AIM:To investigate the efficacy of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) patients.METHODS:Pub Med,Cochrane library,Scopus,Google Scholar,and Clinicaltrial.gov databases were searched for literature published bet...AIM:To investigate the efficacy of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) patients.METHODS:Pub Med,Cochrane library,Scopus,Google Scholar,and Clinicaltrial.gov databases were searched for literature published between September 2007 and December 2013.The applied Mesh terms were "probiotics," "irritable bowel syndrome," and "irritable bowel syndrome treatment." The collected data contained24 clinical trials,of which 15 were eligible for meta-analysis and nine were reviewed systematically.All studies were randomized placebo-controlled trials in patients with IBS that investigated the efficacy of probiotics in IBS improvement.The Jadad score was used to assess the methodological quality of trials.The quality scale ranges from 0 to 5 points,with a score ≤ 2 indicating a low quality report,and a score of ≥3 indicating a high quality report.Relative risk(RR),standardized effect size,and 95%CI were calculated using the Der Simonian-Laird method.The Cochran Q test was used to test heterogeneity with P < 0.05.Funnel plots were constructed and Egger's and BeggMazumdar tests were performed to assess publication bias.RESULTS:A total of 1793 patients were included in the meta-analysis.The RR of responders to therapies based on abdominal pain score in IBS patients for two included trials comparing probiotics to placebo was 1.96(95%CI:1.14-3.36;P = 0.01).RR of responders to therapies based on a global symptom score in IBS patients for two included trials comparing probiotics with placebo was 2.43(95%CI:1.13-5.21;P = 0.02).For adequate improvement of general symptoms in IBS patients,the RR of seven included trials(six studies) comparing probiotics with placebo was 2.14(95%CI:1.08-4.26;P = 0.03).Distension,bloating,and flatulence were evaluated using an IBS severity scoring system in three trials(two studies) to compare the effect of probiotic therapy in IBS patients with placebo,the standardized effect size of mean differences for probiotics therapy was-2.57(95%CI:-13.05--7.92).CONCLUSION:Probiotics reduce pain and sympt展开更多
Peptic ulcer disease is a multifactorial and complex disease involving gastric and duodenal ulcers.Despite medical advances,the management of peptic ulcer and its complications remains a challenge,with high morbidity ...Peptic ulcer disease is a multifactorial and complex disease involving gastric and duodenal ulcers.Despite medical advances,the management of peptic ulcer and its complications remains a challenge,with high morbidity and death rates for the disease.An accumulating body of evidence suggests that,among a broad reach of natural molecules,dietary polyphenols with multiple biological mechanisms of action play a pivotal part in the management of gastric and duodenal ulcers.The current review confirmed that dietary polyphenols possess protective and therapeutic potential in peptic ulcer mediated by:improving cytoprotection,re-epithelialization,neovascularization,and angiogenesis; up-regulating tissue growth factors and prostaglandins; down-regulating anti-angiogenic factors; enhancing endothelial nitric oxide synthasederived NO; suppressing oxidative mucosal damage; amplifying antioxidant performance,antacid,and antisecretory activity; increasing endogenous mucosal defensive agents; and blocking Helicobacter pylori colonization associated gastric morphological changes and gastroduodenal inflammation and ulceration.In addition,anti-inflammatory activity due to downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and cellular and int e r c e llular adhe s ion age nt s,s uppr e s s ing leukocyte-endothelium interaction,inhibiting nuclear signaling pathways of inflammatory process,and modulating intracellular transduction and transcription pathways have key roles in the anti-ulcer action of dietary polyphenols.In conclusion,administration of a significant amount of dietary polyphenols in the human diet or as part of dietary supplementation along with conventional treatment can result in perfect security and treatment of peptic ulcer.Further welldesigned preclinical and clinical tests are recommended in order to recognize higher levels of evidence for the confirmation of bioefficacy and safety of dietary polyphenols in the management of peptic ulcer.展开更多
We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) as a therapeutic option for irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.For the years 1966 until September 2...We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) as a therapeutic option for irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.For the years 1966 until September 2008,PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for double-blind,placebo-controlled trials investigating the effi cacy of TCAs in the management of IBS.Seven randomized,placebo-controlled clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the metaanalysis.TCAs used in the treatment arm of these trials included amitriptyline,imipramine,desipramine,doxepin and trimipramine.The pooled relative risk for clinical improvement with TCA therapy was 1.93(95% CI:1.44 to 2.6,P<0.0001).Effect size of TCAs versus placebo for mean change in abdominal pain score among the two studies was -44.15(95% CI:-53.27 to -35.04,P<0.0001).It is concluded that low dose TCAs exhibit clinically and statistically signifi cant control of IBS symptoms.展开更多
We evaluated the eff icacy and tolerability of mebeverine, a musculotropic antispasmodic agent, in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and compared its usual dosages by meta-analysis. Medical databases and all relevant lit...We evaluated the eff icacy and tolerability of mebeverine, a musculotropic antispasmodic agent, in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and compared its usual dosages by meta-analysis. Medical databases and all relevant literature were searched from 1965 to June 2009 for any placebo-controlled clinical trials of mebeverine, using search terms such as mebeverine, clinical trials, and IBS. Eight randomized trials met our criteria, including six trials that compared mebeverine with placebo and two that compared mebeverine tablets with capsules. These eight trials included 555 patients randomized to receive either mebeverine or placebo with 352 (63%)women and 203 (37%) men in all subtypes of IBS. The pooled relative risk (RR) for clinical improvement of mebeverine was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.59-2.16, P = 0.7056) and 1.33 (95% CI: 0.92-1.93, P = 0.129) for relief of abdominal pain. The efficacy of mebeverine 200 mg compared to mebeverine 135 mg indicated RRs of 1.12 (95% CI: 0.96-1.3, P = 0.168) for clinical or global improvement and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.87-1.34, P = 0.463) for relief of abdominal pain. Thus, mebeverine is mostly well tolerated with no signif icant adverse effects; however, its eff icacy in global improvement of IBS is not statistically signif icant.展开更多
