An Effective Route to Enhance Pt/C Electrocatalyst Durability through Addition of Ceramic Nanoparticles to Facilitate Pt Redeposition.

Platinum particle growth during long-term operations is one of the well-known bottlenecks offsetting the performance and stability of Pt-based electrocatalysts in polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells and PEM water electrolyzers. In this research, the addition of certain ceramic nanoparticulate additives to the catalyst ink was evaluated as a means of improving the electrochemical stability of a carbon-supported platinum (Pt/C) electrocatalyst in gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) during an accelerated stress test (AST). GDEs prepared using three nanoparticulate ceramic additives (TiN, ATO, and TiO) with three loadings (replacing 5, 10, and 15 wt % of the catalyst) were studied for their electrochemical performance, i.

MXene-antenna electrode with collective multipole resonances.

Two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides (MXene-s) are the focus of extensive research due to their exceptional potential for practical applications. We study nanostructured MXene layers to design photodetector electrodes and increase their response through hot-electron generation. We demonstrate that the lattice arrangement plays a crucial role in exciting strong optical resonances in the nanostructured MXene, specifically TiCT, despite its high loss and weak optical resonances in an isolated antenna.

Adaptable leadership for arid/semi-arid wetlands conservation under climate change: Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach.

Adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts of climate change on wetlands have enforced the international community and many nations to develop adaptive policies for wetland management, which require effective leadership to influence relevant stakeholders. This study identifies and prioritizes leadership functions and theories for climate change adaptation (CCA) in wetlands ecosystems, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. A mixed qualitative-quantitative research methodology was applied through focus groups and a survey with a sample of national, sub-national, and local experts on wetlands management and climate change in Iran.

Multiple Bubble Removal Strategies to Promote Oxygen Evolution Reaction: Mechanistic Understandings from Orientation, Rotation, and Sonication Perspectives.

Bubble coverage of catalytically active sites is one of the well-known bottlenecks to the kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, various bubble removal approaches (electrode orientation, rotating, and sonication) were considered for the OER performance evaluation of a state-of-the-art Ir-based electrocatalyst. Key parameters, such as catalyst mass loss, activity, overpotential, and charge- and mass-transfer mechanisms, were analyzed.

Dipole-lattice nanoparticle resonances in finite arrays.

We investigate how the periodic lattices define the collective optical characteristics of the silicon and titanium nanoparticle arrays. We examine the effects of dipole lattice on the resonances of optical nanostructures, including those made of lossy materials, such as titanium. Our approach involves employing coupled-electric-magnetic-dipole calculations for finite-size arrays, as well as lattice sums for effectively infinite arrays.

High-Voltage, High-Current Electrical Switching Discharge Synthesis of ZnO Nanorods: A New Method toward Rapid and Highly Tunable Synthesis of Oxide Semiconductors in Open Air and Water for Optoelectronic Applications.

A novel method of oxide semiconductor nanoparticle synthesis is proposed based on high-voltage, high-current electrical switching discharge (HVHC-ESD). Through a subsecond discharge in the HVHC-ESD method, we successfully synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) nanorods. Crystallography and optical and electrical analyses approve the high crystal-quality and outstanding optoelectronic characteristics of our synthesized ZnO.

Haemoproteosis and avian malaria in Columbidae and Corvidae from Iran.

Avian malaria (Plasmodium) and related genera (Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) are diverse and widespread parasites. Despite the extent of knowledge on avian haemosporidian parasites, information about domestic and wild bird's blood parasites is overall insufficient in Iran. Prevalence of the haemosporidian parasites' and phylogenetic relationship of lineages are studied by using molecular and morphological results of 152 examined hosts belonging to 17 species.

Intraocular Pressure Measurements Using Rebound Tonometry in Eight Different Species of Companion Birds.

The purpose of this study was to determine reference interval intraocular pressure (IOP) values in 8 different species of companion birds. One hundred and nineteen companion birds (238 eyes) from a captive colony were examined: 21 pigeons (; 18%), 17 African grey parrots (; 14%), 22 common mynahs (; 18%), 24 cockatiels (; 20%), 12 zebra finches (; 10%), 9 budgerigars (; 8%), 6 domestic canaries (; 5%), and 8 ring-necked parakeets (; 7%). Intraocular pressure was measured by rebound tonometry (TonoVet) avoiding induced, undesired pressure on the head, neck, or eyes.

Complete genome sequence of a subgenotype XXI.1.1 pigeon paramyxovirus type 1 virus (PPMV‑1) isolated from Iran in 2018 and phylogenetic analysis of a possible novel, but unassigned, PPMV-1 group isolated in 2014.

Newcastle disease (ND) is one of the most serious infectious and contagious viral diseases in avian species. Recently, several ND outbreaks in pigeon caused by pigeon paramyxovirus serotype-1 (PPMV-1) have been reported from Iran, but unfortunately, phylogenetic studies have been mostly conducted on partial sequence of NDV fusion (F) gene. In addition, a complete genome data of Iranian PPMV-1 strains are not available.

An investigation into seasonal variations of groundwater nitrate by spatial modelling strategies at two levels by kriging and co-kriging models.

