Assessment of Effects of Concomitant Exposure to Sound,Heat, and Physical Workload Changes on Physiological Parameters in Five Different Combination Modes,a Controlled Laboratory Study

Exposure to sound, heat, and increased physical workload can change physiological parameters. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of concomitant exposure to sound, heat, and physical workload changes on physiological parameters in controlled laboratory conditions. This experimental crosssectional study was conducted in 35 male university students with a mean age of 25.75 years and a mean BMI of 22.69 kg/m² . Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured after 15 min rest in the laboratory, 5 and 10 min after starting the experiment, and then after 20 min in controlled laboratory conditions in five combination modes. The combination modes were (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 1.7, Slope: 10%), (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 3.4, Slope: 14%), (Sound: 95 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 1.7, Slope: 10%), (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 32°C, Speed: 1.7, Slope: 10%), and (Sound: 95 dB, WBGT: 32°C, Speed: 3.4, Slope: 14%). Mixed model analysis and paired t-test were applied for analysis. The results showed that the mean physiological parameters (Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate) increased when different combination modes worsened (Sound from 65 to 95 dB, WBGT from 22°C to 32°C, speed from 1.7 to 3.4, and slope from 10% to 14%, and when sound: 95 dB, WBGT: 32°C, Speed: 3.4, and Slope: 14%). Moreover, the mean changes of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significant in all conditions when compared with the reference condition (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 1.7, and Slope: 10%). The mean heart rate changes were also significant except for exposure to the second condition (Sound: 65 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 3.4, Slope: 14%) and the third condition (Sound: 95 dB, WBGT: 22°C, Speed: 1.7, Slope: 10%). Exposure to hazardous levels of sound, heat, and workload has adverse effects on physiological parameters. Concomitant exposure to all three hazards has a synergistic effect and increases the adverse effect.     

Size Ramsey numbers of stars versus cliques

The size Ramsey number of two graphs and is the smallest integer such that there exists a graph on edges with the property that every red-blue colouring of the edges of yields a red copy of or a blue copy of . In 1981, Erdős observed that and he conjectured that this upper bound on is sharp. In 1983, Faudree and Sheehan extended this conjecture as follows: They proved the case . In 2001, Pikhurko showed that this conjecture is not true for and , by disproving the mentioned conjecture of Erdős. Here, we prove Faudree and Sheehan's conjecture for a given and .     

Effects of iridium content on the physical,microstructure, and assay of gold alloys during the cupellation process

The aim of the present study is developing a simple, commercially available, and inexpensive method for detecting the presence of Ir in gold alloys during the cupellation process to avoid errors in gold assays. In the presence of Ir, the reported gold karat is higher than its actual amount. It is, therefore, economically important to detect Ir in gold alloys because of its lower price than gold. The present study was implemented to investigate the effects of Ir in a gold alloy both on its assay during the cupellation process and on its appearance and microstructural transformations. Visual inspection revealed that the upper surface of Ir-containing beads is typically matte and coarse with black rough cavities of an irregular oval-like shape. Also, the observation of dark spots and lines on just one side of rolled beads, as well as blister-like appendages on parted and annealed cornets, were found to signify the presence of Ir in gold alloys. X-ray analysis along the vertical section of the bead indicated that the amount of Ir on the surface was negligible as it was mainly concentrated at a distance of about 75% from the top of the bead. After the parting and annealing steps, Ir forms cubic-like structures surrounded by fcc Au sponge-like structures. As a consequence, both visual and microstructural examinations of gold alloys during the cupellation process might be used as simple and useful strategies to identify the presence of Ir in gold alloys to prevent incorrect karat reports.     

Synthesis,characterization and theoretical and fluorescence emission microscopy studies of new Pd/Pt–cyclopropa[60]fullerene complexes: Application of Taguchi method for optimization of parameters in Suzuki–Miyaura reaction

The reactions of unsymmetric phosphorus ylides of the type [Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh₂?C(H)C(O)C₆H₄‐p‐CN] (n = 1 (Y¹); n = 2 (Y²)) with C₆₀ and M(dba)₂ (M = Pd or Pt; dba = dibenzylideneacetone) are reported. Based on the various coordination modes of these ylides in complexation, the following new Pd/Pt–cyclopropa[60]fullerene complexes were obtained: P,C‐coordinated [(η²‐C₆₀)Pd(κ²‐Y¹)] ( 1 ) and [(η²‐C₆₀)Pt(κ²‐Y¹)] ( 2 ) complexes and P‐coordinated [(η²‐C₆₀)Pd(Y²)₂] ( 3 ) and [(η²‐C₆₀)Pt(Y²)₂] ( 4 ) complexes. These compounds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared, UV–visible and NMR (¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P) spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, cytotoxicity studies showed that nanoparticles of these complexes can be used as non‐toxic labels for cellular imaging application. Also energy decomposition analysis results revealed that the percentage contribution of ΔE_elec in total interaction energy is considerably larger than that of ΔE_orb. Thus, in all complexes the (η²‐C₆₀)M? (Y¹) bond is considerably more electrostatic in nature than the (η²‐C₆₀)? M(Y¹) bond. Finally, by application of the Taguchi method for optimization of parameters in Suzuki–Miyaura reaction, the catalytic activity of Pd complexes 1 and 3 was investigated in the cross‐coupling reaction of various aryl chlorides with phenylboronic acid. According to analysis of variance results, solvent has the highest F value and it has high contribution percentage (36.75%) to the yield of Suzuki–Miyaura reaction.     