This review focuses on the efficacy and safety of effective herbal medicines in the management of obesity in humans and animals. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and IranMedex databases were searched up...This review focuses on the efficacy and safety of effective herbal medicines in the management of obesity in humans and animals. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and IranMedex databases were searched up to December 30, 2008. The search terms were ＂obesity＂ and （＇herbal medicine＂ or ＂plant＂, ＂plant medicinal＂ or ＂medicine traditional＂） without narrowing or limiting search elements. All of the human and animal studies on the effects of herbs with the key outcome of change in anthropometric measures such as body weight and waist-hip circumference, body fat, amount of food intake, and appetite were included. In vitro studies, reviews, and letters to editors were excluded. Of the publications identified in the initial database, 915 results were identified and reviewed, and a total of 77 studies were included （19 human and 58 animal studies）. Studies with Cissus quadrangularis （CQ）, Sambucus nigra, Asparagus officinalis, Garcinia atroviridis, ephedra and caffeine, Slimax （extract of several plants including Zingiber officinale and Bofutsushosan） showed a significant decrease in body weight. In 41 animal studies, significant weight loss or inhibition of weight gain was found. No significant adverse effects or mortality were observed except in studies with supplements containing ephedra, caffeine and Bofutsushosan. In conclusion, compounds containing ephedra, CQr ginseng, bitter melon, and zingiber were found to be effective in the management of obesity. Attention to these natural compounds would open a new approach for novel therapeutic and more effective agents.展开更多
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gut disorder with high prevalence.Because of various factors involved in its pathophysiology and disappointing results from conventional IBS medications,the treatment of ...Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gut disorder with high prevalence.Because of various factors involved in its pathophysiology and disappointing results from conventional IBS medications,the treatment of IBS is challenging and use of complementary and alternative medicines especially herbal therapies is increasing.In this paper,electronic databases including PubMed,Scopus,and Cochrane library were searched to obtain any in vitro,in vivo or human studies evaluating single or compound herbal preparations in the management of IBS.One in vitro,3 in vivo and 23 human studies were included and systematically reviewed.The majority of studies are about essential oil of Menta piperita as a single preparation and STW 5 as a compound preparation.Some evaluated herbs such as Curcuma xanthorriza and Fumaria officinalis did not demonstrate any benefits in IBS.However,it seems there are many other herbal preparations such as those proposed in traditional medicine of different countries that could be studied and investigated for their efficacy in management of IBS.展开更多
Separation of particles from liquid in the large gravitational tanks is widely used in mining and industrial wastewater treatment process.Thickener is key unit in the operational processes of hydrometallurgy and is us...Separation of particles from liquid in the large gravitational tanks is widely used in mining and industrial wastewater treatment process.Thickener is key unit in the operational processes of hydrometallurgy and is used to separate solid from liquid.In this study,population balance models were combined with computational fluid dynamics(CFD)for modeling the tailing thickener.Parameters such as feed flow rate,flocculant dosage,inlet solid percent and feedwell were investigated.CFD was used to simulate the industrial tailing thickener with settled bed of 120 m diameter which is located in the Sarcheshmeh copper mine.Important factor of drag force that defines the rake torque of rotating paddles on the bed was also determined.Two phases turbulence model of Eulerian/Eulerian in accordance with turbulence model ofκ-ε.was used in the steady-state.Also population balance model consists of 15 groups of particle sizes with Luo and Lehr kernel was used for aggregation/breakage kernel.The simulation results showed good agreement with the operational data.展开更多
The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is not yet known,but many factors such as defects in the immune system,oxidative stress,microbial content in the gastrointestinal tract,nuclear factor(NF)-κB,nitric oxi...The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is not yet known,but many factors such as defects in the immune system,oxidative stress,microbial content in the gastrointestinal tract,nuclear factor(NF)-κB,nitric oxide(NO),cyclooxygenase-2(Cox-2),and leukotriene B4(LB4) are thought to play a role in its pathogenesis.In traditional Iranian medicine(TIM),several medicinal plants are thought to be effective for the treatment of IBD.In this study,information on all of these remedies were derived from all available old sources such as documents or notes and books and were added to the information derived from modern medical databases covering all in vitro,in vivo and clinical trials.For some of these plants,only one or two mechanisms of action have been found such as in Cassia fistula,Lepidium sativum,and Bunium persicum.However,for some plants various mechanisms of action are known.For example,Commiphora mukul is effective in IBD due to its immunomodulatory,antioxidant,and antibacterial properties and it decreases NF-κB,NO and Cox-2.Another herb,Plantago ovata,has immunomodulatory,antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities and decreases NO and LB4.Considering the mechanisms of action of these plants,the combination of some of them may be useful because of their many mechanisms of action such as Pistacia lentiscus,Bunium persicum,Solanum nigrum,Plantago ovata,Boswellia,Solanum nigrum,Plantago ovata and Commiphora mukul.For some of the herbal products used in TIM such as oleogum resin from Commiphora myrrha,seeds of Ocimum basilicum,seeds of Linum usitatissimum,gum resin of Dracaena cinnabari,seeds of Plantago major,seeds of Lallementia royleana,and seeds of Allium porrum,there is no or not enough studies to confirm their benefits in IBD.It is suggested that an evaluation of the effects of these plants on different aspects of IBD should be performed.展开更多
We systematically reviewed the clinical trials which recruited antioxidants in the therapy of pancreatitis and evaluated whether antioxidants improve the outcome of patients with pancreatitis. Electronic bibliographic...We systematically reviewed the clinical trials which recruited antioxidants in the therapy of pancreatitis and evaluated whether antioxidants improve the outcome of patients with pancreatitis. Electronic bibliographic databases were searched for any studies which investigated the use of antioxidants in the management of acute pancreatitis （AP） or chronic pancreatitis （CP） and in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography （post-ERCP） pancreatitis （PEP） up to February 2009. Twenty-two randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the review. Except for a cocktail of antioxidants which showed improvement in outcomes in three different clinical trials, the results of the administration of other antioxidants in both AP and CP clinical trials were incongruent and heterogeneous.Furthermore, antioxidant therapy including allopurinol and N-acetylcysteine failed to prevent the onset of PEP in almost all trials. In conclusion, the present data do not support a benefit of antioxidant therapy alone or in combination with conventional therapy in the management of AP, CP or PER Further double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials with large sample size need to be conducted.展开更多
