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• Multifunctional retention ponds aid significantly in stormwater management. • Urban Retention Pond Index assessment model is a universal decision-support tool. • URPI model assesses and rates the stormwater management performance of ponds. • ANP indicated soil investigation mainly manages stormwaters of a retention pond. • GSA evaluated dominant control and robust decision-making of the URPI model. The ever-growing impervious and contaminated surfaces in urban areas result in severe floods, degraded waterways, and stormwater. Water-sensitive strategies and water-sensitive urban design and planning can manage stormwaters through multifunctional retention ponds; however, urban professionals seek an assessment model that evaluates and quantifies the performance of multifunctional retention ponds on stormwater management. This research has developed the Urban Retention Pond Index (URPI) assessment model, a universal multi-layered decision-support tool that constitutes three criteria (C1. Geotechnical functions, C2. Water quality and treatment, and C3. Structural and physical landscaping functions), and twenty sub-criteria. Employing Analytical Network Process (ANP) has determined the weights of indicators, which formulated the URPI index. The ANP result indicated soil investigation (W C1.1 = 0.170), soil retention (W C2.1 = 0.156), and infiltration rate (W C1.2 = 0.108) could extensively impact to the performance of multifunctional retention ponds. To validate the model, it was implemented in the Boneyard Creek retention pond using the Weighted Sum Method. The assessment analysis assigned grade A to this site, meaning, Boneyard Creek pond manages stormwater mainly through Soils Investigation (W C1.1 = 0.150), Soil retention (W C2.1 = 0.144), and Infiltration Rate (W C1.2 = 0.091). Furthermore, Global Sensitivity Analysis (GSA) was conducted to analyze the URPI model's input–output uncertainty and effect of variations, through a series of methods; Cumulative Distribution Functions (CDF), Probability Density Function (PDF), Scatterplot-Histogram Plot, Box-Whisker Plot, and Parallel Coordination. GSA could support the dominant controls and robust decision-making of the URPI model. GSA results determined that model outputs are empirically distributed with minor regression variance to the theoretical distribution. Most of the outputs fall within the intervals where the mean and median are more significant than the mode. The multiple regression analysis has shown that the three criteria are positively and linearly correlated. The Box-Whisker plots revealed the behaviors of the four mentioned measures are similar. Notably, the Box-Whisker standard error plots indicated the minor errors of the outputs in the whole network of the URPI model. Meanwhile, the Parallel Coordination indicated the largest centrality degrees by the spillway and landscape habitat retention sub-criteria and the largest Eigenvector centralities by soil retention and soil investigation sub-criteria in the whole network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the effect of adding twisted fins in a triple-tube heat exchanger used for latent heat storage compared with using straight fins and no fins. In the proposed heat exchanger, phase change material (PCM) is placed between the middle annulus while hot water is passed in the inner tube and outer annulus in a counter-current direction, as a superior method to melt the PCM and store the thermal energy. The behavior of the system was assessed regarding the liquid fraction and temperature distributions as well as charging time and energy storage rate. The results indicate the advantages of adding twisted fins compared with those of using straight fins. The effect of several twisted fins was also studied to discover its effectiveness on the melting rate. The results demonstrate that deployment of four twisted fins reduced the melting time by 18% compared with using the same number of straight fins, and 25% compared with the no-fins case considering a similar PCM mass. Moreover, the melting time for the case of using four straight fins was 8.3% lower than that compared with the no-fins case. By raising the fins' number from two to four and six, the heat storage rate rose 14.2% and 25.4%, respectively. This study presents the effects of novel configurations of fins in PCM-based thermal energy storage to deliver innovative products toward commercialization, which can be manufactured with additive manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Physicochemical upgrading of pyrolysis oil: ether extraction and supercritical HDO. • HDO of pyrolysis oil over Ni/HBeta and Ni/HZSM-5 in supercritical MeOH/EtOH. • Enhanced HDO by removing heavy fraction of pyrolysis oil via ether extraction. • Improved HHV of pyrolysis oil from 13.76 to 30.53 MJ/kg. • Coke formation through condensation, rearrangement, and hydrogen transfer reactions. In this research, Ni-based catalysts with different supports (HBeta and HZSM-5) were prepared via the impregnation method and subsequently tested for the catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of