Systematic Projected Shell Model Study of Even-Even Dysprosium Isotopes

Back-bending phenomenon is one of the important phenomena usually seen at high spin states of even - even heavy nuclei. As a result, any changes in the behavior of nuclear rotation, such as increase in moment of inertia versus rotational frequency can be shown in the usual back-bending plots which have been studied in many papers before. In this paper we show for the first time that these changes  can be seen in the  ratio of electromagnetic reduced transition probabilities B (E2) and B (M1) in even - even 152-164Dy isotopes using the Projected Shell Model (PSM) theory. The electric quadrupole transition probability B (E2) and the magnetic dipole transition probability B (M1) moments are sensitive to nuclear shape deformation and nuclear charge distribution, respectively. Our findings confirm the well-known back-bending previously seen and are in good agreement with experimental results. While intrinsic quadrupole moments are constant for each Dy isotope, the new findings show that spectroscopic quadrupole moments are increasing with spin

Collection and assessment of traditional medicinal plants used by the indigenous people of Dastena in Iran

Introduction: Nowadays, traditional and herbal medicines have attracted the attention of researchers all around the world and despite the development of synthetic drugs, demand for plant-based medicines is growing. The main reason for this growing trend is increasing public concerns about the adverse effects of synthetic medicines. Traditional medicine and ethnobotany are two important issues that should be noted to achieve effective herbal medicines with considerable therapeutic effects. Traditional medicine is based on experience of people over centuries and ethno-botany is based on recognition of the native plants. Iran has very high plant diversity because of its different climate, ecosystems and soil conditions. Regarding increasing demand for medicinal plants, this study aimed to collect some native plant varieties growing in Dastena and to review some of local and folk application of these plants.Methods: In the present study, the plant species were collected during two consecutive years (2013-2014) and systematically identified. The traditional and local uses of collected plants were questioned through interviews with local people.Results: In this study, 90 plant species belonging to 30 families were collected and identified. They had various therapeutic effects. Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families had the highest use among the collected plants.Conclusion: Results of this study showed that herbal medicines in this area are mostly used to treat digestive and respiratory system disorders. They have economical values and should be studied and explored more detailed

Epidemiological characteristics and determinants of mortality in acute coronary syndrome in Iran

Abstract Background and purpose: Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) includes ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina. This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of patients with ACS and determinants of their mortality in Iran. Materials and methods: This study was a hospital-based prospective cohort study in which we used the data of 20,750 patients registered in National Registry of myocardial infarction in hospitals with cardiology ward in 31 provinces in Iran. To determine the factors associated with patients’ mortality, Cox regression (relative hazards model) was used. Results: Mortality rate in followed up patients with STEMI and NSTEMI was 3698.4 and 4573.3 per 1000 person-year, respectively. The mean age of patients with STEMI was 60.5± 13.1 years and in those with NSTEMI was 62.9± 13.4 years. The prevalence of STEMI and NSTEMI was 75.8% and 24.2%, respectively. The most important determinants of mortality in patients were age over 84 years of old, female sex, illiteracy, lack of receiving thrombolytic therapy, right bundle branch block, STEMI, heart failure, and receiving angioplasty. Conclusion: The characteristics of patients with ACS, could help the health system personnel in strategy adoption and decision making as well as assessment, monitoring, and treatment of patients. Training people to refer early for emergency care in case of manifesting ACS symptoms, and providing them with treatment at golden time could be of great benefit in reducing the rate of mortality

Effects of water temperature on filtration rate of micro-algae Isochrysis affines galbana by black lip pearl oyster spat (Pinctada margaritifera)

