The use of nanoparticles in the formulation of essential oils

زمینه و هدف: نانوتکنولوژی توانایی کنترل ویژگی های مواد در مقیاس اتمی و مولکولی است. حوزه پزشکی مدرن و داروسازی هم تحت تأثیر این فناوری قرار گرفته است. در این زمینه بیشترین تمرکز تحقیقاتی بر درون گیری ترکیبات فعال دارویی مخصوصاً داروهای سایتوتوکسیک بوده است. اسانس ها ترکیباتی هستند که کاربردهای درمانی و بهداشتی و آرایشی دارند. آن ها مخلوط پیچیده ای از انواع مولکول های فرار آروماتیک و آلیفاتیک هستند. استفاده از اسانس ها به عنوان عوامل ضد باکتری، ضد ویروس، ضد قارچ، ضد انگل و ضد حشره سابقه‌ای به قدمت تاریخ دارد. امروزه نانوتکنولوژی در جهت رفع عیوب آن ها وارد عمل شده و به بهبود حلالیت و کاهش فراریت کمک کرده است. هدف از مطالعه حاضر بررسی کاربرد نانوتکنولوژی و نانوذرات مختلف در درون گیری اسانس ها و نقش آن ها در بهبود اثرات درمانی و پایداری آن ها می باشد. روش بررسی: در مطالعه حاضر داده ها (با استفاده از کلمات کلیدی نانوذرات شناخته‌شده شامل نانوذرات لیپیدی جامد، لیپوزوم، امولسیون، سیکلودکسترین، نانوذرات مغناطیسی) از پایگاه‌های داده های الکترونیکی شامل Pubmed، Google Scholar، Magiran، Irandoc، IranMedex و پایگاه داده‌های علمی جمع آوری شد. یافته ها: با توجه به ماهیت فیزیکی اسانس ها، دو دسته از نانوحامل ها بیشتر استفاده شده است. دسته اول حامل های لیپیدی از جمله لیپوزوم ها، نانوذرات لیپیدی جامد، نانوامولسیون ها و میکروامولسیون ها هستند. دسته دوم شامل فرمولاسیون های حاوی نانوذرات پلیمری است که سبب بهبود قابل‌ توجه فعالیت ضد میکروبی اسانس‌ها شده اند. سیکلودکسترین ها و نانوذرات مغناطیسی هم در انتها اشاره شده است. نتیجه گیری: فناوری نانو و استفاده از نانوذرات سبب افزایش پایداری شیمیایی اسانس‌ها شده است، به‌علاوه کاهش سمیت و عوارض جانبی حاصل از آن را به همراه داشته است

Environmental Impacts of Biodiesel Production Cycle from Farm to Manufactory:An Application of Sustainable Systems Engineering

One of the key challenges in using fossil fuels is the environmental impacts of these energy sources, and to reduce these destructive effects, the use of renewable energy sources (biofuels) is necessary. One of the important biofuels is biodiesel, which can be produced from cottonseed. To properly manage the chain dealing with biodiesel production from the cottonseed chain (from farm to manufactory), environmental hotspots must be pinpointed. In the present study, it was attempted to examine the environmental impacts of the biodiesel production cycle from cottonseed (agronomic stages, ginning, oiling, and biodiesel production). The data obtained in all three stages were analyzed by the Impact 2002+ method in the SimaPro software. The highest contribution to creating environmental indicators at the agricultural stage was related to the use of nitrogen fertilizers, direct emission from the farm and fossil fuels, the ginning and oiling stage involving the use of diesel fuel and sulfuric acid, and the production of biodiesel in the manufactory involving the use of methanol and electricity. The potential environmental impacts of a functional unit of 1 kg of biodiesel include: human health, 9.05–10−6 (DAYLY); ecosystem quality, 1.369 (PDF*m2*year); climate changes, (kg CO2 eq.) 17.247; and resources (MJ primary), 89.116. Results showed that agriculture has more significant participation in the environmental impact than other sections (ginning and oiling and biodiesel production), especially due to the application of fertilizers and fuel. Surveying the environmental indicators of the results showed that at the agricultural stage, the human health indicator is 10.43, 1.21, and 5.32 times higher than the ecosystem quality, climate change, and resource indicators, respectively; at the ginning and oiling stages, it is 2.35, 31.68, and 2.09 times higher, respectively; and at the stage of biodiesel production in the manufactory, it is 16.41, 1.96, and 0.99 times higher, respectively, in terms of the destructive effects. The overall results showed that the hotspot points in the present study can be largely modified by reducing the consumption of nitrogen fertilizers, using new equipment and machinery, ginning and oiling, and using fewer methanol ratios than oil.</p

