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Abstract Due to the high volume of wastewater produced from dairy factories, it is necessary to integrate a water recovery process with the treatment plant. Today, bipolar membrane electrodialysis units (BMEUs) are increasingly developed for wastewater treatment and reutilizing. This article aims to develop and evaluate (technical and cost analyses) a combined BMEU/batch reverse osmosis unit (BROU) process for the recovery of chemicals and water from the dairy wastewater plant. The combined BROU/BMEU process is able to simultaneously produce water and strong base-acid, and reduce power consumption due to the injection of concentrated feed flow into the BMEU. A comprehensive comparative analysis on the performances of two combined and stand-alone BMEU configurations are developed. The proposed combined technology for dairy factory wastewater treatment is designed on a new structure and configuration that can address superior cost analysis compared to similar technologies. Further, the optimal values of permeate flux and current density as two vital and influencing parameters on the performance of the studied dairy wastewater treatment process were calculated and discussed. From the outcomes, the total cost of production in the combined configuration has been reduced by approximately 26% compared to the stand-alone configuration. Increasing the feed concentration rate using the batch reverse osmosis process for the dairy wastewater treatment process can be an ideal solution from an economic point of view. Moreover, point (current density, feed concentration rate, total unit cost) = $$\left(328.9, 7, 14.37\right)$$ 328.9 , 7 , 14.37 can be considered as an optimal point for the economic performance of the studied wastewater treatment process.

Background: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a particle of Gram-negative bacteria is a main contributer in the pathogenesis of the male reproductive system infectious. Male infertility due to LPS is reported to be related to overproduction reactive oxygen species. This study aimed to investigate the effects of olibanum on oxidative stress and apoptosis in testes and sperm dysfunction induced by LPS. Methods: The male (n = 28) rats were allocated in four groups: control, LPS (1 mg/kg, i.p., 14 days), LPS + Olibanum 100 (100 mg/kg, i.p., 14 days), and LPS + Olibanum 200 (200 mg/kg, i.p., 14 days). Germ cell apoptosis was determined by TUNEL assays and computed using the stereological method. Additionally, semen samples of the animals were analyzed for sperm count and morphology. Oxidative stress indicators were also determined. Results: The count of TUNEL-positive germ cells in LPS-treated rats was more than that in the controls. Treatment of the animals with olibanum significantly attenuated the number of apoptotic cells compared to the LPS group. The sperm count and those with a normal morphology in LPS-treated rats was lower than that in the controls. Administration of olibanum significantly improved the sperms with normal morphology and sperm count. Olibanum treatment also improved superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total thiol in testicular tissue and decreased malondialdehyde. Conclusion: Administering both doses of olibanum in LPS-treated rats had potentially a therapeutic value in reducing germ cell apoptosis, as well as improving sperm parameters.

Objective: Medicago sativa (M. sativa) has been traditionally used for treating anemia; therefore, M. sativa hydro-ethanolic extract therapeutic effects against cyclophosphamide (CP) -induced hematologic and liver toxicity were examined. Materials and Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided to control (saline); CP (100 mg/kg, day 1-3, subcutaneously); CP+ M. sativa 200 mg/kg (MS 200); CP+ M. sativa 400 mg/kg (MS 400); CP+ dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg), (all groups n=6). Treated animals received M. sativa or dexamethasone by gavage from days 7-14. On days 0, 7, and 14, hematologic parameters, and on the 14th day, serum and liver tissue oxidative stress markers including nitric oxide, malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, serum lipids, and liver enzymes were measured.Results: Animal weight, platelet, white blood cells, and red blood cells counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit as well as thiol, SOD, and CAT activities in serum and liver tissue were significantly reduced, but serum nitric oxide, MDA, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoproteins levels, and liver enzymes were increased in the CP group compared to the control group (p

It seems necessary to understand the association of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with its entering bronchoalveolar and brain cells, which have a high concentration of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Although the virus infects healthy people, the rate of infection and mortality is higher and significant in vulnerable people, such as drug users and addicts who have acute and chronic respiratory disease. It also places a heavy economic burden on families and societies around the world. Thus, researchers are aiming to provide prevention and treatment strategies to people at risk. The purpose of the present study was to collect studies on the rate of infection with coronavirus in people who abuse drugs. Besides, the role of the ACE2 receptor as a key factor in coronavirus infectivity in these people was investigated. Our narrative review on the relationship between COVID-19 and opioid abuse and smoking, with consideration of ACE2's role, contains original and human studies. According to the results of the current study, those who smoke or are dependent on opioids are much more likely to experience COVID-19-related respiratory side effects or even pass away.

