Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity of Low Ni Content Nano Structured NiPd Electrocatalysts Prepared by Electrodeposition Method for Borohydride Oxidation

Zolfaghari, Mahdieh,Arab, Ali,Asghari, Alireza The Korean Electrochemical Society 2020 Journal of electrochemical science and technology Vol.11 No.3

Some nano structured bimetallic NiPd electrocatalysts were electrodeposited on glassy carbon electrodes using a double potential step chronoamperometry. The morphology of the electrodeposited samples was investigated by field emission-scanning electron microscopy, while their compositions were evaluated using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. It was observed that the electrodeposited samples contained a low Ni content, in the range of 0.80 - 7.10%. The electrodeposited samples were employed as the anode electro-catalysts for the oxidation of sodium borohydride in NaOH solution (1.0 M) using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, rotating disk electrode, and impedance spectroscopy. The number of exchanged electrons, charge transfer resistances, apparent rate constants, and double layer capacitances were calculated for the oxidation of borohydride on the prepared catalysts. According to the results obtained, the NiPd-2 sample with the lowest Ni content (0.80%), presented the highest catalytic activity for borohydride oxidation compared with the other NiPd samples as well as the pure Pd sample. The anodic peak current density was obtained to be about 1.3 times higher on the NiPd-2 sample compared with that for the Pd sample.

A Survey of Vitamin D Status in Patients with Degenerative Diseases of the Spin

Farid Zolfaghari,Alireza Faridmoayer,Bahram Soleymani,Mohammadreza Taji,Maryam Mahabadi 대한척추외과학회 2016 Asian Spine Journal Vol.10 No.5

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Purpose: To determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with degenerative diseases of the spine about to undergo spinal surgery and the relations between such deficiency and potential risk factors. Overview of Literature: Vitamin D has a major role in musculoskeletal system health maintenance. Recently, studies on degenerative diseases of the spine have shown a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients undergoing spine surgery. Methods: Serum levels of 25(OH)D were determined by an electrochemiluminescence detection assay. The other variables were determined through relevant questionnaires, and the data was analyzed through analysis of variance, t -test, chi-square and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 110 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean serum level of 25(OH)D was 27.45±18.75 ng/mL, and 44.5% of patients showed vitamin D deficiency (25(OH)D<20 ng/mL), with an additional 17.3% of patients having a serum level of 25(OH)D that was insufficient (20≤25(OH)D<30 ng/mL). The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher in the younger age group compared to the older age group (p <0.001) and the ones without a history of taking vitamin D supplements (p =0.013). Compared to men, women showed significantly higher levels of vitamin D (p =0.029). Conclusions: A high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is seen in patients with degenerative diseases of the spine. On the other hand, the conventional risk factors such as old age or female sex alone did not seem to be sufficient in determining the likelihood of deficiency. Thus, it is recommended that vitamin D deficiency prevention strategies comprise a broader spectrum of the population through which such degenerative diseases and their consequences may be prevented or delayed.

A New Analytical Method for Prediction of Soil Sorptivity and Cumulative Infiltration Using Particle Size Distribution Data

Ali Asghar Zolfaghari,Mehdi Shorafa,Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi,Manouchehr Gorji 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

Estimation of Soil -Water Characteristic Curve Using One-Point Measurement

Ali Asghar Zolfaghari,Mehdi Shorafa,Mohammad Hossein Mohammadi,Manouchehr Gorji 한국토양비료학회 2014 한국토양비료학회 학술발표회 초록집 Vol.2014 No.6

Investigation of adding cement kiln dust (CKD) in ordinary and lightweight concrete

Shoaei, Parham,Zolfaghary, Sina,Jafari, Navid,Dehestani, Mehdi,Hejazi, Manouchehr Techno-Press 2017 Advances in concrete construction Vol.5 No.2

Cement kiln dust (CKD) is one of the most important waste materials in the cement industry. The large amount of this material, has encouraged researchers to propose new ways to recycle and reuse it. In this paper, effects of adding cement kiln dust to the ordinary Portland cement, on the physical and mechanical properties of ordinary and lightweight concrete were investigated. Results showed that concrete containing CKD, presents lower workability and modulus of elasticity; however, improvements in strength was observed by adding particular amounts of CKD. Eventually, it was found that adding 10% of cement weight CKD is the appropriate percentage for utilizing in manufacturing ordinary and lightweight concrete.

Biochemical, Hematological Effects and Complications of Pseudosynanceia Melanostigma Envenoming

Babaie, Mahdi,Zolfagharian, Hossein,Zolfaghari, Mohammad,Jamili, Shahla KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE 2019 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.22 No.3

Objectives: Venomous fishes have different pharmacological effects and are useful. Among the venomous fish, stonefishes; especially Pseudosynanceia melanostigma has various pharmacological effects on the nervous, muscular and cardiovascular system of humans. In this study, toxicological characteristics, some blood effects, pharmacological and enzymatic properties of Pseudosynanceia melanostigma venom was investigated. Methods: Crude venom purified by using gel filtration chromatography and the molecular weights of the venom and its fractions were estimated. The approximate LD values of this venom were determinedand the effects of LD50 dose on the blood of rabbits were studied. Hemolytic and Hemorrhagic activity of the venom sample was determined. In this case coagulation tests were performed. Results: The LD50 of the Pseudosynanceia melanostigma crude venom was also determined to be $194.54{\mu}g/mouse$. The effect of two doses of LD50 showed a non-significant differences decrease in RBCs and MCV. In other cases, the results showed significant differences in WBC, Plt, Hb, MCH, MCHC and HCT; also it's showed a significant decrease. WBC count showed a significant increase with two doses of LD50 groups. The prothrombin time and partial prothrombin time were increased after venom treatment. As well as bleeding and clotting time were increased. According to the results, a minimum dose for Haemorrhagic effect $40{\mu}g$ was obtained. Conclusion: Venom of Pseudosynanceia melanostigma has inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation that can be used to design and develop of anticoagulant drugs.