crude pyrolysis oil (CPO) using supercritical methanol (MeOH). The Ni/HBeta showed a better catalytic performance than Ni/HZSM-5, resulting in a 43.81% deoxygenation degree of CPO. In addition, the ether extraction of CPO was carried out to remove its heavy fraction and improve the efficiency of the upgrading process. A high-quality refined oil was achieved after using the combined physicochemical treatments of ether extraction and supercritical catalytic HDO. The upgrading efficiency was evaluated in terms of the degree of deoxygenation, carbon residue value, water content, higher heating value, and distribution of products. The effect of the type of supercritical solvent on the catalytic HDO performance of Ni/HZSM-5 was evaluated by replacing MeOH with ethanol (EtOH). The results showed that when MeOH was substituted with EtOH, the yields of the gaseous and solid products were significantly reduced, while the yield of liquid products was considerably increased. Meanwhile, the content of coke deposited on the catalysts was analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis, and the coke compositions were evaluated using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. While the minimum catalytic coke content was obtained using Ni/HBeta in the supercritical HDO of CPO, the minimum coke content was observed using Ni/HZSM-5 in the upgrading of ether-extracted pyrolysis oil (EEPO). The FTIR results revealed that the coke deposited on the catalysts was mainly formed through condensation, rearrangement, and hydrogen transfer mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Study heat recovery from double elliptical latent heat storage system. • Study on different alignments of both inner and outer ellipse pipes. • Increase the rate of heat recovery using nano-enhanced phase change material by 4.8. • Increase the rate of heat recovery using double wavy inner tubes by 1.26. This work investigates an optimal model of the heat recovery from a double elliptical latent heat storage system using wavy inner tubes and nano-enhanced phase change material (PCM). A discharging rate and time, as well as the PCM thermal distribution in a three-dimensional simulation, are evaluated considering various alignments for both inner and outer ellipse pipes. The use of two inner tubes in two different cases considering straight and wavy tubes is also examined, followed by influences of various concentrations and types of nanoparticles. The inlet temperature and Reynolds number of heat transfer fluid (HTF) are also examined. ANSYS-FLUENT software is used to perform the numerical simulation. RT 35 and Silicon Carbide (SiC) are employed as the PCM and nanomaterials, respectively. Water is also considered as the HTF with the Reynolds number of 900. Different values of 20 and 40 mm are proposed for the horizontal and vertical radii of the outer tube to examine the different orientations of the elliptical tube considering the inner radius ranged from 4.95 to 14 mm. The findings show that the vertical alignment of the inner tube compound in the centre of the horizontal position of the outer tube presents higher efficiency during the solidification process. Using double pipes in both straight and wavy configurations increases the surface area, which enhances the heat transfer rate, accelerating the solidification rate by 1.26 and 1.1, respectively. The PCM compound with SiC nanoparticles with 2% and 4% concentrations accelerates the discharging rate by 2.8 and 4.8 times, respectively, compared with the single straight inner pipe case. Furthermore, it is found that by decreasing the temperature of the heat transfer fluid from 285 K to 280 K, the total solidification time reduces from 48 to 39 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface-piercing propellers (SPPs) are a specific type of supercavitating propellers that have higher efficiencies at high advance speeds. The SPPs operate on a free surface, so due to the ventilation and air suction into the water, the pressure of the suction surface of the blade approaches atmospheric pressure. Given the importance of better understanding this phenomenon, in this research, the formation and development of ventilation in an SPP5.74 5-blade SPP is numerically investigated by defining proper geometrical and physical parameters. The finite volume method (FVM) has been implemented to numerical modeling and simulating the free surface carried out by the volume of fluid (VOF) two-phase model. The numerical results have compared with the experimental data with similar conditions due to validating the simulation. Also, the simulations were carried out in six different advance coefficients ranges from 0.44 to 0.94. In the results section, different parameters are introduced, including the length and thickness of the ventilation zone, the influence of the advance coefficient on the physics of the ventilation phenomenon have been evaluated in various propeller radius ratios. The results show that in the suction surface and the points where ventilation starts, the pressure tends to the atmospheric pressure, by reducing the advance