Effective and maximum utilization of waste heat from industrial processes and fossil plants can improve thermodynamic performance and declined the environmental impacts of waste heat discharge to the atmosphere. Here, the multi-aspect assessment and optimization of a novel cogeneration power and cooling load cycle (CPCC) is developed. The considered cogeneration process is designed under a three-level waste heat recovery process consisting of an ORC (organic Rankine cycle) unit and an ejection-based refrigeration process. Thermodynamic performance, cost feasibility and environmental assessments of the suggested process have been comprehensively evaluated and discussed. A two-objective optimization is developed to minimize the total cost and maximize the exergy efficiency. Moreover, the comprehensive CPCC behavior is compared with a reference system (a single-level recovery/ORC process and a compression-based refrigeration process). The performance of the considered CPCC is also examined under various environmentally compatible refrigerants. The environmental analysis is based on two indicators (i.e., life cycle-climate performance and total equivalent-warming impacts). Due to the multi-level recovery of waste heat, the environmental impacts of emitting waste heat into the environment are significantly reduced. The outcomes revealed that the R1234/yf is considered as the most suitable refrigerant that can causes to optimum achievements for both systems. The exergetic performance is improved by about 10.3% compared to that reference system, while the exergy destruction and total annual cost of the CPCC, respectively, are reduced by approximately 7.4% and 21.6% compared to the reference cycle. It was also found that about 11,640 tons of carbon dioxide can be reduced by using the ejector in the refrigeration process.

This research presents a novel, eco-efficient hybrid system designed for the simultaneous production of power, oxygen, and methanol. It utilizes energy from coke plants and incorporates state-of-the-art waste heat recovery processes (WHRPs). The system effectively merges electricity and methanol production with WHRPs, improving both environmental sustainability and economic feasibility in industrial energy transformation. It consists of a fuel reforming and combustion unit, a waste heat recovery unit, a unit for hydrogen gas production through water electrolysis, and a methanol synthesis module. This configuration enables the production of 12.72 MW of electricity, 0.51 kg/s of oxygen, and 0.53 kg/s of methanol, achieving an energy productivity of 46.8 % and an exergy efficiency of 85.13 %. The economic analysis indicates competitive costs of $0.099 per kWh for electricity and $0.56 per kg for methanol. The system surpasses current technologies in thermodynamic efficiency, operational and product costs, and reduced CO2 emissions, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable and economically sound solution for industrial energy challenges. It supports global sustainability initiatives and fits within the circular economy concept.

Development of the multigeneration plants based on the simultaneous production of water and energy can solve many of the current problems of these two major fields. In addition, the integration of fossil power plants with waste heat recovery processes in order to prevent the release of pollutants in the environment can simultaneously cover the environmental and thermodynamic improvements. Besides, the addition of a carbon dioxide (CO2) capturing cycles with such plants is a key issue towards a sustainable environment. Accordingly, a novel waste heat recovery-based multigeneration plant integrated with a carbon dioxide separation/liquefaction cycle is proposed and investigated under multi-variable assessments (energy/exergy, financial, and environmental). The offered multigeneration system is able to generate various beneficial outputs (electricity, liquefied CO2 (L-CO2), natural gas (NG), and freshwater). In the offered system, the liquified natural gas (LNG) cold energy is used to carry out condensation processes, which is a relatively new idea. Based on the results, the outputs rates of net power, NG, L-CO2, and water were determined to be approximately 42.72 MW and 18.01E+03, 612 and 3.56E+03 kmol/h, respectively. Moreover, the multigeneration plant was efficient about 32.08% and 87.72%, respectively, in terms of energy and exergy. Economic estimates indicated that the unit product costs of electricity and liquefied carbon dioxide production, respectively, were around 0.0466 USD per kWh and 0.0728 USD per kg-CO2. Finally, the total released CO2 was about 0.034 kg per kWh. According to a comprehensive comparison, the offered multigeneration plant can provide superior environmental, thermodynamic, and economic performances compared to similar plants. Moreover, there was no need to purchase electricity from the grid.

Among the different electrical energy storage technologies, the Carnot batteries are promising options with low specific cost that do not suffer from geographical limitations and power-capacity coupling. In addition to power balancing, this approach can also be unique for multi-vector energy management. A comprehensive evaluation (thermodynamic design and exergoenvironmental and exergoeconomic evaluations), comparison, and multi-objective optimization of four Carnot battery configurations based on solar-electric energy and a geothermal source is presented. Geothermal energy can simultaneously improve the thermodynamic and environmental performances of the Carnot battery. The main structure of all configurations is based on electrical energy obtained from PV and captured thermal energy from a geothermal source. The four Brayton, heat pump, flash, and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) units are periodically integrated. The outcomes point out that the discharging process is based on an ORC unit and a flash-heat pump cycle (F-HPC)-based charging process makes more optimal heat-to-power efficiency. Moreover, the Carnot battery based on the regenerative-Brayton cycle (R-BC) unit has a higher investment cost rate compared to the ORC unit (in the discharging process). When integrating the geothermal, the third configuration (R-HPC/R-BC) experiences the greatest improvement (5.3-fold) due to the increase in thermal energy received from the geothermal source.

