Investigation of Natural Effective Gamma Dose Rates case study: Ardabil Province in Iran

Gamma rays pose enough energy to form charged particles and adversely affect human health. Since, the external exposure of human beings to natural environmental gamma radiation normally exceeds that from all man-made sources combined, natural background gamma dose rates and corresponding annual effective doses were determined for selected cities of Ardabil province from 2009 to 2010. Outdoor gamma dose rates were measured using an Ion Chamber Survey Meter in 105 locations in selected districts. Average absorbed dose for Ardabil, Sar-Ein, Germy, Neer, Shourabil Recreational Lake, and Kosar were determined as 265, 219, 344, 233, 352, and 358 nSvh-1, respectively. Although dose rates recorded for Germi and Kosar are comparable with some areas with high natural radiation background, however, the dose rates in other districts are well below the levels reported for such locations. Average annual effective dose due to indoor and outdoor gamma radiation for Ardabil province was estimated to be 1.73 (1.35-2.39) mSv, which is on average 2 times higher than the world population weighted average

Evaluation of brick infill walls under in-plane and out-of-plane loading

In this paper, the in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OP) interaction of masonry infill walls with various length-to-height ratios and vertical forces from dead and live loads are studied. For this purpose, calibrated numerical simulation for IP and OP behaviors of infilled frames has been exploited. In this method, first, the vertical loads are applied, then increasing IP displacement is imposed at the top of the models and finally OP demands are applied to the walls up to their failure. Two different methods of applying OP loading are studied: increasing static uniform pressure on the wall, and increasing dynamic acceleration. Three levels of IP displacement demands are considered: at the first reduction of tangential stiffness for IP force-displacement response, at the maximum IP strength, and at the displacement related to 20 % reduction of IP strength. The results obviously show that up to the point of the maximum IP strength capacity, the OP behavior of the considered models slightly enhanced due to the effects of improved arching actions originated from the development of IP compressive diagonal struts. Moreover, slight differences exist between the static and dynamic loadings in OP direction, hence proving the accuracy of the equivalent static loading in determining OP capacity for the studied infilled frames. Comparing the results of masonry infilled frames with those of the corresponding masonry walls indicate that the IP displacements negatively affect the OP strength in the latter, even at small IP displacement demands; however, the rate of OP strength reduction in larger IP drift ratios is lower compared to that of the corresponding infilled frame

Comparison of psychosexual problems between substance dependence patients

زمینه و هدف: نارضایتی جنسی یکی از مشکلات شایع در بیماران وابسته به مواد مخدر به شمار می آید. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی مقایسه ای ابعاد روانشناختی مشکلات جنسی در مردان متاهل و مصرف کننده کراک، شیشه و تریاک و مقایسه گروه ها با افراد غیر مصرف کننده انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی- تحلیلی، تعداد 56 نفر بیمار مرد مراجعه کننده به مرکز ترک اعتیاد، به صورت نمونه گیری در دسترس در قالب چهار گروه قرار گرفتند. گروه های نمونه شامل (20 نفر تریاک، 18 نفر کراک و 18 نفر شیشه) و یک گروه شاهد (20 نفر) بودند. آزمودنی ها اقدام به تکمیل پرسشنامه چند وجهی مسایل جنسی نمودند. یافته ها: از بین خرده مقیاس های آزمون، تفاوت معناداری در میانگین نمرات سه گروه مصرف کننده با یکدیگر و نیز با گروه شاهد در خرده مقیاس‌های اشتغال ذهن جنسی، انگیزش جنسی، اضطراب جنسی، قاطعیت جنسی، افسردگی جنسی، کنترل جنسی بیرونی، نظارت جنسی، ترس از رابطه‌ی جنسی و رضایت جنسی مشاهده شد (05/0>P). تفاوت بین گروه شیشه و کراک / تریاک و شیشه در خرده مقیاس‌های اشتغال ذهن جنسی، انگیزش جنسی، اضطراب جنسی، افسردگی جنسی، کنترل جنسی بیرونی، نظارت جنسی، ترس از رابطه‌ی جنسی و رضایت جنسی معنادار بوده است (01/0

The relationship between nurses' clinical competency and job stress in Ahvaz university hospital, 2013

