Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Emergency Contraception among Health Staff in Bushehr State, South of Iran

Emergency Contraception (EC) is used within a few days of unprotected sex to prevent an unintended pregnancy. About one quarter of pregnancies in south of Iran are unintended. EC is important option that women can use after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure for preventing of unplanned pregnancies and adverse maternal and perinatal health outcomes. Health staff have influence on women’s contraceptive behavior and their knowledge and attitudes about EC can affect women’s contraceptive behaviors. Data are lacking about the knowledge, attitude and practice of hormonal EC method among health staff in Bushehr state, south of Iran. A cross-sectional study using self administered questionnaire was conducted. A sample of 170 health staff were surveyed. The mean age of respondents was 30.6±5.1. Overall 6.5% of participants had poor knowledge, 25.2% moderate knowledge, 68.3% good knowledge about EC. Half of participants had positive and half had negative attitude towards the EC method. Midwives and family health workers were more knowledgeable (p<0.05) and more frequently counseled women about EC than general practitioners (GPs) (p<0.001). The most cited reason for EC prescriptions were rupture condom and none use of contraception. Our findings showed despite of majority of health staff had good knowledge about EC, their knowledge about the indications for prescription of EC and its side effects was inadequate. The educational efforts for health staff should be focused more on the specific aspects of EC method. GPs also should be more involved in family planning program

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice about Emergency Contraception among Health Staff in Bushehr State, South of Iran

Emergency Contraception (EC) is used within a few days of unprotected sex to prevent an unintended pregnancy. About one quarter of pregnancies in south of Iran are unintended. EC is important option that women can use after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure for preventing of unplanned pregnancies and adverse maternal and perinatal health outcomes. Health staff have influence on women’s contraceptive behavior and their knowledge and attitudes about EC can affect women’s contraceptive behaviors. Data are lacking about the knowledge, attitude and practice of hormonal EC method among health staff in Bushehr state, south of Iran. A cross-sectional study using self administered questionnaire was conducted. A sample of 170 health staff were surveyed. The mean age of respondents was 30.6±5.1. Overall 6.5% of participants had poor knowledge, 25.2% moderate knowledge, 68.3% good knowledge about EC. Half of participants had positive and half had negative attitude towards the EC method. Midwives and family health workers were more knowledgeable (p<0.05) and more frequently counseled women about EC than general practitioners (GPs) (p<0.001). The most cited reason for EC prescriptions were rupture condom and none use of contraception. Our findings showed despite of majority of health staff had good knowledge about EC, their knowledge about the indications for prescription of EC and its side effects was inadequate. The educational efforts for health staff should be focused more on the specific aspects of EC method. GPs also should be more involved in family planning progra

The effective major factors on customer perceived value in service context: The application of ANFIS method

The purpose of the research is to further explore the understanding of the major factors influencing on service customer perceived value by undertaking Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) method in fuzzy inference system (FIS). A total of 162 questionnaires were distributed to educational institute customers. In this research effective major factors on customer perceived value are brand image, company image, employee trust, company trust, service quality and costs. The results show that in the field of education, the company image and the costs are the most effective elements on the customer perceived value. Also employee trust and service quality have positive effects on the customer perceived value, but they were not very most. Thus educative services institutes must concentrate more on the company image and costs reduction in order to increase the customer perceived value.

The effective major factors on customer perceived value in service context: The application of ANFIS method

The purpose of the research is to further explore the understanding of the major factors influencing on service customer perceived value by undertaking Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) method in fuzzy inference system (FIS). A total of 162 questionnaires were distributed to educational institute customers. In this research effective major factors on customer perceived value are brand image, company image, employee trust, company trust, service quality and costs. The results show that in the field of education, the company image and the costs are the most effective elements on the customer perceived value. Also employee trust and service quality have positive effects on the customer perceived value, but they were not very most. Thus educative services institutes must concentrate more on the company image and costs reduction in order to increase the customer perceived value.

