Mineral Content in Some Species of Leguminosae in Bandar Torkaman Plain Rangelands, Iran

Improving the forage quality and balance of their minerals in rangeland ecosystems is important for rangeland managers to improve livestock productivity (Mohamed et al. 2003; Epstein and Bloom 2005). This research investigated the amount of several minerals; Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K) and Magnesium (Mg), in some important species of Leguminosae including Medicago sativa, Trifolium repens, Trifolium pratense and Lathyrus pratensis, that are grazed by livestock in the Bandar Torkaman plain rangelands in north of Iran

Comparative Study of the Long-Term Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Health and Nutritional Practices Among International Elite and Sub-Elite Athletes: A Sample of 1420 Participants from 14 Countries

Background Although several studies have shown that the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown has had negative impacts on mental health and eating behaviors among the general population and athletes, few studies have examined the long-term effects on elite and sub-elite athletes. The present study aimed to investigate the long-term impact of COVID-19 lockdown on mental health and eating behaviors in elite versus sub-elite athletes two years into the pandemic. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted between March and April 2022, involving athletes from 14 countries, using a convenient non-probabilistic and snowball sampling method. A total of 1420 athletes (24.5 ± 7.9 years old, 569 elites, 35% women, and 851 sub-elites, 45% women) completed an online survey-based questionnaire. The questionnaire included a sociodemographic survey, information about the COVID-19 pandemic, the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale—21 Items (DASS-21) for mental health assessment, and the Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants (REAP-S) for assessing eating behavior. Results The results showed that compared to sub-elite athletes, elite athletes had lower scores on the DASS-21 (p = .001) and its subscales of depression (p = .003), anxiety (p = .007), and stress (p < .001), as well as a lower REAP-S score indicating lower diet quality (p = .013). Conclusion In conclusion, two years into the pandemic, elite athletes were likelier to have better mental health profiles than sub-elite athletes but surprisingly had lower diet quality. Key Points Elite athletes had better mental health profiles compared to sub-elite athletes, with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Elite athletes reported greater psychological support and perceived themselves as more financially secure during the pandemic than sub-elite athletes do. Elite athletes were more likely to have poor eating habits compared to sub-elite athletes

Data on galvanic-evoked head movements in healthy and unilaterally labyrinthectomized rats

In this dataset, we analyzed galvanic-evoked head movements (GEHMs) in the spatial planes of yaw, and roll in normal and unilaterally labyrinthectomized (UL) Wistar rats. The rats were assigned in 4 groups of 10: control, sham, right-UL and left-UL. Bilateral galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) was presented by our “ring-shaped electrode” design (see “Short-term galvanic vestibular stimulation promotes functional recovery and neurogenesis in unilaterally labyrinthectomized rats” (M. Shaabani et al., 2016) [1]). Required data were collected through video recording of GEHMs followed by image processing and statistical analysis

Evaluating the Performance of Isa Ibn Maryam Hospital, in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences based on quality management indicators with a 360 Degree feedback approach

Background: Medical diagnostic laboratories and accuracy and precision of laboratory test results play a decisive role in improving services delivery to patients. Therefore, special attention to the quality of medical health services activities appears to be essential. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of laboratory of Isa ibn Maryam hospital of Esfahan due to the concept of quality management and carried out by using a 360 degree feedback approach. Methods: The current paper is a cross-sectional study which was conducted in Isa ibn Maryam hospital in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Simple random sampling is used and totally 42 patients and hospital staff (laboratory customers) were selected. The data collection tool was a self-made questionnaire and data were analyzed using Microsoft Excell 2010. Results: Based on the findings, the highest mean score of evaluating performance was related to pediatric department with a score of 5/50 and the lowest mean was related to hygiene and the infection control unit was with a score of 5/42. Conclusion: The most important flaws in each performance evaluation system are personal taste orientation and applying personal views. Thus, it may be possible to minimize the deployment of personal opinion in evaluations by using a 360 degree feedback approach

Effects of home confinement on physical activity, nutrition, and sleep quality during the COVID-19 outbreak in amateur and elite athletes

IntroductionDespite the progress in the management of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, it is necessary to continue exploring and explaining how this situation affected the athlete population around the world to improve their circumstances and reduce the negative impact of changes in their lifestyle conditions that were necessitated due to the pandemic. The aim of this study was to analyze the moderating influence of physical activity (PA) and dietary habits on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic experience on sleep quality in elite and amateur athletes.Materials and methodsA total of 1,420 elite (40.1%) and amateur (59.9%) athletes (41% women; 59% men) from 14 different countries participated in a cross-sectional design study. Data were collected using a battery of questionnaires that identified sociodemographic data, sleep quality index, PA levels, dietary habits, and the athletes' perception of their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Means and standard deviations were calculated for each variable. The analysis of variances and the correlation between variables were carried out with non-parametric statistics. A simple moderation effect was calculated to analyze the interaction between PA or dietary habits on the perception of the COVID-19 experience effect on sleep quality in elite and amateur athletes.ResultsThe PA level of elite athletes was higher than amateur athletes during COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.001). However, the PA level of both categories of athletes was lower during COVID-19 than pre-COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.01). In addition, amateurs had a higher diet quality than elite athletes during the pandemic (p = 0.014). The perception of the COVID-19 experience as controllable was significantly higher (p = 0.020) among elite athletes. In addition, two moderating effects had significant interactions. For amateur athletes, the PA level moderated the effect of controllable COVID-19 experience on sleep quality [F(3,777) = 3.05; p = 0.028], while for elite athletes, the same effect was moderated by dietary habits [F(3,506) = 4.47, p = 0.004].ConclusionElite athletes had different lifestyle behaviors compared to amateurs during the COVID-19 lockdown. Furthermore, the relevance of maintaining high levels of PA for amateurs and good quality dietary habits by elite athletes was noted by the moderating effect that both variables had on the influence of the controllable experience during the COVID-19 pandemic on sleep quality