Lorestan University

About: Lorestan University is a education organization based out in Khorramabad, Iran. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 1952 authors who have published 3329 publications receiving 38154 citations. The organization is also known as: LU.

Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of optical and magnetic properties of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles

Abstract: Spinel-type cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles have been easily prepared through a simple thermal decomposition route at low temperature (175°C) using carbonatotetra(ammine)cobalt(III) nitrate complex, [Co(NH3)4CO3]NO3·H2O, as a new precursor. The structure and morphology of as-prepared Co3O4 nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), UV–vis spectroscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area measurement and magnetic measurements, and thermogravimetry/differential thermal analysis. The FT-IR, XRD, and EDS results indicated that the product was highly pure well-crystallized cubic phase of Co3O4. The TEM images showed that the product powder consisted of dispersive quasi-spherical particles with a narrow size distribution ranged from 6 to 16 nm and an average size around 11 nm. The magnetic measurements confirmed that the Co3O4 nanoparticles show a little ferromagnetic behavior which could be attributed to the uncompensated surface spins and/or finite size effects. The ferromagnetic order of the Co3O4 nanoparticles is raised with increasing the decomposition temperature. Using the present method, Co3O4 nanoparticles can be produced without the need of expensive organic solvents and complicated equipments.

Influence of wet–dry, freeze–thaw, and heat–cool cycles on the physical and mechanical properties of Upper Red sandstones in central Iran

Abstract: The effects of wet–dry, freeze–thaw, and heat–cool cycles on the physical and mechanical properties of Upper Red Formation sandstones located southwest of Qom, central Iran, were determined. Five different types of sandstones were selected, and freeze–thaw, wet–dry, and heat–cool cyclic tests were performed. The freeze–thaw test was carried out for 30 cycles, and the P-wave velocities, porosities, and uniaxial compressive strengths of the specimens were determined after every five cycles. Heat–cool and wet–dry cycles were repeated for 40 cycles. Based on the strength deterioration ratio, it was found that freeze–thaw cycles degrade the physical and mechanical properties of sandstones more strongly than heat–cool and wet–dry cycles do. The results also show that the presence of zeolite cement has a significantly effect on sandstone resistance to freeze–thaw cycles. Further, it was found that sandstone strength as well as petrographic properties such as grain size and grain contacts do not have the expected effect on sample deterioration during freeze–thaw cycles. Finally, it was concluded that pore size plays an important role in sandstone resistance to freeze–thaw cycles.

Spatial analysis of groundwater potential using weights-of-evidence and evidential belief function models and remote sensing

Abstract: As demands for groundwater in the arid and semi-arid areas increase, delineation of groundwater potential zone becomes an increasingly valuable technique for implementing a successful groundwater potential analysis. The capability of using weights-of-evidence (WOE) and evidential belief function (EBF) models for groundwater potential mapping is tested and compared in the Ilam Plain, Iran. In the present study, multiple geo-environmental factors including lithology, land use, distance from river, soil texture, drainage density, altitude, curvature, topographic wetness index (TWI), slope percent, lineament density, and rainfall were used as inputs for both models. Subsequently, a well inventory map was produced using documentary sources of Iranian Water Resources Department (IWRD) and extensive field surveys. About 145 groundwater productivity data (with high potential yield values of ≥11 m3/h) were separated from well locations. Out of these, 101 (70 %) cases were randomly selected for groundwater potential modeling, and the remaining 44 (30 %) cases were applied for the validation purpose. In the next step, groundwater potential maps were produced using WOE and EBF models in GIS environment. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for the produced maps were drawn and the areas under the curves (AUC) were determined. From the analysis, predictive performance of EBF model (AUC = 83.7 %) was better than of WOE model (AUC = 78.2 %). The results also show the capability of EBF model in managing uncertainty associated in groundwater potential mapping. Therefore, WOE and EBF models are shown to be an effective prediction models for groundwater potential mapping. The groundwater potential map can be helpful for planners in groundwater management and land use planning.

Murine mesenchymal stem cells isolated by low density primary culture system

Abstract: Murine mesenchymal stem cells (mMSC) and the difficult task of isolation and purification of them have been the subject of rather extensive investigation. The present study sought to isolate these cells from two different mouse strains, one outbred and the other inbred, primarily through a relatively simple but novel approach, the most important feature of which was the low density primary culture of bone marrow cells. For this purpose, mononuclear cells from either NMRI or BALB/c bone marrow were plated at about 500 cells per well of 24-well plates and incubated for 7 days. At this point, the fibroblastic clones that had emerged were pooled together and expanded through several subcultures. To investigate the mesenchymal nature, we differentiated the cells into the osteoblastic, chondrocytic and adipocytic lineages in different subcultures up to passage 10. According to the results, 1 week after culture initiation, several clones each comprising several fibroblastic cells appeared in each plate. The cells from different passages were capable of differentiating into corresponding skeletal tissues. In the present investigation, the best culture condition for maximum proliferation and also the expression of certain surface marker on isolated cells were examined. In this term the two murine strains showed some differences.