Several drugs are used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） but all have side effects and variable efficacy. Considering the role of the gut-brain axis, immune, neural, and endocrine pathways in the pa...Several drugs are used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） but all have side effects and variable efficacy. Considering the role of the gut-brain axis, immune, neural, and endocrine pathways in the patho- genesis of IBS and possible beneficial effects of benzodiazepines （BZD） in this axis, the present systematic review focuses on the efficacy of BZD receptor modulators in human IBS. For the years 1966 to February 2011, all literature was searched for any articles on the use of BZD receptor modulators and IBS. After thorough evaluation and omission of duplicate data, 10 out of 69 articles were included. BZD receptor modulators can be helpful, especially in the diarrhea-dominant form of IBS, by affecting the inflammatory, neural, and psychologic pathways, however, controversies still exist. Recently, a new BZD receptor modulator, dextofisoparn was synthesized and studied in human subjects, but the studies are limited to phase 11 b clinical trials. None of the existing trials considered the neuroimmunomodulatory effect of BZDs in IBS, but bearing in mind the concentration- dependent effect of BZDs on cytokines and cell proliferation, future studies using pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic approaches are highly recommended.展开更多
Accurate knowledge of the actual nutritional value of individual feed ingredients and complete diets is critical for efficient and sustainable animal production.For this reason,feed evaluation has always been in the f...Accurate knowledge of the actual nutritional value of individual feed ingredients and complete diets is critical for efficient and sustainable animal production.For this reason,feed evaluation has always been in the forefront of nutritional research.Feed evaluation for poultry involves several approaches that include chemical analysis,table values,prediction equations,near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy,in vivo data and in vitro digestion techniques.Among these,the use of animals(in vivo)is the most valuable to gain information on nutrient utilization and is more predictive of bird performance.However,in vivo methods are expensive,laborious and time-consuming.It is therefore important to establish in vitro methods that are reliable,rapid and practical to assess the nutritional quality of feed ingredients or complete diets.Accuracy of the technique is crucial,as poor prediction will have a negative impact on bird performance and,increase feed cost and environmental issues.In this review,the relevance and importance of feed evaluation in poultry nutrition will be highlighted and the various approaches to evaluate the feed value of feed ingredients or complete diets will be discussed.Trends in and practical limitations encountered in feed evaluation science,with emphasis on in vitro digestion techniques,will be discussed.展开更多
The extraction and stripping of Cu and Ni ions from synthetic and industrial solutions of Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine containing Cu(770 mg/L),Ni(3200 mg/L),Fe(800 mg/L)and Zn(200 mg/L)were comprehensively investigated usi...The extraction and stripping of Cu and Ni ions from synthetic and industrial solutions of Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine containing Cu(770 mg/L),Ni(3200 mg/L),Fe(800 mg/L)and Zn(200 mg/L)were comprehensively investigated using D2 EHPA,LIX 984,Cyanex 302,Chemorex CP 150 and Acorga 5774 diluted in kerosene.The influential parameters such as mixing speed and time,concentration of extractant,p H and temperature were considered in extraction stage.Furthermore,stripping of Cu and Ni was examined using different inorganic and organic acids(sulfuric,hydrochloric,nitric and citric acids)with different concentrations.The results indicated that the highest extractions of Cu and Ni occurred within 3 min,with the mixing speed of 500 r/min,28℃and A/O ratio of 1:1.Moreover,Cu was extracted by LIX 984 at the concentration of 10%(v/v),whereas Ni was extracted by Cyanex 302 at the concentration of 30%(v/v),efficiently.The optimal p H for Cu and Ni extraction is in ranges of 2-3 and 4-5,respectively.Cu and Ni were selectively extracted with the recoveries of 85%,93%and 77%,82%from synthetic and industrial solutions containing Ni,Cu,Zn and Fe ions,respectively.The results of optimal condition showed that 96%of Ni and 93%of Cu were stripped from the synthetic and industrial solutions.Finally,four elements Zn,Fe,Cu and Ni were extracted in three stages with D2 EHPA,LIX 984 and Cyanex 302 extractants respectively with the least impurities.展开更多
Tribological behavior and wear mechanisms of mechanically milled Al5083 alloy and Al5083−5wt.%B4C composite at room temperature and 200°C were discussed.Results revealed that due to the oxidative wear at room tem...Tribological behavior and wear mechanisms of mechanically milled Al5083 alloy and Al5083−5wt.%B4C composite at room temperature and 200°C were discussed.Results revealed that due to the oxidative wear at room temperature,a mechanically mixed layer(MML)was formed to protect the surface of the samples.Under 80 N of load at room temperature,the milled Al5083 and the Al5083−5wt.%B4C samples showed evidence of abrasion with limited volume loss.In this case,the wear rates were 5.8×10−7 and 4.4×10−7 mm3/(m·N),respectively.At 200°C and under 80 N of applied load,severe wear occurred in the milled Al5083 sample,and wear rate reached 10.8×10−7 mm3/(m·N)while the Al5083−5wt.%B4C sample showed mild wear with local 3-body abrasion and the wear rate reached 5.3×10−7 mm3/(m·N).Strengthening mechanisms such as dislocation pinning and the Hall−Petch theory,high hardness and the load transfer effect were crucial in determining the wear behavior of the Al5083−5wt.%B4C composite.On the other hand,the milled Al5083 sample represented a relatively high wear rate at 200°C,which seemed to be related to the local grain growth and a drop in its hardness.展开更多
Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)refers to a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal(GI)tract.The elevated levels of nitric oxide(NO)in serum and affected tissues;mainly synthesi...Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)refers to a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal(GI)tract.The elevated levels of nitric oxide(NO)in serum and affected tissues;mainly synthesized by the inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)enzyme;can exacerbate GI inflammation and is one of the major biomarkers of GI inflammation.Various natural and synthetic agents are able to ameliorate GI inflammation and decrease iNOS expression to the extent comparable with some IBD drugs.Thereby,the purpose of this study was to gather a list of natural or synthetic mediators capable of modulating IBD through the NO pathway.Electronic databases including Google Scholar and PubMed were searched from 1980 to May 2018.We found that polyphenols and particularly flavonoids are able to markedly attenuate NO production and iNOS expression through the nuclear factorκB(NF-κB)and JAK/STAT signaling pathways.Prebiotics and probiotics can also alter the GI microbiota and reduce NO expression in IBD models through a broad array of mechanisms.A number of synthetic molecules have been found to suppress NO expression either dependent on the NF-κB signaling pathway(i.e.,dexamethasone,pioglitazone,tropisetron)or independent from this pathway(i.e.,nicotine,prednisolone,celecoxib,β-adrenoceptor antagonists).Co-administration of natural and synthetic agents can affect the tissue level of NO and may improve IBD symptoms mainly by modulating the Toll like receptor-4 and NF-κB signaling pathways.展开更多