Objective: Liver is an important player in regulation of body homeostasis. Study investigated the effects of hydro-alcohol extract of Zataria multiflora (ZM) on oxidative damage, level of IL-6 and enzymes of liver in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated rats.Materials and Methods: The rats were distributed into 5 groups: 1) Control; 2) LPS; and 3-5) ZM-Extract (Ext) 50, ZM-Ext 100, and ZM-Ext 200. ZM-Ext groups received 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of extract 30 min before LPS. Drugs were injected intraperitoneally. The entire period of this project was 17 days. In first three days, only extract was injected and then, ZM was injected along with LPS.Results: LPS increased the level of ALT (Alanine aminotransferase), AST (Aspartate aminotransferase ), ALK-P (Alkaline Phosphatase), IL-6, malondialdehyde (MDA), and nitric oxide (NO) metabolites and lowered thiol, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) concentration. ZM extract not only reduced ALT, AST, ALK-P, IL-6, MDA, and NO metabolites concentrations but also increased thiol content, and SOD and CAT levels.Conclusion: Extract of ZM prevented LPS-induced hepatotoxicity. This protective effect was associated with reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress.

Introduction: Inflammation and oxidative stress are contributed to cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin D (Vit D) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the current research, the effect of Vit D on cardiac fibrosis and inflammation, and oxidative stress indicators in cardiovascular tissues was studied in lipopolysaccharides(LPS) injected rats. Methods: Rats were distributed into 5 groups and were treated for 2 weeks. Control: received vehicle(saline supplemented with tween-80) instead of Vit D and saline instead of LPS, LPS: treated by 1 mg/kg of LPS and was given vehicle instead of Vit D, LPS-Vit D groups: received 3 doses of Vit D (100, 1000, and 10000 IU/kg) of Vit D in addition to LPS. Vit D was dissolved in saline supplemented with tween-80 (final concentration 0.1%) and LPS was dissolved in saline. The white blood cell (WBC) was counted. Oxidative stress markers were determined in serum, aorta, and heart. Cardiac tissue fibrosis was also estimated using Masson’s trichrome staining method. Results: WBC and malondialdehyde (MDA) were higher in the LPS group than the control group, whereas the thiol content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were lower in the LPS group than the control group (P

Methamphetamine (MA) abuse is related to risks to the cardiovascular system. The present study aimed to compare the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic training (MIAT) and vitamin E (Vit.E) supplementation on markers of cardiac apoptosis following MA exposure. Fifty-four rats were randomly divided into six groups. CON group did not receive MA, while the others received MA alone or in combination with MIAT, Vit. E, MIAT+Vit E, or paraffin (PAR). These groups received MA incrementally for 23 consecutive days. Vit.E and MIAT+Vit.E groups received vitamin E three times a week for six weeks. MIAT and MIAT+Vit.E groups exercised for 25–40 min. Immunohistochemical and gene expression analyses were performed on the heart tissues. Bax and TGF-β expression was significantly higher, while Bcl-2 and VEGF expression was significantly lower in the MA and PAR groups than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Bcl-2 and VEGF expression was higher, and Bax and TGF-β expression was significantly lower in the MIAT and MIAT+Vit.E groups than in the other groups (p < 0.05). In Vit.E treated groups, Bax and TGF-β expression were lower, and VEGF was higher than that in the MA and PAR groups, but higher than those in the CON, MIAT and MIAT+Vit.E groups. MA increased the expression of Bax and TGF-β, and decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and VEGF, suggesting increased cardiac apoptosis. In contrast, MIAT and Vit.E decreased the expression of Bax and TGF-β, suggesting a reduction in cardiac apoptosis induced by MA.

Purpose: One of the necessities of every sports committee in carrying out tasks, implementing programs, and achieving goals is the existence of appropriate financial resources. The study aimed to identify and prioritize factors affecting the development of the Khorasan Razavi province volleyball team brand.Methodology: The current study used Q methodology by the quantitative-qualitative mixed method. The 23 participants included athletes, coaches, referees, volleyball club managers, and brand experts.Findings: The results showed that six mental patterns had affected the brand, including professionalism, media, power, education, events, and nationalism. Leading sport organizations must learn and train this science in their members and include branding training in their training programs. Furthermore, they hold annual junior and regular competitions, invite elites, hold scientific circles, and help develop the infrastructure. Although, it is necessary to develop the city and province sports brands.Originality: We presented the solutions to develop the brand of the province's volleyball team.

