundances of all expressed genes. The majority of highly expressed genes were involved in ribosomal structures and translational activities; moreover, they were belonging to housekeeping genes. The current study is a report of leukocytes transcriptome sequencing of Guilan native cow which have been not reported, so far. As Guilan native cow has the biggest population among all native populations in Iran, such studies could help to evaluate the genetic potential of this high precise genetic resource in Western Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, GaAs and Ge solar cells have been studied and simulated separately and the inner characteristics of each have been calculated including the energy band structure, the internal field, carrier density distribution in the equilibrium condition (dark condition) and the voltage-current curve in the sun exposure with the output power of each one. Finally, the output power of these two mechanically stacked cells is achieved. Drift-diffusion model have been used for simulation that solved with numerically method and Gummel algorithm. In this simulation, the final cells exposed to sun light in a standard AM 1.5 G conditions and temperatures are 300° K. The efficiency of the proposed structure is 9.47%. The analytical results are compared with results of numerical simulations and the accuracy of the method used is shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mucinous gastrointestinal cancers may indicate a higher propensity for widespread peritoneal seeding than their non-mucinous counterparts. We hypothesized that mucin content of gastrointestinal cancer cells and tumors is an indicator of cell viability and a determinant of the peritoneal tumor burden and tested our hypothesis in relevant experimental models. Methods: MKN45 and LS174T models of human gastrointestinal cancer were treated with known mucin-depleting agents in vitro and in vivo, their mucin production was evaluated with Western blot immunohistochemistry, PAS staining and ELISA, and its correlation with cell viability and peritoneal tumor burden was analyzed. Results: A relationship was found between the viability of cancer cells and their mucin levels in vitro. In agreement, when treated animal models were categorized into low- and high-burden groups (based on the weight and number of the peritoneal nodules), tumoral mucin levels were found to be significantly higher in the latter group. Conclusions: Tumoral mucin is apparently among the factors that dictate the pattern and extent of the peritoneal spread of gastrointestinal cancer, where it allows for enhanced dissemination and redistribution. If further tested and validated, our hypothesis could lay the basis for the development of novel mucin-targeted strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Usually silkworm egg producers provide several silkworm hybrids with different qualities of productivity and viability traits. This study was conducted to compare the expression of HSP70 and HSP90 genes among different silkworm hybrids. In the fourth day of fifth larval instar of two Japanese maternal parents (103×104 and 107×110) and two Chinese maternal parents (110×107 and 104×103), silkworm larval fat body was sampled from heat shock (45 °C for 35 min) and non-heat shock groups. Sampling was done at 0, 2, 4 and 24 h after heat shock. Gene expression of HSP70 and HSP90 (target genes) were measured by qRT-PCR using RPL27a as reference gene. The prolonged heat shock (8 h at 39 °C) was utilized to examine the thermal tolerance of larvae in comparison with control group (24°C). The results showed both HSP70 and HSP90 have been up-regulated in the treated larvae. The hybrids with Japanese female parents (107×110 and 103×104) were more sensitive than two others; moreover in these hybrids, HSP90 and HSP70 were expressed significantly more than others after heat exposure. The maximum expression was occurred in the time zero, then a decreasing trend was observed over time. Comparison of larval mortality among four hybrids revealed that (103×104) and (110×107) hybrids had the highest and the lowest mortality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article profiles a birth cohort of Pacific children participating in an observational prospective study and describes the study protocol used at ages 14-15 years to investigate how food and activity patterns, metabolic risk and family and built environment are related to rates of physical growth of Pacific children. Participants: From 2000 to 2015, the Pacific Islands Families Study has followed, from birth, the growth and development of over 1000 Pacific children born in Auckland, New Zealand. In 2014, 931 (66%) of the original cohort had field measures of body composition, blood pressure and glycated haemoglobin. A nested subsample (n=204) was drawn by randomly selecting 10 males and 10 females from each decile of body weight. These participants had measurement of body composition by dual-energy Xray absorptiometry, food frequency, 6 min walk test and accelerometer-determined physical activity and sedentary behaviours, and blood biomarkers for metabolic disease such as diabetes. Built environment variables were generated from individual addresses. Findings to date: Compared to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference population with mean SD scores (SDS) of 0, this cohort of 931 14-year-olds was taller, weighed more and had a higher body mass index (BMI) (mean SDS height >0.6, weight >1.6 and BMI >1.4). 7 of 10 youth were overweight or obese. The nested-sampling frame achieved an even distribution by body weight. Future plans: Cross-sectional relationships between body size, fatness and growth rate, food patterns, activity patterns, pubertal development, risks for diabetes and hypertension and the family and wider environment will be examined. In addition, analyses will investigate relationships with data collected earlier in the life course and measures of the cohort in the future. Understanding past and present influences on child growth and health will inform timely interventions to optimise future health and reduce inequalities for Pacific people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, various morphologies of copper oxide (CuO) were synthesized from acetate, sulfate, and nitrate precursors using hydrothermal bath method. The photoluminescence spectra revealed that CuO-Ni sample contains the strongest surface defect peak which can be related to its highest active surface area. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) results showed that the concentration of the surface OH−group on the samples varies considerably according to CuO-Ac > CuO-Ni > CuO-Su. From structural results, it could be observed that all the samples crystallized into a monoclinic crystal structure. The photocatalytic activity of CuO samples was evaluated by the catalytic oxidation of methylene blue in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Concerning the nearly same optical band gap for the samples, the best photocatalytic performance of CuO-Ni nanorods was assigned to its highest active surface area and surface hydroxyl groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present research, the degradation of tylosin (TYL) by nano Ag/process under various reaction conditions was investigated. The experiments were performed in a batch reactor, using nanosilver as a catalyst. Effects of pH, persulfate concentration, temperature, and catalytic nano Ag on the degradation efficiency of TYL by persulfate are examined. For treatment of solutions containing 50 mg/L of TYL, the optimum obtained conditions were: 0.4 g/L of nano Ag, 100 mM of the KPS, initial pH of 6.0, and temperature of 40°C. The degradation of TYL by nano Ag/oxidation process has been found to follow the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Finally rate equation for TYL degradation using Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model is: [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Improving shoe-floor friction in order to reduce slip and fall accidents requires thorough understanding of the factors that contribute to friction. The friction between a sliding viscoelastic material (shoe) and a hard surface (floor) has two major components: adhesion and hysteresis. This study aimed to quantify the effects of floor roughness and sliding speed on adhesion and hysteresis to determine how each component contributes to the coefficient of friction. Experiments were conducted on a pin on disc tribometer using ceramic tiles with three levels of roughness, six sliding speeds, two common shoe materials and four liquid lubricants. Hysteresis was measured using a lubricant that minimised adhesion. Dry and lubricated adhesion was measured by subtracting hysteresis from the coefficient of friction. Analysis of variance regression models were used to determine the contributions of hysteresis, dry adhesion, sliding speed and fluid to lubricated coefficient of friction. Increased floor roughness led to increased hysteresis, while increased sliding speed reduced both adhesion and hysteresis. These findings are consistent with theory that states that larger asperities increase hysteretic deformation and that sliding speed affects deformation and real area of contact between a viscoelastic material and a hard surface. The model correctly predicted 83% of variation in coefficient of friction based on dry adhesion, hysteresis and fluid dependent constants. The sensitivity of hysteresis friction to shoe material and floor roughness indicates that optimising these parameters may be effective at reducing slip accidents on oily floor surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]