Evaluation of feeding indices of catfish Arius dussumieri in Oman Sea (Sistine & Baluchistan)

Due to study the food regime of Arius dussumieri, a total of 132 specimens were collected from Oman sea waters, Sistine & Baluchistan province. The stomach content, were taken into consideration and it was found that the amount of full, semi-full and empty stomachs were 31, 33 and 36 percent, respectively; of which the highest frequency was in winter (74%) and the lowest was in summer (24%). On the other hand, the fullness index was studied with the highest and lowest value for spring (44%) and winter (5%), respectively. The GaSI shows that A. dussumieri, has better feeding in spring and summer but feeding (up in male) was decreased in autumn and winter. The Food Preference (FP) Index was estimated as: Fishes (39%), Crustacean (40%) and Molluscs (20%) namely all of them are considered as minor food in all four seasons. The most important food items were identification as fishes: Carangidae, Engraulidae & Leiognathidae; crabs: Portunidae & Porcellanidae; shrimp: Alpheidae; cephalopods: Loliginidae & Opisthoteuthidae; gastropods: Muricidae & Naticidae

Comparison of pulmonary function test in school - Age children in clean and polluted air in Tehran, Iran

Background: Children seem to be more susceptible to deleterious effects of air pollution related to respiratory functional parameters as compared to adults and thus quite perceptively assessment of these pathological changes among children is necessary. The present study aimed to assess the effects of air pollution on respiratory functional parameters among primary school children in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was performed on 102 children aged less than 12 years studying at a primary school in Tehran in 2015. At two time points with healthy and unhealthy air conditions (December 2015 and May 2016), all eligible children were evaluated with respect to respiratory functional parameters (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FVC, PEF, FEF25-75) using a spirometer. Results: There were significant differences in respiratory some parameters including FEV1 (P = 0.013) and PEF (P = 0.003) between the two times of respiratory assessment, no difference was found in some others such as FVC, FEV1/FVC and FEF25-75. Conclusions: Air pollution can be harmful for respiratory functional status in children by reducing FEV1 and PEF parameters. © 2018, Iranian Journal of Pediatrics

Morphological characteristics of lapillus and aging of Plicofollis dussumieri (Ruppell, 1837) from Oman Sea

In this paper age determination and morphological characteristics of blacktip catfish, Plicofollis dussumieri, from Oman Sea were evaluated. A total of 132 fish specimens were collected from fishing trawlers or landings from March 2011 to July 2012, with minimum and maximum of 245 mm, 195 g; and 767 mm, 5801 g, respectively. Maximum life span was 12 years for the length range of 245 – 767 mm FL, while total body weight (BW) ranged between 195 and 5801 g and the resultant equation was: W = 0.040 L^2.8275 (R^2 = 0.99). High correlation coefficient value found between age and FL was R= 0.97 and for age-BW was 0.94. This value for otolith weight and BW was estimated to be 0.91 and showing that there were significant correlations between measured parameters. Lapillus otolith in blacktip catfish is the biggest otolith among most teleostei fishes, also the Sagitta is the biggest. Lapillus of this species is round, robust, onion-like and without sulcus curve, with no obvious growth increments in rostrum and antirostrum zones. In ventral side Gibbus maculae is concave having prominentia marginalis in anterior and basal line in posterior parts

Heat transfer enhancement in a micro-channel cooling system using cylindrical vortex generators.

Three-dimensional conjugate heat transfer under laminar flow conditions within a micro-channel is analysed numerically to explore the impact of a new design of vortex generator positioned at intervals along the base of the channel. The vortex generators are cylindrical with quarter-circle and half-circle cross sections, with variants spanning the whole width of the channel or parts of the channel. Micro-channels with Reynolds number ranging from 100 to 2300 are subjected to a uniform heat flux relevant to microelectronics cooling. To ensure the accuracy of the results, validations against previous microchannel studies were conducted and found to be in good agreement, before the new vortex generators with radii up to 400 µm were analysed. Using a thermal-hydraulic performance parameter expressed in a new way, the VGs described here are shown to offer significant potential in combatting the challenges of heat transfer in the technological drive toward lower weight/smaller volume electrical and electronic devices

Characteristics of general practice care: What do senior citizens value? A qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In view of the increasing number of senior citizens in our society who are likely to consult their GP with age-related health problems, it is important to identify and understand the preferences of this group in relation to the non-medical attributes of GP care. The aim of this study is to improve our understanding about preferences of this group of patients in relation to non-medical attributes of primary health care. This may help to develop strategies to improve the quality of care that senior citizens receive from their GP.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Semi-structured interviews (N = 13) with senior citizens (65-91 years) in a judgement sample were recorded and transcribed verbatim. The analysis was conducted according to qualitative research methodology and the frame work method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Continuity of care providers, i.e. GP and practice nurses, GPs' expertise, trust, free choice of GP and a kind open attitude were highly valued. Accessibility by phone did not meet the expectations of the interviewees. The interviewees had difficulties with the GP out-of-office hours services. Spontaneous home visits were appreciated by some, but rejected by others. They preferred to receive verbal information rather than collecting information from leaflets. Distance to the practice and continuity of caregiver seemed to conflict for respondents.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Preferences change in the process of ageing and growing health problems. GPs and their co-workers should be also aware of the changing needs of the elderly regarding non-medical attributes of GP care. Meeting their needs regarding non-medical attributes of primary health care is important to improve the quality of care.</p