coefficient, the thickness, and the length of the ventilation zone increase, in this condition, the ventilation zone moves towards the leading edge. In constant advance coefficients, increasing the radius ratio reduces the thickness and the length of the ventilation zone. In high radius ratios and near the tip of the blade, the ventilation is limited to the trailing edge. Moreover, the analysis of the pressure coefficients shows that in the ventilation zone, the pressure coefficient is zero, while in the other areas, it ranges from 0 to 1. With larger advance coefficients, the areas with the zero pressure coefficient tend towards the trailing edge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In-situ hydrogenation of bio-oil/bio-oil phenolics with 2-PrOH and 2-BuOH. • A synthesized meso -Ni/CeO 2 was highly efficient for in-situ hydrogenation reaction. • Bio-oil deoxygenation degree of 38.90 and 37.54% using 2-PrOH and 2-BuOH H-donors. • An enhanced HHV of bio-oil from 13.21 to around 25 MJ/kg using the H-donors. Mesoporous ceria, which was synthesized under supercritical conditions, was found to be an effective support material of Ni catalyst for the in-situ hydrogenation of m -cresol (a representative compound of bio-oil) using secondary alcohols of 2-propanol (2-PrOH) and 2-butanol (2-BuOH) as a hydrogen source (H-donor) to produce 3-methylcyclohexanol, 3-methylcyclohexene, and methylcyclohexane under a H 2 gas-free atmosphere. The activities of different metal catalysts (Ni, Cu, and Co) for the in-situ hydrogenation of m -cresol were examined using 2-PrOH as a H-donor. Total and effective conversion of m -cresol achieved only over Ni/CeO 2 because of its fair catalytic properties, as determined by N 2 adsorption-desorption, hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction, ammonia temperature-programmed desorption, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The dependence of Ni/CeO 2 performance on the reaction time (4–6 h) and Ni loading (3–9 wt%) was examined from the in-situ hydrogenation of m -cresol with 2-PrOH. The deactivation test of Ni/CeO 2 was performed by reusing the spent catalyst, which was then regenerated through successive oxidation and reduction, several times in the m -cresol transformation employing 2-PrOH as a H-donor. In addition to m -cresol, other phenolic model compounds of bio-oil, such as anisole, phenol, and guaiacol, were also treated by in-situ hydrogenation with 2-PrOH over Ni/CeO 2. Although this catalyst was effective for phenol and guaiacol transformation, it was relatively ineffective for anisole conversion. The in-situ hydrogenation of crude bio-oil with 2-PrOH and 2-BuOH was accomplished over the Ni/CeO 2 catalyst, resulting in a refined bio-oil with a 37.5–38.9% lower oxygen content and a high heating value (HHV) of up to 25 MJ/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unfortunately, in the original publication of the article the second author's first name was inadvertently misspelled [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bio-oil hydrodeoxygenation using 2-PrOH and 2-BuOH as alternative for hydrogen gas. • Transfer hydrogenation of guaiacol and crude bio-oil over Pd/C catalyst. • Guaiacol transformation to (1-methylpropyl)cyclohexane (as an oxygen-free product). • Bio-oil deoxygenation degree of 25.67 and 38.12% using 2-PrOH and 2-BuOH H-donors. • Improved HHV of bio-oil from 13.21 to 20.05 and 25.86 MJ/kg using 2-PrOH and 2-BuOH. The hydrodeoxygenation of guaiacol, as a pyrolysis oil representative model compound, was carried out over a Pd/C catalyst using a liquid hydrogen source of 2-propanol (2-PrOH) as an alternative to hydrogen gas. The effects of reaction temperature (190–230 °C), initial nitrogen pressure (0.5–12 bar), Pd loading amount (5 and 10 wt%), catalyst content (0.2–0.5 g), and reaction time (1–6 h) on the product distribution were investigated. Generally, 2-methoxycyclohexanone (two-oxygen-containing compound), methoxycyclohexane, cyclohexanol, 2-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-ol, 2-cyclopenten-1-one, cyclohexanone, 2-cyclohexen-1-ol, phenol (one-oxygen-containing compounds), and (1-methylpropyl)cyclohexane (oxygen-free compound) were produced during the transfer hydrogenation of guaiacol in 2-PrOH. The feasibility of using different types of alcohols, primary (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol) and secondary (2-propanol, and 2-butanol), as a substitute for hydrogen gas in the guaiacol hydrodeoxygenation process was examined, and it was found that only the secondary alcohols could act as a H-donor for the guaiacol transformation over Pd/C. Both 2-PrOH and 2-butanol (2-BuOH) led to almost complete conversion of guaiacol (≥98.5 wt%). However, complete deoxygenation of guaiacol to (1-methylpropyl)cyclohexane only occurred when 2-PrOH was used as the reducing agent. Finally, the transfer hydrogenation of raw pyrolysis oil was carried out over Pd/C at 230 °C and an initial nitrogen pressure of 8 bar for 4 h using 2-PrOH and 2-BuOH as the H-donors. Although 2-PrOH was the most efficient H-donor for guaiacol hydrodeoxygenation, 2-BuOH led to