Effective Removal of Hexavalent Chromium from Aqueous Solutions Using Ionic Liquid Modified Graphene Oxide Sorbent

Ionic liquid modified reduced graphene oxide (IL-rGO) was prepared and examined for chromate removal. The sorbent was characterized by N2 adsorption-desorption measurement (BET), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The sorption behavior of chromate on the ionic liquid modified reduced graphene oxide sorbent from an aqueous medium was studied by varying the parameters such as contact time, initial chromate concentration, pH, and agitation speed. The results showed that sorption kinetics of chromate by IL-rGO follows the pseudo second order, which indicates that the sorption mechanism is both chemical and physical interaction. The sorption isotherm studies revealed that Langmuir model provided the best fit to all the experimental data with an adsorption capacity of 232.55 mg g–1 for IL-rGO. Thermodynamic parameters, such as Gibbs free energy (–2.85 kJ mol–1 at 298 K), enthalpy (55.41 kJ mol–1), and entropy (11.64 J mol–1 K–1) of sorption of the chromate on ionic liquid modified reduced graphene oxide was evaluated, and it was found that the reaction was spontaneous and endothermic in nature. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License

An Assessment of the Urban Family Physician Program in Iran from the Viewpoint of Managers and Administrators

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The urban family physician program was implemented in Fars and Mazandaran provinces in June 2012 to provide health services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and improvement of quality of life. Nearly five years after the performance record, this study was conducted to assess the urban family physician program. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among the managers and administrators of the urban family physician program in all cities of Fars and Mazandaran provinces in the winter of 2016. The data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire including two parts; the personal variables with 11 open and closed questions and the performance level of the urban family physician program with 18 questions in Likert scale with a score of one to five. The average overall performance of the five points was classified into three levels; poor (below 2.5) average (2.5 - 3.5), and good (above 3.5). FINDINGS: Of 530 managers and administrators of the urban family physician program, 168 people (31.7%) assessed the performance of the program as weak, 295 people (55.7%) assessed it as average and 67 people (12.6%) found it to be good. The average overall performance of five points was assessed to be 2.83 ± 0.64. There was a significant relationship between the province of service, the urban population of the place of service, education, field of study, service record, place of service, and the position of managers and administrators and their judgment in assessing the performance level of the urban family physician program (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the study showed that performance level of the urban family physician program was average from the viewpoint of most managers and administrators

Assessment of the 4th Medical Students\' Scientific Olympiad in Iran: Theory to action and viewpoints of the participants

Introduction: Scientific Olympiads aim to evaluate the level of creativity, problem-solving skills, ability to reasoning, decision- making and team working skills among the participants. Talented students can be recognized by Olympiads to provide them more focused mentorship and training. This study aims to evaluate the quality and content of the 4th Medical Student' Scientific Olympiad (Med Olympiad) in Iran.Methods: This cross -sectional study was conducted in 2012-2013 on the participants of the 4th Med Olympiad of Iran. The research sample was selected by census. Data collection was performed by a researcher-made questionnaire validated by the investigators. Results: Among the 320 participants from four groups, 61 students (27%) reported the coaching activities of their university high and very high, 76 students (34%) moderate and 88 students (39%) low and very low. The quality of Med Olympiad competition reported 3.1/5±1 and the achievmnet of goals was reported 3.1±1. There was a significant correlation between the level of preparedness in medical universities and ranking of the university (P=0.001). There was no significant correlation between age, sex, academic grade, education, the domain in which the students participated, preparedness level, quality of the competition and access to Med Olympiad goals (P>0.05).Conclusion: Preparation of universities, quality of Med Olympiad and achieving the goals were area for improvements for the next Med Olympiad

Satisfaction of Family Physicians (FPs) about the Effective Factors on Activation of FP Program and Rural Insurance in the Northern Provinces of Iran

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Successful implementation of FP program and rural insurance requires continuous collaboration among the intersectoral and intrasectoral organizations. FPs’ satisfaction from related institutions can lead to more motivation, longer activity and better services in the organization. This study was performed to evaluate the level of FPs’ satisfaction in Northern provinces of Iran. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in winter 2013. Totally 139 health centers from 552 which implement the family physician program and rural insurance coverage in Mazandaran, Golestan and Guilan provinces were randomly selected. In each center all of available FPs included. A researcher-made questionnaire was used for data gathering. In this questionnaire, personal characteristics with 10 open and closed questions, satisfaction from human and physical resources available at the first level, the function of health center of the city, the function of specialists at the second level, the performance of underlying population of intersectional organizations were asked through 34 questions with Likert scales. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire were approved. FINDINGS: Mean of the level of 188 FPs’ satisfaction about health team, equipment and facilities in the centers (of 5 score) was 3±0.6, underlying population was 2.8±0.8, intersectoral collaboration was 2.8±1, the function of district health center was 2.7±0.9, the function of specialists was 2.1±0.9. The level of FPs’ satisfaction from the specialists of the functional second level showed a significant difference in the Northern provinces of Iran (p=0.001). There was not a significant relationship between age, underlying population, recorded services, the number of replacements and the level of FPs satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the level of FPs’ satisfaction was moderate therefore, interventional program at different levels should be planned and implemented to protect and promote it

Evaluation of the function of referral system in family physician program in northern provinces of Iran: 2008

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Health care system is organized at three levels in order to increase efficacy and effectiveness and create justice and also people availability. Considering three levels of primary health care, access of people to specialized services through referral system is possible. With regard to the importance of referral system in family physician program, this study was performed to evaluate the function of referral system and network system of medical universities in Northern provinces of Iran. METHODS: This analytic study was performed in Autumn of 2008. Twenty percent of health centers (108 centers from 521) which implement the family physician program and rural insurance coverage by medical Universities of Golestan, Mazandaran, Babol and Guilan were randomly selected. In each center 5-7 patients who were referred to level 2 by their family physician and received necessary services were evaluated. They were at their homes at inquiry time. FINDINGS: From 675 patients who received the level 2 services, 440 cases (65%) were female and 235 (35%) were male. Two hundred and seventy cases (40.5%) had referral form from health house. Only 311 (46%) persons referred because of diagnosis of family physician and in 212 (32.9%) of cases, the family physician had a role to choose a specialist of level 2. For 189 (28.1%) of cases, the specialists wrote the results of their evaluation in feedback form. Only 163 (24.5%) of patients returned to their family physicians. Three hundred ninety-four (79.6%) of patients didn't return to their family physician because of lack of knowledge. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that many principles for referral system from level 1 to higher levels and vice versa are not considered that require education, reformation and intervention in this field