An Examination of Tabriz Gardens in Iranian Garden Art

This study was conducted to determine the place of historic gardens in the city of Tabriz vis-a-vis Iranian garden arts. It provides information on the historic gardens of Tabriz, which are no longer in existence, for example, ‘Saheb Abad’ Garden, ‘North’ Garden, ‘Sefa’ Garden, ‘Amir Kabir’ Garden, ‘Saheb Divan’Garden and ‘Fath Abad’ Garden, as well as four historical maps belonging to the Qajar era in the city of Tabriz. In this research, the factors influencing the design of El-Goli Garden were studied, which can be grouped into three major categories: physical, biological and cultural. After a brief study of the above factors in the city of Tabriz and its different microclimates, the types of similarities that exist relating to Iranian garden art were determined.     

Effect of desensitizers on the microleakage of previously restored Class V resin composite restorations

Objectives: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of different desensitizers’ application on the microleakage of previously restored Class V composite resin restorations.

Materials and methods: Class V cavities were prepared on the buccal surfaces of 40 extracted human third molars. Forty box-shaped cavities were divided into four groups, based on the desensitizers used (n = 10). All teeth were restored with the same bonding agent and composite material. No desensitizer was applied in the control group. In the experimental groups, BisBlock, Gluma and Universal bonding agents were the desensitizers. The desensitizers were applied after completion of composite restorations according to manufacturers’ instructions. All specimens were then thermocycled at 5–55 °C, with a 10-s dwell time for 500 cycles. The samples were then immersed in 0.5% methylene blue dye for 24 h, sectioned into two equal halves, evaluated for microleakage using a stereomicroscope at 30× magnification and scored on a scale of 0–3. The data were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis test at the significance level p < 0.05.

Results: There were no significant differences in microleakage after desensitizer application (p > 0.05). However, based on the obtained numerical values in our study, while the BisBlock and bonding groups showed lower microleakage at the occlusal margin, BisBlock, Gluma and bonding group showed lower microleakage at the gingival margin compared to the control group.

Conclusions: The application of desensitizers as a post-treatment option could be considered an advisable procedure to minimize microleakage.     

Design and implementation of an ultrasonic sensor for rapid monitoring of industrial malolactic fermentation of wines

Ultrasound is an emerging technology that can be applied to monitor food processes. However, ultrasonic techniques are usually limited to research activities within a laboratory environment and they are not extensively used in industrial processes. The aim of this paper is to describe a novel ultrasonic sensor designed to monitor physical–chemical changes that occur in wines stored in industrial tanks. Essentially, the sensor consists of an ultrasonic transducer in contact with a buffer rod, mounted inside a stainless steel tube section. This structure allows the ultrasonic sensor to be directly installed in stainless steel tanks of an industrial plant. The operating principle of this design is based on the measurement of ultrasonic velocity of propagation. To test its proper operation, the sensor has been used to measure changes of concentration in aqueous samples and to monitor the progress of a malolactic fermentation of red wines in various commercial wineries. Results show the feasibility of using this sensor for monitoring malolactic fermentations in red wines placed in industrial tanks.     

Electrochemical copper (II) sensor based on chitosan covered gold nanoparticles

This study outlines a new sensing platform based on glassy carbon electrodes modified by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the determination of heavy metal. A glassy carbon electrode was modified by chitosan stabilized AuNPs. AuNPs were prepared by reducing gold salt with a polysaccharide chitosan. Here, chitosan acted as a reducing/stabilizing agent. The AuNPs were characterized with UV–Visible absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Chitosan covered AuNPs were immobilized on the glassy carbon electrode for the determination of Cu (II) in aqueous solutions. The electrochemical determination of Cu (II) ions was performed using the differential pulse voltammetry technique. Some parameters for Cu (II) determination, such as pH, preconcentration time and electrolysis potential of Cu (II), were optimized. The detection limit was calculated as 5 × 10^?9 mol L^?1 by means of the 3:1 current-to-noise ratio. The interference of Cr(III), Fe(II), Ni(II), Pb(II), Mg(II), Zn(II), Ba(II) ions was investigated and showed a negligible effect on the electrode response. Recovery studies were carried out using tap water.     

Blends of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) with poly(β‐alanine) and its derivatives

Nanofibers and films of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB)/nylon 3 [poly(β‐alanine) (N3)], PHB/poly(α‐methyl‐β‐alanine) (2mN3), and PHB/poly(β‐methyl‐β‐alanine) (3mN3) blends were prepared by electrospinning and film‐casting techniques, respectively. The miscibility of the blends was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The electrospinnability of the blends was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Some characteristic IR absorption bands of the components in the blends shifted gradually with changes in the compositions. The melting temperature and decomposition temperature of PHB decreased gradually with increasing fractions of N3, 2mN3, and 3mN3. The XRD spectra of all of the blends exhibited peaks with lower intensities compared to those of the neat species. The suppression of PHB crystallinity in the blends after blending was attributed to the disruption of its crystal lattice and the prevention of recrystallization of each component by means of other components and segmental interactions between the components in the amorphous phase. Thermal, spectroscopic, and optical analyses of the polymer blends revealed that the polymers were miscible with good compatibility, and this could have improved the scaffold properties of PHB. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40484.     

