Factor analysis of agricultural mechanization challenges in Iran

A descriptive survey research was undertaken in order to assess challenges facing agricultural mechanization development in Iran.  The research population included agricultural mechanization experts, managers and specialists in private and governmental sections.  Using proportional stratified sampling, a sample of 119 was constituted out of a total population of 809 based on the Cochran formula.  Data were collected using questionnaire on which the statements were collected after literature review of research and interviews with mechanization specialists.  The questionnaire was validated by a panel of experts and its reliability index was established by a Cronbach’s coefficient.  A pilot study was conducted with 30 questionnaires (not included in the sample population) to determine the reliability of the questionnaire.  Computed Cronbach’s alpha score was 75%, which indicated that the questionnaire was highly reliable.  All survey data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 16.0).  The results of factor analysis indicated that 69% of the variances of the challenges could be classified in seven groups, namely: programming, technical, infrastructural, managerial, economical, research and extension, and content area.  From each group the most important challenges facing agricultural mechanization development in Iran include: inefficiency of subside payment methods for buying agricultural machinery, large number of time-worn agricultural machinery, incomplete collection of agricultural equipments for power generator machinery (tractor), slow trend of beneficiaries in accepting new technologies, financial weakness of agricultural beneficiaries, inefficiency of agricultural extension and education methods, and weakness of agricultural machinery producers and operators in protecting their guild benefits.   Keywords: agricultural mechanization, challenge, extension, factor analysis, Ira

SiO2@FeSO4 nano composite: A recoverable nano-catalyst for eco-friendly synthesis oximes of carbonyl compounds

Various aldoximes and ketoximes synthesis of corresponding aldehydes and ketones in the presence of SiO2@FeSO4 nano composite as recoverable nano catalyst and NH2OH·HCl. The SiO2@FeSO4 nano composite system was carried out between 10 to 15 min in oil bath (70-80 °C) under solvent-free condition in excellent yields in addition this protocol can be used for industrial scales. This method offers some advantages in term of clean reaction conditions, easy work-up procedure, short reaction time, applied to convert α-diketones to α-diketoximes (as longer than other carbonyl compounds), α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and ketones to corresponding oximes and suppression of any side product. So we think that NH2OH•HCl/SiO2@FeSO4 nano composite system could be considered a new and useful addition to the present methodologies in this area. Structure of products and nano composite elucidation was carried out by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Zinc attenuates ecstasy-induced apoptosis through downregulation of caspase-3 in cultured TM3 cells: An experimental study

Background: 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is commonly known as the most famous amphetamine derivative. Objective: To evaluate the influence of zinc on MDMA-induced apoptosis and caspase- 3 gene expression in Leydig cell line (TM3). Materials and Methods: Leydig cells were studied in differenet treatment groups regarding MDMA (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 5 mM) and zinc (0, 4, 8, 16, 32 μM). By the way, the effective concentration was determined to be 5 mM for MDMA and 8 μM for zinc. Then, TM3 cells were cultured in free medium as control (group I), medium containing MDMA (5 mM) (group II), zinc (8 μM) (group III), and zinc (8 μM) prior to MDMA (5 mM) (group IV) as well as in an untreated group (control). Cell viability was assessed at different times after cell culture by MTT assay. The mRNA expression level of caspase-3 was analyzed using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The cellular viability was significantly reduced in TM3 cells after 24 hr and 48 hr exposure time regarding different concentrations of MDMA as well as high concentration of zinc (16 and 32 μM). Cell viability was increased in the group that received zinc (8 μM) before addition of MDMA (5 mM) compared to the control and MDMA groups. The mean ± SE of fold was 22.40 ± 7.5, 0.06 ± 0.02, and 0.009 ± 0.003 in MDMA, zinc, and zinc + MDMA groups, respectively. The mean of caspase-3 mRNA level was significantly increased in the MDMA-treated group (5 mM), while the relative expression of caspase-3 gene was significantly decreased in the zinc (8 μM) + MDMA (5 mM) group compared with the MDMA (5 mM) group (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Dietary intake of zinc has a protective effect against MDMA consumption in mouse. Key words: Zinc, MDMA, Apoptosis, TM3 cells

