Magnitude of the smoking problem, knowledge, attitude and practice, among family members of primary school students

Background: smoking is a very important public health problem, urgently requiring immediate and effective measures due to its harmful effect on health. The purpose of this study was to collect baseline information about the magnitude of smoking problem, knowledge, attitude, and practice among family members of primary school students in the northwest region of Iran. Methods: of 55 680 primary school students (the 3th, 4th and 5th grades), 7.1% (n=3 954) were selected using randomized multi-stage cluster sampling. Data collection was conducted in April, May, and June 2011, by means of a self-administered two-page questionnaire. Results: a total of 3 954 students (57.6% boys and 42.3% girls) with the mean age of 10.46±1.09 years were evaluated. According to our data, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among fathers was more than other family members (27.1% versus 17.8%) whereas the prevalence of water pipe smoking among fathers and other family members was almost similar (9.2% and 9.7% respectively). None of the smoking type was prevalent among mothers (cigarette: 1% and water pipe: 1.1%). Considerable numbers of all students under study had been exposed to secondhand smoke at home (cigarette: 19.8% and water pipe: 7.7%). Conclusions: considering our findings, two procedures recommended to prevail the problem are to provide greater education about hazards of tobacco consumption among students and their family; and to legislate new laws by officials to ban tobacco use at home

EFFECT OF SALINITY ON PHOTOSYNTHETIC AND ENZYMATIC ACTIVITIES AND TUBERIZATION YIELD IN THE GENOTYPE OF POTATO CULTIVAR AGRIA UNDER IN VITRO CONDITIONS

The aim of this study aimed to investigate the effect of salinity levels on physiological and biochemical properties and tuberization yield of potato, cultivar Agria, in MS culture medium. After preparation and cultivation of tuber, the lateral aerial buds were removed after a few months and cultured in MS medium. After that, healthy samples were prepared and induced at the above-mentioned salinity stress level and transferred to the culture medium. Two weeks later, an air sample was taken, and the physiological and biochemical properties studied in this study (photosynthetic pigments, proline, soluble sugars, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, and the activity of some antioxidant enzymes) were measured. Finally, salinity stress assessment was evaluated and studied in a fluid environment. The effects of stress on different stages of seedling growth in vitro conditions and the activity of photosynthetic and enzymatic pigments were investigated using spectrophotometric measurements and in accordance with their protocols. Data analysis of variance showed that salinity reduces photosynthetic pigments and salinity to a concentration of 50 mM, it is resistant to the addition of compounds such as soluble sugars, proline and antioxidant activity but at higher concentrations (75 and 100 mM), the plant is likely to be severely damaged due to excessive growth in active oxygen species. Therefore, due to the increase in antioxidant activity, it indicates an increase in the removal of active oxygen species, this feature is often used as an indicator to increase salinity tolerance. Research on the different ecological conditions in Iran, research is needed on other potato cultivars and molecular studies

EFFECT OF SALINITY ON PHOTOSYNTHETIC AND ENZYMATIC ACTIVITIES AND TUBERIZATION YIELD IN THE GENOTYPE OF POTATO CULTIVAR AGRIA UNDER IN VITRO CONDITIONS

The aim of this study aimed to investigate the effect of salinity levels on physiological and biochemical properties and tuberization yield of potato, cultivar Agria, in MS culture medium. After preparation and cultivation of tuber, the lateral aerial buds were removed after a few months and cultured in MS medium. After that, healthy samples were prepared and induced at the above-mentioned salinity stress level and transferred to the culture medium. Two weeks later, an air sample was taken, and the physiological and biochemical properties studied in this study (photosynthetic pigments, proline, soluble sugars, anthocyanins, phenolic compounds, and the activity of some antioxidant enzymes) were measured. Finally, salinity stress assessment was evaluated and studied in a fluid environment. The effects of stress on different stages of seedling growth in vitro conditions and the activity of photosynthetic and enzymatic pigments were investigated using spectrophotometric measurements and in accordance with their protocols. Data analysis of variance showed that salinity reduces photosynthetic pigments and salinity to a concentration of 50 mM, it is resistant to the addition of compounds such as soluble sugars, proline and antioxidant activity but at higher concentrations (75 and 100 mM), the plant is likely to be severely damaged due to excessive growth in active oxygen species. Therefore, due to the increase in antioxidant activity, it indicates an increase in the removal of active oxygen species, this feature is often used as an indicator to increase salinity tolerance. Research on the different ecological conditions in Iran, research is needed on other potato cultivars and molecular studies

Reversal Effect of Coriandrum sativum Leaves Extract on Learning and Memory Deficits Induced by Epilepsy in Male Rat

