Ocular Brucellosis: A Brief Update

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of important health significance in endemic areas such as Iran. Brucellosis can affect any organ or system in the human body. Ocular involvement is rare and can lead to poor visual prognosis if not treated early. The most common ocular manifestation of brucellosis is uveitis, although any ocular structure can be involved. The diagnosis of ocular brucellosis is based on clinical examination as well as culture and serological tests. The classical treatment regimen includes doxycycline and rifampin. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment are effective in preventing blindness. Here we breifly review the manifestations, diagnostic tools, and treatment of ocular brucellosis

Towards an Automated Deployment Planner for Composition of Web Services as Software Components Abstract

In this paper, we present our work-in-progress on developing an automated deployment planner for the composition of Web services as software components using the Reo coordination middleware in a distributed environment. Web services refer to accessing services over the Web. Reo is an exogenous coordination model for compositional construction of component connectors based on a calculus of mobile channels that has been developed in CWI (the Netherlands). Reo has a strong theoretical underpinning which makes it a good candidate model for coordinating the work of Web services participating in a composition. Suppose a new Web application has been developed by composing a number of Web services with different requirements and constraints. To run the application, it is required to deploy it on a number of hosts with different computational capabilities available to the application in the distributed environment (e.g., Internet) so that all constraints and requirements are satisfied. Because of the many parameters and constraints in such a deployment problem, it is difficult to do it manually. Thus, an automated deployment planner is required for this purpose. Key words: software components, software deployment, Reo coordination model. This paper is electronically published i

Effect of Application Methods of Vermicompost and Chemical Fertilizers on Tuber Yield and Some Morphological Traits of Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

To investigate the effect of vermicompost, chemical fertilizers and their application methods on tuber yield and some morphological traits of potato (Agria cultivar) an experiment was carried out in Mahidasht Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Center in Kermanshah Province during 2012-2013 cropping season. The experiment was carried out in a split plot factorial using a randomized complete block design with four replications. Levels of vermicompost (0, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5 t/ha) were assigned to main plots, and chemical fertilizers with three levels (0, 50 and 100 % chemical fertilizer recommended) of the amount of 225 kg/ha of urea, 150 kg/ha of potassium sulfate, 105 kg/ha of triple super phosphate and 52 kg/ha zinc sulfate and on 50% level respectively 112.5, 75, 52.5 and 26 kg/ha and fertilizer application methods at 3 levels (broadcast, one band and two band application) to subplots. The results showed that increasing the amount of vermicompost about 3.5 t/ha and reducing chemical fertilizer by 50% and applying it in two band increased plant height, number of stems per plant and tuber yield. The highest tuber yield was obtained from application of 3.5 t/ha of vermicompost, 50% chemical fertilizer and two band fertilizer applications (37 t/ha). This study indicated the positive effect of vermicompost on potato tuber yield. Thus, it can be suggested that combined application of chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers may reduce chemical fertilizers usage and reduce also the environmental pollutions

Comparison of Plantar Pressure Distribution and Vertical Ground Reaction Force between Dominant and None-Dominant Limb in Healthy Subjects Using Principle Component Analysis (PCA) Technique

Objective: The aim of this study was the comparison of plantar pressure distribution and vertical ground reaction force between dominant and none-dominant limbs in healthy through using Principle Component Analysis (PCA) technique. Materials & Methods: This study was quasi-experimental in which 20 healthy adult males and females were selected from available subjects. Subject’s plantar pressure distribution and vertical ground reaction force measured using the Pedar-X system. The obtained data were analyzed by Paired-t test, one way analyze of variance, Pearson coefficient correlation and PCA. Results: ANOVA and Paired-t test did not show any significance difference between males and females and dominant and non-dominant limb pressure pattern, (P>0.05). PCA recognized pressure and force applied on the heel, fingers, big toe and first metatarsal regions for the dominant limb and lateral mid foot, lateral fore foot, first metatarsal and heel regions for non-dominant limb, as important parameters. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that, dominant limb is responsible for propulsion and weight acceptance and non-dominant limb is responsible for balance control. Therefore during biomechanical evaluation of feet, difference between function of dominant and non-dominant limb must be considered

The ethical obligation to provide care to patients diagnosed with brain death until the end stages based on grounded theory

Nurses are faced with tremendous pressure when providing brain-dead patients with care. There is limited guidance for nurses on the care of these patients. The present study aimed to report the experiences of nurses regarding the care of patients diagnosed with brain death.Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 nurses and other stakeholders, and the observations and field notes were analyzed using continuous and comparative analysis based on grounded theory.The qualitative analysis of the data resulted in extraction of six final categories, including 'facing increased tensions and conflicts', 'organ donation: a distinct care element', 'inconsistency of care management', 'effective care requirements', 'challenges, rights and duty requirements', and 'moral obligation to provide holistic care until the last minute'. Data analysis identified 'Challenges, rights and duty requirements' as the main issue and showed that the nurses managed this issue using the strategy of 'moral obligation to provide holistic care until the last minute' as the core variable.According to the results, it is recommended that the healthcare system (especially hospital management) take supportive action for nurses in various fields of care of brain-dead patients to resolve educational, moral and legal challenges.

The effect of a Biofeedback Training Course and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) on Balance, Proprioception‎, and Performance of Athletes 18 to 30 Years Old

Introduction: Balance is one of the basic required components for daily life activities, which is as one of the functional independent indicators. Proprioception plays a key role in maintaining balance and optimally doing exercise skills and preventing injury. In this research, the effect of biofeedback and TDCS was compared along with the promotion of balance, proprioception, and performance. Method: In the present experimental study, 36 athletes were randomly divided into three groups of biofeedback (12), TDCS (12), and control (12). Balance assessment was performed by force-plate, proprioception was done with digital photography, and the functional balance was determined by star testing before and after the intervention. Anova and T-stent pair tests were used at a significance level of 0.05 to analyze information. Results: The results show a significant difference in the absolute error rate of the reconstruction of the target angle following the biofeedback intervention at angles of 30° (P=0.01), 45° (P=0.03), and 90° P=0.002) as well as improving the balance in the biofeedback group after intervene in the anterior, external, external, posterior, posterior, and TDCS groups in the anterior, posterior, posterior, internal, and internal posterior directions. Conclusion: The findings showed that the use of biofeedback and TDCS along with proprioception exercises could be recommended to athletes to improve their proprioception and functional balance. Keywords: Electromyographic Biofeedback, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, proprioception, Balance, Functional Balanc

Anthropometric characteristics of upper limb in Iranian and Pakistani subjects

Background and Objective: The human anthropometric characteristics are surveyed in anthropology. Anthropology is used in archeology, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and legal medicine. This study was carried out to evaluate the anthropometric characteristics of upper limb in Iranian and Pakistani subjects. Method: This descriptive - analytic study was performed on 300 resident’s adult subjects (180 males and 120 females) in Qazvin, Iran and 356 residents (181 males and 175 females) in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. Anthropometric characteristics of upper limb were measured in an anatomical position. Results: The mean±SD of arm length was 36.8±2.37 CM and 28.1±2.44 CM, in Pakistani and Iranian males, respectively, this difference was significant (P<0.05). The Mean of forearm length, hand length and hand width in Iranian men and women were non-significantly more than Pakistani subjects. Conclusion: Anthropometric characteristics of upper limb of Iranian are higher than Pakistani subjects, but this difference only in arm length of men was significant