Objective: The present study examined the effects of Artemisia absinthium L. on scopolamine-induced memory dysfunction and brain tissue oxidative damage in rats. Materials and Methods: Fifty rats were used in five groups: Control: received dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/saline, Scopolamine: scopolamine (2 mg/kg) was administered along with DMSO/saline, and Scopolamine-Ext 50, Scopolamine-Ext 100, and Scopolamine-Ext 200 groups: A. absinthium hydroalcoholic extract 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg were administered before scopolamine. The Morris water maze (MWM) and passive avoidance (PA) tasks were used for assessment of behavioral parameters. Malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, total thiol, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in the cortex and hippocampus.Results: A. absinthium decreased the delay time and distance traveled to reach the platform in the MWM test (p

Objective: The beneficial effect of carvacrol on neuroinflammation, oxidative damage of brain tissue, and depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration were evaluated in rats.Materials and Methods: Vehicle (1% Tween 80), 1 mg/kg of LPS, and carvacrol (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg administered prior to LPS) were injected and behavioral and biochemical tests were done.Results: The results of forced swim test revealed that carvacrol attenuated immobility time and increased activity and climbing times (p

Boswellia serrata has been used in traditional medicine to treat various inflammatory diseases. Acetyl-11-keto-β-boswellic acid (AKBA) and incensole acetate (IA) are two active ingredients of B. serrata that possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of AKBA and IA against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in rats. Wistar rats were intraperitoneally pretreated with AKBA or IA for 2 weeks. After 30 min, an LPS injection was applied to induce AKI. Blood samples and kidney tissues were collected and used for biochemical assays. AKBA and IA not only significantly decreased interleukin-6 as a marker of renal inflammation but also attenuated the oxidative stress markers in kidney tissues. AKBA and IA also remarkably decreased serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. These results suggest that AKBA and IA have protective effects against AKI in rats through regulating inflammation and oxidative stress.

Abstract Hypothyroidism can induce oxidative stress. Nano‐selenium (Nano Sel) has antioxidant effects. The current research explored Nano Sel effects on hepatic and renal oxidative damage induced by hypothyroidism in rats. Animals were grouped into (1) Control; (2) Propylthiouracil (PTU) group which received water mixed with 0.05% of PTU; (3) PTU‐Nano Sel 50; (4) PTU‐Nano Sel 100; and (5) PTU‐Nano Sel 150. Besides PTU, the PTU‐Nano Sel groups were treated with 50, 100, or 150 μg/kg of Nano Sel intraperitoneally. Treatments were done for 6 weeks. The serum level of T4, aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), albumin, total protein, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was evaluated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total thiol concentration and the activity of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in hepatic and renal tissues also were checked. Hypothyroidism induced by PTU significantly increased AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, BUN, and MDA concentration and noticeably reduced albumin, total protein, total thiol level, and SOD and CAT activity. Administration of Nano Sel ameliorated the adverse effects of hypothyroidism on liver and kidney function. Nano Sel applied protective effects against hepatic and renal damage resulting from hypothyroidism via ameliorating the oxidative stress status. More cellular and molecular experiments need to be done to understand the exact mechanisms.

The issue of the short microbiological shelf life of residues from the plant-based beverage industry creates a large food waste problem. Today, the oat beverage residue, in this study referred to as oat okara, is generally converted to energy or used as animal feed. High-pressure pasteurization (200 MPa, 400 MPa, and 600 MPa) was applied to oat okara to investigate the effect on shelf life and microbiological activity. A 4-week microbiological storage study was performed and thermal properties, viscosity, and water and oil holding capacities were analyzed. The total aerobic count, including yeast and mold, was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by 600 MPa after four weeks of storage at 4 °C. The content of lactic acid bacteria after four weeks of storage was low for untreated oat okara (3.2 log CFU/g) but, for 600 MPa, the content remained at the detection limit (2.3 log CFU/g). Conversely, the treatments of 200 MPa and 400 MPa increased the microbial content of the total aerobic count significantly (p < 0.05) after two weeks in comparison to untreated oat okara. The thermal properties of untreated and high-pressure-treated oat okara demonstrated an increase in protein denaturation of the 12S globulin, avenalin, when higher pressure was applied (400–600 MPa). This was also confirmed in the viscosity measurements where a viscosity peak for avenalin was only present for untreated and 200 MPa treated oat okara. The water holding capacity did not change as a function of high-pressure treatment (3.5–3.8 mL/g) except for the treatment at 200 MPa, which was reduced (2.7 mL/g). The oil holding capacity was constant (1.2–1.3 mL/g) after all treatments. High-pressure pasteurization of 600 MPa reduced the microbial content in oat okara resulting in a shelf life of 2–4 weeks. However, more research is required to identify the microorganisms in oat okara to achieve a microbiologically safe product that can be used for food applications.