Ultrasound‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction based on N‐doped mesoporous carbon and high‐performance liquid chromatographic determination of 1‐hydroxypyrene in urine samples

In this research, a new ultrasound‐assisted dispersive micro‐solid‐phase extraction method based on N‐doped mesoporous carbon sorbent followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography equipped with diode array detector for trace measurement of 1‐hydroxypyrene as a metabolite of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was optimized. Herein, the hard template method was used for the preparation of N‐doped mesoporous carbon sorbent. The prepared sorbent was characterized using the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method, transmission electron microscopy, and elemental analysis. Parameters affecting the extraction of the target metabolite were investigated using the Box–Behnken design method. Considering optimum parameters, the plotted calibration curve for 1‐hydroxypyrene was linearly correlated with the concentration span of 0.1–50 μg/L for urine media. The accuracy of the optimized procedure was examined through the relative recovery tests on the fortified urine specimens. The relative recoveries fell between 95 and 101%. The method detection limit of the proposed procedure was also calculated to be 0.03 μg/L.     

Photochemical approach toward deposition of gold nanoparticles on functionalized carbon nanotubes

The development of new methods for the facile synthesis of hybrid nanomaterials is of great importance due to their importance in nanotechnology. In this work, we report a new method to deposit Au nanoparticles on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Our approach consists of a one pot synthesis in which Au nanoparticles are generated in the presence of a photoreducing agent (Irgacure-2959) and carboxyl or polymer-functionalized SWCNTs (f-SWCNTs). We have observed that when carbon nanotubes are functionalized with polymers containing pendant amino groups, the latter can act as specific nucleation sites for well-dispersed deposition of Au nanoparticles. The surface coverage of the Au nanoparticles can be observed by transmission electron spectroscopy. These observations are compared to that of carboxyl functionalized SWCNTs, in which less surface coverage was observed. The f-SWCNT/Au nanocomposites were also characterized by UV-vis, infrared, and Raman spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). This facile and effective route can be implemented to deposit gold nanoparticles on other surface-functionalized carbon nanotubes.     

New method based on combining ultrasonic assisted miniaturized matrix solid-phase dispersion and homogeneous liquid-liquid extraction for the determination of some organochlorinated pesticides in fish

In this study, ultrasonic assisted miniaturized matrix solid-phase dispersion (US-MMSPD) combined with homogeneous liquid–liquid extraction (HLLE) has been developed as a new method for the extraction of organochlorinated pesticides (OCPs) in fish prior to gas chromatography with electron capture detector (GC-ECD). In the proposed method, OCPs (heptachlor, aldrin, DDE, DDD, lindane and endrin) were first extracted from fish sample into acetonitrile by US-MMSPD procedure, and the extract was then used as consolute solvent in HLLE process. Optimal condition for US-MMSPD step was as follows: volume of acetonitrile, 1.5 mL; temperature of ultrasound, 40 °C; time of ultrasound, 10 min. For HLLE step, optimal results were obtained at the following conditions: volume of chloroform, 35 μL; volume of aqueous phase, 1.5 mL; volume of double distilled water, 0.5 mL; time of centrifuge, 10 min. Under the optimum conditions, the enrichment factors for the studied compounds were obtained in the range of 185–240, and the overall recoveries were ranged from 39.1% to 81.5%. The limits of detection were 0.4–1.2 ng g⁻¹ and the relative standard deviations for 20 ng g⁻¹ of the OCPs, varied from 3.2% to 8% (n = 4). Finally, the proposed method has been successfully applied to the analysis of the OCPs in real fish sample, and satisfactory results were obtained.     

Mild and efficient tetrahydropyranylation of alcohols and dehydropyranylation of THP ethers catalyzed by ferric perchlorate

A simple, mild and efficient method for tetrahydropyranylation and dehydropyranylation of alcohols in the presence of ferric perchlorate are described.     

Comparative performance of different urea coating materials for slow release

Approximately 70%of the applied urea fertilizer may be lost into the environment.This loss is due to leaching,decomposition and ammonium volatilization in soil,water and air.Through coating,the slow release technology can be used to reduce losses and to increase the fertilizer efficiency.Sulfur has been used as a coating material,but the coating cracks easily because of its friability,sometimes being peeled off from the urea surface.In this study,four types of materials,namely,gypsum,cement,sulfur and zeolite,were mixed and used as coating materials to search for the most effective and cheap coating materials.The primary reasons for selecting these materials were improving fruit quality and preventing plant diseases,providing a plant nutrient,increasing soil fertility and water retention.The materials were also selected based on their availability,processiblity and price.The effects of the coating materials,thickness,drying time,sieving and sealant on the crushing strength and dissolution rate of urea were investigated.Coated urea with the same proportion of gypsum-sulfur exhibited high crushing strength and lower dissolution rate.However,the performance was further enhanced by applying molten paraffin wax on the hot urea surface.SEM images demonstrated that the micro-structure of gypsum-sulfur coated urea after sieving resulted in a smoother coated layer.The efficiency of the coated urea was improved by26%using gypsum-sulfur（20%total coating）,3%paraffin wax and sieving the coating materials before application.