The main goal of this study was to investigate the capability of regenerated rice husk silica after saturation to remove Hydrogen sulfide (H2S). For this purpose, rice husk silica and regenerated rice husk silica were used as adsorbents bed in filter. A poly vinyl chloride filter with one liter of prepared bed was tested. Rice husk silica was prepared in a furnace at temperature of 800 ºC for Four hours, after acid leaching. Saturated rice husk silica was regenerated in a furnace at temperature of 800 ºC for Four hours too. Removal efficiency, elimination capacity, and pressure drop were the three parameters to evaluate the filters bed. System were operated with empty bed residence time of 60 s and different inlet concentration of H2S from 10 to 300 part per million (ppm). More than 98% of removal efficiency was observed for both packed filters at inlet concentrations of H2S. The maximum elimination capacity was 7.02 gm-3h-1 with H2S mass loading rate of 9.0 gm-3h-1 in the both beds. This study showed that at a 1.0 lmin-1 flow rate and different concentration of inlet H2S. There is no significant difference between the rice husk silica and the regenerated rice husk silica beds in the amount of removal efficiency (p< 0.01). Also, there is no significant difference between these two beds in the amount of elimination capacity at the same condition (p< 0.01). Moreover, this study showed that the amount of pressure drop was undetectable (zero) in both filter’s bed. The results of this study showed the regenerated rice husk silica has the same performance of the primary rice husk silica, Therefore it can be considered as a suitable and inexpensive bed to remove H2S at low concentration.

Sunflower is one of the most important oilseed crops with more than 50% of nutritional (table) consumption. Considering the climate changes, the development of genotypes tolerant to abiotic stresses is more important than before. In the present research, the recovery capacity of two oilseed sunflower genotypes (DM-2 and H158A/H543R) was evaluated 24 hours after irrigation following sever drought stress (30% of field capacity) by evaluating the changes in enzymes activity at 8-leaf stage and quality and quantity of end product at adult plant stage. The experiments were conducted in frame of completely randomized design with 3 replications under controlled conditions. A significant difference was observed between genotypes in the terms of guaiacol, ascorbate, lipoxygenase and proline contents, as well as leaf area, leaf length, root weight, plant height and root sodium-potassium ratio in recovery conditions. Based on the results of the evaluations and changes in the mean of traits in the comparison of two normal and recovery conditions, as well as the pattern of fatty acids, genotype DM-2 has a high recovery ability.

The aim of this study was to evaluate two different intensity of resistance training with the same volume on the plasma levels of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in healthy men. 30 healthy men with aged 20-25 years participated in this study and were randomly divided into three groups of moderate-intensity resistance training (hypertrophy), high intensity resistance training (strength) and the control group. Hypertrophy resistance training (3 sets of 10 repetitions with 70% of one repetition maximum) and strength training (4 sets of 6 reps with 85% of one repetition maximum) for 8 weeks and were administered three times a week. Venous blood samples were obtained from the subjects during fasting and two times, 24 hours before the start of the protocol and 48 hours after the last training session. Repeated measure ANOVA revealed that MDA concentration was significantly reduced in exercise groups compared to control group. In addition, the amount of the reduction in hypertrophy training was more compared with strength training group (P=0.0.4). GSH concentration was significantly increased in exercise groups compared to control group. Hypertrophy training was more increases in GSH levels compared with strength training. TAC levels increased in both groups, but the increase was significantly only in hypertrophy training but was not found a significant difference between the groups. In conclusion may be resistance training could improve antioxidant system (GSH and TAC) and decrease the MDA and it was independent from intensity of training.

The effect of different solvent systems on the extraction of antioxidant and anti radical agents of grape seed was studied. For this purpose 6 different solvent systems with similar polarity and different selectivity were used to prepare grape seed extract. Extraction efficiency, reducing activity, radical scavenging property and the effect of each extract on the increase of thermal resistance (oxidative stability index) of antioxidant free soybean oil were analyzed in the form of factorial test in a totally randomized design with triplicate repetition. Reducing activity test proved that grape seed extracts (GSE) had a higher reducing strength compared with BHT and α-Tocopherol except for ethylacetat treatment which had no significant difference between the extracts. Results of radical scavenging activity were similar to reducing activity results. The evaluation of oxidative stability index showed that acetone treatment has had the maximum Carry-through properties.