Objective: The effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum on oxidative stress imposed by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) was examined in mice brain tissues.Materials and Methods: Animals were divided into five groups as follows: 1- control group which received saline; 2- PTZ group (100 mg/kg, ip); and groups 3 to 5 which received (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) of C. zeylanicum for seven days prior to PTZ injection. The latencies of the first minimal clonic seizure (MCS) and the first generalized tonic-clonic seizure (GTCS) and levels of oxidant and antioxidant biomarkers were measured.Results: Treatment with the two higher doses of the extract significantly increased the MCS and GTCS latencies (p

Background Nano selenium (Nano Sel) has many therapeutic properties including antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory actions. Objective Impacts of Nano Sel administration against cardiac fibrosis and heart and aorta tissue oxidative damage observed in hypothyroid rats were explored. Methods The animals were randomly grouped and treated as: 1) Control; 2) Propylthiouracil (PTU) in which PTU was added to the drinking water (0.05%) to induce hypothyroidism; 3–5) PTU-Nano Sel 50, PTU-Nano Sel 100, and PTU-Nano Sel 150 groups, which received daily PTU plus 50,100 or 150 µg/kg of Nano Sel for 6 weeks intraperitoneally. The heart and aorta tissues were removed under deep anesthesia and then biochemical parameters including malondialdehyde (MDA), total thiol groups, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as cardiac fibrosis were assessed. Results Hypothyroidism induced by PTU was remarkably associated with myocardial hypertrophy and perivascular fibrosis in Masson’s trichrome staining. Moreover, hypothyroidism increased MDA level, while it subtracted total thiol group content and activity of SOD and CAT. Treatment with Nano Sel recovered hypothyroidism-induced cardiac fibrosis in the histological assessment. Nano Sel also promoted CAT and SOD activity and thiol content, whereas alleviated MDA levels in the heart and aorta tissues. Conclusion Results propose that administration of Nano Sel exerts a protective role in the cardio vascular system via preventing cardiac fibrosis and inhibiting oxidative stress.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells serve a crucial role in the US decarbonization roadmap. However, water management challenges, such as liquid water accumulation in flow channels, can hinder their long-term performance. Accurately predicting the two-phase flow pressure drop is crucial to identify the extent of water accumulation on fuel cell performance. This study focuses on evaluating the liquid-gas two-phase flow pressure drop components in the flow channels of PEM fuel cells, considering different water transport mechanisms. The three components subject to study were the frictional, accelerational, and gravitational pressure gradients. The models considered in this transport phenomena incorporate electro-osmotic drag and back diffusion. The analysis also considers water evaporation and inlet reactant humidity as factors influencing water transport and pressure drop. The results provide insights into the significance of the different pressure drop components in this two-phase flow system. For the conditions considered in this study the accelerational and gravitational pressure gradients are less than 0.015% and 1.5% of the frictional pressure gradient, respectively. This study addresses a gap in the literature by documenting and validating the negligible effects of accelerational and gravitational pressure drops in two-phase flow within PEM fuel cells. These findings insights contribute to more accurate modeling and optimization of PEM fuel cell performance in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Okara is a by-product from the production of soy beverages, which has a high content of protein and fiber. Even though it has a high nutritional value, it is generally discarded or used as animal feed or compost. The problem is its short shelf life due to its high water content and high water activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of high-pressure pasteurization at 200 MPa, 400 MPa, and 600 MPa on the shelf life of soy okara. Microbiological growth, as well as thermal properties, viscosity, water holding capacity, and oil holding capacity, was evaluated after the pressure treatments. Treatment at 600 MPa significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the growth of total aerobic count, yeast and mold, and lactic acid bacteria for up to four weeks of storage at 4 °C. The pasting properties were increased while the water and oil holding capacities of the soy okara did not significantly change (p > 0.05) after high-pressure pasteurization at 400 MPa and 600 MPa. High-pressure pasteurization is therefore a potential application technique for soy okara to produce a microbiologically safe product with maintained functional properties. However, more research is needed to optimize the process and to further investigate the microbiological species present in untreated soy okara to exclude any potential food safety risks.