AIM:To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of antioxidant therapy in acute pancreatitis(AP),chronic pancreatitis(CP) and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis(PEP).METHODS:Pub Med,S...AIM:To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of antioxidant therapy in acute pancreatitis(AP),chronic pancreatitis(CP) and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis(PEP).METHODS:Pub Med,Scopus,Google Scholar,Cochrane library database,and Evidence-based medicine/clinical trials published before August 2014 were searched. Clinical and laboratory outcomes of randomized trials of antioxidant therapy in patients with AP,CP and PEP were included. The methodological quality of the trials was assessed by the Jadad score based on the description of randomization,blinding,and dropouts(withdrawals). The results of the studies were pooled and meta-analyzed to provide estimates of the efficacy of antioxidant therapy.RESULTS:Thirty four trials out of 1069 potentially relevant studies with data for 4898 patients wereeligible for inclusion. Antioxidant therapy significantly reduced the length of hospital stay in AP patients {mean difference-2.59 d(95%CI:-4.25-(-0.93)],P = 0.002}. Although,antioxidant therapy had no significant effect on serum C reactive protein(CRP) after 5-7 d in AP patients [mean difference-9.57(95%CI:-40.61-21.48,P = 0.55],it significantly reduced serum CRP after 10 d {mean difference-45.16 [95%CI:-89.99-(-0.33)],P = 0.048}. In addition,antioxidant therapy had no significant effect on CP-induced pain [mean difference-2.13(95%CI:-5.87-1.6),P = 0.26]. Antioxidant therapy had no significant effects on the incidence of all types of PEP [mean difference 1.05(95%CI:0.74-1.5),P = 0.78],severe PEP [mean difference 0.92(95%CI:0.43-1.97),P = 0.83],moderate PEP [mean difference 0.82(95%CI:0.54-1.23),P = 0.33],and mild PEP [mean difference 1.33(95%CI:0.99-1.78),P = 0.06]. Furthermore,while antioxidant therapy had no significant effect on serum amylase after less than 8 h sampling [mean difference-20.61(95%CI:-143.61-102.39),P = 0.74],it significantly reduced serum amylase close to 24-h sampling {mean difference-16.13 [95%CI:-22.98-(-9.28)],P < 0.0001}.CONCLUSION:While there is some evidence 展开更多
The aim of this study is to apply process mineralogy as a practical tool for further understanding and predicting the flotation kinetics of the copper sulfide minerals. The minerals' composition and association, g...The aim of this study is to apply process mineralogy as a practical tool for further understanding and predicting the flotation kinetics of the copper sulfide minerals. The minerals' composition and association, grain distribution, and liberation within the ore samples were analyzed in the feed, concentrate, and the tailings of the flotation processes with two pulp densities of 25 wt% and 30 wt%. The major copper-bearing minerals identified by microscopic analysis of the concentrate samples included chalcopyrite(56.2 wt%), chalcocite(29.1 wt%),covellite(6.4 wt%), and bornite(4.7 wt%). Pyrite was the main sulfide gangue mineral(3.6 wt%) in the concentrates. A 95% degree of liberation with d_(80) > 80 μm was obtained for chalcopyrite as the main copper mineral in the ore sample. The recovery rate and the grade in the concentrates were enhanced with increasing chalcopyrite particle size. Chalcopyrite particles with a d_(80) of approximately 100 μm were recovered at the early stages of the flotation process. The kinetic studies showed that the kinetic second-order rectangular distribution model perfectly fit the flotation test data. Characterization of the kinetic parameters indicated that the optimum granulation distribution range for achieving a maximum flotation rate for chalcopyrite particles was between the sizes 50 and 55 μm.展开更多
Foam flooding using CO_(2)has emerged as a promising method for both enhanced oil recovery(EOR)and the storage of CO_(2)in geological reservoirs.This study conducts a thorough analysis of the behavior of CO_(2)and N_(...Foam flooding using CO_(2)has emerged as a promising method for both enhanced oil recovery(EOR)and the storage of CO_(2)in geological reservoirs.This study conducts a thorough analysis of the behavior of CO_(2)and N_(2)foams in bulk and porous media,utilizing bubble-scale analyses and foam flooding experiments.The study compares the foamability and longevity of CO_(2)and N_(2)foams,with findings indicating that N_(2)foam bubbles tend to be smaller and less varied in size than CO_(2)foam bubbles,leading to increased foam stability.Additionally,the study compares the half-lives of CO_(2)and N_(2)foams generated through sparging and winding methods,showing that N_(2)foam has half-lives 22 and 10 times greater than CO_(2)foam when produced using the sparging and winding methods,respectively.Furthermore,CO_(2)foam generated through the sparging method had a lower foaming volume than N_(2)foam due to CO_(2)'s solubility.In the foam flooding experiments,N_(2)foam proved more effective in recovering oil from porous media than CO_(2)foam,thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the foam injection procedure.These results offer valuable insights into the differing performance of N_(2)and CO_(2)foam floods for EOR and CO_(2)geological storage.展开更多
Standardized ileal digestibility coefficients(SIDC)of nitrogen(N)and amino acids(AA)in two protein sources(soybean meal[SBM]and canola meal[CM])were investigated at six broiler ages(d 7,14,21,28,35,and 42).Two assay d...Standardized ileal digestibility coefficients(SIDC)of nitrogen(N)and amino acids(AA)in two protein sources(soybean meal[SBM]and canola meal[CM])were investigated at six broiler ages(d 7,14,21,28,35,and 42).Two assay diets were formulated to contain either SBM(413 g/kg)or CM(553 g/kg)as the sole dietary AA source.Titanium dioxide(5 g/kg)was added as an indigestible marker.A total of 696 male broilers at 1 d old were allotted to 12 replicate cages per age group.Each assay diet was offered to birds for 4 d prior to the ileal digesta collection on d 7(14 birds/cage),14(12 birds/cage),21(10 birds/cage),28(8 birds/cage),35(8 birds/cage)and 42(6 birds/cage),respectively.The apparent digestibility coefficients were standardized using age-specific basal endogenous AA flows.In the SBM group,though the SIDC of N tended to be influenced(quadratic;P=0.075)by age,no linear or quadratic response of age effect was observed on the average SIDC of indispensable(IAA)and total AA(TAA).An age effect(quadratic;P<0.05)was observed on the average SIDC of dispensable AA(DAA)in SBM with the highest value recorded at d 7,followed by a decrease from d 14 to 28,which increased beyond d 35.The SIDC of some individual AA(Arg,Thr,Trp,Cys,Pro)were affected(P<0.05 or P<0.001)in a quadratic manner by age.In the CM,the SIDC of N,average SIDC of IAA,DAA and TAA were influenced(quadratic;P<0.05 or P<0.001)by age.The SIDC of N and average SIDC of DAA and TAA were higher from d 7 to 14,declined at d 21,and then increased beyond d 28.The average SIDC of IAA was low between d 7 and 28 and increased thereafter.The SIDC of individual AA were affected(linear or quadratic;P<0.05 or P<0.001)by different magnitudes by age.The age influence on the SIDC AA was variable,depending on the protein source and AA.The results demonstrate that age-specific SIDC AA data might need consideration in broiler feed formulations.展开更多