In this study, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) was made by thermal condensation of melamine at 450 and 550 °C. Moreover, the TiO2 porous nanostructured electrode was fabricated as a substrate for the g-C3N4 deposition by anodization method on a titanium foil (Ti) and then, reduced by electrochemical method to improve electrical conductivity (Re-TiO2 NP). The graphite carbon nitride layers were deposited on the porous nanostructured electrode (Re-TiO2 NP/Ti) by electrophoretic technique and the g-C3N4/Re-TiO2 NP/Ti electrodes were used as supercapacitor electrode. Comparison of the supercapacitive properties of the g-C3N4/Re-TiO2 NP/Ti electrodes showed that the electrochemical efficiency and specific capacitance of the g-C3N4 (450)/Re-TiO2 NP/Ti electrode is higher than the g-C3N4 (550)/Re-TiO2 NP/Ti electrode due to the increased active sites and charge transfer and the enhanced hydrophilicity as result of its high nitrogen content.

The aim of the present study was to compare antioxidant properties of date palm and Zizyphus extracts in two concentrations (200 and 500ppm) more over investigation the possibility of synergism interaction between them. Date palm extract in all concentrations had a significant higher effect than Zizyphus in DPPH free radical scavenging assay, total antioxidant capacity and reducing power. Furthermore, zizyphus in all tests was weaker than BHT, but date palm in 500 ppm concentration had higher total antioxidant capacity and reducing power in comparison to BHT (100 ppm), and lower from BHT (200 ppm) in these assays. Among different combinations of these extracts, synergistic effect was found in two concentrations (200 and 500) in DPPH free radical scavenging assay(in concentration 200, Zizyphus80:date palm20, Zizyphus50:date palm50 and Zizyphus20:date palm80 and in concentration 500, Zizyphus40:date palm60 and Zizyphus20:date palm80) and also 200 ppm concentration in reducing power assay(Zizyphus40:date palm60 and Zizyphus20:date palm80). The result showed that date palm in high concentration (500 ppm) had similar capacity to low concentration (100 ppm) of BHT. Combination of date palm extract and low amount of zizyphus at high concentration (500 ppm) can compete with low concentration (100ppm) of BHT.

BiVO4 thin films with thickness of ~ 1.3 μm were deposited on ITO substrate via pulsed-spray pyrolysis deposition. X-ray diffraction pattern revealed that BiVO4 layers have been crystallized in tetragonal scheelite phase with average crystallite size of ~ 16 nm. According to UV-visible absorption spectra, a band gap energy of ~2.47 eV was determined for the synthesized layers. Scanning electron microscopy observations indicated that a porous BiVO4 structure with average pore diameter of ~ 162 nm and worm-like fine particle diameter of ~ 208 nm has been synthesized. Oxygen vacancies have been induced into the layers via an electrochemical reduction treatment (ET). This employed process increased the surface-related capacitance by about 6 times. A double charge transport resistance and half capacitance for Helmholtz layer was determined after ET, indicating electron transfer from space charge layer to Helmholtz layer upon ET. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, it was found that effective charge carrier life time inside the BiVO4 thin films increased to ~25 ms which is 2-fold longer than the time before electrochemical reduction treatment.