a higher level of deoxygenation of pyrolysis oil, resulting in a greater heating value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the most significant demographic challenges over the past three decades has been the substantial reduction in fertility rates, worldwidely. As a developing country, Iran has also experienced a rapid decline in fertility over the past decades. Understanding factors influencing fertility is essential for development programs. Moreover, it's crucial to study the parameters that affect the intention for childbearing in any society. Therefore, through a systematic scoping review, the present study investigates the factors influencing couples' decisions toward childbearing. Methods: This study was a systematic scoping review conducted in 2023. To design and conduct this scoping review, Joanna Briggs Institute's Protocol (Institute TJB, The Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers ' manual 2015; methodology for JBI scoping reviews, 2015) was used and the framework presented by Levac et al. (2010) was also used as a guide for conducting this review. Studies were searched in three main databases including ISI Web of Sciences, PubMed, and Scopus, using a predefined search strategy. Google Scholar was also used for complementary search. The search period was from 2002 to 2022. Results: A total of 18,454 studies were identified across three primary databases. After evaluating articles in three distinct phases based on title, abstract, and full-text, 46 articles were deemed eligible for inclusion in the scoping review. The qualitative analysis of the collected data from the selected studies through the scoping review led to classifying factors influencing households' desire for childbearing into eight main themes and 101 sub-themes. The main themes associated with factors impacting households' intention for childbearing encompass individual determinants, demographic and familial influencing factors, cultural elements, social factors, health-related aspects, economic considerations, insurance-related variables, and government support/incentive policies. Conclusions: Comprehensive and holistic attention from governments and officials toward the various factors affecting households' intention and behavior regarding childbearing appears beneficial and effective. Furthermore, given the relative ineffectiveness of some of the current government's supportive/incentive policies to increase couples' desire for childbearing, it seems necessary to review and amend these policies. This review should address the most significant challenges and factors contributing to couples' reluctance to childbearing or strengthen factors that can play a substantial role in fostering fertility and childbearing desires. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia is one of the most severely debilitating mental disorders that affects 1.1% of the world's population. The exact cause of the disease is not known, but genetics, environmental factors (such as infectious agents, season and region of birth, exposure to viruses, low birth weight, advanced paternal age, and tobacco), and immune system dysfunction can all contribute to the development of schizophrenia. Recently, the role of the immune system in schizophrenia has received much attention. Both acquired and innate immune systems are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and facilitate the disease's progression. Almost all cells of the immune system including microglia, B cells, and T cells play an important role in the blood-brain barrier damage, inflammation, and in the progression of this disease. In schizophrenia, the integrity of the blood-brain barrier is reduced and then the immune cells are recruited into the endothelium following an increase in the expression of cell adhesion molecules. The entry of immune cells and cytokines leads to inflammation and antibody production in the brain. Accordingly, the results of this study strengthen the hypothesis that the innate and acquired immune systems are involved in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation of the flowers, stems and leaves of Astragalus schahrudensis Bge, endemic in Iran, were analazed by GC and GC/MS. Seventeen compounds representing 96.6% of the flower oil of A. schahrudensis were identified; among them, germacrene D (47.6%) and germacrene B (17.8%) were the major ones. The stem oil was characterized by higher amount of β-selinene(29.4%),δ-guaiene (21.7%), α-guaiene (13.4%) and α-selinene (10.9%) among the 14 components comprising 94.6% of the total oil detected. Eighteen compounds representing 97.3% of the leaf oil of the plant were identified; among them, α-pinene (33.8%) bornyl acetate (14.2%), limonene (12.2%) and α-fenchyl acetate (10.0%) were the major ones. The flower and stem oils of A.schahrudensis consisted mainly of sesquiterpenes, while in leaf oil monoterpenes predominated over sesquiterpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated two indigenous micro-organisms that can be isolated from soil. The isolated micro-organisms could precipitate calcium carbonate. These micro-organisms were applied