BACKGROUND The standard management of autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)is based on corticosteroids,alone or in combination with azathioprine.Second-line treatments are needed for patients who have refractory disease.However,h...BACKGROUND The standard management of autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)is based on corticosteroids,alone or in combination with azathioprine.Second-line treatments are needed for patients who have refractory disease.However,high-quality data on the alternative management of AIH are scarce.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)and the quality of evidence by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation approach(GRADE).METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data were performed.We calculated pooled event rates for three outcome measures:Biochemical remission,adverse events,and mortality,with their corresponding 95%confidence intervals(CI).RESULTS The pooled biochemical remission rate was 68.9%(95%CI:60.4-76.2)for tacrolimus,and 59.6%(95%CI:54.8-64.2)for MMF,and rates of adverse events were 25.5%(95%CI:12.4-45.3)for tacrolimus and 24.1%(95%CI:15.4-35.7)for MMF.The pooled mortality rate was estimated at 11.5%(95%CI:7.1-18.1)for tacrolimus and 9.01%(95%CI:6.2-12.8)for MMF.Pooled biochemical remission rates for tacrolimus and MMF in patients with intolerance to standard therapy were 56.6%(CI:43.4-56.6)vs 73.5%(CI:58.1-84.7),and among non-responders were 59.1%(CI:48.7-68.8)vs 40.8%(CI:32.3-50.0),respectively.Moreover,the overall quality assessments using GRADE proved to be very low for all our outcomes in both treatment groups.CONCLUSION Tacrolimus and MMF are in practice considered effective for patients with AIH who are non-responders or intolerant to first-line treatment,but we found no high-quality evidence to support this statement.展开更多
文摘AIM:To investigate the efficacy of probiotics in irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) patients.METHODS:Pub Med,Cochrane library,Scopus,Google Scholar,and Clinicaltrial.gov databases were searched for literature published between September 2007 and December 2013.The applied Mesh terms were "probiotics," "irritable bowel syndrome," and "irritable bowel syndrome treatment." The collected data contained24 clinical trials,of which 15 were eligible for meta-analysis and nine were reviewed systematically.All studies were randomized placebo-controlled trials in patients with IBS that investigated the efficacy of probiotics in IBS improvement.The Jadad score was used to assess the methodological quality of trials.The quality scale ranges from 0 to 5 points,with a score ≤ 2 indicating a low quality report,and a score of ≥3 indicating a high quality report.Relative risk(RR),standardized effect size,and 95%CI were calculated using the Der Simonian-Laird method.The Cochran Q test was used to test heterogeneity with P < 0.05.Funnel plots were constructed and Egger's and BeggMazumdar tests were performed to assess publication bias.RESULTS:A total of 1793 patients were included in the meta-analysis.The RR of responders to therapies based on abdominal pain score in IBS patients for two included trials comparing probiotics to placebo was 1.96(95%CI:1.14-3.36;P = 0.01).RR of responders to therapies based on a global symptom score in IBS patients for two included trials comparing probiotics with placebo was 2.43(95%CI:1.13-5.21;P = 0.02).For adequate improvement of general symptoms in IBS patients,the RR of seven included trials(six studies) comparing probiotics with placebo was 2.14(95%CI:1.08-4.26;P = 0.03).Distension,bloating,and flatulence were evaluated using an IBS severity scoring system in three trials(two studies) to compare the effect of probiotic therapy in IBS patients with placebo,the standardized effect size of mean differences for probiotics therapy was-2.57(95%CI:-13.05--7.92).CONCLUSION:Probiotics reduce pain and sympt
基金Supported by National Elites Foundation of Iran(partly)
文摘Peptic ulcer disease is a multifactorial and complex disease involving gastric and duodenal ulcers.Despite medical advances,the management of peptic ulcer and its complications remains a challenge,with high morbidity and death rates for the disease.An accumulating body of evidence suggests that,among a broad reach of natural molecules,dietary polyphenols with multiple biological mechanisms of action play a pivotal part in the management of gastric and duodenal ulcers.The current review confirmed that dietary polyphenols possess protective and therapeutic potential in peptic ulcer mediated by:improving cytoprotection,re-epithelialization,neovascularization,and angiogenesis; up-regulating tissue growth factors and prostaglandins; down-regulating anti-angiogenic factors; enhancing endothelial nitric oxide synthasederived NO; suppressing oxidative mucosal damage; amplifying antioxidant performance,antacid,and antisecretory activity; increasing endogenous mucosal defensive agents; and blocking Helicobacter pylori colonization associated gastric morphological changes and gastroduodenal inflammation and ulceration.In addition,anti-inflammatory activity due to downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and cellular and int e r c e llular adhe s ion age nt s,s uppr e s s ing leukocyte-endothelium interaction,inhibiting nuclear signaling pathways of inflammatory process,and modulating intracellular transduction and transcription pathways have key roles in the anti-ulcer action of dietary polyphenols.In conclusion,administration of a significant amount of dietary polyphenols in the human diet or as part of dietary supplementation along with conventional treatment can result in perfect security and treatment of peptic ulcer.Further welldesigned preclinical and clinical tests are recommended in order to recognize higher levels of evidence for the confirmation of bioefficacy and safety of dietary polyphenols in the management of peptic ulcer.
基金Supported by National Science Foundation, Tehran
文摘We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of tricyclic antidepressants(TCAs) as a therapeutic option for irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) through meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.For the years 1966 until September 2008,PubMed,Scopus,Web of Science,and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for double-blind,placebo-controlled trials investigating the effi cacy of TCAs in the management of IBS.Seven randomized,placebo-controlled clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the metaanalysis.TCAs used in the treatment arm of these trials included amitriptyline,imipramine,desipramine,doxepin and trimipramine.The pooled relative risk for clinical improvement with TCA therapy was 1.93(95% CI:1.44 to 2.6,P<0.0001).Effect size of TCAs versus placebo for mean change in abdominal pain score among the two studies was -44.15(95% CI:-53.27 to -35.04,P<0.0001).It is concluded that low dose TCAs exhibit clinically and statistically signifi cant control of IBS symptoms.
文摘We evaluated the eff icacy and tolerability of mebeverine, a musculotropic antispasmodic agent, in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and compared its usual dosages by meta-analysis. Medical databases and all relevant literature were searched from 1965 to June 2009 for any placebo-controlled clinical trials of mebeverine, using search terms such as mebeverine, clinical trials, and IBS. Eight randomized trials met our criteria, including six trials that compared mebeverine with placebo and two that compared mebeverine tablets with capsules. These eight trials included 555 patients randomized to receive either mebeverine or placebo with 352 (63%)women and 203 (37%) men in all subtypes of IBS. The pooled relative risk (RR) for clinical improvement of mebeverine was 1.13 (95% CI: 0.59-2.16, P = 0.7056) and 1.33 (95% CI: 0.92-1.93, P = 0.129) for relief of abdominal pain. The efficacy of mebeverine 200 mg compared to mebeverine 135 mg indicated RRs of 1.12 (95% CI: 0.96-1.3, P = 0.168) for clinical or global improvement and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.87-1.34, P = 0.463) for relief of abdominal pain. Thus, mebeverine is mostly well tolerated with no signif icant adverse effects; however, its eff icacy in global improvement of IBS is not statistically signif icant.