زمینه و هدف: صلاحیت بالینی پرستاری، شایستگی کاربرد همزمان دانش، مهارت، نگرش ها و ارزش ها در مراقبت از بیمار است که به دلیل اهمیت آن اخیراً مورد توجه بیشتری قرار گرفته است. با توجه به اهمیت روز افزون موضوع صلاحیت پرستاری، شناخت عوامل مرتبط با آن و از جمله استرس شغلی ضروری به نظر می رسد؛ لذا مطالعه حاضر با هدف تعیین رابطه صلاحیت بالینی و استرس شغلی پرستاران شاغل در بیمارستان های دانشگاهی شهر اهواز در سال1392 انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این پژوهش توصیفی- تحلیلی که به صورت مقطعی در طی سال 1392 انجام شد، 80 نفر پرستار شاغل در بیمارستان های آموزشی شهر اهواز از طریق نمونه گیری تصادفی انتخاب و وارد مظالعه شدند. ابزار گردآوری داده ها شامل پرسشنامه های استرس شغلی Osipow و پرسشنامه صلاحیت بالینی Benner بود که به صورت خود ایفاء تکمیل گردیدند. میزان صلاحیت بالینی پرستاران ارزیابی و ارتباط آن با استرس شغلی تعیین شد. یافته ها: بیشتر پرستاران (3/81 درصد) دارای استرس شغلی متوسط بودند. میانگین نمره کل صلاحیت بالینی پرستاران 48/18± 15/61 بود. آزمون همبستگی پیرسون نشان داد که بین استرس شغلی و صلاحیت بالینی پرستاران در تمام حیطه های آن همبستگی منفی و معنی داری وجود دارد (01/0>P). همچنین بین میزان استرس شغلی و بکارگیری صلاحیت بالینی کل ارتباط معنی داری وجود داشت (001/0>P). نتیجه گیری: بر اساس نتایج مطالعه حاضر، افزایش استرس شغلی پرستاران با کاهش صلاحیت های بالینی آنها رابطه دارد که بایستی مورد توجه مدیران پرستاری قرار گیرد

Quantifying environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis in discordant monozygotic twins: a case report

Relative contribution of genetic and environmental risk factors in complex disorders is widely explored through discordant identical twins. Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system in which the interplay of genetic and environmental risk factors define the disease pathogenicity. Robust epidemiological studies in different populations suggested that active levels of serum vitamin D and viral load implicate in MS pathogenicity and severity. In order to refine non-shared components of susceptibility factors in MS, we investigated the role of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and viral infection in a pair of identical twins remained discordant for MS during the course of 5 years follow up. Here we report serological finding regarding the viral load and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level in a pair of discordant monozygotic twins. Based on our observation, lower levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and higher anti-viral IgG titre was consistent with the disease statues in the affected sib

Hygroscopicity of secondary organic aerosols formed by oxidation of cycloalkenes, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and related compounds

A series of experiments has been conducted in the Caltech indoor smog chamber facility to investigate the water uptake properties of aerosol formed by oxidation of various organic precursors. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from simple and substituted cycloalkenes (C5-C8) is produced in dark ozonolysis experiments in a dry chamber (RH~5%). Biogenic SOA from monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and oxygenated terpenes is formed by photooxidation in a humid chamber (~50% RH). Using the hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA), we measure the diameter-based hygroscopic growth factor (GF) of the SOA as a function of time and relative humidity. All SOA studied is found to be slightly hygroscopic, with smaller water uptake than that of typical inorganic aerosol substances. The aerosol water uptake increases with time early in the experiments for the cycloalkene SOA, but decreases with time for the biogenic SOA. This behavior could indicate competing effects between the formation of more highly oxidized polar compounds (more hygroscopic), and formation of longer-chained oligomers (less hygroscopic). All SOA also exhibit a smooth water uptake with RH with no deliquescence or efflorescence. The water uptake curves are found to be fitted well with an empirical three-parameter functional form. The measured pure organic GF values at 85% RH are between 1.09–1.16 for SOA from ozonolysis of cycloalkenes, 1.01–1.04 for sesquiterpene photooxidation SOA, and 1.06–1.11 for the monoterpene and oxygenated terpene SOA. The GF of pure SOA (GForg) in experiments in which inorganic seed aerosol is used is determined by assuming volume-weighted water uptake (Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson or ''ZSR'' approach) and using the size-resolved organic mass fraction measured by the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer. Knowing the water content associated with the inorganic fraction yields GForg values. However, for each precursor, the GForg values computed from different HTDMA-classified diameters agree with each other to varying degrees. Lack of complete agreement may be a result of the non-idealities of the solutions that are not captured by the ZSR method. Comparing growth factors from different precursors, we find that GForg is inversely proportional to the precursor molecular weight and SOA yield, which is likely a result of the fact that higher-molecular weight precursors tend to produce larger and less hygroscopic oxidation products