The density and distribution of phytoplankton in the Persian Gulf Martyrs Lake (Chitgar Tehran)

Cheetgar Lake or Persian Gulf Martyrs' lake is an artificial lake in the North west of Tehran is located in district 22 of Tehran municipality. The lake covers an area of 130 hectares, which is located north of forest park Cheetgar. In south, to Tehran-Karaj highway, In north Hemmat expressway, from East to Azadegan expressway and west and from residential areas district 22 of Tehran municipality is limited. Kan River from East and Vardavard of West cheetgar Lake crossing and Kann River is the main source of water of the Cheetgar Lake now. Plankton is one of the important factors related to water quality. In this context, understanding the biological and nonbiological lake and its ecological status of a useful tool for managing sustainable exploitation with an emphasis on water quality is maintained. This study focused on phytoplankton structure, a bioticlimiting factors in phytoplankton bloom at the 5 stations between 2013 and 2014 in the Chitgar Lake. according to profile Lake after visiting five stations in the lake water body determined that Different depths are sampled. Sampling of phytoplankton is done by using a liter Ruthner sampler in layers and deep level (of a cylindrical column) were taken. Than 4% formalin fixed samples and transferred to the laboratory for quantitative and qualitative study. In laboratory planktonic samples after determining the volume and mixture, were transferred by pipette to 5ml chambers and after sufficient time to sediment, were identified and counted by inverted microscope. This study identified 35 phytoplankton taxa comprised of diatoms (12 genus), chlorophytes (15 genus), cyanophytes (4 genus), dinoflagellates (2 genus) and chrysophytes (1 genus) in the lake. The finding showed, the diatom abundance dominate (average of 2060000 ± 230000 cells.l-1) in the Chitgar lake. The annual average phytoplankton abundance was calculated as 2550000 ± 304000, with the maximum value recorded in February 2013 (4400000 ± 450000 cell. l-1). The PCA analysis displayed, the diatoms Cyclotella sp., Achnanthes sp. and Chrysophte Dinobryon sp. were dominated in the study period. Based on CCA analyses, total nitrogen and water temperature were the significant parameters to increase cyanophytes and dinoflagellates abundance in the Chitgar lake. In overall, the lowest phytoplankton abundance recorded in the Chitgar Lake as compared with other lakes which is an meso-oligotrophic category with the latest trophy state lake. Thus, it is might be increased eutrophication trend due to no management and no aquatic control in this ecosystem

Investigation of mutations in exons 19-23 MYH7 gene in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients using PCR-SSCP/HA technique in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiari province

زمینه و هدف: کاردیومایوپاتی هایپرتروفی (HCM) رایج ترین نوع از بیماری های قلبی است که 2/0 درصد از جمعیت جهان را تحت تأثیر قرار داده و همچنین رایج ترین علت مرگ قلبی ناگهانی در جوانان زیر 35 سال است. حدود 35 درصد موارد بیماری مربوط به اگزون های 24- 8 از ژن MYH7 است. هدف این مطالعه بررسی احتمال حضور جهش های مربوط به ژن MYH7 در اگزون های 23-19 در بیماران HCM استان چهارمحال و بختیاری بود. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی 30 بیمار مبتلا به HCM به روش نمونه گیری آسان از بین مراجعین به کلینیک قلب دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شهرکرد انتخاب شدند. در این بیماران DNAبه روش استاندارد فنل-کلروفرم استخراج شد. اگزون های مورد نظر با استفاده از روش PCR تکثیر و با روش SSCP به صورت تک رشته تبدیل شد و همراه نمونه های دو رشته ای روی ژل پلی آکریل آمید الکتروفورز گردید. سپس باندهای مشکوک تعیین توالی گردید و نتایج با استفاده از نرم افزار Chromas تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: در اگزون های 20، 21 و 23 تغییری مشاهده نشد، اما در اگزون های 19 و 22 دو جهش R719W و R870H یافت شد که به ترتیب در دو و یک نفر از بیماران وجود داشتند. نتیجه گیری: از آنجا که تغییرات در اگزون های 19 و 22 باعث تغییر اسید آمینه ای در میوزین بتا می شود، جهش‌های ژن MYH7 در این اگزون ها، احتمالاً سهم به سزایی در بیماران HCM این استان دارند. به هر صورت، لازم است برای نتیجه گیری بهتر، بیماران بیشتری مورد مطالعه قرار گیرند

Various production and service models on small-scale of natural products as a new job opportunity for pharmacists.