文摘This review focuses on the efficacy and safety of effective herbal medicines in the management of obesity in humans and animals. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and IranMedex databases were searched up to December 30, 2008. The search terms were ＂obesity＂ and （＇herbal medicine＂ or ＂plant＂, ＂plant medicinal＂ or ＂medicine traditional＂） without narrowing or limiting search elements. All of the human and animal studies on the effects of herbs with the key outcome of change in anthropometric measures such as body weight and waist-hip circumference, body fat, amount of food intake, and appetite were included. In vitro studies, reviews, and letters to editors were excluded. Of the publications identified in the initial database, 915 results were identified and reviewed, and a total of 77 studies were included （19 human and 58 animal studies）. Studies with Cissus quadrangularis （CQ）, Sambucus nigra, Asparagus officinalis, Garcinia atroviridis, ephedra and caffeine, Slimax （extract of several plants including Zingiber officinale and Bofutsushosan） showed a significant decrease in body weight. In 41 animal studies, significant weight loss or inhibition of weight gain was found. No significant adverse effects or mortality were observed except in studies with supplements containing ephedra, caffeine and Bofutsushosan. In conclusion, compounds containing ephedra, CQr ginseng, bitter melon, and zingiber were found to be effective in the management of obesity. Attention to these natural compounds would open a new approach for novel therapeutic and more effective agents.
文摘Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gut disorder with high prevalence.Because of various factors involved in its pathophysiology and disappointing results from conventional IBS medications,the treatment of IBS is challenging and use of complementary and alternative medicines especially herbal therapies is increasing.In this paper,electronic databases including PubMed,Scopus,and Cochrane library were searched to obtain any in vitro,in vivo or human studies evaluating single or compound herbal preparations in the management of IBS.One in vitro,3 in vivo and 23 human studies were included and systematically reviewed.The majority of studies are about essential oil of Menta piperita as a single preparation and STW 5 as a compound preparation.Some evaluated herbs such as Curcuma xanthorriza and Fumaria officinalis did not demonstrate any benefits in IBS.However,it seems there are many other herbal preparations such as those proposed in traditional medicine of different countries that could be studied and investigated for their efficacy in management of IBS.
文摘Separation of particles from liquid in the large gravitational tanks is widely used in mining and industrial wastewater treatment process.Thickener is key unit in the operational processes of hydrometallurgy and is used to separate solid from liquid.In this study,population balance models were combined with computational fluid dynamics(CFD)for modeling the tailing thickener.Parameters such as feed flow rate,flocculant dosage,inlet solid percent and feedwell were investigated.CFD was used to simulate the industrial tailing thickener with settled bed of 120 m diameter which is located in the Sarcheshmeh copper mine.Important factor of drag force that defines the rake torque of rotating paddles on the bed was also determined.Two phases turbulence model of Eulerian/Eulerian in accordance with turbulence model ofκ-ε.was used in the steady-state.Also population balance model consists of 15 groups of particle sizes with Luo and Lehr kernel was used for aggregation/breakage kernel.The simulation results showed good agreement with the operational data.
文摘The etiology of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) is not yet known,but many factors such as defects in the immune system,oxidative stress,microbial content in the gastrointestinal tract,nuclear factor(NF)-κB,nitric oxide(NO),cyclooxygenase-2(Cox-2),and leukotriene B4(LB4) are thought to play a role in its pathogenesis.In traditional Iranian medicine(TIM),several medicinal plants are thought to be effective for the treatment of IBD.In this study,information on all of these remedies were derived from all available old sources such as documents or notes and books and were added to the information derived from modern medical databases covering all in vitro,in vivo and clinical trials.For some of these plants,only one or two mechanisms of action have been found such as in Cassia fistula,Lepidium sativum,and Bunium persicum.However,for some plants various mechanisms of action are known.For example,Commiphora mukul is effective in IBD due to its immunomodulatory,antioxidant,and antibacterial properties and it decreases NF-κB,NO and Cox-2.Another herb,Plantago ovata,has immunomodulatory,antioxidant,anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities and decreases NO and LB4.Considering the mechanisms of action of these plants,the combination of some of them may be useful because of their many mechanisms of action such as Pistacia lentiscus,Bunium persicum,Solanum nigrum,Plantago ovata,Boswellia,Solanum nigrum,Plantago ovata and Commiphora mukul.For some of the herbal products used in TIM such as oleogum resin from Commiphora myrrha,seeds of Ocimum basilicum,seeds of Linum usitatissimum,gum resin of Dracaena cinnabari,seeds of Plantago major,seeds of Lallementia royleana,and seeds of Allium porrum,there is no or not enough studies to confirm their benefits in IBD.It is suggested that an evaluation of the effects of these plants on different aspects of IBD should be performed.
文摘We systematically reviewed the clinical trials which recruited antioxidants in the therapy of pancreatitis and evaluated whether antioxidants improve the outcome of patients with pancreatitis. Electronic bibliographic databases were searched for any studies which investigated the use of antioxidants in the management of acute pancreatitis （AP） or chronic pancreatitis （CP） and in the prevention of post-endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography （post-ERCP） pancreatitis （PEP） up to February 2009. Twenty-two randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials met our criteria and were included in the review. Except for a cocktail of antioxidants which showed improvement in outcomes in three different clinical trials, the results of the administration of other antioxidants in both AP and CP clinical trials were incongruent and heterogeneous.Furthermore, antioxidant therapy including allopurinol and N-acetylcysteine failed to prevent the onset of PEP in almost all trials. In conclusion, the present data do not support a benefit of antioxidant therapy alone or in combination with conventional therapy in the management of AP, CP or PER Further double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials with large sample size need to be conducted.
文摘Several drugs are used in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome （IBS） but all have side effects and variable efficacy. Considering the role of the gut-brain axis, immune, neural, and endocrine pathways in the patho- genesis of IBS and possible beneficial effects of benzodiazepines （BZD） in this axis, the present systematic review focuses on the efficacy of BZD receptor modulators in human IBS. For the years 1966 to February 2011, all literature was searched for any articles on the use of BZD receptor modulators and IBS. After thorough evaluation and omission of duplicate data, 10 out of 69 articles were included. BZD receptor modulators can be helpful, especially in the diarrhea-dominant form of IBS, by affecting the inflammatory, neural, and psychologic pathways, however, controversies still exist. Recently, a new BZD receptor modulator, dextofisoparn was synthesized and studied in human subjects, but the studies are limited to phase 11 b clinical trials. None of the existing trials considered the neuroimmunomodulatory effect of BZDs in IBS, but bearing in mind the concentration- dependent effect of BZDs on cytokines and cell proliferation, future studies using pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic approaches are highly recommended.