to design self-healing concretes. Concrete is one of the most important materials which is used to build structures. Strength and durability of concrete is very important. Hence, a lot of research in this field is being conducted. Although a few reports can be found on the use of different micro-organism to design self-healing concretes, no research has been carried out to isolate suitable indigenous micro-organisms in Malaysia. In this study two strains of microorganisms were isolated from soil. Broken concrete was treated by a medium culture (MC) containing micro-organisms. Results of this study showed that, cracked concrete could be filled by calcium carbonate after treating by a MC containing micro-organisms. However, this treatment is not very effective on the strength of concrete. Results of this study can be used to have a better grasp of biological self-healing concrete, it is extremely important to have cheap and durable materials to build concrete structures in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death, which has the highest mortality rate worldwide. Although a diverse range of inflammatory diseases can affect the cardiovascular system, however, heart failure and stroke occur due to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic autoinflammatory disease of small to large vessels in which different immune mediators are involved in lipid plaque formation and inflammatory vascular remodeling process. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis may lead to uncovering immunomodulatory therapies. Despite present diagnostic and therapeutic methods, the lack of immunotherapy in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis is perceptible. In this review, we will discuss the promising immunological-based therapeutics and novel preventive approaches for atherosclerosis. This study could provide new insights into a better perception of targeted therapeutic pathways and biological therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The evidence for the effect of corticosteroid administration on neonates in pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-19 is rare. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the administration of corticosteroids on pregnant women with COVID-19 on neonatal metabolic outcomes of hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: The present retrospective cohort study was conducted on pregnant women with COVID-19 referred to Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan, Iran in 2020. We compared post-delivery complications in women who had received corticosteroids with a control group. The data were extracted from the medical records of the patients by a resident of the gynecology. The chi-square test was used to compare the rate of hyperbilirubinemia and hypoglycemia between groups. Results: Of a total of 71 investigated patients, only 32 received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),. The mean age of the patients was 29.77±6.87 years and there was not a significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, BMI, education, blood sugar, bilirubin, neonate weight, and 1 and 5-minute Apgar score (P>0.05). In the corticosteroid-receiving group, a significantly higher rate of hypoglycemia (37.5% vs. 7.69%, P=0.002) and hyperbilirubinemia (25% vs. 5.13%, P=0.02) was reported. Conclusion: The results suggested that the administration of corticosteroids as a treatment modality for pregnant women with COVID-19 is associated with an increased rate of neonatal hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Therefore, glycemic control is necessary for neonates born from pregnant women with COVID-19 exposed to corticosteroids during the pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• An affordable single-slope tilted wick solar still with and without a reflector was experimentally investigated. • A black-colored channeled twin-wall plastic sheet and an external condenser were used in this system. • The accumulated water production during the test in the single-slope tilted wick solar still with and without the reflector was 1710 ml and 1095 ml. Nowadays, the application of solar desalination system is widely regarded due to population growth, climate change, and diminution of non-renewable resources. These systems produce fresh water by absorbing solar energy that can be used in various cases. In this study, the performance of a single-slope tilted wick solar still with an affordable channeled absorber sheet, an external condenser, and a reflector has been investigated. As an innovation, a black-colored channeled twin wall plastic sheet was used as an absorber in this system to decrease the costs significantly. Further, the impact of using a reflector on the performance of this system was investigated, and ultimately, the daily efficiency and economic analysis of the system with and without the reflector was studied. According to the results, the average daily efficiency of this system with and without the reflector was noticed 46.13% and 30.10%, respectively. Furthermore, the average produced fresh water during the experiments without and with the