Introduction: pharmacists' job opportunities in Iran are limited to the presence in the industry, pharmacy, hospital, research-centers and faculty of universities. The need of our community to the pharmacist is quantitatively 32 pharmacists per 100,000 people. Every year, 1000 pharmacists graduate in Iran; but there are not enough adequate employment opportunities for them. Given the huge costs of establishing and purchasing a pharmacy and a factory. Job opportunity for pharmacists should be created based on entrepreneurship principles. These opportunities can be defined in the format of designing knowledge-based models that are managed by the pharmacist. There are remarkable amounts of natural products required by healthcare providers on a small scale every day. Manufacturing these products is not cost-effective for a large industrial complex. Small-median enterprises model is one of the reasons for the success of the BRICK countries based on the small-scale chain production ultimately make a huge economic network structure­­ with high profitability.Methods and Results: Regulations of Health Ministry, the GMP principles for herbal productions, regulations of nutrition supplements registration, the process of issuing the production license, the process of issuing the establishment permit, the minimum requirements for establishing the units of medicinal plants packaging and production of plant extracts, the regulation for getting packaging and production license for plant products,supportive-policy package, industry relations with the university in the area of food and drug, regulations and guidelines for registration and establishment of knowledge-based companies, all were investigated.According to the existing criteria, the following proposed models can be presented:1) Small production with maximum 10 employees; including solids, semisolid and liquids production departments.2)Production workshop model outside the city with maximum 50 employees. 3) Providing consultation and training services in the field of medicine. Conclusions: As the pharmaceutical community need to the job that by applying a not-so-great capital to have a proper efficiency, and the pharmacist to use his knowledge, a set of products as a network can besides providing these needed items, provide the country with natural products. Therefore, the facilities to create new pharmaceutical job opportunity as well as holding empowerment courses for pharmaceutical students in this field are required

The Association of Serum Hepcidin Levels and Insulin Resistance in PCOS Patients: A Case-Control Study

Objective: To investigate the relationship between insulin resistance and hepcidin levels in patients with PCOS. Materials and methods: In this case–control study fifty- six patients with PCOS and forty – one healthy control subjects were included. Plasma levels of hepcidin, IL-6, Serum Insulin and ferritin using ELISA method, serum iron levels using a spectrophotometric method, and Insulin resistance by using HOMA  were measured in the two groups of PCOS (case group) and  healthy subjects (control group). The results were analyzed by student’s t-test, General Linear Model, Binary logistic and linear regression tests. Results: The mean hepcidin level was 1.97 ± 0.53 pg/ml and 2.40 ± 0.25pg/ml in the case and control groups, respectively. The t-test results showed a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.0001). The mean of insulin level in case and control group was 30.65 ± 15.02g/dl and 14.71 ± 10.46g/dl, respectively. The t-test analysis indicated a significant difference between the two groups (p = 0.0001). There was an inverse relationship between the level of hepcidin with HOMA-IR (β = -0.629, p = 0.04), and IL-6 (β = -0.243, p = 0.015) in both groups. The adjusted OR proved a statistically significant association between serum hepcidin (OR = 0.063; 95 % CI: 0.01-0.385, p-value  =  0. 003) and HOMA (OR  =  1.569; 95 % CI: 1.254–1.964, p-value  =  0.001) with PolycysticOvarian Syndrome. Conclusion: There was an inverse relationship between hepcidin levels and insulin resistance in both groups meaning decrease in hepcidin levels and increase in insulin resistance may increase the risk of PCOS

Evaluation of HIV-Related Cardiomyopathy in HIV-Positive Patients in Bushehr, Iran

Objectives In 2020, according to the UNAIDS (Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS), more than 37 million people lived with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection worldwide. The disease is known to affect several organs, and one of the most affected organs is the heart. Cardiac diseases are highly prevalent among HIV-infected individuals, and recent findings suggest that this could be due to the damage caused by the virus. HIV patients are subject to advanced immunosuppression, which may lead to cardiac muscle damage and, in turn, cardiomyopathy. We aimed to study the incidence of HIV-related cardiomyopathy