文摘Accurate knowledge of the actual nutritional value of individual feed ingredients and complete diets is critical for efficient and sustainable animal production.For this reason,feed evaluation has always been in the forefront of nutritional research.Feed evaluation for poultry involves several approaches that include chemical analysis,table values,prediction equations,near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy,in vivo data and in vitro digestion techniques.Among these,the use of animals(in vivo)is the most valuable to gain information on nutrient utilization and is more predictive of bird performance.However,in vivo methods are expensive,laborious and time-consuming.It is therefore important to establish in vitro methods that are reliable,rapid and practical to assess the nutritional quality of feed ingredients or complete diets.Accuracy of the technique is crucial,as poor prediction will have a negative impact on bird performance and,increase feed cost and environmental issues.In this review,the relevance and importance of feed evaluation in poultry nutrition will be highlighted and the various approaches to evaluate the feed value of feed ingredients or complete diets will be discussed.Trends in and practical limitations encountered in feed evaluation science,with emphasis on in vitro digestion techniques,will be discussed.
文摘The extraction and stripping of Cu and Ni ions from synthetic and industrial solutions of Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine containing Cu(770 mg/L),Ni(3200 mg/L),Fe(800 mg/L)and Zn(200 mg/L)were comprehensively investigated using D2 EHPA,LIX 984,Cyanex 302,Chemorex CP 150 and Acorga 5774 diluted in kerosene.The influential parameters such as mixing speed and time,concentration of extractant,p H and temperature were considered in extraction stage.Furthermore,stripping of Cu and Ni was examined using different inorganic and organic acids(sulfuric,hydrochloric,nitric and citric acids)with different concentrations.The results indicated that the highest extractions of Cu and Ni occurred within 3 min,with the mixing speed of 500 r/min,28℃and A/O ratio of 1:1.Moreover,Cu was extracted by LIX 984 at the concentration of 10%(v/v),whereas Ni was extracted by Cyanex 302 at the concentration of 30%(v/v),efficiently.The optimal p H for Cu and Ni extraction is in ranges of 2-3 and 4-5,respectively.Cu and Ni were selectively extracted with the recoveries of 85%,93%and 77%,82%from synthetic and industrial solutions containing Ni,Cu,Zn and Fe ions,respectively.The results of optimal condition showed that 96%of Ni and 93%of Cu were stripped from the synthetic and industrial solutions.Finally,four elements Zn,Fe,Cu and Ni were extracted in three stages with D2 EHPA,LIX 984 and Cyanex 302 extractants respectively with the least impurities.
基金Authors would like to appreciate the former chief of Faculty of Materials&Manufacturing Processes of the Malek-Ashtar University of Technology,Professor EHSANI and the chief of the Composite Department,Dr.POURHOSSEINI along with the Razi and Kimiazi SEM labs and mechanical properties and SEM labs of Iran University of Science and Technology.Furthermore,the authors would like to thank Professor REZAEI,Ms.HAMIDI,and Ms.DAYYANI,Mr.SA'ADAT,and Mr.ATAEI from Iran University of Science and Technology.Special thanks to Mrs.KESHAVARZ,Ms.HAMEDANIZADEH,Ms.SHABANI,Ms.SHOJAEI and Mr.GANDOMKAR for their help and support.
文摘Tribological behavior and wear mechanisms of mechanically milled Al5083 alloy and Al5083−5wt.%B4C composite at room temperature and 200°C were discussed.Results revealed that due to the oxidative wear at room temperature,a mechanically mixed layer(MML)was formed to protect the surface of the samples.Under 80 N of load at room temperature,the milled Al5083 and the Al5083−5wt.%B4C samples showed evidence of abrasion with limited volume loss.In this case,the wear rates were 5.8×10−7 and 4.4×10−7 mm3/(m·N),respectively.At 200°C and under 80 N of applied load,severe wear occurred in the milled Al5083 sample,and wear rate reached 10.8×10−7 mm3/(m·N)while the Al5083−5wt.%B4C sample showed mild wear with local 3-body abrasion and the wear rate reached 5.3×10−7 mm3/(m·N).Strengthening mechanisms such as dislocation pinning and the Hall−Petch theory,high hardness and the load transfer effect were crucial in determining the wear behavior of the Al5083−5wt.%B4C composite.On the other hand,the milled Al5083 sample represented a relatively high wear rate at 200°C,which seemed to be related to the local grain growth and a drop in its hardness.
文摘Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)refers to a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal(GI)tract.The elevated levels of nitric oxide(NO)in serum and affected tissues;mainly synthesized by the inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS)enzyme;can exacerbate GI inflammation and is one of the major biomarkers of GI inflammation.Various natural and synthetic agents are able to ameliorate GI inflammation and decrease iNOS expression to the extent comparable with some IBD drugs.Thereby,the purpose of this study was to gather a list of natural or synthetic mediators capable of modulating IBD through the NO pathway.Electronic databases including Google Scholar and PubMed were searched from 1980 to May 2018.We found that polyphenols and particularly flavonoids are able to markedly attenuate NO production and iNOS expression through the nuclear factorκB(NF-κB)and JAK/STAT signaling pathways.Prebiotics and probiotics can also alter the GI microbiota and reduce NO expression in IBD models through a broad array of mechanisms.A number of synthetic molecules have been found to suppress NO expression either dependent on the NF-κB signaling pathway(i.e.,dexamethasone,pioglitazone,tropisetron)or independent from this pathway(i.e.,nicotine,prednisolone,celecoxib,β-adrenoceptor antagonists).Co-administration of natural and synthetic agents can affect the tissue level of NO and may improve IBD symptoms mainly by modulating the Toll like receptor-4 and NF-κB signaling pathways.
