Current Applied Sciences

Abstract A novel nonenzymatic glucose sensor based on palladium‒gold nanoparticles encapsulated on polypropylene amine dendrimer–grafted multi-wall carbon nanotubes (PdAu/PPI‒MWCNTs) has been successfully fabricated and applied to glucose detection. PdAu/PPI‒MWCNTs was prepared in a three‒step process. First, polypropylene amine (PPI) dendrimers were grown on the surface of functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs‒NH₂) by a divergent method; second, metal ions were trapped within the dendrimers; and third, the ions were chemically reduced. Therefore, the well-distributed nanoparticles with an average size range of 1.6-3.2 nm were obtained on the surface of PPI‒MWCNTs. The prepared PdAu/PPI‒MWCNTs nanocomposite was immobilized on screen-printed carbon electrode and its electrocatalytic activity for glucose oxidation reaction was studied. Under the optimized conditions, the glucose oxidation current was linear to its concentration within the range of 0.03 ‒ 3.0 mM, and the detection limit was found to be 0.01 mM (S/N = 3). Finally, the prepared sensor has been successfully applied to determine the glucose content in human blood serum samples.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the mortality rate of patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), starting from the time of discharge until two months later. In this study, 125 patients admitted to the ICU were studied. The patients’ demographic data and physical examination, particularly the exact level of CRP obtained through questionnaires. All discharged patients were followed for 60 days. All data were analyzed with SPSS. The mean CRP was higher in ICU patients who died until two months after discharge (p

Abstract In this paper, we introduce the concept of state on KU-algebras and prove some of their properties. Also, we analyze the relationship of their mapping with KU-substructures.

Abstract Macrovipera lebetinus is a viper found in North Africa, much of the Middle East, and as far east as Kashmir. Since there is no study about its microbial flora, we conducted this research on the microbiota of its oral and cloacal cavities. Many swabs, both oral and cloacal, were taken from 11 vipers and cultured on Nutrient agar, and grown colonies were purified. Morphological and biochemical tests along with molecular analyses of 16S rRNA were performed for characterization of isolates. The gene homology searches were performed using BlastN, EzTaxon, and RDP Classifier. We identified a total of 29 bacterial species belonging 22 genera and 10 families, including pathogenic, opportunistic pathogen, and no-pathogenic bacteria. This was the first report of bacteria associated with oral and cloaca of M. lebetinus using molecular analysis. This research revealed the existence of a number of pathogenic bacteria in the oral cavity of M. lebetinus viper, and therefore it is necessary to appropriate antibiotic therapy in addition to anti-venom treatment.

Abstract The destruction and disintegration of wildlife habitats are primarily caused by roads, and wildlife-vehicle collisions, are triggered by the close interaction between humans and wildlife habitats around the globe. This study examines all identifiable road collisions of animals in Ilam Province from 2017 to 2022, with the aim of examining variety, seasonality, and the pattern of mammalian roadkill. A total of 317 mammals belonging to 13 species were killed in collisions with vehicles. The highest total number of roadkills was recorded for dogs, jackals, and foxes, which collectively accounted for more than 73% of all recorded accidents. The road mortality rate of mammals at 5 km, the entrance and exit of residential areas, was higher than in other areas. The incidence of road accidents during the cold seasons was slightly higher than during the warm seasons, and this disparity in the average road casualties between seasons may be attributed to the dearth of food resources, the type of diet, and the extent of its availability. The roadkill of wildlife can alter the demographic characteristics of the species, diminish genetic variety, and pose a threat to the survival and longevity of populations. Information regarding the type and quantity of road-killed animals can be utilized in cases such as obtaining information on species distribution and conducting short and long-term surveys of population trends. Also, identifying the environmental factors that influence the frequency and pattern of accidents, particularly those of endangered species, can aid in the implementation of appropriate strategies to mitigate road casualties.

Abstract This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of the electrical properties of ionic conductors, with a particular focus on lithium borate glasses, using impedance spectroscopy. We explore the complex behavior of these materials across a wide frequency range, examining both bulk samples and thin films to elucidate the fundamental mechanisms of ionic conduction and interfacial phenomena. To address the limitations of conventional equivalent circuit models, we use the Constant Phase Element (CPE) as a more accurate alternative to simple RC (resistor-capacitor) circuits for describing non-ideal behavior in real systems. We provide a thorough derivation and validation of a new relationship between CPE parameters and conventional capacitance values, offering improved tools for interpreting impedance data. The paper also addresses practical challenges in impedance spectroscopy measurements, including frequency range limitations and their impact on data interpretation. We propose methods for overcoming these challenges and extracting meaningful information from partial impedance spectra. Furthermore, we explore the physical origins of the observed non-ideal behavior, discussing various models, such as the jump relaxation model, and relating them to the microstructure and composition of the ionic conductors. This work provides crucial insights into ion transport mechanisms in glassy electrolytes, offers practical guidelines for analyzing impedance spectroscopy data, and has significant implications for the development of ionic conductors in applications such as solid-state batteries and sensors. This work lays the foundation for future research on a broader range of compositions and structures, as well as the development of more sophisticated models for ionic conducting systems.