THE EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON PLASMA MDA AND TAC IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

ABSTRACT Cigarette smoke contains 4,720 toxic and mutagenic substances such as carbon monoxide, aromatic hydrocarbons and nicotine. Smoking has always been considered one of the main causes of oxidative stress. Because of smoking, several free radicals are produced in the body that can damage vital macromolecules such as proteins and lipids. In recent years, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) has been considered as the most important factors of oxidative stress by researchers. In this study, which was conducted as a comparative study 15 smoker university students who smoke at least one year were considered as treatment group and 15 nonsmoker university students were selected as a control group, all with no history of illness and medication and weighing 70 to 75 kg. The results of the present study showed that smoking does not cause significant changes in the parameters of the understudied population

Towards a comprehensive methodology for applying enterprise gamification

Gamification as a new concept uses game elements in a novel way to engage users of a non-gaming system and can be used in many domains within an enterprise, to implement the organizational processes with lower costs, higher quality or in a more efficient way. Although there are many researches on gamification but a few studies can be found in the organizational gamification and there are few research works about framework and methodology for designing and implementing organizational gamification in the literature. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive methodology for the enterprise gamification. This research is an attempt to overcome the mentioned gap via presenting a methodology by applying some important issues including organizational, humanity and gamification aspects together to design and implement customized enterprise gamification solutions through reviewing the related literature and experts’ commentaries. The evaluation of the methodology showed that it is an appropriate and perfect way to design gamification solutions in an organization, besides the enterprise needs to provide the necessary conditions for its implementation. This paper forwards an important debate on a comprehensive methodology for applying enterprise gamification, which explains how to properly use gamification in enterprises to increase productivity and better communication with employees, and thus contributes to literature on internal and enterprise gamification

Finite element study on thermal buckling of functionally graded piezoelectric beams considering inverse effects

In this article, the buckling behavior and bifurcation point of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric (FGP) beams are investigated based on Euler-Bernoulli beam theory. The finite element method is employed to model the beam in thermal environment. The material properties of the beam are considered to vary gradually in the thickness direction and the beam is subjected to electrical and thermal loading. In this paper, direct and inverse piezoelectric effects are considered and buckling of the beam in the sensor state is investigated. By solving the eigenvalue problem, the buckling load of the FGP beam is obtained and the effect of various parameters such as power law index, temperature, applied voltage and beam aspect ratio on the buckling load are investigated. The results show that the boundary conditions are the main factor that affects the buckling load of the FGP beam

Investigation of boundary condition effects on the stability of FGP beams in thermal environment

In this paper, stability and instability of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric (FGP) beams is investigated based on the Timoshenko beam theory. The material properties of the beam are considered to change gradually through thickness of the beam by a simple power law. By using the principle of minimum total potential energy, governing equations of the beam are derived. Stability behavior of the beam is predicted by solving the governing equations of the FGP beam. The results show that the homogeneity of boundary conditions plays a critical role in the stability of the FGP beam. While non-homogeneous boundary conditions lead to stable behavior of the FGP beam; homogeneous boundary conditions cause instability in the beam. By solving the eigenvalue equation of the FGP beam, the buckling load of the beam is obtained for the beams that have unstable behavior. Finally, the effects of various parameters on the buckling load of the unstable beam, such as power law index, temperature, applied voltage and aspect ratio are investigated, and the results are compared with the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory

Investigation of boundary condition effects on the stability of FGP beams in thermal environment

In this paper, stability and instability of Functionally Graded Piezoelectric (FGP) beams is investigated based on the Timoshenko beam theory. The material properties of the beam are considered to change gradually through thickness of the beam by a simple power law. By using the principle of minimum total potential energy, governing equations of the beam are derived. Stability behavior of the beam is predicted by solving the governing equations of the FGP beam. The results show that the homogeneity of boundary conditions plays a critical role in the stability of the FGP beam. While non-homogeneous boundary conditions lead to stable behavior of the FGP beam; homogeneous boundary conditions cause instability in the beam. By solving the eigenvalue equation of the FGP beam, the buckling load of the beam is obtained for the beams that have unstable behavior. Finally, the effects of various parameters on the buckling load of the unstable beam, such as power law index, temperature, applied voltage and aspect ratio are investigated, and the results are compared with the Euler-Bernoulli beam theory

Mothers� narratives of their infants� feeding problems and comparing infant feeding styles

Background & Aims: The purpose of the present study was to compare feeding problems, infant eating behavior, and feeding styles between infants with and without feeding problems according to their mothers� narratives. Methods: In this casual-comparative study, 50 mother-infant dyads were selected using convenient sampling. The infants� ages ranged between 6 to 12 months. After matching, the infants were classified into two separate groups of infants with and without feeding problems according to their mothers� narratives. The Feeding Problem, Child Eating Behavior (CEBQ), and Infant Feeding Style (IFSQ) questionnaires were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using MANOVA. Results: Infants with feeding problems had less desire for and enjoyment in food, slower feeding rate, and more emotion-dependent eating. Moreover, mothers of infants with feeding problems had less responsible feeding styles and more negligent beliefs and behaviors toward feeding their children, and applied more force and pressure in feeding their infants. Conclusion: The findings of this study could be considered by specialists in preventive and therapeutic programs for eating problems in infants. © 2016, Kerman University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Vapor Pressures of Propylene Carbonate and N,N-Dimethylacetamide

We have used a static method to measure vapor pressures of propylene carbonate (C4H6O3) and N,N-dimethylacetamide (C4H9NO). Measurements for propylene carbonate were made over the temp. range from (298.15 to 473.15) K; pressures ranged from (0.003 to 37.76) kPa. Measurements for N,N-dimethylacetamide were made over the temp. range (298.15 to 423.15) K; pressures ranged from (0.29 to 64.8) kPa. The vapor pressure data are correlated with the Antoine and Wagner equations. From the measured vapor pressures, the enthalpies of vaporization are calcd. The results are compared with literature values