文摘AIM:To investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of antioxidant therapy in acute pancreatitis(AP),chronic pancreatitis(CP) and post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis(PEP).METHODS:Pub Med,Scopus,Google Scholar,Cochrane library database,and Evidence-based medicine/clinical trials published before August 2014 were searched. Clinical and laboratory outcomes of randomized trials of antioxidant therapy in patients with AP,CP and PEP were included. The methodological quality of the trials was assessed by the Jadad score based on the description of randomization,blinding,and dropouts(withdrawals). The results of the studies were pooled and meta-analyzed to provide estimates of the efficacy of antioxidant therapy.RESULTS:Thirty four trials out of 1069 potentially relevant studies with data for 4898 patients wereeligible for inclusion. Antioxidant therapy significantly reduced the length of hospital stay in AP patients {mean difference-2.59 d(95%CI:-4.25-(-0.93)],P = 0.002}. Although,antioxidant therapy had no significant effect on serum C reactive protein(CRP) after 5-7 d in AP patients [mean difference-9.57(95%CI:-40.61-21.48,P = 0.55],it significantly reduced serum CRP after 10 d {mean difference-45.16 [95%CI:-89.99-(-0.33)],P = 0.048}. In addition,antioxidant therapy had no significant effect on CP-induced pain [mean difference-2.13(95%CI:-5.87-1.6),P = 0.26]. Antioxidant therapy had no significant effects on the incidence of all types of PEP [mean difference 1.05(95%CI:0.74-1.5),P = 0.78],severe PEP [mean difference 0.92(95%CI:0.43-1.97),P = 0.83],moderate PEP [mean difference 0.82(95%CI:0.54-1.23),P = 0.33],and mild PEP [mean difference 1.33(95%CI:0.99-1.78),P = 0.06]. Furthermore,while antioxidant therapy had no significant effect on serum amylase after less than 8 h sampling [mean difference-20.61(95%CI:-143.61-102.39),P = 0.74],it significantly reduced serum amylase close to 24-h sampling {mean difference-16.13 [95%CI:-22.98-(-9.28)],P < 0.0001}.CONCLUSION:While there is some evidence
文摘The aim of this study is to apply process mineralogy as a practical tool for further understanding and predicting the flotation kinetics of the copper sulfide minerals. The minerals' composition and association, grain distribution, and liberation within the ore samples were analyzed in the feed, concentrate, and the tailings of the flotation processes with two pulp densities of 25 wt% and 30 wt%. The major copper-bearing minerals identified by microscopic analysis of the concentrate samples included chalcopyrite(56.2 wt%), chalcocite(29.1 wt%),covellite(6.4 wt%), and bornite(4.7 wt%). Pyrite was the main sulfide gangue mineral(3.6 wt%) in the concentrates. A 95% degree of liberation with d_(80) > 80 μm was obtained for chalcopyrite as the main copper mineral in the ore sample. The recovery rate and the grade in the concentrates were enhanced with increasing chalcopyrite particle size. Chalcopyrite particles with a d_(80) of approximately 100 μm were recovered at the early stages of the flotation process. The kinetic studies showed that the kinetic second-order rectangular distribution model perfectly fit the flotation test data. Characterization of the kinetic parameters indicated that the optimum granulation distribution range for achieving a maximum flotation rate for chalcopyrite particles was between the sizes 50 and 55 μm.
文摘Foam flooding using CO_(2)has emerged as a promising method for both enhanced oil recovery(EOR)and the storage of CO_(2)in geological reservoirs.This study conducts a thorough analysis of the behavior of CO_(2)and N_(2)foams in bulk and porous media,utilizing bubble-scale analyses and foam flooding experiments.The study compares the foamability and longevity of CO_(2)and N_(2)foams,with findings indicating that N_(2)foam bubbles tend to be smaller and less varied in size than CO_(2)foam bubbles,leading to increased foam stability.Additionally,the study compares the half-lives of CO_(2)and N_(2)foams generated through sparging and winding methods,showing that N_(2)foam has half-lives 22 and 10 times greater than CO_(2)foam when produced using the sparging and winding methods,respectively.Furthermore,CO_(2)foam generated through the sparging method had a lower foaming volume than N_(2)foam due to CO_(2)'s solubility.In the foam flooding experiments,N_(2)foam proved more effective in recovering oil from porous media than CO_(2)foam,thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the foam injection procedure.These results offer valuable insights into the differing performance of N_(2)and CO_(2)foam floods for EOR and CO_(2)geological storage.
基金“AgriFutures Australia Chicken Meat Program”for funding the project(grant number PRJ011835)
文摘Standardized ileal digestibility coefficients(SIDC)of nitrogen(N)and amino acids(AA)in two protein sources(soybean meal[SBM]and canola meal[CM])were investigated at six broiler ages(d 7,14,21,28,35,and 42).Two assay diets were formulated to contain either SBM(413 g/kg)or CM(553 g/kg)as the sole dietary AA source.Titanium dioxide(5 g/kg)was added as an indigestible marker.A total of 696 male broilers at 1 d old were allotted to 12 replicate cages per age group.Each assay diet was offered to birds for 4 d prior to the ileal digesta collection on d 7(14 birds/cage),14(12 birds/cage),21(10 birds/cage),28(8 birds/cage),35(8 birds/cage)and 42(6 birds/cage),respectively.The apparent digestibility coefficients were standardized using age-specific basal endogenous AA flows.In the SBM group,though the SIDC of N tended to be influenced(quadratic;P=0.075)by age,no linear or quadratic response of age effect was observed on the average SIDC of indispensable(IAA)and total AA(TAA).An age effect(quadratic;P<0.05)was observed on the average SIDC of dispensable AA(DAA)in SBM with the highest value recorded at d 7,followed by a decrease from d 14 to 28,which increased beyond d 35.The SIDC of some individual AA(Arg,Thr,Trp,Cys,Pro)were affected(P<0.05 or P<0.001)in a quadratic manner by age.In the CM,the SIDC of N,average SIDC of IAA,DAA and TAA were influenced(quadratic;P<0.05 or P<0.001)by age.The SIDC of N and average SIDC of DAA and TAA were higher from d 7 to 14,declined at d 21,and then increased beyond d 28.The average SIDC of IAA was low between d 7 and 28 and increased thereafter.The SIDC of individual AA were affected(linear or quadratic;P<0.05 or P<0.001)by different magnitudes by age.The age influence on the SIDC AA was variable,depending on the protein source and AA.The results demonstrate that age-specific SIDC AA data might need consideration in broiler feed formulations.
文摘BACKGROUND The standard management of autoimmune hepatitis(AIH)is based on corticosteroids,alone or in combination with azathioprine.Second-line treatments are needed for patients who have refractory disease.However,high-quality data on the alternative management of AIH are scarce.AIM To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)and the quality of evidence by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment,Development and Evaluation approach(GRADE).METHODS A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data were performed.We calculated pooled event rates for three outcome measures:Biochemical remission,adverse events,and mortality,with their corresponding 95%confidence intervals(CI).RESULTS The pooled biochemical remission rate was 68.9%(95%CI:60.4-76.2)for tacrolimus,and 59.6%(95%CI:54.8-64.2)for MMF,and rates of adverse events were 25.5%(95%CI:12.4-45.3)for tacrolimus and 24.1%(95%CI:15.4-35.7)for MMF.The pooled mortality rate was estimated at 11.5%(95%CI:7.1-18.1)for tacrolimus and 9.01%(95%CI:6.2-12.8)for MMF.Pooled biochemical remission rates for tacrolimus and MMF in patients with intolerance to standard therapy were 56.6%(CI:43.4-56.6)vs 73.5%(CI:58.1-84.7),and among non-responders were 59.1%(CI:48.7-68.8)vs 40.8%(CI:32.3-50.0),respectively.Moreover,the overall quality assessments using GRADE proved to be very low for all our outcomes in both treatment groups.CONCLUSION Tacrolimus and MMF are in practice considered effective for patients with AIH who are non-responders or intolerant to first-line treatment,but we found no high-quality evidence to support this statement.