Sustainable and Regenerative Development of Water Mills as an Example of Agricultural Technologies for Small Farms

Nowadays, the reuse of built agricultural/industrial heritage has been a common practice worldwide. These structures represent excellent symbols of the great agricultural/industrial past. These agricultural/hydro-technologies also serve as monuments of socio-cultural identities, especially in rural areas and on small farms. One example of a successful application of agricultural technologies for small farms is the water mill. By harnessing the water energy, they were used for traditional flour and other goods production (e.g., olive oil) and works requiring energy, with the main role in the evolution of the traditional/cultural landscape. Water mills have been used to drive a mechanical process of milling, hammering, and rolling and are a portion of the agricultural, cultural, and industrial heritage. For approximately two millennia, the vertical mill water wheel prepared the initial source of mechanical power in many regions of the world. Water mills were the first device that converted natural resources of energy into mechanical energy in order to operate some form of machinery. The preservation/management of water mills is challenging due to their long-term abandonment and the lack of information/knowledge about their value. The other obstacles that are faced in their retrofitting and/or preservation are the lack of sufficient economic incentives and complex authorizations/legislations. Sustainability and regeneration of water mills through the centuries are then reviewed for history and agricultural/industrial “archaeology”. The history of water-powered mills in prehistoric and historic times, including ancient Persia/Iran, ancient China, ancient India, the Islamic world, Venetian Crete, medieval Europe, America, and finally present times, is discussed. The outcome of this review allows the understanding of the importance of conservation, optimization, and development of water mills. It will help to know more and achieve sustainable/regenerative development for small farms with respect to water and energy crises at present and in the future

Effect of Aquatic Extract of Ferulago angulata Boiss With Aerobic Exercises on Serum Levels of Interleukin-10 and C-Reactive Protein of Obese Males

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impacts of chavir aquatic extract (Ferulago angulata Boiss) along with aerobic exercises on serum levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and C-reactive protein (CRP) of obese males. Materials and Methods: In this study, 40 males with body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m(2) and average age of 33.63 +/- 4.78 years were randomly categorized into 4 groups of 10 individuals as control, combination (using the aquatic extract of chavir along with aerobic exercises), consumption of chavir aquatic extract, and aerobic exercises. The aerobic exercises in both groups of combination and aerobic exercises consisted of running on treadmill for 20 minutes in 60%-70% maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). The aquatic extract consumption and the combination groups had to take 50 mg/mL/d of chavir aquatic extract every time. The control group received no intervention. Results: Based on intragroup comparisons, body weight and BMI significantly decreased in the combination group; the content of body fat and waist-hip ratio (WHR) also reduced significantly in the aerobic, combination, and aquatic extract groups. In intergroup and intragroup comparison, CRP faced with a significant decrease in all groups (aerobic exercises, Ferulago aqueous extraction, and combination groups) and a considerable increase was also observed in the combination group regarding IL-10 variable. Conclusions: Therefore, the effectiveness of the combination group regarding increasing IL-10 and decreasing CRP is more than other groups. As a result, using aqueous extract of F. angulata and doing aerobic exercise for 3 months reduced risk factors-cardiovascular, body composition, and increasing anti-inflammatory in obese men. Consequently, the effect of combination group to reduce the proinflammatory indexes and body factors of obese males was more compared to that of the other groups

Assessment the relationship between Testis Cancer incidence and mortality rate with human development index in the European countries in 2012

Testis Cancer (TC) is the most common cancer in 15-39 year-old men and with the white Caucasian race. This cancer consists of 0.7 percent of men's cancer all over the world. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the Age-Standardised Incidence Rates (ASIR) and Age-Standardised Mortality Rates (ASMR) of TC with Human Development Index (HDI) and its components at the European countries in 2012. This study was an ecologic study in European countries for assessment the correlation between ASIR and ASMR with HDI and its details including: Life expectancy at birth, Mean years of schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita. We use correlation bivariate method for assessment the correlation between SIR and SMR with HDI and its components. Data of study was analyzed by SPSS15statistical analysis software; the significance level of the tests was considered P<0.05. The results of the data investigation showed that the maximum ASIR of TC was observed respectively in the countries of Norway, Switzerland, and Denmark. Moreover findings showed the highest ASMR was in the countries of Hungary, Bulgaria and FYR Macedonia. The ASIR was positively correlated with HDI equal to 0.623( p <= 0.001), with Life expectancy at birth equal to 0.602( p <= 0.001), with the average years of schooling equal to 0.339( p= 0.032) and with country's Gross National Income ( GNI) per capita equal to 0.466( p= 0.002). The ASMR was negatively correlated with HDI equal to 0.537( p <= 0.001), life expectancy at birth equal t

