Energy-Efficient Routing Protocol Based on Adaptive Soft Thresholding for Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - In this paper, a low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (LEACH)-based routing protocol for wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is presented. The proposed...     

Computer-aided study and multivariate optimization of nanomolar metformin hydrochloride analysis using molecularly imprinted polymer electrochemical sensor based on silver nanoparticles

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics - In this research project, a selective and sensitive sensor was electrochemically designed to measure metformin hydrochloride (MET) based on...     

Investigating effects of water salinity on geotechnical properties of fine-grained soil and quartz in a sandstone case study: Ajichay project in northwest Iran

The effect of water salinity on the geotechnical properties of a CL soil and mechanical properties of a quartz sandstone has been studied using samples from the Ajichay project, located in the northwest of Iran. The purpose of this investigation is to investigate the feasibility of using saline water in processing the clay core of earthen dams in this area. One-dimensional consolidation, swelling, and uniaxial compressive strength tests were performed on the soil with distilled, half-saline, and saline water. To evaluate the effect of water salinity on the sandstones placed in the abutments of the dams, the slake durability index and uniaxial compressive strength were investigated. Results indicated that the compressibility index decreased, hydraulic conductivity decreased, and uniaxial compressive strength of the soil increased with increasing water salinity. The soil swelling percent with all three waters was less than 1 % after 24 h. However, swelling percent increased by 23 % with saline water and decreased by 32 % with half-saline water. Some damage in the rock texture such as disaggregation, weathering, and corrosion of the feldspars along with the dissolution of carbonate cement was observed in thin sections after 6 months of immersion in saline water. The strength of the sandstones exposed to saline water for 5 months decreased by between 5 and 13 %.

     

Thin film graphene oxide membrane: Challenges and gas separation potential

Graphene oxide membranes were prepared by vacuum and pressurized ultrafiltration methods on the 12% modified Polyacrylonitrile (12mPAN) substrate to specify challenges, salient features, future directions, and potential of GO membrane for separation fields using characterization techniques and gas separation test (studied gases are CO₂, He and N2), which is an efficient tool for better understanding of GO membrane behavior. GO membrane structure was examined over a wide range of parameters, such as pore size range of substrate and its surface properties, pH of GO dispersion, GO content, synthesis pressure, operating pressure and temperature. The results show that the GO content does not hold a linear relationship with the permeance and selectivity. Film thickness, aggregates, synthesis pressure defects and interlayer spacing have significant effects on the gas separation performance of GO membranes which originate from the synthesis method and its conditions.     

Beta casein-micelle as a nano vehicle for solubility enhancement of curcumin; food industry application

Curcumin is a potent anticancer and antioxidant natural polyphenol poorly soluble in aqueous solutions. Beta-casein (B-CN), an amphiphilic self-assembling protein that can form micellar nanostructures, could be used as a carrier system for hydrophobic therapeutic agents such as curcumin. In this study, camel B-CN was used for curcumin encapsulation. Critical micelle concentration of camel B-CN was determined at 25, 30 and 37 °C using pyrene fluorescence and the solubility of curcumin was evaluated according to the solvent-evaporation technique. Presence of camel B-CN increased the solubility of curcumin at least 2500 fold. Analysis of fluorescence emission of curcumin showed that hydrophobic interactions are predominant in its formulation with B-CN. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of curcumin to human leukemia cell line K-562 was enhanced in the presence of B-CN micelles giving inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 26.5 and 17.7 μmol/L for free and encapsulated curcumin, respectively. Antioxidant activity of curcumin encapsulated in B-CN was higher than that of both free B-CN and curcumin.     

Study on sterol fraction of commercial brands of milk,yoghurt and butter sold in Iranian market and chemometric data analysis

A gas chromatographic procedure for analysis of sterols was developed to detect possible addition of vegetable oils to milk, yoghurt and butter samples. The method involved fat extraction, saponification, hexane extraction, silylation of sterols and then analysis by gas chromatography. The sterol content of 102 samples of milk, yoghurt and butter was determined. Phytosterol content higher than 5% of total sterol was observed in four samples of milk and yoghurt. Principal component analysis showed that there was a direct relationship between the level of phytosterols and fat percentage in yoghurt samples. The described method is accurate and reliable enough to be employed regularly in food quality laboratories.     

Determination of asphaltene precipitation using a CPA equation of state

Asphaltene precipitation during natural depletion and miscible gas injection is a common problem in oilfields throughout the world. Therefore, predicting asphaltene phase behavior through thermodynamic modeling may help to control its precipitation and reduce the associated problems. In this work, a new modified CPA equation of state (EoS) was used to model asphaltene precipitation. This equation is based on a combination of a new physical part and the Wertheim association term.

The results of the new model were compared with the experimental data of five oil samples. The results showed that this modified CPA EoS can predict asphaltene precipitation with good accuracy.     

Co–Sn–Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposites as green catalysts for preparing 1,8‐dioxo‐octahydroxanthenes and apoptosis‐inducing agents in MCF‐7 human breast cancer cells

In this work, Co–Sn–Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposite, 30–40 ± 0.5 nm in size, was synthesized by solid‐state microwave irradiation. This method presents several advantages such as operational simplicity, fast, low cost, safe and energy efficient, and suitability for production of high purity of nanoparticles. Other advantages of this method are there is no need for the use of solvent, fuel, and surfactant. Co–Sn–Cu oxides/graphene nanocomposites have been characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometer, energy‐dispersive X–ray spectroscopy, and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The synthesized nanocomposites were used as novel highly efficient catalysts for the synthesis of 1,8‐dioxo‐octahydroxanthenes at room temperature. The catalysts are recoverable and can be reused for six runs without loss of their activity. Also, the obtained nanocomposites exhibited significant anticancer activity against breast cancer cells and they could induce apoptosis in cancer cells.