A highly hydrophobic and highly oleophilic sponge was synthesized by simple vapor-phase deposition followed by polymerization of polypyrrole followed by modification with palmitic acid. The prepared ...sponge shows high absorption capacity in the field of separation and removal of different oil spills from water surface and was able to emulsify oil/water mixtures. The sponge can be compressed repeatedly without collapsing. Therefore, absorbed oils can be readily collected by simple mechanical squeezing of the sponge. The prepared hydrophobic sponge can collect oil from water in both static and turbulent conditions. The proposed method is simple and low cost for the manufacture of highly oleophilic and highly hydrophobic sponges, which can be successfully used for effective oil-spill cleanup and water filtration.
The Zola-Chay River is one of 14 permanent rivers feeding Lake Urmia in northwestern Iran, and a significant amount of material eroded from surrounding rocks has entered this lake. In this study, ...mineralogy and concentrations of major and trace elements of the Zola-Chay river sediments were measured on a 26 km-long NE–SW trending section with the aim of evaluating the provenance and source-area weathering. Quartz, orthoclase, plagioclase, and muscovite are the principal constituents accompanied by some minor accessory minerals, such as illite, kaolinite, calcite, dolomite, pyrite, hematite, apatite, rutile, epidote, ilmenite, zircon, and monazite. Values of the index of compositional variability (ICV) in the studied samples range from 0.99 to 1.21, indicating that these sediments are immature. The chemical index of weathering (CIW) (54.04 to 61.10), plagioclase index of alteration (PIA) (55.66 to 66.20), and chemical index of alteration (CIA) (62.50 to 72.51) values of the sediments, together with geochemical proxies, such as the K
2
O/Rb and Rb/Sr ratios, reveal a weak to intermediate chemical weathering in the study area. Multivariate plots of major oxides and trace elements, along with geochemical indicators, such as Al
2
O
3
/TiO
2
, Ti/Zr, Cr/Th, Th/Co, La/Co, La/Sc, Cr/Ni, Th/Sc, Ce/Sc, Zr/Sc, Eu/Eu*, (La/Sm)
N
, (Gd/Yb)
N
, (La/Lu)
N
, and LREE/HREE ratios, imply that the Zola-Chay river sediments probably originated from a felsic–intermediate precursor. Combining the results obtained from field observations and geochemical investigations show that Neoproterozoic rhyolites–rhyodacites along with Precambrian–Paleozoic rhyolites–granites–diorites are the probable provenance of the Zola-Chay river sediments.
Major depressive disorder is among main worldwide causes of disability. The low medication compliance rates in depressed patients as well as the high recurrence rate of the disease can bring up the ...nutrition-related factors as a potential preventive or treatment agent for depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns and depression via the intermediary role of the serum folate and vitamin B12, total homocysteine, tryptophan, and tryptophan/competing amino acids ratio.
This was an individually matched case-control study in which 110 patients with depression and 220 healthy individuals, who completed a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire were recruited. We selected the depressed patients from three districts in Tehran through non-probable convenience sampling from which healthy individuals were selected, as well. The samples selection and data collection were performed during October 2012 to June 2013. In addition, to measure the serum biomarkers 43 patients with depression and 43 healthy people were randomly selected from the study population. To diagnose depression the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, were utilized.
The findings suggest that the healthy dietary pattern was significantly associated with a reduced odds of depression (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61-0.93) whereas the unhealthy dietary pattern increased it (OR: 1.382, CI: 1.116-1.71). The mediation analysis showed that the healthy dietary pattern was associated with a reduced risk of depression via increased serum levels of the folate and vitamin B12; however, the unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with increased risk of depression via decreased serum levels of folate and vitamin B12, based on tree adjusted logistic regression models.
Dietary patterns may be associated with depression by changing the serum levels of folate and vitamin B12. Further studies are required to confirm the mechanism.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In this study, the major aim was to enhance the β-phase content and thus the electrical conductivity of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films via addition of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) using the ...spin-coating technique. To this end, various concentrations of GNPs were added to the PVDF solution and the nanocomposite films were then characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy (OM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and water contact angle (WCA) measurement. SEM results revealed that GNPs improved the uniformity and integrity of surface structure at low to medium concentrations (1 and 3 wt%) but higher inclusions (5 and 7 wt%) made the films less uniform due to the formation of large agglomerations as detected by OM. AFM showed that the nanocomposite loaded with 3 wt% of GNPs exhibited the highest roughness profile which was in agreement with WCA results based on which the same formulation led to the highest hydrophobicity (~ 134°). In contrast with the structural analysis, the four-point probe and conductive AFM results revealed that the higher the GNPs content, the higher the electrical conductivity. Such enhanced conductivity was attributed to the increased amount of β-phase crystals in PVDF as a result of spin-coating process and GNP incorporation.
Cohorts of severely ill patients with COVID-19 have been described in several countries around the globe, but to date there have been few published reports from the United Kingdom (UK). Understanding ...the characteristics of the affected population admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in the UK is crucial to inform clinical decision making, research and planning for future waves of infection.
We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of all patients with COVID-19 admitted to a large UK ICU from March to May 2020 with follow-up to June 2020. Data were collected from health records using a standardised template. We used multivariable logistic regression to analyse the factors associated with ICU survival.