Solo Sonographically Guided PCNL under Spinal Anesthesia: Defining Predictors of Success

Aim. Sonography has been brought in percutaneous nephrolithotripsy (PCNL) as an adjunct to or substitute for X-ray to restrict radiation exposure. Tis study was designed to investigate the possible predictors for the success of the solo sonographically guided PCNL. Methods. 148 consecutive cases were prospectively enrolled. All steps of PCNL were performed solely with sonography guidance under spinal anesthesia. Residual stones were evaluated the day afer surgery using sonography and plain radiography. Results. Te mean age was 46 ± 15 years; 40% of kidneys had hydronephrosis. Te mean stone burden was 504 ± 350 mm2. Te mean duration of surgery was 43 ± 21 minutes. Te early stone-free rate was 92% in inferior or middle calyceal stones, 89.5% in single pelvic stones, 81.5% in partial staghorn stones, and 61.9% in staghorn stones. Te mean residual stone size was 13 ± 8 mm. Logistic regression showed that a lower age and a larger stone burden signifcantly predicted positive residual stones. Fifeen percent of patients presented with grade I or II and six percent showed grade III complication based on Clavien classifcation. Tere was no cases of organ injury or death. Conclusion. Solo ultrasonographically guided PCNL under spinal anesthesia is feasible with an acceptable stone-free rate and complication rate

Basic Occupational Health Services for Agricultural Workers in the South of Iran

The agricultural sector has by far the world’s largest labour force, there are more than one billion workers in this industry worldwide, which contains half of the total world labour force. On the other hand, agriculture is one of the most hazardous occupations, and many workers suffer occupational accidents and ill health each year. Farming and animal breeding are associated with exposure to a wide variety of risk factors, including zoonotic agents, dust, elements of the thermal environment, noise, vibration and chemicals. Although half of the world’s population are economically active and spend at least one third of their time in the workplace, only 15% of the workers have access to basic occupational health services. According to a WHO report, Iran has a well-structured health care system through which basic health care services are available to the entire population, and health indicators in Iran have consistently improved. The agricultural health program in Iran is being carried out in the cities and rural areas, and occupational health services are mainly integrated into the health network. This paper aims to describe the health care system and basic occupational health services (BOHs) available to 5,300 agricultural enterprises with 8,380 employees in the cities of Abadan, Khorramshahr and Shadegan in the Abadan region (Abadan, Khoramshahr and Shadegan districts), in the south of Iran

Investigating the Effects of Rural ICT Centers’ Services Quality on Customers’ Satisfaction (Case Study: Rural ICT Centers of Gillan)

Information & communication technology(ICT) is regarded as a means to rural sustainable development in order to reduce poverty, bridge the digital divide and prevent the migration of people from rural areas to cities. To achieve these goals and to deliver governmental services and other essential services needed by rural communities, ten thousand rural ICT centers with an investment of $ 280 million has been put to use by the government. The purpose of this study is to assess the dimensions of services’ quality of rural ICT centers in guilan using Parasuraman SERVQUAL model and its Impact on satisfaction. Using a descriptive correlational research method, 384 customers of these centers were selected randomly. SERVQUAL standard questionnaire was used to measure service quality dimensions and satisfaction questionnaires were used to measure customers satisfaction. To analyze the data, structural equation modeling was used. The results suggest that services’ quality dimentions were ranked in this order: reliability, empathy, guarantee, accountability,and tangibility. and satisfaction dimentions were rankd as satisfaction with personnel and total satisfaction with services. AMOS Software was used for data analysis and presenting of the results

The effect of knowledge management on organizational innovation: Evidence from banking industry

Knowledge management is frequently identified as an important antecedent of innovation. However, few empirical studies have specifically addressed antecedents and consequences of effective knowledge management. Today, domestic organizations are compelled, as well as other international organizations and have to compete to stay in business environment. Hence, they must be innovative. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of knowledge management on employee's innovation in organizations through empowerment as a mediator for a case study of the Agricultural Bank of Qazvin province of Iran. Required information was gathered by a self-made questionnaire adapted and based on conceptual model adapted from previous studies. The population of this study consists of 369 employees of the Agricultural Bank of Qazvin. A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed, in which 188 valid questionnaires were collected. These questionnaires were distributed randomly among the male and female employees in branches of Agricultural Bank. The questionnaire is conducted by factor analysis and the reliability is measured by Cronbach's alpha. The structural equation modeling is used for data analysis. The results reveal the fact that empowerment will lead to employee's innovation. However, other variables did not have any significant and direct or indirect effect on employee's innovation