Bioactive and Physicochemical Properties of Persimmon as Affected by Drying Methods

In this study, the effects of three different drying methods (freeze drying, oven drying, and vacuum oven drying) on bioactive (total phenolics, total flavonoids, condensed tannin and total hydrolyzable tannin contents, antiradical activity, and antidiabetic activity) and some physicochemical (dry matter, ash, water activity (a _w ), color, protein, hydroxymethylfurfural, glucose and fructose content) properties of persimmon fruit were investigated. Simplex lattice mixture design methodology was applied to determine the best solvent mixture for the extraction of phenolics from the samples. It was found that the mixture of acetone:water at the ratio of 50:50 % (v/v) was the best solvent mixture for the extraction. The persimmon powder sample obtained from freeze drying showed significantly (p <0.05) higher bioactivity values than oven- and vacuum-oven-dried samples. Antiradical activity changed significantly depending on the drying method employed and it was superior in freeze-dried samples than that of the other drying methods.     

Preparation of hybrid PU/PCL fibers from steviol glycosides via electrospinning as a potential wound dressing materials

In this study, the synthesis and application of biocompatible steviol glycosides based polyurethane/poly (ε-caprolactone) (PU/PCL) fibers was performed by electrospinning as a potential wound dressing materials that can be used for the closure of nonhealing wounds. During electrospinning, steviol glycoside-based polyurethane structures were used in blend formation with poly (ε-caprolactone) for easy producibility. Steviol glycosides are a natural abundant and easily accessible source as the main component of the wound dressing material due to their free hydroxyl groups, high biocompatibility, and hydrophilicity. The structure of steviol glycosides is composed of saccharide units and the free OH groups. Thus, steviol glycosides act as a crosslinker within the polyurethane structure and provides mechanical strength. For the production of steviol glycosides based PU/PCL fibers first, the steviol glycosides as a monomer were isolated from the stevia rebudiana. Then, polyurethane structures containing stevia glycoside were synthesized with hexamethylene diisocyanate, lactose and PEG-200 by solution polymerization technique. PCL was added to the prepared polyurethanes in a ratio of 1:2 and formation of nanofiber structure. The prepared wound dressing material was characterized by Fourier transform infrared, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscope techniques. Swelling degree, water content and oxygen permeability assay of the steviol glycosides based PU/PCL wound dressing material was determined. In biocompatibility test, cell viability value of PU/PCL fibrous materials in indirect cytotoxicity test was determined as 86.9% and cell adhesion on hybrid PU/PCL fibers was showed as morphological. In accordance with this target, the steviol glycosides based PU/PCL wound dressing material can be produced easily and low cost. As a result, the wound dressing materials obtained with their high biocompatibility and low costs will be an effective and fast method for the healing of open wounds of diabetics.     

Thermally exfoliated graphene oxide reinforced fluorinated pentablock poly(l‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone) electrospun scaffolds: Insight into antimicrobial activity and biodegradation

Three‐dimensional fluorinated pentablock poly(l ‐lactide‐co‐ε‐caprolactone)‐based scaffolds were successfully produced by the incorporation of thermally exfoliated graphene oxide (TEGO) as an antimicrobial agent with an electrospinning technique. In a ring‐opening polymerization, the fluorinated groups in the middle of polymer backbone were attached with a perfluorinated reactive stabilizer having oxygen‐carrying ability. The fiber diameter and its morphologies were optimized through changes in TEGO amount, voltage, polymer concentration, and solvent type to obtain an ideal scaffold structure. Instead of the widely used graphene oxide synthesized by Hummer's method, TEGO sheets having a low amount of oxygen produced by thermal expansion were integrated into the fiber structure to investigate the effect of the oxygen functional groups of TEGO sheets on the degradation and antimicrobial activity of the scaffolds. There was no antimicrobial activity in TEGO‐reinforced scaffolds in the in vitro tests in contrast to the literature. This study confirmed that a low number of oxygen functional groups on the surface of TEGO restricted the antimicrobial activity of the fabricated composite scaffolds. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43490.     

Preparation of comb‐type grafted hydrogels composed of polyacrylamide and chitosan and their use for DNA adsorption

Comb‐type grafted hydrogels composed of polyacrylamide (PAAm) and chitosan (CT) were prepared and used for DNA adsorption. Instead of direct grafting of the acrylamide monomer onto the CT chain, semitelechelic PAAm with carboxylic acid end groups (PAAm–COOH) was synthesized by free‐radical polymerization with mercaptoacetic acid as the chain‐transfer agent, and it was grafted onto CT with amino groups. The synthesis of telechelic PAAm–COOH and the formation of comb‐type grafted hydrogels were confirmed by attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy measurements. The prepared comb‐type grafted hydrogels were used as sorbents in DNA adsorption experiments conducted at +4°C in a tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane/ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid solution of pH 7.4. DNA adsorption capacities as high as 2.0 × 10³ μg of DNA/g of dry gel could be achieved by the comb‐type hydrogels with higher PAAm contents. This value was approximately 6 times higher than that of CT alone. In addition, the comb‐type hydrogels showed a high adsorption/desorption rate depending on the PAAm content in the hydrogel. As a result, these comb‐type hydrogels carrying higher amounts of DNA may be considered good candidates for achieving higher removal rates for anti‐DNA antibodies and for effective gene therapy systems. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Gas absorption into a wavy two‐layer falling film

Absorption of a weakly soluble gas into a two‐layer film flowing down a vertical wall is studied in the framework of an approximate long‐wave model. It is shown that wavy regimes in the film strongly affect the absorption rate. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 2058–2069, 2015