Nitrate pollution of groundwater through spatial models is investigated in this paper by using a sample of nitrate values at monitoring wells using the data from four seasons of a year, in which data are sparse. Two spatial modelling strategies are formulated at two levels, in which Strategy 1 comprises: three variations of kriging-based models (ordinary kriging, simple kriging and universal kriging), which are constructed at Level 1 to predict nitrate concentrations; and a Multiple Co-Kriging (MCoK) model is used at Level 2 to enhance the accuracy of the predictions. Strategy 2 is also at two levels but employs Indicator Kriging (IK) at Level 1 as a probabilistic spatial model to predict areas at risk of exceeding two thresholds of 37.

Including 793/B type avian infectious bronchitis vaccine in 1-day-old chicken increased the protection against QX genotype.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a highly infectious pathogen, which affects the respiratory tract, reproductive system, and kidney of chickens. Many different genotypes of IBV are recognized which cause different clinical manifestations. According to the antigenic differences, different serotypes of the virus do not cross-protect.

Seroprevalence and genotyping of avian infectious bronchitis virus detected from Iranian unvaccinated backyard chickens.

Background And Objectives: Different epidemiological studies have found that backyard chickens are a reservoir for poultry diseases. Most backyard chicken flocks have a poor level of biosecurity, which increases the risk of spread of diseases. In recent years, the number of backyard chickens has been on the rise in Iran.

Effect of fiber inserts on gingival margin microleakage of Class II bulk-fill composite resin restorations.

This study evaluated the effect of fiber inserts combined with composite resins on enamel and dentin margin microleakage. The fiber inserts were used with high- (x-tra fil) and low-viscosity (x-tra base) bulk-fill composite resins and as well as conventional composite resins (Grandio and Grandio Flow). In 96 sound, recently extracted molars, 2 standardized Class II cavities were prepared.

Correction to: Efficacy of H120 and Ma5 avian infectious bronchitis vaccines in early challenge against QX strain.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1007/s13337-017-0414-4.].

Efficacy of H120 and Ma5 avian infectious bronchitis vaccines in early challenge against QX strain.

Infectious bronchitis (IB) is a highly infectious avian pathogen, which affects the respiratory tract, gut, reproductive system, and kidney of chicks of all ages. Many different serotypes of IB virus (IBV) are recognized which cause different clinical manifestations. According to the antigenic differences, different serotypes of the virus do not cross-protect.

Genotyping of Avian infectious bronchitis viruses in Iran (2015-2017) reveals domination of IS-1494 like virus.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is causing major economic losses to the poultry industry. The analysis of the S1 gene has been used to determine IBV genotype. The aim of this study was genotyping of IBVs circulating among the Iranian broiler flocks in the period between 2015 to 2017.

Co-circulation of three clusters of 793/B-like avian infectious bronchitis virus genotypes in Iranian chicken flocks.

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is an acute and highly contagious viral disease causing severe economic losses in the poultry industry. The 793/B IB virus is an important infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) genotype currently circulating in several countries, including Iran. One hundred confirmed IBV samples (between 2014 and 2015; from 15 provinces in Iran) were selected for genotyping based on S1 sequencing.

Pathogenicity study of Iranian genotype of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IR-1).

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB) is a major cause of economic losses in poultry industry. The IB virus primarily affects respiratory tract, but various strains differ in their tropism for other target organs such as kidney and alimentary tract. The objective of this study was to estimate the pathogenicity of Iranian IBV variant (IR-1), which is limited exclusively to Iran.

Prevalence of avian infectious bronchitis virus in broiler chicken farms in south of Iraq, 2014 - 2015.

Avian infectious bronchitis (IB), caused by a gammacoronavirus, is an OIE-listed (List B) disease and characterized by respiratory and renal involvements, causing high mortality, and economic loss in both layers and broilers. In comparison with other diagnostic methods, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and conventional RT-PCR are potent, more sensitive and faster techniques for infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) detection. This research was conducted to detect IBV using specific primers of IB in three governorates (Basra, Thi-Qar and Muthana) in the south of Iraq.

Myxoma Immediately above the Junction of the Inferior Vena Cava and the Right Atrium: A Rare Cause of Budd-Chiari Syndrome.

The Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare disorder caused by the obstruction of the hepatic veins or the inferior vena cava (IVC) at the suprahepatic level. This syndrome is developed by either hepatic vein thrombosis or mechanical venous obstruction and leads to centrilobular hepatic congestion with the subsequent development of fibrosis and cirrhosis. Intracardiac tumors have been rarely reported as a cause of the BCS.

Genetic analysis of H9N2 avian influenza viruses circulated in broiler flocks: a case study in Iraq in 2014-2015.

H9N2 avian influenza viruses (AIVs) have been recorded in Eurasian for several years. Since 2004-2005, the disease has become endemic in Iraq, causing serious economic losses in the poultry industry. The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), two out of eight protein-coding genes, play an important role during the early stage of infection and hinder virus assembling.

The effect of Allium sativum (Garlic) extract on infectious bronchitis virus in specific pathogen free embryonic egg.

Objective: Garlic is a plant has been used as a flavor, and anti-microbial and anti-diarrheal agent. Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a coronavirus. The available vaccines against IBV cannot cover new variants.

Genotyping of infectious bronchitis viruses from broiler farms in Iraq during 2014-2015.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is one of the most critical pathogens in the poultry industry, causing serious economic losses in all countries including Iraq. IBV has many genotypes that do not confer any cross-protection. This virus has been genotyped by sequence analysis of the S1 glycoprotein gene.