A qualitative study of patients' views on quality of primary care consultations in Hong Kong and comparison with the UK CARE Measure

&lt;b&gt;Background&lt;/b&gt; Patients' priorities and views on quality care are well-documented in Western countries but there is a dearth of research in this area in the East. The aim of the present study was to explore Chinese patients' views on quality of primary care consultations in Hong Kong and to compare these with the items in the CARE measure (a process measure of consultation quality widely used in the UK) in order to assess the potential utility of the CARE measure in a Chinese population.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Methods&lt;/b&gt; Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted on 21 adult patients from 3 different primary care clinics (a public primary healthcare clinic, a University health centre, and a private family physician's clinic). Topics discussed included expectations, experiences, and views about quality of medical consultations. Interviews were typed verbatim, and a thematic approach was taken to identify key issues. These identified issues were then compared with the ten CARE measure items, using a CARE framework: Connecting (Care Measure items 1–3), Assessing (item 4), Responding (items 5,6), and Empowering (items 7–10).&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Results&lt;/b&gt; Patients judged doctors in terms of both the process of the consultation and the perceived outcomes. Themes identified that related to the interpersonal process of the consultation fitted well under the CARE framework; Connecting and communicating (18/21 patients), Assessing holistically (10/21 patients), Responding (18/21 patients) and Empowering (19/21 patients). Patients from the public clinic, who were generally of lower socio-economic status, were least likely to expect holistic care or empowerment. Two-thirds of patients also judged doctors on whether they performed an adequate physical examination, and three-quarters on the later outcomes of consultation (in terms of relief or cure and/or side-effects of prescribed drugs).&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;b&gt;Conclusion&lt;/b&gt; These findings suggest that Chinese patients in Hong Kong value engaged, empathic primary care doctors and judge the quality of consultations largely on these human skills and the attitudes and values that underpin them, as well as on the perceived outcomes of treatment. The match between themes relating to consultation process and the CARE Measure items suggests utility of this measure in this population, but further quantitative validation is required

Higher education students’ achievement emotions and their antecedents in e-learning amid COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-country survey

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide range of negative consequences for higher education students. We explored the generalizability of the control-value theory of achievement emotions for e-learning, focusing on their antecedents. We involved 17019 higher education students from 13 countries, who completed an online survey during the first wave of the pandemic. A structural equation model revealed that proximal antecedents (e-learning self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy) mediated the relation between environmental antecedents (cognitive and motivational quality of the task) and positive and negative achievement emotions, with some exceptions. The model was invariant across country, area of study, and gender. The rates of achievement emotions varied according to these same factors. Beyond their theoretical relevance, these findings could be the basis for policy recommendations to support stakeholders in coping with the challenges of e-learning and the current and future sequelae of the pandemic.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Primary immunodeficiency disorders in Iran: Update and new insights from the third report of the national registry

Background: Primary immunodeficiency disorders (PID) are a group of heterogeneous disorders mainly characterized by severe and recurrent infections and increased susceptibility to malignancies, lymphoproliferative and autoimmune conditions. National registries of PID disorders provide epidemiological data and increase the awareness of medical personnel as well as health care providers. Methods: This study presents the demographic data and clinical manifestations of Iranian PID patients who were diagnosed from March 2006 till the March of 2013 and were registered in Iranian PID Registry (IPIDR) after its second report of 2006. Results: A total number of 731 new PID patients (455 male and 276 female) from 14 medical centers were enrolled in the current study. Predominantly antibody deficiencies were the most common subcategory of PID (32.3 %) and were followed by combined immunodeficiencies (22.3 %), congenital defects of phagocyte number, function, or both (17.4 %), well-defined syndromes with immunodeficiency (17.2 %), autoinflammatory disorders (5.2 %), diseases of immune dysregulation (2.6 %), defects in innate immunity (1.6 %), and complement deficiencies (1.4 %). Severe combined immunodeficiency was the most common disorder (21.1 %). Other prevalent disorders were common variable immunodeficiency (14.9 %), hyper IgE syndrome (7.7 %), and selective IgA deficiency (7.5 %). Conclusions: Registration of Iranian PID patients increased the awareness of medical community of Iran and developed diagnostic and therapeutic techniques across more parts of the country. Further efforts must be taken by increasing the coverage of IPIDR via electronically registration and gradual referral system in order to provide better estimation of PID in Iran and reduce the number of undiagnosed cases. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media

Academic student satisfaction and perceived performance in the e-learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence across ten countries

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically shaped higher education and seen the distinct rise of e-learning as a compulsory element of the modern educational landscape. Accordingly, this study highlights the factors which have influenced how students perceive their academic performance during this emergency changeover to e-learning. The empirical analysis is performed on a sample of 10,092 higher education students from 10 countries across 4 continents during the pandemic’s first wave through an online survey. A structural equation model revealed the quality of e-learning was mainly derived from service quality, the teacher’s active role in the process of online education, and the overall system quality, while the students’ digital competencies and online interactions with their colleagues and teachers were considered to be slightly less important factors. The impact of e-learning quality on the students’ performance was strongly mediated by their satisfaction with e-learning. In general, the model gave quite consistent results across countries, gender, study fields, and levels of study. The findings provide a basis for policy recommendations to support decision-makers incorporate e-learning issues in the current and any new similar circumstances.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio