Concept and challenges of delivering preventive and care services in prehospital emergency medical service: A qualitative study

Background and purpose: Prehospital emergency medical service (EMS) is an important part of the health care system. Today, the need for integrated emergency care services and delivering qualified preventive and care services felt more than before in accidents and emergencies. This survey aimed to investigate the views of emergency medical personnel on the concept and nature of preventive and care services and current challenges in delivering these services in prehospital EMS centers in Golestan province, Iran. Materials and methods: A qualitative study was done with 16 emergency medical personnel working in EMS sites in Golestan province using purposeful sampling. Data was collected by semistructured interview guide and framework analysis was implemented to analyze the data. Results: Two general themes were identified including 1) the concept of preventive and care services in the EMS and 2) the challenges in providing qualified services in the EMS sites in Golestan province. Also, five sub-themes and 12 subclasses were determined. Conclusion: To enhance and promote services, the EMS system of Golestan province need reforms in organizational structure, laws and administrative regulations, training programs, the system of monitoring and evaluation of personnel, also provision of equipment and manpower and provision of personnel amenities to improve the staff performance. Furthermore, it is necessary to boost emergency services at the community level through training people and enhancing collaboration and participation with other organizations. © 2015, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Probabilistic study of the resistance of a simply-supported reinforced concrete slab according to Eurocode parametric fire

We present the application of a simple probabilistic methodology to determine the reliability of a structural element exposed to fire when designed following Eurocode 1-1-2 (EC1). Eurocodes are being used extensively within the European Union in the design of many buildings and structures. Here, the methodology is applied to a simply-supported, reinforced concrete slab 180 mm thick, with a standard load bearing fire resistance of 90 min. The slab is subjected to a fire in an office compartment of 420 m 2 floor area and 4 m height. Temperature time curves are produced using the EC1 parametric fire curve, which assumes uniform temperature and a uniform burning condition for the fire. Heat transfer calculations identify the plausible worst case scenarios in terms of maximum rebar temperature. We found that a ventilation-controlled fire with opening factor 0.02 m 1/2 results in a maximum rebar temperature of 448°C after 102 min of fire exposure. Sensitivity analyses to the main parameters in the EC1 fire curves and in the EC1 heat transfer calculations are performed using a one-at-a-time (OAT) method. The failure probability is then calculated for a series of input parameters using the Monte Carlo method. The results show that this slab has a 0.3% probability of failure when the compartment is designed with all layers of safety in place (detection and sprinkler systems, safe access route, and fire fighting devices are available). Unavailability of sprinkler systems results in a 1% probability of failure. When both sprinkler system and detection are not available in the building, the probability of failure is 8%. This novel study conducts for the first time a probabilistic calculation using the EC1 parametric curve, helping engineers to identify the most critical design fires and the probabilistic resistance assumed in EC1

Canola traits and some soil biological parameters in response to fertilization and tillage management

This study describes the effects of fertilization and tillage methods on soil microbial community and canola traits. A field experiment was carried out in 2009 to 2010 growing season. Experiments were arranged in a split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Main plots consisted of no tillage (T1), minimum tillage (T2) and conventional tillage (T3). Six strategies for obtaining the basal fertilizer requirement including (N1): farmyard manure; (N2): compost; (N3):chemical fertilizers; (N4): farmyard manure + compost; (N5): farmyard manure + compost + chemical fertilizers and (N6): control, were arranged in sub plots. Results show that the activities of all enzymes were generally higher in the N4 treatment than in the unfertilized and chemical fertilizer treatments. The phosphatase, catalase and urease activities in the N3 treatment were significantly lower than in the farm yard manure (FYM) and compost treatments (CT). The activity of all enzyme activity tended to be higher in the NT treatment. The highest leaf N, P and K containing grain and grain yield was obtained from N5 treatment. Applying CT system caused to a reduction in grain yield as compared with chisel plowing.Key words: Enzyme activity, compost, farmyard manure, tillage

Introducing a sustainable soil fertility system for chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

In order to introduce a sustainable soil fertility system for chickpea, field experiments were carried out in 2007 and 2008 growing seasons. Experiments were arranged in split-split plot arrangements with three replications. Main plots consisted of (G1): establishing a mixed vegetation of vetch and barley, (G2): without green manure. Also, five strategies for obtaining the base fertilizer requirement including (N1): farm manure; (N2): compost; (N3): triple super phosphate; (N4): farm manure + compost and (N5): farm manure + compost + triple super phosphate. Four levels of biofertilizers consisted of (B1): Phosphate solubilizing bacteria; (B2): Trichoderma harzianum; (B3): Phosphate solubilizing bacteria + T. harzianum; and (B4): without biofertilizers were arranged in sub-sub plots. Results showed that green manure increased pod number and number of fertile pods per plant. Integrating biofertilizers (B3) and green manure (G1) produced the highest pod number per plant and grain yield. The highest amounts of yield and yield components were obtained in G1N5 treatment. Comparison of 3-way interactions showed that G1N5B3 was the best treatment. Significant increase of N, P, K, Fe and Mg content in leaves and grains emphasized on superiority of mentioned treatment because each one of these nutrients has an approved role in chlorophyll synthesis and photosynthesis ability of the crop. The N5 treatment in addition to having the highest yield had the best grain quality due to high protein, starch and total sugar contents, low crude fiber and reduced cooking time.Key words: Biofertilizer, chickpea, compost, farm manure, soil fertility system

The quality of life in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy

We conducted a study to evaluate the quality of life in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 8–18 years, compared with that in matched healthy controls. A total of 85 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 8–18 years and 136 age, sex and living place matched healthy controls were included in this study. Patients and one of their parents separately completed the 27-item Persian version of KIDSCREEN questionnaire (child and adolescent version and parent version). From the children's perspective, the quality of life in patients was found to be lower in two subclasses: “physical activities and health” (p < 0.001) and “friends” (p = 0.005). Parental estimation of their sick child's quality of life was significantly lower than children's own assessment in two subclasses: “physical activities and health” (p < 0.001) and “general mood and feelings” (p < 0.001). Our results indicate that boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy have quite a satisfactory quality of life. A happier and more hopeful life can be promoted through increasing social support and improving the parental knowledge regarding their child's more positive life perspective. © 2016 Elsevier B.V