Criticality Analysis of Platform Supply Vessel (PSV)

The oil and gas industry has expanded consistently from land operations to inland waterways and then to offshore. A platform supply vessel (PSV) is an important element of offshore supply logistics. Hence, its acceptable level of availability performance is highly demanded. Identification of critical components provides essential information for improving and optimizing the maintenance management, spare part strategy, estimating competence needs for operation of PSV as well as achieving the acceptable level of availability performance. Critically analysis is a systematic screening process that utilizes a number of risk analysis tools including: Failure Modes, Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA), Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) and risk matrix and mentalities, for developing a list of critical components. The aim of this thesis is to study and review the available method of criticality analysis of PSV in Troms Offshore. Then based on reviewing standards, meeting with experts and using the experience of other industry is tried to find weaknesses of these methods, modify and improve such methods. In this thesis, the theoretical framework chapter covers a brief survey of risk analysis, criticality analysis and some of its method. In this part, it is focused more on the methods, which is used in the company to find the weaknesses and bottleneck of available method. The results of study show that FMECA is a useful tool for criticality analysis of mechanical and electrical equipment. Moreover, a risk matrix can be used as an effective tool to identifying the levels of risks and criticalities. It can help to risk management in decision-making

Analytical Investigation on Medical Phrases in Persian Periodical Publications of Qajar era

این پژوهش با هدف بررسي تحليلي اطلاعات پزشكي در نشريات ادواري بهداشتي و پزشكي دوره قاجار، مطالب پزشكي را در مجله حفظ‌الصحه، مجله دانش، روزنامه شكوفه، مجله صحت، مجله صحيه و امور خيريه، مجله طبابت، مجله طب كنوني و مجله  ناصري مورد بررسي قرار مي‌دهد. روش مورد استفاده در پژوهش تحليل محتوا است كه براساس مراجعه به بخش نشريات كتابخانه‌ها و مراكز اسنادي صورت گرفته است. نتيجه‌گيري پژوهش حاكي از آن است كه از 2452 عنوان مقاله در نشريات مورد بررسي، 313 مقاله به مسائل پزشكي و بهداشتي اختصاص يافته است كه در مقوله‌هاي بهداشت، بيماري‌ها، تغذيه، داروشناسي، علم پزشكي و كاركنان پزشكي دسته‌بندي شده است. بيشترين بسامد متعلق به مقوله علم پزشكي و موضوع خدمات درماني با 14/3 درصد و كمترين بسامد به مقوله كاركنان پزشكي و موضوع داروسازان با 0/2 درصد مي‌باشد. بسامد مطالب حاكي از آن است كه در اين دوره تاريخي، اطلاعات پزشكي بيشتر حالت خبري داشته است و كمتر به نقد و تفسير آن پرداخته شده است. عنوان سرفصل‌های اطلاعات پزشكي به كار رفته در اين نشريات به ترتيب عبارت است از خبر با 52/7 درصد، گزارش با 42/5 درصد، سرگذشت نامه با 3/5 درصد، نقد و تفسير با 1/3 درصد به ترتيب در رتبه‌هاي بعدي قرار دارند.In this research, medical and health periodicals related to Qajar era have been analytically investigated. Accodingly, some newspapers and magazines such as Hefzoseheh, Danesh, Shokufeh, Sehat, Sahiyeh va Omure Kheiriyeh, Tebabat, Tebe Konuni and Naseri have been chosen and investigated. The method used in this research is “Content Investigation Method” which is based on verbally referring to the Document Centers and Magazine Sections of the libraries. Conclusions of the research show that 313 out of 2542 investigated articles, (12.7%) are related to the subjects. The highest percentage is related to medicine and therapeutic services (14.3%) and the lowest percentage is related to medical staff and pharmacists (2%). Frequency of information indicates that in such a historical era, medical information was merely stated and no criticism was conducted. The titles which were used in these periodicals as heading included news (52.7%), reports (42.5%), bibliographies (3.5%) and criticism and interpretation (1.3%). Also, amplitude of information given in these publications