reflector was 1095 ml and 1710 ml, respectively. Cost per liter of the produced fresh water with and without reflector was reported 0.041 $/l and 0.047 $/l, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper-based packaging is a complex multi-material composed of paper (fibers), plastics, and metals, making efficient material recycling complicated. Currently, most of the fibers are recycled into new paper products while the residual material is commonly incinerated. Therefore, to improve the circularity and reduce the fossil dependency chemical recycling is needed. In this study, recycling of the residual materials was evaluated by thermal and catalytic pyrolysis. First, screening tests were performed using five reject materials and four catalysts in an analytical scale and then, a selection of catalyst and reject materials were evaluated in lab-scale followed by a techno-economic assessment. Experimental results indicated that the conversion was more efficient if the reject had high content of plastics compared to fibers, leading to products with increased heating value, higher hydrocarbon yield and less reactive oxygenates compared to the rejects with low plastic ratio. In the thermal pyrolysis 54 % of the weight of the feedstock and 70 wt% of the carbon in the feedstock ended up in a solid organic product (wax) which contained hydrocarbons and alcohols. In the analytical catalytic pyrolysis, HZSM-5 gave the best result in terms of cracking, deoxygenation, and aromatization. Ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis using HZSM-5 resulted in an improved quality of organic liquid with reduced hydrocarbon length as well as deoxygenated and aromatic compounds. The yield of the organic liquid was up to 19 wt% and contained mainly monoaromatics. The techno-economic evaluation showed, for processing 100,000 tons year−1 residual material, the total plant investment and the annual profit are about 29 and 12 million Euros, respectively, if no incentive for treating the residual material. [Display omitted] • Recycling of multi-material packaging waste via thermal and catalytic pyrolysis. • The higher polymer to biomass ratio in the waste, the more efficient conversion. • Thermal pyrolysis generated up to 54 wt% of condensed solids, mainly hydrocarbons. • Catalytic pyrolysis yielded up to 19 wt% of organic liquid, mainly monoaromatics. • Catalytic pyrolysis is economically feasible if the feed rate is ≥ 10,000 tons/year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain maximum exergy and energy efficiencies of photovoltaic-thermal (PV-T) systems, innovative configurations of coolant tubes are proposed and simulated numerically. The tubes' configuration is modified using non-uniform wavy tube concept, which forms different styles, including ascending and descending amplitude of coolant tubes. Besides, the influences of geometrical parameters, extending PV panel length, sensitivity analysis on the operating conditions and a comprehensive investigation of different types of heat transfer fluids are analysed for the innovative systems. The results demonstrate that the PV-T performance develops in terms of electrical, thermal, and exergy efficiencies using ascending wavy tubes compared with straight, uniform wavy and descending wavy tubes. The electrical and thermal efficiencies are promoted from 10.94% to 61.04% for the straight tubes to 11.32% and 65.21%, respectively, for the system in which ascending wavy tubes are utilised. A comprehensive study of different coolant fluids proves that when SiC and MPCM-28 are simultaneously employed, the best cooling fluid is achieved, leading to a 0.4% higher electrical efficiency than the case in which water is used. • Energy and exergy study of photovoltaic-thermal module using non-uniform wavy tubes. • Lower photovoltaic panel temperature using ascending amplitude wavy tubes. • 0.38% increase in electrical efficiency using the innovative ascending wavy tubes. • 1.69% rise in the exergy efficiency by employing a novel configuration and heat transfer fluid. • High performance of extended photovoltaic thermal systems with 100% packing factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is emerging evidence that microbiota and its metabolites play an important role in helath and diseases. In this regard, gut microbiota has been found as a crucial component that influences immune responses as well as immune-related disorders such as autoimmune diseases. Gut bacterial dysbiosis has been shown to cause disease and altered microbiota metabolite synthesis, leading to immunological and metabolic dysregulation. Of note, microbiota in the gut produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as acetate, butyrate, and propionate, and remodeling in these microbiota metabolites has been linked to the pathophysiology of a number of autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus. In this review, we will address the most recent findings from the most noteworthy studies investigating the impact of microbiota SCFAs on various autoimmune diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of nanofluid on turbulent heat transfer and pressure drop inside concentric tubes. Water and SiO2 with mean diameter of 30nm were chosen as base fluid and nano-particles, respectively. Experiments were performed for plain tube and five roughened tube with various heights and pitches of corrugations. Results show that adding the nano-particles in tube with high height and small pitch of corrugations augments the heat transfer significantly with negligible pressure drop penalty. It is discussed on relative Nusselt number and thermal performance of heat exchanger. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