Istraživanje utjecaja uporabe aktivnog mulja tretiranog octenom kiselinom na fizička svojstva i čvrstoću reciklirane celuloze

This study aimed to scrutinize chemical treatment of Mazandaran Wood and Paper mill activated sludge with 3 % acetic acid for the manufacture of environmentally eco-friendly bio composite. In this study, the paper pulp required was obtained from the waste newsprint paper. The activated sludge was treated in a beaker for 3 min in 3 % acetic acid and then in a water bath at 75 and 100 °C for 45 and 90 min. After that, the treated activated sludge was mixed and refi ned with waste newsprint paper pulp at ratios of 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 %. The test specimens were prepared according to TAPPI standard and the physical properties (water absorption and porosity) and mechanical (tensile strength, tear strength, ring crush test, burst strength and folding strength) were measured. The results showed that the activated sludge treatment caused the increase in tear strength, ring crush test, burst strength and porosity as well as the decrease in water absorption, tensile strength and folding strength. FT-IR spectrum of the treated samples showed that the treatment with acetic acid strengthened and activated the functional groups on the surface of activated sludge fi bers. The activated sludge added at a level of 5 % at 100 °C for 90 min as well as at a level of 20 % at 75 °C for 45 min was more suitable than other treatments.Cilj ovog rada bio je proučiti kemijsku obradu aktivnog mulja proizvedenog u tvornici drva i papira Mazandaran izvedenu 3 %-tnom octenom kiselinom za proizvodnju ekološki prihvatljivog biokompozita. Celulozna kaša potrebna za istraživanje dobivena je od otpadnoga novinskog papira. Aktivni mulj obrađen je 3 %-tnom octenom kiselinom u čaši, i to u trajanju 3 minute, a zatim u vodenoj kupelji temperature 75 i 100 °C u trajanju od 45 i 90 min. Nakon toga taj je aktivni mulj pomiješan i rafiniran s celuloznom kašom od otpadnoga novinskog papira u omjerima od 0, 5, 10, 15 i 20 %. Ispitni su uzorci pripremljeni prema TAPPI normi, nakon čega su izmjerena njihova fizička svojstva (upijanje vode i poroznost) te mehanička svojstva (vlačna čvrstoća, čvrstoća na kidanje, tlačna čvrstoća prstena, čvrstoća na pucanje i preklopna čvrstoća). Rezultati su pokazali da je kemijska obrada aktivnog mulja pridonijela povećanju čvrstoće uzoraka na kidanje, otpornosti na tlačnu silu, čvrstoći na pucanje i poroznost te smanjenju upijanja vode, kao i vlačne i preklopne čvrstoće. FT-IR spektri tretiranih uzoraka pokazali su da obrada octenom kiselinom ojačava i aktivira funkcionalne skupine na površini vlakana aktivnog mulja. Aktivni mulj dodan u omjeru od 5 % pri 100 °C i u trajanju 90 minuta te u omjeru od 20 % pri 75 °C i tijekom 45 minuta bio je prikladniji od ostalih uzoraka

Water repellent effect and dimension stability of beech wood impregnated with nano-zinc oxide

The objective of this study was to quantify the influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) on the water repellency and dimensional stability of beech wood. Beech wood blocks were treated with a nano-ZnO solution at four treatment levels (0, 10,000, 20,000, and 40,000 ppm) using a modified dip method. Also, a thermal treatment was performed at 60 and 120°C. After conditioning the samples, water absorption, volumetric swelling, water repellency effectiveness, and anti-shrink/anti-swell efficiency were determined within 24 h of soaking time. The results indicated that the nano-ZnO used for wood modification greatly improved dimensional stability and reduced the hygroscopicity of the wood. In addition, the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis suggested a strong interaction between the nano-ZnO and the chemical components of wood. The heat treatment effectively improved the effects of nano-ZnO

Brzina dugotrajnoga higroskopskog debljinskog bubrenja kompozita od polipropilena i hidrotermički tretirane bukovine