Of the 156 patients included, 112 (72%) were male, 89 (57%) were overweight or obese, 68 (44%) were from ethnic minorities, and 89 (57%) were aged over 60 years of age. 136 (87%) received mechanical ventilation, 77 (57% of those intubated) were placed in the prone position and 95 (70% of those intubated) received neuromuscular blockade. 154 (99%) patients required cardiovascular support and 44 (28%) required renal replacement therapy. Of the 130 patients with completed ICU episodes, 38 (29%) died and 92 (71%) were discharged alive from ICU. In multivariable models, age (OR 1.13 95% CI 1.07-1.21), obesity (OR 3.06 95% CI 1.16-8.74), lowest P/F ratio on the first day of admission (OR 0.82 95% CI 0.67-0.98) and PaCO2 (OR 1.52 95% CI 1.01-2.39) were independently associated with ICU death.
Age, obesity and severity of respiratory failure were key determinants of survival in this cohort. Multiorgan failure was prevalent. These findings are important for guiding future research and should be taken into consideration during future healthcare planning in the UK.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Kolijan bauxite deposit (southeast Mahabad, northwestern Iran) mainly contains aluminum-bearing iron ores and was deposited in karstic depressions and sinkholes of the middle Permian carbonate ...rocks of the Ruteh Formation. Based on microscopic observations, the aluminum-bearing iron ores were allogenic in origin. According to XRD and SEM-EDS analyses, hematite and goethite are their main constituents, accompanied by lesser amounts of kaolinite, illite, amesite, boehmite, rutile, anatase, calcite, pyrolusite, crandallite, and parisite-(Ce). Chondrite-normalized REE patterns are indicative of fractionation and enrichment of LREE (La–Eu) compared to HREE (Gd–Lu), along with positive Eu and Ce anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 2.29–5.65; Ce/Ce* = 3.63–5.22). Positive Ce anomalies can be attributed to the role of carbonate bedrock as a geochemical barrier and the precipitation of parisite-(Ce). A strong positive correlation between Eu/Eu* and Ce/Ce* (r = 0.84) indicates that Eu anomalies, similar to Ce anomalies, are closely dependent on an alkaline pH. The distribution and fractionation of elements in the iron ores were controlled by a number of factors, including the pH of the environment in which they formed, wet climatic conditions, adsorption, isomorphic substitution, scavenging, co-precipitation, fluctuations of the groundwater table level, and the role of carbonate bedrock as a geochemical barrier. This research indicates that the aluminum-bearing iron ores were probably generated from the weathering of basaltic protolith.
The Huri bauxite deposit is located 40 km northwest of Maragheh City, East Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran. Bauxite horizons at Huri develop within karstic depressions and sinkholes of ...carbonate footwalls of the Ruteh Formation, overlain by carbonate of the Elika Formation. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscope, coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses show that the Huri bauxite ores consist of hematite, diaspore, kaolinite, and lesser amounts of halloysite, pyrophyllite, illite, goethite, clinochlore, amesite, rutile, zircon, and monazite. Based on geochemical studies (Eu/Eu* vs. Sm/Nd and U/Th bivariate diagrams), basalt rocks interbedded in limestone of the Ruteh Formation are the possible precursor rocks of the Huri bauxite deposit. The pH variations of weathering solutions, fluctuations in the groundwater table level, the function of carbonate bedrock as a geochemical barrier, simultaneous precipitation of Fe-bearing minerals, and preferential scavenging of light rare earth elements (LREE) by hematite played an important role in the fractionation of LREE from heavy rare earth elements (HREE) in the Huri bauxite ores. Fluctuations in groundwater table level, increasing pH of acidic solutions percolating downward, preferential adsorption of Ce onto hematite at the base of the profile, and the possible presence of Ce-bearing fluorocarbonates played an important role in increasing Ce anomaly from the top of the profile downward.
There is substantial evidence that anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants have neuroprotective properties and may be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In this regard, the ...effects of oxaprozin (OXP) (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug) on the experimental model of seizure and memory impairment caused by seizures in rats were investigated in the present study. Seizures in male Wistar rats (200–250 g, 8 weeks) were induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, 60 mg/kg). The anticonvulsant effects of OXP (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg, administered intraperitoneally) were evaluated in the seizure model. The effect on memory was assessed using the passive avoidance (PA) test. After behavioral tests, the animals underwent deep anesthesia and were euthanized painlessly. Animal serum was isolated for antioxidant assays (MDA and GPx). The animals' brains (hippocampus) were also isolated to gauge the relative expression of genes in the oxidative stress pathway (Nrf2/HO-1). Intraperitoneal injection of OXP decreased the mean score on the Racine scale compared to the PTZ group. Moreover, in the PA test, OXP caused a significant increase in retention latency (RL) and total time spent in the light compartment (TLC) compared to the PTZ group. Biochemical tests showed that OXP was able to significantly increase GPx serum levels and significantly reduce MDA serum levels compared to the PTZ group. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) results also revealed that OXP counteracted the negative effects of PTZ by significantly increasing the expression of the
Nrf2
and
Hmox1
genes. Overall, this study suggests the potential neuroprotective effects of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug OXP in a model of memory impairment caused by seizures via inhibition of the oxidative stress pathway.
Phytosterols (PSs), classified into plant sterols and stanols, are bioactive compounds found in foods of plant origin. PSs have been proposed to exert a wide number of pharmacological properties, ...including the potential to reduce total and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and thereby decreasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Other health‐promoting effects of PSs include anti‐obesity, anti‐diabetic, anti‐microbial, anti‐inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects. Also, anticancer effects have been strongly suggested, as phytosterol‐rich diets may reduce the risk of cancer by 20%. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the available evidence regarding the beneficial physiological and pharmacological activities of PSs, with special emphasis on their therapeutic potential for human health and safety. Also, we will explore the factors that influence the physiologic response to PSs.
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