This study was conducted to compare the effects of varying water temperatures on filtration rate of micro-algae Isochrysis affines galbana by Pinctada margaritfera spat on microalgae. To determine the optimum temperature and maximum filtration rate, 10 pearl oyster. margaritfera spats with mean total and total hinge length 32.67 ±2.76 and 31.57 ±2.90 respectively were stocked in 70 liter rectangular glass tanks supplied with filtered seawater. The spats were exposed to seven treatments of temperature including 18.5 ±0.21°C, 20.5 ±0.21°C, 23 ±0.1°C, 24.5 ±0.31°C, 26.5 ±0.21°C, 27.5 ±0.15°C and 28.5 ±0.21°C with 3 replicates. The results of filtration on I. affines galbana showed that the maximum filtration of spats on microalgae cells and water volume were 181,324,595 cells and 3626 ml per hour and 635,031,212 cells and 12700 ml per two hours in 27.5 ±0.15°C, respectively. The minimum filtration of microalgae cells and water volume were 5,224,028 and 104ml per hour and 65,874,413 cells and 1317 ml per two hours in 18.50 ±021C, respectively. The results of this study demonstrated that the optimum temperature for maximum feeding of spats on I. affines galbana is 27.5 ±0.15°C

Enhancing Residential Building Operation through its Envelope

In this study heat loss is evaluated with the modeling software of Iranian Construction Engineering Organization, for both with and without insulation in the building. Of course the evaluation is in accordance with the laws of this organization, which support environmental and constructional matters. Also the amounts of energy consumption for these two states are compared and a substantial economy of energy consumption is presented. Eventually, results represent that 32% in heat load and 25% in cooling load of the building can be economized. And also most energy loss is related to the windows and the roof of the building

Identification of chemical compounds of <em>Nardostachys Jatamansi </em>essence available in Iran

Introduction: With regard to using drugs with plant origin and with the aim of suitable use of these types of drugs and preventing them to be abused, it is necessary to determine the standards of these plants. The aim of the present study was to identify and study chemical compounds of Nardostachys Jatamansi essence in Iran and define monograph of this plant for the Iranian plant pharmacopeia. Methods: In an experimental study the Nardostachys Jatamansi specimen was prepared from the market in Iran. The essence of the plant was prepared by the hydro-distillation in Clevenger apparatus. Essence was obtained as a greenish yellow oil layer with the 0.07 yield. The essence compounds were identified quantitatively by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC/MS) method. Results: Totally, 29 compounds were identified in Nardostachys Jatamansi essence. The retention indexes (RI) were only similar with overall standard values in two compounds like mesitylene and P-cymene. In this line the RI values about three compounds of valerenic acid, palmitic acid, and valerenyl isovalerate were determined significantly higher than standard values of RI. Conclusion: The essence prepared from the Nardostachys Jatamansi plant in Iran was different in terms of some compounds and components including valerenic acid, palmitic acid, and valerenyl isovalerate and so it is necessary to identify and register quality and quantity characteristics of compounds available in this plat in the Iranian medicinal plants pharmacopeia.</p

Modified Heider Balance on Sparse Random Networks

The lack of signed random networks in standard balance studies has prompted us to extend the Hamiltonian of the standard balance model. Random networks with tunable parameters are suitable for better understanding the behavior of standard balance as an underlying dynamics. Moreover, the standard balance model in its original form does not allow preserving tensed triads in the network. Therefore, the thermal behavior of the balance model has been investigated on a fully connected signed network recently. It has been shown that the model undergoes an abrupt phase transition with temperature. Considering these two issues together, we examine the thermal behavior of the structural balance model defined on Erd\H{o}s-R\'enyi random networks. We provide a Mean-Field solution for the model. We observe a first-order phase transition with temperature, for both the sparse and densely connected networks. We detect two transition temperatures, $T_{cold}$ and $T_{hot}$, characterizing a hysteresis loop. We find that with increasing the network sparsity, both $T_{cold}$ and $T_{hot}$ decrease. But the slope of decreasing $T_{hot}$ with sparsity is larger than the slope of decreasing $T_{cold}$. Hence, the hysteresis region gets narrower, until, in a certain sparsity, it disappears. We provide a phase diagram in the temperature-tie density plane to observe the meta-stable/coexistence region behavior more accurately. Then we justify our Mean-Field results with a series of Monte-Carlo simulations.Comment: 10 Pages, 5 Figure

