A sham-controlled trial of acupressure on the quality of sleep and life in haemodialysis patients

Background Sleep disorder in haemodialysis patients can lead to disturbance in their psychosocial function and interpersonal relations, and reduced quality of life. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of acupressure on the quality of sleep of haemodialysis patients. Methods In a randomised controlled trial, 108 haemodialysis patients were randomly divided into three groups: true acupressure, placebo acupressure, and no treatment. The two acupressure groups received treatment three times a week for 4 weeks during dialysis. Routine care only was provided for the no treatment group. The main study outcome was sleep quality. Results The total Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score decreased significantly from 11.9±3.13 to 6.2±1.93 in the true acupressure group, from 11.3±3.69 to 10.6±3.82 in the sham acupressure group, and from 10.9±4.10 to 10.7±3.94 in the no treatment group. There was a significant difference between groups (p<0.001). Conclusions Acupressure seems to have a positive effect on the sleep quality in haemodialysis patients. Clinical trial registration IRCT201106145864N2

Coupled Fixed Point Results In G-Metric Spaces For W*-Compatible Mappings

In this paper, we consider a new class of pairs of generalized contractive type mappings defined in metric spaces. Some coincidence and common fixed point results for these mapping are presented. Keywords: Coincidence Point, Coupled Fixed Point, Common Coupled Fixed Point, Common Fixed Point, Generalized Metric Space, -Compatible Mappings

Distributed Photovoltaic Architecture for HVDC-bus Feeding with a Simple Evaluation of Optimal Tracking

International audienceThis contribution describes, compares, and analyses two structures and their operating modes dedicated to renewable energy production from photovoltaic (PV) sources. Between the two different technical approaches, photovoltaic sources placed in a distributed architecture supplying a high DC voltage HVDC bus points large advantages. Thus, after preliminary comparison of both solutions and concluding phases, this efficient solution finally constitutes the main original analysis presented in this contribution. The distributed PV structure is investigated, implemented and simulated in an original way under the OrCAD/Pspice software environment. The adaptation stage for maximum power transfer is modelled in detail. A method to calculate the optimal duty cycle for optimal use of PV panels power is proposed, tested and validated by the use of a marketed PV module datasheet

Blood parameters of Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius) fingerlings affected by dietary L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate as a dietary ascorbic acid source on blood parameters of Caspian brown trout (Salmo trutta caspius), including red blood cell (RBC) count, white blood cell (WBC) and WBC differential. A total number of 600 Caspian brown trout (9.6±0.6 g) fingerlings were randomly distributed in triplicates among five treatments each containing 40 specimens. Experimental diets were also prepared by adding 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg kg^-1 L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate to the basal diet. Feeding was done for nine weeks in each treatment. The survival rate in all treatments was 100%. The results showed a significant increase in RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC and lymphocyte (p<0.05) by supplementing L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate compared to the control treatment. The fish fed by 200 mg ascorbic acid kg^-1 diet had the maximum hemoglobin and hematocrit in comparison with the other treatments. The current research showed that dietary L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate influences the complete blood count of Caspian brown trout while fingerlings fed with the optimum amounts of 200 mg ascorbic acid kg^-1 diet for a period of 9 weeks trail

Sensitivity to hydrogen induced cracking, and corrosion performance of an API X65 pipeline steel in H2S containing environment: influence of heat treatment and its subsequent microstructural changes

In this investigation, the effect of microstructural changes and phase equilibria on corrosion behavior and hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) sensitivity of an API X65 pipeline steel was studied. For this purpose, heat treatment was performed at 850 °C, 950 °C, 1050 °C and 1150 °C to engineer the desired microstructure of this pipeline steel. Then, the microstructural evolution was performed by optical microscopy, and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Corrosion properties were evaluated in H2S environment by open circuit potential (OCP), Potentiodynamic polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). As well, HIC sensitivity of the API X65 pipeline steel was assessed by hydrogen charging of the cathode and immediately conducting the tensile test. Microscopy analyses showed that the microstructure of the steel is ferritic-pearlitic together with the islands of martensite/austenite constituents. Increasing the heat treatment temperature reduced the amount of pearlite and increased ferrite grain size. It also stabilized the ferrite content. Corrosion results indicated that no active layer was formed on the surface of this pipeline steel. Also, increasing the heat treatment temperature increased the corrosion resistance and reduced sensitivity to micro-galvanic localized corrosion. As well, results suggested that the sensitivity to HIC in the API X65 pipeline was substantially increased with increasing the amount of pearlite and reducing the amount of ferrite; i.e. at lower heat treatment temperature.publishedVersio

Help-Seeking Attitudes of United Arab Emirates Students

© Division of Counseling Psychology of the American Psychological Association. The psychological help-seeking patterns of college students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have only recently begun to be examined. Initial suggestions indicate that the majority of Emirati students treat help seeking from counselors as a last resort, which may be linked to aspects of Emirati culture including feared loss of societal face, stigma associated with seeking help, and discouragement of self-disclosure to individuals outside of the family. The relationship among fear of losing face, stigma, self-disclosure expectations (i.e., risks and benefits), and help-seeking attitudes was examined using structural equation modeling with 407 Emirati college students. Loss of face and stigma were related to self-disclosure expectations, which in turn were related to help-seeking attitudes. Gender differences were also examined with results indicating significant mean differences across all variables, as well as across two paths of the structural model. These findings are discussed within the cultural context of the UAE

Effect of dietary synbiotics on growth, immune response and body composition of Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus)

Effects of dietary synbiotics on growth performance, survival, stress resistance, body composition and immune response in the Caspian roach (Rutilus rutilus) were evaluated. Fish with an initial average weight of 4.14±0.25 g were randomly distributed into tanks (50 fish per tank) and triplicate groups were fed a control diet or diets containing 1 g kg^-1 and 2 g kg^-1 synbiotics. After an 8-week feeding period, a general enhanced growth performance and feed efficiency were observed in fish fed on the diet containing 2 g kg^-1 synbiotics (p<0.05). Subsequently, immune responses (Ig levels, lysozyme activity and ACH50) were significantly higher in 2 g kg^-1 synbiotics fed fish (p<0.05). Although all levels of dietary synbiotics significantly increased resistance to a salinity stress challenge (p<0.05), the highest survival rate was observed in this group. The intestinal tract of the fish with synbiotic diet supplementation had higher concentrations of lactic acid bacteria (7.13±0.32 log CFU g^-1). The protein and lipid contents in the whole body increased in the 2 g kg^-1 synbiotics fed group. At the end of experiment the fish fed synbiotics had the highest survival index after 40 hours exposure to salinity stress (13.8 ppt). Results showed that the addition of synbiotics to the diet of Roach (Rutilus rutilus) stimulates the beneficial intestinal microbiota and alters their immune defense system