Background: The extract of Coriandrum Sativum L., commonly known as coriander, belonging to the Apiaceae family (Umbelliferae), is cultivated throughout the world for its nutritional value. C. sativum was shown to enhance cognitive performance and recover memory deficit. On the other hand, epilepsy induces cognitive disorders; learning and memory deficits in different animal models. Thus, the present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of C. sativum on water maze learning and memory of epileptic rats.\ud Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, C. sativum extract was injected intraperitoneally for 7 consecutive days to experimental animals. Pilocarpine was administered (i.p.) to induce epileptic convulsions. Morris water maze (MWM) apparatus served as the behavioral model for testing spatial learning and memory. Latency to locate the platform, swimming distance and velocity were employed as variables in acquisition and probe trials, while crossing and proximity were only used in probe test.\ud Results: The latency and distance to reach the hidden platform increased in pilocarpine treated rats. C. sativum extract decreased the latency and distance to platform compared with control and more prominently compared with epileptic group. Pilocarpine convulsions increased the platform location latency, but C. sativum extract did not reverse this seizure induced latency increase. Conversely, C. sativum extract reversed the seizure induced proximity increase.\ud Conclusion: C. sativum extract may be a useful remedy in the management of epilepsy induced learning and memory impairments

A comparison of Age Average of Iranian Medal Winners in Olympic and Asian Games to their Counterparts from Selected Countries

This study attempted to draw a comparison between the age average of Iranian medal winners in Olympic and Asian games and their counterparts from selected countries. The statistical population of the study included Olympic medal winners from the past 100 years and the Iranian who had won medals in 3 rounds of Asian games. The findings indicated that the age average of Iranian medal winners of 3 events (wrestling, weight lifting and taekwondo) at the Olympic games was 24.9 years, while the lowest age average in 3 rounds of Asian games was observed in Boxing (21.8), Karate (23.5), Track and Field (23.5), Fencing (24), Basketball (24), Taekwondo (24.4), Volleyball (24.5), Canoeing (24.6), Judo (24.7), Cycling (24.9) and Soccer (25). The age average of Iranian medal winners showed changes in a reversed U- shape in which the best performance was observed in the 21-28 years age range, while the corresponding age average of Olympic medal winners of the past 100 years in team games was 26-29 years. The age range for speed and strength sports was 22-25 years, while the age range in games requiring not only strength and speed but also high levels of concentration and experience was slightly higher. Professionals, coaches and trainers can utilize the findings of this research to help with scouting, practice planning and development of specialized training protocols for athletes to achieve their set goals

An Unpowered Sensor Node for Real-Time Water Quality Assessment (Humic Acid Detection)

A zero-power microwave sensor is reported for the real-time assessment of water quality. The proposed structure is able to transmit sensed data directly to a base-station without additional data processing at the wireless sensor node (WSN) which results in less power consumption. The base-station propagates a single tone signal at the frequency of f0/2. At the sensing node, an antenna absorbs that signal and a passive frequency doubler makes its frequency twice, i.e., f0, which will be used as the carrier signal. Two pairs of open-ended coaxial probes are used as liquid sensors; one inside a known reference sample and the other one inside the water under test. A combination of both sensors’ data will be sent to the base-station. A special six-port structure is used for modulation of sensed data over the carrier. At the base-station, a receiver will demodulate the received signal for extracting the sensed data. As an example, the system has been evaluated at f0 = 2.45 GHz for the detection of Humic-Acid levels as a common contaminant of river waters

Assessment of skin dose in breast cancer radiotherapy: on-phantom measurement and Monte Carlo simulation

AimThe main purpose of the present study is assessment of skin dose in breast cancer radiotherapy.BackgroundAccurate assessment of skin dose in radiotherapy can provide useful information for clinical considerations.Materials and methodsA RANDO phantom was irradiated using a 6 MV Siemens Primus linac with medial and tangential radiotherapy fields for simulating breast cancer treatment. Dosimetry was also performed on various positions across the fields using an EBT3 radiochromic film. Similar conditions of measurement on the RANDO phantom including field size, irradiation angle, number of fields, etc. were subsequently simulated via the Monte Carlo N-Particle Transport code (MCNP). Ultimately, dose values for corresponding points from both methods were compared.ResultsConsidering dosimetry using radiochromic films on the RANDO phantom, there were points having underdose and overdose based on the prescribed dose and skin tolerance levels. In this respect, 81.25% and 18.75% of the points had underdose and overdose, respectively. In some cases, several differences were observed between the measurement and the MCNP simulation results associated with skin dose.ConclusionBased on the results of the points which had underdose, it was suggested that a bolus should be used for the given points. With regard to overdose points, it was advocated to consider skin tolerance dose in treatment planning. Differences between the measurement and the MCNP simulation results might be due to voxel size of tally cells in simulations, effect of beam’s angle of incidence, validation time of linac’s head, lack of electronic equilibrium in the build-up region, as well as MCNP tally type