Long-term hygroscopic thickness swelling rate of polypropylene (PP) composites filled with thermally treated wood flour was investigated. The beech wood chips were heat treated at 120 °C, 150 °C or 180 °C for 30 or 120 min using saturated steam in a digester. The composites based on PP, beech wood flour (BF), and coupling agents (PP-g-MA) were made by melt compounding and injection molding. The weight ratio of BF to PP was controlled at 50/47 for all blends. The amount of coupling agent was fixed at 3 wt.% for all formulations. Further study was conducted to model thickness swelling of the composites, a swelling rate parameter (KSR). The thickness swelling of thermally-treated samples at 120 ºC for 30 min and at 150 ºC for 30 min were lower than that of control samples, followed by thermally-treated samples at 180 ºC for 120 min, at 180 ºC for 30 min, at 120 ºC for 120 min, and at 150 ºC for 120 min, respectively. Furthermore, the thickness swelling of the BF/PP composites decreased with increasing time and temperature of the thermal-treatment. In addition, at 120 ºC for 30 min, the composites showed a lower swelling rate than control samples. The KSR of the composites was influenced both by the time and temperature of thermal treatment.U radu je istražen dugotrajni stupanj higroskopskoga debljinskog bubrenja polipropilenskih (PP) kompozita punjenih toplinski obrađenim drvnim brašnom. Iverje od bukovine bilo je toplinski tretirano na 120, 150 ili 180 °C tijekom 30 ili 120 minuta uz pomoć zasićene pare u digestoru. Kompoziti na bazi PP-a, brašna od bukovine (BF)-a i veziva (PP-g-MA) izrađeni su taljenjem i injekcijskim prešanjem. Maseni je omjer BF/PP za sve smjese bio 50/47. Količina veziva za sve formulacije bila je na 3 wt.%. Nadalje, provedeno je modeliranje debljinskog bubrenja kompozita i parametra brzine bubrenja (KSR). Debljinsko bubrenje uzoraka toplinski tretiranih 30 min na 120 ºC i 30 min na 150 ºC bilo je niže nego na kontrolnim uzorcima, zatim slijede uzorci toplinski tretirani 120 min na 180 ºC, 30 min na 180 ºC, 120 min na 120 ºC, odnosno 120 min na 150 ºC. Nadalje, debljinsko bubrenje BF/PP kompozita smanjivalo se s povećanjem vremena i temperature toplinskog postupka. Osim toga, kompoziti su pri 30 min na 120 ºC pokazali niži parametar brzine bubrenja od kontrolnih uzoraka. Na parametar brzine bubrenja kompozita utjecali su vrijeme toplinskog tretmana i temperatura

Preparation and characterization of nanofibrillated cellulose/poly (vinyl alcohol) composite films

Poly (vinyl alcohol) based composite films with different loadings of cellulose nanofibrils were prepared using a solvent casting method and their tensile, optical and wettability properties were tested. The morphology of both neat poly (vinyl alcohol) and nanocomposites was explored by using a field emission scanning electron microscope technique. Results indicated that the tensile strength and Young’s modulus of poly (vinyl alcohol) composite films were significantly improved with the increase of cellulose nanofibrils loading. However, the percentage of elongation at break decreased with increasing of cellulose nanofibrils. The films became increasingly opaque with increasing cellulose nanofibrils contents, although the composites also retained moderate transparency. The samples containing cellulose nanofibrils exhibited higher hydrophobicity compared with that of neat poly (vinyl alcohol). Field emission scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed that the cellulose nanofibrils were homogeneously dispersed in the poly (vinyl alcohol) matrix

