Factors Affecting Forage Quality of Native Species in Iranian Rangelands

Animal performance is closely correlated with the nutrient value of the forage available and this is affected by different factors (Arzani et al., 2001). Crude protein content (CP), digestible dry matter (DDM) and metabolisable energy (ME) were considered particularly appropriate for evaluation of range forage quality. This paper reports on factors affecting the forage quality of range species grown in Iran

Postnatal quality of life in women after normal vaginal delivery and caesarean section

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Caesarean section might increase the incidence of surgical interventions and problems resulting from hospitalization and thus affecting quality of life in women after delivery. This study aimed to compare quality of life in women after normal delivery and caesarean section.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a prospective study. A sample of women with normal delivery and caesarean section from 5 health care centers in Isfahan, Iran were entered into the study. Quality of life was measured using the SF-36 at two points in time (time 1: 6 to 8 weeks after delivery; time 2: 12 to 14 weeks after delivery). Data were analyzed to compare quality of life in the two study groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In all 100 women were interviewed (50 with normal delivery and 50 with caesarean section). Postnatal quality of life in both groups was improved from time1 to time 2. However, comparing the mean scores between the normal and caesarean delivery groups the results showed that in general the normal vaginal delivery group had a better quality of life for almost all subscales in both assessment times. The differences were significant for vitality (mean score 62.9 vs. 54.4 P = 0.03) and mental health (mean score 75.1 vs. 66.7, P = 0.03) at first assessment and for physical functioning (mean score 88.4 vs. 81.5, P = 0.03) at second evaluation. However, comparing the findings within each group the analysis showed that the normal vaginal delivery group improved more on physical health related quality of life while the caesarean section group improved more on mental health related quality of life.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although the study did not show a clear cut benefit in favor of either methods of delivery that are normal vaginal delivery or caesarean section, the findings suggest that normal vaginal delivery might lead to a better quality of life especially resulting in a superior physical health. Indeed in the absence of medical indications normal vaginal delivery might be better to be considered as the first priority in term pregnancy.</p

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS): translation and validation study of the Iranian version

BACKGROUND: The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a widely used instrument to measure postnatal depression. This study aimed to translate and to test the reliability and validity of the EPDS in Iran. METHODS: The English language version of the EPDS was translated into Persian (Iranian language) and was used in this study. The questionnaire was administered to a consecutive sample of 100 women with normal (n = 50) and caesarean section (n = 50) deliveries at two points in time: 6 to 8 weeks and 12 to 14 weeks after delivery. Statistical analysis was performed to test the reliability and validity of the EPDS. RESULTS: Overall 22% of women at time 1 and 18% at time 2 reported experiencing postpartum depression. In general, the Iranian version of the EPDS was found to be acceptable to almost all women. Cronbach's alpha coefficient (to test reliability) was found to be 0.77 at time 1 and 0.86 at time 2. In addition, test-rest reliability was performed and the intraclass correlation coefficient was found to be 0.80. Validity as performed using known groups comparison showed satisfactory results. The questionnaire discriminated well between sub-groups of women differing in mode of delivery in the expected direction. The factor analysis indicated a three-factor structure that jointly accounted for 58% of the variance. CONCLUSION: This preliminary validation study of the Iranian version of the EPDS proved that it is an acceptable, reliable and valid measure of postnatal depression. It seems that the EPDS not only measures postpartum depression but also may be measuring something more

The Effect of Process Parameters on the Synthesis of Ti and TiO2 Nanoparticles Producted by Electromagnetic Levitational Gas Condensation

The nanoparticles of Ti and TiO2 have attracted extensive research interest because of their diverse applications in, for instance, catalysis, energy conversion, pigment and cosmetic manufacturing and biomedical engineering. Through this project, a one-step bulk synthesis method of electromagnetic levitational gas condensation (ELGC) was utilized for the synthesis of monodispersed and crystalline Ti and TiO2 nanoparticles. Within the process, the Ti vapours ascending from the high temperature levitated droplet were condensed by an argon gas stream under atmospheric pressure. The TiO2 nanoparticles were produced by simultaneous injection of argon and oxygen into the reactor. The effects of flow rate of the condensing and oxidizing gases on the size and the size distribution of the nanoparticles were investigated. The particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and image analysis. The process parameters for the synthesis of the crystalline Ti and TiO2 nanoparticles were determined

The synergic effect of alcoholic eucalyptus and nanosilver on colony count of Aspergilus Niger

Background and Objective: Nanosilver particles are one of functional nanotechnology filed. These nanoparticles have antibacterial and antifungal characteritic. Combination therapy is one of new and specific method for therapy of diseases in medicine and pharmacology. Some plants are useful in growth inhibition of Aspergilus Niger. This study was done to evaluate the synergic effect of alcoholic eucalyptus and nanosilver on colony count of Aspergilus Niger. Materials and Methods: In this laboratory study PAN were cultured in PDA medium. Five experimental and one control group were designed for the comparison of synergic effect of alcoholic eucalyptus and nanosilver, nanosilver 50ppm, nanosilver 12.5ppm, eucalyptus ethanolic extract 100%, eucalyptus ethanolic extract 100% mixed with nanosilver 12.5ppm, eucalyptus ethanolic extract mixed with 50ppm, and double distilled water were given to group 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and control group respectively. Morphological, diameter, and colony numbers in various culture media were compared subsequently. The repeated number of Aspergilus Niger were 24, and they were chosen randomly. Data were analyzed using SPSS-15 and ANOVA test. Results: The Aspergilus niger colony were reduced 8 days following treatment from 200 colony in control group to 90, 75, 55 and 43 in nanosilver group in 12.5 ppm, nanosilver group in 50 ppm, nanosilver group in 50 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract and finally eucalyptus ethanolic extract group, respectivley (P<0.05). The colony count 24 day following treatment were reduced from 200 colony in control group to 42, 14 and 2 in eucalyptus ethanolic extract group, nanosilver group in 12.5 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract and finally nanosilver group in 50 ppm mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract, respectivley (P<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that nanosilver with 50 ppm concentration mixed with eucalyptus ethanolic extract have synergic effect on reducing the Aspergilus niger growth rate