Association of Maternal Working Condition with Low Birth Weight: The Social Determinants of Health Approach

Background: The socioeconomic conditions have made more job opportunities available to women. This has created interest to conduct studies on the effect of working lifestyle on pregnancy outcomes. Aim: This study was conducted with the aim to assess the relationship between mothers’ working status as a social determinant and the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) of the newborn. Subjects and Methods: This case–control study was conducted on 500 women with normal weight infants (control group) and 250 women with LBW infants (case group) in selected hospitals in Tehran. Data were collected using a researcher‑made questionnaire, designed to assess the effect of mothers’ prenatal lifestyle, as a social determinant, on LBW of the newborn. A section of the questionnaire involved assessment of mother’s working condition in terms of the work environment, activities, and job satisfaction. Data were analyzed using Chi‑square and logistic regression tests. Results: LBW among employed mothers was 5 times more likely than unemployed ones (odds ratio = 5.35, P &lt; 0.001). Unfavorable work conditions such as humid environment, contact with detergents, and being in one standing or sitting position for long hours were significantly associated with LBW (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The present study showed that unfavorable work conditions were associated with LBW; therefore, they need special attention.Keywords: Low birth weight, Pregnancy, Socioeconomic factors, Working condition

Effect of replacement of fish meal by soybean meal in red pacu (Piaractus brachypomus) diet on growth performance and intestine morphology

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of fish meal replacement by soybean meal on growth and intestine morphology in red pacu (Piaractus brachypomus). Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets formulated containing 32.04±0.46 crude protein and 17.26 ± 0.31 KJ gross energy g-1 diet. The control diet was formulated to contain 50% fish meal, whereas in the other four diets soybean meal was included at 16.5, 33, 49.5 and 66% to replace 25 (SMP25), 50 (SMP50), 75 (SMP75) and 100% (SMP100) of the fish meal protein. One hundred and ninety fish (with average weight 1.8±0.07g) were randomly distributed into five treatments (each treatment included 3 replicates). After 8 weeks of feeding, weight gain and specific growth rate in SMP25 and SMP50 diets were significantly higher than other treatments (P<0.05). Feed consumed in fish fed SMP50 diet were significantly higher than other treatments (P<0.05). Feed convention ratio in SMP100 diet was significantly higher than fish fed other treatments. No differences in inflammation and atrophy were observed among different treatments but villous length were significantly higher in SMP25 and SMP50 treatments (P<0.05). The results of the present study indicated that soybean meal can be replaced up to 50% of fish meal protein in red pacu diet and this may allow production an economical diet without negative effect in growth performance

Safe sex norm questionnaire for female sex workers:development and validation study in Iran

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a safe sex norm questionnaire as an appropriate instrument which would be adaptable to the female sex worker (FSW) population.Study design: A mixed method study.Methods: Appropriate content was prepared through a literature review. Content validation indices were assessed using interviews with content experts and lay experts. A conservative approach was used to assess the inter-rater agreement among the participants about the instrument relevance and clarity. The scale content validity index was computed using the average method. Non-parametric Mokken scale analysis was used for assessing scalability and unidimensionality of the questionnaire in a sample of 170 FSWs in Tehran. To evaluate the reliability and internal consistency of the questionnaire intra-class correlation and Cronbach's alpha were employed.Results: A list of 34 items was finalized, with subscales for actual behavioral norms and for perceived norms. The relevance of the actual and perceived norms subscales in the final questionnaire was higher than 96%; clarity of the subtests was 99% and higher. The comprehensiveness of the actual and perceived norms subscales was 85% for both. Mokken scale analysis showed that the two subscales were distinct constructs, and all items are good indicators for the constructs.Conclusion: Our findings support that the safe sex norm questionnaire is a valid and reliable measure that would be useful to harm reduction programs and help effective HIV prevention among female sex workers. (C) 2018 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p