Validity and reliability of the perceived benefits/barriers scale of physical activity among Iranian elderly

Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was investigating the validity and reliability of Persian version of perceived benefits/barriers of physical activity in Iranian elderly. Methods: 388 elderly subjects (up to 60 years) completed demographic characteristics questionnaire, Exercise Benefits/Barriers (EBBS) and Yale physical activity scale. Results: Persian version of EBBS showed nine components, and 31 items predicted 60.26% of variance. Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency in total and subscales was respectively 0.75, 0.91 and 0.71. As well positive and significant correlation between total benefits and its subscales and between total barriers and its subscales were found. Research results showed significant and positive correlation between physical activity and the benefits of physical activity (r=0.178, P<0.05) and significant and negative correlation between physical activity and the barriers of physical activity (r=0.249, P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed acceptable reliability and validity of Persian version of perceived benefits/barriers of physical activity in Iranian elderly

Modeling and forecasting long-term natural gas (NG) consumption in Iran, using particle swarm optimization (PSO)

The gradual changes in the world development have brought energy issues back into high profile. An ongoing challenge for countries around the world is to balance the development gains against its effects on the environment. The energy management is the key factor of any sustainable development program. All the aspects of development in agriculture, power generation, social welfare and industry in Iran are crucially related to the energy and its revenue. Forecasting end-use natural gas consumption is an important Factor for efficient system operation and a basis for planning decisions. In this thesis, particle swarm optimization (PSO) used to forecast long run natural gas consumption in Iran. Gas consumption data in Iran for the previous 34 years is used to predict the consumption for the coming years. Four linear and nonlinear models proposed and six factors such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Population, National Income (NI), Temperature, Consumer Price Index (CPI) and yearly Natural Gas (NG) demand investigated

Modeling and forecasting long-term natural gas (NG) consumption in Iran, using particle swarm optimization (PSO)

The gradual changes in the world development have brought energy issues back into high profile. An ongoing challenge for countries around the world is to balance the development gains against its effects on the environment. The energy management is the key factor of any sustainable development program. All the aspects of development in agriculture, power generation, social welfare and industry in Iran are crucially related to the energy and its revenue. Forecasting end-use natural gas consumption is an important Factor for efficient system operation and a basis for planning decisions. In this thesis, particle swarm optimization (PSO) used to forecast long run natural gas consumption in Iran. Gas consumption data in Iran for the previous 34 years is used to predict the consumption for the coming years. Four linear and nonlinear models proposed and six factors such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Population, National Income (NI), Temperature, Consumer Price Index (CPI) and yearly Natural Gas (NG) demand investigated

The study of chromosomal abnormalities and heteromorphism in couples with 2 or 3 recurrent abortions in Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Hamedan

Background: Different studies show that chromosomal balance translocation in the parents can cause recurrent spontaneous abortions. Incidence of chromosomal translocation abnormalities in couples with repeated abortions is from 0% to 31%. Objective: The purpose of this research was studying the presence or absence of chromosomal abnormalities and heteromorphism in couples with recurrent abortions and also the role of this anomaly in the abortions. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross sectional descriptive study which have investigated 75 couples who had three abortions or more, and 65 couples who had two abortions that referred by gynecologist to the lab of Beheshti Hospital in Hamedan for cytogenetical investigation. Also 40 healthy individuals without history of abortion investigated as control group.GTG bonding technique (staining banding with gymsa and trypsin) is used in this study. Results: Frequency of chromosomal abnormalities and heteromorphism among couples with three or more abortions were reported respectively 5.3% and 9.3%. This frequency in couples with two abortions was respectively 3.07%and 6.15%. The frequency of chromosomal heteromorphism in control group was 7.5% and no chromosomal abnormalities were observed in them. Conclusion: This study shows that chromosomal abnormality can be one reason of recurrent spontaneous abortions and more abortion increases the probability of this anomaly. Also, existence of chromosomal heteromorphism in the general population without clinical abortion symptoms shows that chromosomal heteromorphism cannot be the reason of these spontaneous abortions

Genetic counseling in carriers of reciprocal translocations involving two autosomes

One of the main genetic causes involve in the pathogenesis of recurrent abortion is parental chromosomal abnormalities. The central concept in genetic counseling with such families is to estimate the probability of recurrence of unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. The main questions that consultants usually ask are: Why did this happen? What is the risk to be done again? Our cases were two families with repeated miscarriage. The pedigrees were drawn, the chromosomes of couples were studied, and estimation for recurrent risk was done. We tried to answer those two main questions and clear the results for them. Parental chromosome abnormalities were founded after karyotyping with GTG technique at 450 band resolution, revealing 46 chromosomes with balanced translocation of autosomes in one of the partner in both families. Recurrent risk was estimated as "high" for their future pregnancies in each family. Couples in which one partner is the carrier of such balanced translocation have increased risks of infertility, recurrent abortion, and delivery of chromosomally abnormal offspring. Genetic counseling of such couples, therefore, presents a unique challenge and should be considered in dealing with such families