Attitude and Practices Among Dentists and Senior Dental Students in Iran Toward Tobacco Cessation as an Effort to Prevent Oral Cancer

Razavi, Sayed Mohammad,Zolfaghari, Behzad,Doost, Mostafa Emami,Tahani, Bahareh Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.1

Background: Oral health professionals are responsible in Iran for providing a brief tobacco cessation program to smoker patients. The aim of this study was to assess Iranian dental student and dentist practice, knowledge and attitudes toward smoking cessation programs. Materials and Methods: A valid and reliable self-administered questionnaire was designed and distributed to 150 dentists working in Isfahan-Iran and 60 dental students. Some questions were developed based on the expected 5A tobacco cessation protocol. Statements on attitudes focused on professional responsibility towards smoking cessation and its effectiveness. Chi-square, ANOVA, and t test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The cessation program in dental settings covers a small group of patients (18%). Some 69.1% (n=96) of dentists reported asking their patients about tobacco use, 64% (n=83) advising their patients to quit, 33.8% (n=47) assessing their patients willingness to quit and 20% (n=28) reported helping their patients in changing their behavior. A far lower percentage reported active involvement in arranging assistance for smokers to quit (4.3%, n=5). Some 22% of students and 26% of dentists disagreed that the tobacco cessation programs should be as part of dentists' professional responsibility and 70% of them were willing to follow the protocol of tobacco cessation for patients. Conclusions: Iranian dentist performance regarding tobacco cessation is weak. Dentists and students indicated their lack of knowledge as the major reason for non-adherence to the protocol. Therefore, planning to encourage dentist to follow the protocol needs continuous educational programs.

Reactor core analysis through the SP₃-ACMFD approach Part II: Transient solution

Mirzaee, Morteza Khosravi,Zolfaghari, A.,Minuchehr, A. Korean Nuclear Society 2020 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.52 No.2

In this part, an implicit time dependent solution is presented for the Boltzmann transport equation discretized by the analytic coarse mesh finite difference method (ACMFD) over the spatial domain as well as the simplified P₃ (SP₃) for the angular variable. In the first part of this work we proposed a SP₃-ACMFD approach to solve the static eigenvalue equations which provide the initial conditions for temp dependent equations. Having solved the 3D multi-group SP₃-ACMFD static equations, an implicit approach is resorted to ensure stability of time steps. An exponential behavior is assumed in transverse integrated equations to establish a relationship between flux moments and currents. Also, analytic integration is benefited for the time-dependent solution of precursor concentration equations. Finally, a multi-channel one-phase thermal hydraulic model is coupled to the proposed methodology. Transient equations are then solved at each step using the GMRES technique. To show the sufficiency of proposed transient SP₃-ACMFD approximation for a full core analysis, a comparison is made using transport peers as the reference. To further demonstrate superiority, results are compared with a 3D multi-group transient diffusion solver developed as a byproduct of this work. Outcomes confirm that the idea can be considered as an economic interim approach which is superior to the diffusion approximation, and comparable with transport in results.

A New Approach for Soft Synchronization of Microgrid Using Robust Control Theory

Taher, Seyed Abbas,Zolfaghari, Mahdi,Cho, Changhee,Abedi, Mehrdad,Shahidehpour, Mohammad IEEE 2017 IEEE transactions on power delivery Vol.32 No.3

<P>Microgrid is the main part of future electrical power systems, called 'smart grids'. In this context, the synchronization of a microgrid with utility or other microgrids will be a crucial and commonplace task during power system operation. Based on robust control principles, a new approach for synchronizing microgrids with utility was presented in this paper. Uncertainties of the dynamic model ofmicrogrids were considered as multiplicative perturbations. Based on the uncertain model, a robust controller was designed by means of mu synthesis analysis so that the robust stability and performance of the system could be maximized. The simulation results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.</P>

Reactor core analysis through the SP₃-ACMFD approach. Part I: Static solution

Mirzaee, Morteza Khosravi,Zolfaghari, A.,Minuchehr, A. Korean Nuclear Society 2020 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.52 No.2

The present work proposes a solution to the static Boltzmann transport equation approximated by the simplified P₃ (SP₃) on angular, and the analytic coarse mesh finite difference (ACMFD) for spatial variables. Multi-group SP₃-ACMFD equations in 3D rectangular geometry are solved using the GMRES solution technique. As the core time dependent analysis necessitates the solution of an eigenvalue problem for an initial condition, this work is hence devoted to development and verification of the proposed static SP₃-ACMFD solver. A 3D multi-group static diffusion solver is also developed as a byproduct of this work to assess the improvement achieved using the SP₃ technique. Static results are then compared against transport benchmarks to assess the proximity of SP₃-ACMFD solutions to their full transport peers. Results prove that the approach can be considered as an acceptable interim approximation with outputs superior to the diffusion method, close to the transport results, and with the computational costs less than the full transport approach. The work would be further generalized to time dependent solutions in Part II.