Puzanje drva graba pri savijanju

This study examined the effect of altitude on bending creep behavior of hornbeam lumber (Carpinus betulus). For this purpose, 9 hornbeam trees from three different altitudes (400, 800 and 1100 m) in the northern forests of Iran were selected. Clear samples were cut from mature wood in diameter at breast height (DBH). 108 prepared samples (dimensions: 2.5 × 2.5 × 41 cm) were conditioned at room temperature of 20 ºC and two relative humidities (RH) of 65 % and 95 %. First, the maximum bending load was determined by three-point static bending tests in acclimatized room and then flexural creep parameters, such as relative creep, creep modulus and creep factor, at 20 % of the maximum bending load, were calculated. Results indicated that at 65 % RH, the effect of altitude on creep parameters was significant. The maximum values of relative creep and creep factor were observed at the altitude of 800 m, and the minimum values at the altitude of 400 m. The maximum values of creep modulus were observed at the altitude of 400 m and the minimum values at the altitude of 800 m. Also, at 95 % RH, the effect of altitude on creep modulus was significant but it was not significant on relative creep and creep factor. The maximum creep modulus was observed at the altitude of 400 and the minimum at the altitude of 800 m.U radu su prikazani rezultati istraživanja utjecaja nadmorske visine staništa stabala na puzanje drva graba (Carpinus betuluse) pri savijanju. Za istraživanje je odabrano devet stabala graba iz šuma na sjeveru Irana, i to na tri različite lokacije – nanadmorskoj visini 400, 800 i 1100 m. Uzeti su čisti uzorci zrelog drva na visini prsnog promjera (DBH). Ukupno 108 pripremljenih uzoraka (dimenzija 2,5 × 2,5 × 41 cm) kondicionirano je pri sobnoj temperaturi od 20 °C i uz dvije relativne vlažnosti zraka (RH), 65 i 95 %. Najprije je napravljen statički test savijanja u tri točke te određeno maksimalno opterećenje (čvrstoća na savijanje) u aklimatiziranoj prostoriji. Potom su izračunani parametri puzanja pri savijanju kao što su relativno puzanje, modul puzanja i faktor puzanja u području 20 % maksimalnog opterećenja savijanja. Rezultati istraživanja na uzorcima kondicioniranim pri 65 % relativne vlažnosti zraka pokazali su da je utjecaj nadmorske visine na parametre puzanja bio značajan. Maksimalne vrijednosti relativnog puzanja i faktora puzanja zabilježene su za uzorke s nadmorske visine 800 m, a minimalne vrijednosti za uzorke s nadmorske visine 400 m. Maksimalne vrijednosti modula puzanja zabilježene su za uzorske drva s nadmorske visine 400 m, a minimalne za one s nadmorske visine 800 m. Također, na uzorcima kondicioniranim pri 95 % relativne vlažnosti zraka utjecaj nadmorske visine na modul puzanja bio je značajan, ali se taj utjecaj nije pokazao značajnim za parametre relativnog puzanja i faktora puzanja. Najveći modul puzanja zabilježen je na uzorcima s nadmorske visine 400 m, a najmanji na uzorcima s nadmorske visine 800 m

Description of Epidemiological Features, Symptoms and Mortality of the Patients with COVID-19 in Some Provinces of Iran

Background: Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are different. There are some risk factors for COVID-19. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological features, symptoms and mortality of the patients with COVID-19 in Iran. Methods: This were a cohort study performed on 103,179 patients with COVID-19. The demographic and clinical data were collected in selected provinces. The required data of all patients was extracted from the COVID registry system and analyzed using STATA version 14 and Excel 2016. Results: The mean age was 52.40 years for men and 52.41 years for women. About 55.2% of the study population were male and 44.8% were female. Totally, 60.9% (5085) of deaths happened in men and 39.1% (3263) in women. The mean time from onset of symptoms to hospitalization in men and women were 3.47 and 3.48 days, respectively. The mean time from onset of symptoms to isolation was 2.81 days in men and was 2.87 days in women, from onset of symptoms to death was 9.29 and 9.54 days, respectively, from onset of symptoms to discharge was 7.47 and 7.39 days, and from hospitalization to death was 6.76 and 7.05 days. Cough and shortness of breath were the most common symptoms in the patients. Conclusion: According to the results, the overall mortality rate was higher in men than women. Women with cardiovascular disease and diabetes were more likely to die. The mean time from onset of symptoms to hospitalization, isolation, and discharge was similar in men and women