People often subdivide a list into smaller pieces, called chunks. Some theories of serial recall assume memories are stored hierarchically, with all-or-none retrieval of chunks, but most mathematical models avoid hierarchical assumptions. Johnson (Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior, 8(6), 725-731, 1969) found steep drops in errors following correct recalls (transitional-error probabilities) within putative chunks during multi-trial letter-list learning, and viewed this as evidence for all-or-none retrieval. Here we test whether all-or-none retrieval occurs in lists studied only once. In serial recall of six-word lists (Experiment 1), transitional-error probabilities were inconsistent with all-or-none retrieval, both when participants were instructed to subdivide and when temporal grouping induced subdivision. Curiously, the same analysis of previous temporally grouped nine-letter lists produced compelling evidence for all-or-none retrieval, which may result from recoding rather than the formation of chunks. In Experiment 2, participants were pre-trained on three-word chunks. For nine-word lists constructed from those trained chunks, transitional-error probabilities exhibited more pronounced evidence of all-or-none retrieval. Nearly all effects reversed with post-cued backward recall, suggesting mechanisms that play out over the course of recall rather than encoding of the list. In sum, subdivided lists do not result in hierarchical memories after a single study trial, although they may emerge in lists formed from chunks that are previously learned as such. This suggests a continuous transition from non-hierarchical subdivision of lists to all-or-none retrieval over the course of chunk formation., (© 2023. The Psychonomic Society, Inc.)

Hyalomma spp. is responsible for the transmission of protozoan, bacterial, rickettsial, and viral diseases and causes huge economic loss to the livestock industry.Recently, there is a wide number of promising attempts to evaluate and use herbal preparations for ticks control.This study aimed to evaluate the acaricidal activity of aqueous and ethanol extracts of Colchicum autumnale (C. autumnale) rhizome and leaf against the Hyalomma spp. in vitro. The acaricidal activities of the Colchicum leaf aqueous (CLA), Colchicum leaf ethanolic (CLE), Colchicum rhizome aqueous (CRA), and Colchicum rhizome ethanolic (CRE) extracts were evaluated at concentrations of 50, 100, and 150 mg/ml and controls (distilled water and Cypermethrin) following 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 h of exposure. It is worth mentioning that the spraying method was used in these experiments. Data were analyzed through GraphPad Prism 5 software. In addition, the chemical composition of aqueous leaf extract was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The carbamodithioic acid (30.04%) was the major chemical constituent identified. Based on the results, CLA, CLE, CRA, and CRE extracts had an acaricidal effect; however, this effect was more potent in CLE. The CLE extract showed a 100% mortality rate at 50, 100, and 150 mg/ml concentrations and 1 h of exposure. The effectiveness of CRA on the Hyalomma spp. was very low. The median lethal concentration (LC50) values were obtained at 100 mg/ml. The results indicated that C. autumnaleleaves contained potent acaricidal ingredients and might provide new acaricidal compounds for the effective control of Hyalomma spp. However, further studies are required to evaluate the efficacy of C. autumnale in vivo., (Copyright © 2021, Author(s). Published by Kowsar.)

Essential oils obtained from flowers, leaves and stems of Origanum vulgare L. ssp. viride (Boiss.) Hayek., growing wild in Ardabil Province (north-west Iran), were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. beta-Caryophyllene was the major constituent in all three oils (48.1%, 50.1% and 60.2%, respectively). Of the 19 components detected in the flower oil, comprising 96.3% of the total, the major components were 1,8-cineole (11.6%), alpha-pinene (6.9%), and gamma-cadinene (4.8%). 1-Octen-3-ol (23.8%), and 1,8-cineole (8.5%) predominated in the leafoil. In the stem oil, other main constituents were bicyclogermacrene (9.8%), 1,8-cineole (6.4%), borneol (5.1%), and pinocarvone (4.4%). The essential oils were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against 10 selected microorganisms. The data obtained contribute to the future use of certain essential oils as natural preservatives for food products, due to their safety and positive effect on shelf life.