Evaluation of Miswak(Salvadorapersica)asaHerbalAdditive in Broiler Chickens

We determined the effects of dietary supplementation of different doses of Miswak (Salvadorapersica) steam and leaf powder on the performance, blood parameters, cecal flora, and carcass traits of broilers. Four hundred and eight one-day old Ross 308 broiler chicks were provided one of the following experimental diets over 42 days:  a basal diet without any additives, or a basal diet supplemented with 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, or 0.8% Miswak powder. Four replicates of 17 birds were allocated to each treatment. Neither broiler performance (body weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio) during starter (d 1-21), finisher (d 22-42), and the overall period (d 1-42) of the study, nor blood parameters (glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol) were influenced by experimental treatments (P > 0.05). Chicks fed diets containing 0.4% Miswak had higher (P 0.05). In conclusion, we found that supplementation with Miswak powder had no beneficial effects on performance and blood parameters of broilers, but could improve cecal bacteria counts at levels greater than 0.4%

Hygroscopicity of secondary organic aerosols formed by oxidation of cycloalkenes, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and related compounds

A series of experiments has been conducted in the Caltech indoor smog chamber facility to investigate the water uptake properties of aerosol formed by oxidation of various organic precursors. Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) from simple and substituted cycloalkenes (C₅-C₈) is produced in dark ozonolysis experiments in a dry chamber (<i>RH</i>~5%). Biogenic SOA from monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and oxygenated terpenes is formed by photooxidation in a humid chamber (~50% <i>RH</i>). Using the hygroscopicity tandem differential mobility analyzer (HTDMA), we measure the diameter-based hygroscopic growth factor (<i>GF</i>) of the SOA as a function of time and relative humidity. All SOA studied is found to be slightly hygroscopic, with smaller water uptake than that of typical inorganic aerosol substances. The aerosol water uptake increases with time early in the experiments for the cycloalkene SOA, but decreases with time for the sesquiterpene SOA. This behavior could indicate competing effects between the formation of more highly oxidized polar compounds (more hygroscopic), and formation of longer-chained oligomers (less hygroscopic). All SOA also exhibit a smooth water uptake with <i>RH</i> with no deliquescence or efflorescence. The water uptake curves are found to be fitted well with an empirical three-parameter functional form. The measured pure organic <i>GF</i> values at 85% <i>RH</i> are between 1.09&ndash;1.16 for SOA from ozonolysis of cycloalkenes, 1.01&ndash;1.04 for sesquiterpene photooxidation SOA, and 1.06&ndash;1.10 for the monoterpene and oxygenated terpene SOA. The <i>GF</i> of pure SOA (<i>GF</i>_org) in experiments in which inorganic seed aerosol is used is determined by assuming volume-weighted water uptake (Zdanovskii-Stokes-Robinson or 'ZSR' approach) and using the size-resolved organic mass fraction measured by the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer. Knowing the water content associated with the inorganic fraction yields <i>GF</i>_org values. However, for each precursor, the <i>GF</i>_org values computed from different HTDMA-classified diameters agree with each other to varying degrees. Comparing growth factors from different precursors, we find that <i>GF</i>_org is inversely proportional to the precursor molecular weight and SOA yield, which is likely a result of the fact that higher-molecular weight precursors tend to produce larger and less hygroscopic oxidation products

Parental bonding styles in schizophrenia, depressive and bipolar patients: a comparative study

Background: Numerous bio-psychosocial factors play a role in the etiology of psychiatric disorders. In this regard, the relationship between parents and their children is significantly involved in developing the offspring mental health. However, there is no clear-cut answer as to which parental bonding style is more strongly associated with psychiatric diseases of patients. This study aimed to compare parental bonding styles in patients with schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder in Bushehr province, Iran in 2018. Methods: In this cross-sectional comparative study, 130 patients with schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder who referred to four outpatients psychiatric centers in Bushehr were selected using quota sampling. The patients were assessed and compared in terms of parental bonding styles. Data were collected using a valid and reliable parental bonding instrument (PBI). Data were analyzed using SPSS software (ver. 22), Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests at a significant level of 0.05. Results: Results showed that the optimal parental bonding style (low control, high care) in bipolar disorder (43.05%), major depression (47.7%), and schizophrenia (38.5%) was the most prevalent style of parental bonding; however, 62.30% of the above patients suffered from inefficient paternal bonding styles and 51.53% from inefficient maternal bonding styles. Furthermore, the patients’ maternal bonding styles were significantly different (p = 0.007) while their paternal bonding styles did not show any significant differences (p = 0.848). Conclusions: Most of the patients with psychiatric disorders were affected by ineffective parenting styles. The results also confirmed that despite the several bio-psycho-social factors involved in the development of psychiatric disorders, the crucial roles of parents, especially mothers, should not be ignored. It was further suggested that parents and parental bonding were important and fundamental factors for mental health promotion