Conventional water treatment consist of unit processes include coagulation, flocculation, clarification, filtration and disinfection that goal is removal of turbidity, color and certain bacterial species. In filtration process flocculated substances that have not removed in pervious stage are sediment. Filter media is often silica sand that removal mechanism is complex and consists of mechanical filtration, sedimentation, adsorption, chemical and biological oxidation. The effective removal mechanism in filtration process is adsorption. Two basic factors for adsorption are van der walls force and mass attraction. Sometimes for quantifying and qualifying upgrading of filters, we use other media such as granular activated carbon and anthracite, that in these cases filters have dual media. Activated carbons (ACs) are effective adsorbents in water treatment, because of high removal capability toward soluble and particulate pollutants but slow adsorption kinetics and difficulty for regeneration limited extensive application. Todays, progresses in new technology result in production of other carbon structures such as carbon nano tubes (CNTs). CNTs with mesopore structures and diameter about 2 - 50 nanometer have high potential in organic materials and pathogens removal. Removal of organic matters with carbon nano tubes are in groups such as organic dyes, pharmaceutical, pesticides, phenol, aromatic amines and natural organic matters. Adsorption mechanisms of CNTs are driving including hydrophobic effect, π–π interaction, π–π electron-donor-acceptor (EDA) interaction, electrostatic interaction and hydrogen bonding. Although good potential in organic removal, using in slurry state is a problem that it is necessary to remove CNTs in final treatment. So, if we can capable to deposition these CNTs on media, we can solve this problems. One way to use is deposition of CNTs on silica sand. Although silica sand has adsorption capability, with deposition of CNTs it can remove soluble organic matters. Similar to this coating graphene oxide (GO) was deposited on silica gel that new adsorbent used for mercury and rodamin B removal in batch and continues experiments. One of the shortages in this research was inattention in stability of coating. In other research, pristine single wall carbon nanotube was coated on silica sphere and a method based on non-covalent bonding was represented. The result of this research shows that, bonding has a strong stability.
In order to deposition of CNTs on silica sand, physical and chemical processes were used. In physical process heat and in chemical process covalent bonding is effective factors for bonding. Materials that used in this research are carbon nano tube (purchased from nanosov), hydrochloric acid37% (Merck, Germany), nitric acid 65% (Merck, Germany), silica sand (gift from Tehran pars plant) and 3(triethoxysilyl) - prophylamin (Merck, Germany). Whereas heating may reinforce the bonding between carbon nano tube and silica sand, define temperatures was used to evaluate temperature effects.
For evaluating adsorption effects, 4 parameters (pH, adsorbent dose, adsorbate dose and contact time) was investigated. In this study initial pH at neural condition, initial adsorbent in 5-40 gr, initial adsorbate in 2- 12 mg /l and contact time in 10 – 60 minutes was adjusted. For preparation different concentration of TOC a 1000 mg/l stock solution of TOC was prepared and TOC analyzer (model -VCSH, Shimadzu, Japan) for determination of TOC was used.
For reversibility of humic acid from surface of new adsorbent adsorption/desorption studies was investigated. So in some series 20 g of engineered nano adsorbent was entered in 200 ml solution of humic acid with initial TOC of 10 mg/l and when adsorption process was equilibrated the adsorption capacity was measured. After that the new adsorbent was poured in 200 ml solution that pH was adjusted from 10-13 with 0.05 and 2 molar NaOH to attain optimum pH. Also desorption time for 10-50 minutes for evaluating optimum time was done. Finally desorption process at 25ºc, 120 rpm and for 5 cycles was repeated.
Investigation method of chemical bonding The method of chemical deposition is establishment of covalent bonding between amin groups of silica and hydroxyl groups of oxidized carbon nano tube. So first, silica sand is hydrolyzed to active OH groups. Then silica sand and amin prophyl is combined to produce NH2 groups and finally oxidized carbon nano tubes and amin groups of silica sand is heated to be resulted –NH groups that is a strong bonding.
Stability of MWCNTs coated on sand
To investigate stability of MWCNTs coated on sand, ultrasound method was used. Ultrasounds are mechanical waves with high power that disperse in adsorbent to detach CNTs from surface of silica sands. These waves have 40 khz dispersion power frequency. So 6 samples (firstly physical and chemical samples, physical and chemical samples was heated in oven in 100ºc and physical and chemical samples was heated in oven in 200ºc) was putted in the ultrasound bath for 30 min and after that samples was dried and it was seen that physical deposition has not stability and the MWCNTs coated on sand detached from silica sand, but chemical deposition has a strong stability and in samples that was putted it in 200ºc in oven, this stability is very permanent that demonstrate high temperatures has good effects on stability.
SEM of MWCNTs coated on sand
SEM was used to detect possible morphological changes in pristine and oxidized MWCNTs and also for watching surface of silica sand and MWCNTs coated on silica sand. According to SEM, oxidized MWCNTs with nitric acid, some bundle appear exfoliated and curled and a major alteration of the structural integrity of MWCNTs is observed and length of tube was shortened. On the other side, observation of CNTsand illustrate a non uniform coating of MWCNTs on silica sand that completely differ from surface of silica acid treatment.
Investigation potential of CNTsand in removal of organic matter
Although MWCNTs potential in removal of organic matter has been demonstrated in some previous research, in this study humic acid was used for index of organic matter to define capability of this adsorbent. So response surface methodology was used for experiment design and initial concentration of adsorbent, adsorbate and contact time was investigated and 20 experiments were defined. According to response from RSM- X/M (mg/g) – with increasing in contact time and decreasing in adsorbent dose the adsorption capacity was increased. Also with increasing in contact time and increasing in adsorbate dose, adsorption capacity is increased that be because of increasing in adsorbate collision with adsorbent. The equilibrium time is about 60 minutes and adsorption capacity at equilibrium time is reached to above 70 mg/g
Regeneration of adsorbent
To evaluating regeneration of adsorbent the adsorption/desorption process was investigated. Data obtained indicate at pH =10 the regeneration efficiency is about 26.3% and increases up 75.7% at pH=13. Also 30 minutes is the best time for regeneration time and after 5 cycles of regeneration, the adsorption capacity is about 40 mg/g.
Although silica sand is not applicable to removal of soluble organic matter, but by deposition of carbon nano tubes onto its surface, it can capable to remove this organics. Stability investigations indicate that physical coating has a week bonding between silica sand and carbon nano tubes. In chemical bonding that establish a covalent bonding between silica sand and carbon nano tubes, bonding has a strong stability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on silica surface reveals a non uniform coating of carbon nano tubes on silica sand. Determination of TOC shows in sample with CNTsand , adsorption capacity is higher than to 70% and in sample with raw sand is less than 1%. Regeneration studies indicate that the optimum pH is 13 and optimum time for desorption is 30 minutes. Also after 5 cycles of regeneration the adsorption capacity is about 40 mg/g. These experiment show that the new adsorbent - CNTsand - has a good potential in organic matter removal and regeneration process is simple.

