Search

A novel basic catalyst, KOH loaded on multi-walled carbonnanotubes (K-MWCNTs), was prepared by using an impregnationmethod and was used in the synthesis of biodiesel from canola oilin a batch laboratory scale reactor. Response surface methodology(RSM) in conjunction with the central composite design (CCD) was employedto statistically evaluate and optimize the biodiesel production process.Reaction time, alcohol to oil molar ratio, and catalyst content werechosen as the variables to optimize the biodiesel yield. The catalystwas characterized by scan electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction(XRD), and FTIR analysis. A biodiesel yield of 94.23 wt % was obtainedwith a reaction time of 3.34 h, alcohol to oil ratioof 13.56:1, catalyst content of 3.02 wt %, and reaction temperatureof 60 °C. The catalyst showed high performance at low operatingtemperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study that examined the value of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) within the first trimester for predicting pregnancy outcome in Ahvaz, Iran. Highlights include the serum level of PAPP-A during pregnancy, the screening of all Iranian women at the end of the first trimester of pregnancy for trisomy 21 according to the routine nationwide program, and ROC curve analysis to determine the value of PAPP-A to predict small for gestational age.

Background: It is suggested that pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) levels below the fifth percentile or less than 0.4 multiples of the median (MoMs) during the first trimester are closely associated with higher risk for neonatal abnormalities. We assessed the value of PAPP-A within the first trimester for predicting pregnancy outcome., Methods: In a historical cohort study, we assessed 8460 consecutive pregnant women recruited for chromosomal abnormalities screening within the first trimester at Fertility Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences between April 2014 and April 2015. The women were categorized into two groups: pregnant women with PAPP-A levels below 0.4 multiples of MOM (n = 237) and those with higher levels of PAPP-A (n = 237)., Results: The median value of MOM PAPP-A was 0.82 ± 0.78, with 237 women having MOM PAPP-A lower than 0.4. Compared to women with MOM PAPP-A higher than 0.4, those with lower MOM PAPP-A had higher mean age, lower gestational age and lower birth weight. The prevalence of small for gestational age (SGA) was higher in women with MOM PAPP-A <0.4 compared to others. According to the ROC curve analysis, MOM PAPP-A <0.4 had a high value for predicting SGA. Best cutoff value for MOM PAPP-A to predict SGA was shown to be 0.25, yielding a sensitivity of 84.7% and a specificity of 68.6., Conclusion: Measuring the serum level of MOM PAPP-A during the first trimester is a valuable marker for predicting adverse outcomes of pregnancy such as SGA., (© 2019 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.)