Hepatitis A virus and Hepatitis E virus seroprevalence among blood donors in Tehran, Iran

Background: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Hepatitis E virus (HEV) are both transmitted by the fecal-oral route and are known as the leading causes of acute viral hepatitis in the world, especially in developing countries. There is a lack of updated data on HAV and HEV seroprevalence in Iran. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HAV and HEV among a group of blood donors in Tehran, Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed from July 2014 to December 2014, on a total of 559 blood donors referred to the Tehran blood transfusion center. The serum samples were tested for antibodies to HAV and HEV, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In the present study, 536 (95.9) cases were male and 23 (4.1) female with mean age of 38 years. Out of 559 blood donors, 107 (19.1) were first-time donors, 163 (29.2) lapsed donors and 289 (51.7) regular donors. Anti-HAV was found in 395 (70.7) and anti-HEV in 45 (8.1) of the blood donors. The HAV and HEV seroprevalence increased by age. There was no significant difference between genders in terms of anti-HAV and anti-HEV status. The HAV and HEV seroprevalence was significantly related to the level of education, where the donors with higher level of education had lower rate of HAV and HEV seroprevalence. The HAV and HEV seroprevalence was significantly higher in regular and lapsed donors than in first-time donors. Conclusions: The present study showed that both HAV and HEV infections are still endemic in Iran. © 2016, Kowsar Corp

A comparative analysis among computational intelligence techniques for dissolved oxygen prediction in Delaware River

Most of the water quality models previously developed and used in dissolved oxygen (DO) prediction are complex. Moreover, reliable data available to develop/calibrate new DO models is scarce. Therefore, there is a need to study and develop models that can handle easily measurable parameters of a particular site, even with short length. In recent decades, computational intelligence techniques, as effective approaches for predicting complicated and significant indicator of the state of aquatic ecosystems such as DO, have created a great change in predictions. In this study, three different AI methods comprising: (1) two types of artificial neural networks (ANN) namely multi linear perceptron (MLP) and radial based function (RBF); (2) an advancement of genetic programming namely linear genetic programming (LGP); and (3) a support vector machine (SVM) technique were used for DO prediction in Delaware River located at Trenton, USA. For evaluating the performance of the proposed models, root mean square error (RMSE), Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NS), mean absolute relative error (MARE) and, correlation coefficient statistics (R) were used to choose the best predictive model. The comparison of estimation accuracies of various intelligence models illustrated that the SVM was able to develop the most accurate model in DO estimation in comparison to other models. Also, it was found that the LGP model performs better than the both ANNs models. For example, the determination coefficient was 0.99 for the best SVM model, while it was 0.96, 0.91 and 0.81 for the best LGP, MLP and RBF models, respectively. In general, the results indicated that an SVM model could be employed satisfactorily in DO estimation

Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy on Quality of Life and Body Image in Women With Breast Cancer Undergoing Mastectomy

Objectives: The present research has been carried out to investigate the effectiveness of group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy on modification of body image and quality of life in women with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy.&nbsp; Materials: This research is a quasi-experimental study (pretest-posttest with control). In this clinical trial, 50 voluntary patients who had undergone mastectomy in 2013 and 2014 were screened among the patients admitted to Omid Hospital and Reza Treatment Center in Mashhad and were randomly divided into experimental group (n=25) and control group (n=25). First, both groups were pretested. Then, the experimental group received group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy treatments during eight sessions of 120 minutes (one session per week), but the control group received no treatment. At the end of treatment, both groups received the post-test. Data collection tools included standard questionnaires EROTIC QLQ-Br 23.V.3 and the quality of life questionnaire (SF-36). The data were analyzed based on covariance analysis using SPSS software (Version 20). Results: Comparison of the mean scores of quality of life and body image showed a significant difference between the control and experimental groups after receiving the treatment (P<0.01). In other words, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy was effective on the quality of life and modification of body image in patients.&nbsp; Discussion: Group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy can be considered as an effective and efficient approach to the quality of life and modification of body image in women with breast cancer who have undergone mastectomy

Investigation acaricide of vegetative material and acaricide on control saffron mite Rhizoglyphus robini in the laboratory condition

According to the export of saffron (Crocus sativus.L) and superiority of organic products in the market, this study performed in order to assessment natural methods in control of saffron mite which is a major pest of saffron, was conducted in the saffron institute of Torbat university in 2014. In this research has been studied effect of Bromopropylate and Propargite acaricides and Rosemary essential oil and Stinking assa resin on development steps of Rhizoglyphus robbini in four doases and six different times the peresence of acaricide (3, 6, 12,24,48,72 hours) in the factorial on complete randomized design and four replications. The laboratory condition was determined at photoperiod 16:8, humidity 65 ± 5 percentage and temperature 27 ± 2°C. Analysis results of data variance showed that the effects of treatments on mortality of egg ،larvae and mature mites were significant at the 1 percentage probability level. Also that Bromopropylate has maximum mortality percent among larvae and mature saffron mite. Also in this experiment time increasing and concentration increase mortality of larvae’s significantly. As well as the maximum percent of eggs failed to hatch related to Rosemary essential oil .Also larvae mortality percent was more than mature mite that had significant differences at 5% probability level .In this study was found Stinking assa resin has the greatest impact on the egg also Propargite and Bromopropilate have created the highest mortality on the larvae and adults respectively

Possibility of Using Moringa Peregrina Seeds Compared with Alum and Poly Aluminum Chloride in Sewage Treatment

"n "n "nBackgrounds and Objective: In arid and semi-arid regions of the world, urban runoff as a source of water restoration and is considered valuable. Wastewater treatment, while preserving the environment, it can be considered as water source. The aim of this study to evaluate the possibility of using powder grain Peregrina in wastewater treatment in comparing with Alum and PloyAluminum Chloride (PAC). "nMaterials and Methods: Flocculation and coagulation tests were done by Jar test. Wastewater quality parameters were measured according to standard method."nResults: Studies have been showed that in optimum Peregrina concentration, efficiency of turbidity reduction, total hardness, calcium hardness, magnesium hardness, total E. Coli are 95.11, 38, 55.5, 46.6, 97 and 97 percent respectively. It is noted that turbidity reducing directly related with coli form reduction. As, with increasing turbidity reduction, coliform reduction is increased. The most reduction of E. coli with combination of Alum, Ploy Aluminum Chloride and Peregrina was 100 percent. In optimum concentration of Alum, Ploy Aluminum Chloride and Peregrina, the quality of treated wastewater would be in the range of environmental standards. Therefore, treated wastewater can be entering to surface water and reuse as irrigation water."nConclusion: The results derived from this study showed that the treated wastewater can be use in a variety of irrigation except sprinkler irrigation due to burn the leaves of plants. (high electrical conductivity).Also, the low cost of seed Peregrina and good performance in the refining operations, it is suggested that Peregrina as a replacement for poly aluminum chloride and an alum to be used for wastewater treatment