Forestry cooperatives are among the few formal institutions to involve local people in natural resource management. Therefore, many efforts have been made to hand over natural resource management to forestry cooperatives. However, there are many issues regarding the success of forestry cooperatives in achieving planned objectives. In the present study, the performance of forestry cooperatives of Kurdistan province in Marivan, Sarvabad, and Sanandaj counties was evaluated. Capacity development scorecards were used to assess cooperatives' performance in four criteria including conservation, restoration and rehabilitation, development, and utilization of forest resources and indices corresponding to each criterion were used based on the forestry plans. The statistical population of the study consisted of the managing directors of six registered forestry cooperatives and experts in charge of cooperatives affairs in the Natural Resources and Watershed Management Organization of the Kurdistan province. Data were collected through field observations and interviews. The results showed that in terms of built capacity, Negel Cooperative was in better condition, and Barghrrou Cooperative was in poor condition. The mean score of conservation, restoration, and development criteria for all cooperatives was close to 1 and 2 for utilization criterion in the level of built capacity. This level indicates that measures are planned to be implemented, however, lack of funding, lack of oversight over implementation, scarcity and inadequacy of budget, temporal actions in initiation years, and limitations of the taken actions, lead to failure in meeting the objectives. Efforts are needed to redefine the cooperative institution and its expected tasks and roles in the field of renewable natural resources management. Hence, responsible organizations need to take more vigorous actions to empower forestry cooperatives.