The effect study of Acetic acid on the scoria performance in removing of Malachite from aquatic environments: Determination of model, isotherms and reaction kinetics

زمینه و هدف: رنگ مالاشیت به دلیل ویژگی های ساختاری قابلیت تجزیه بسیار کمی داشته و موجب ایجاد مشکل در محیط های آبی می شود. با توجه به تأثیر اسید استیک بر ویژگی های فیزیکی و شیمیایی اسکوریا، هدف از این مطالعه بررسی کارایی فرم های مختلف اصلاح شده اسکوریا با اسید استیک در حذف رنگ مالاشیت از محیط های آبی می باشد. روش بررسی: این مطالعه آزمایشگاهی بوده که در pH، دوز جاذب، زمان های تماس مختلف و غلظت ثابت رنگ انجام شد. سپس غلظت باقیمانده در محلول رنگ از طریق جذب به وسیله اسپکتروفتومتر در طول موج 665 نانومتر اندازه گیری شد. به منظور درک چگونگی جذب، داده های به دست آمده با ایزوترم های جذب لانگمیر، فروندلیچ و سینتیک های واکنش شبه درجه اول و دوم برازش داده شدند. برای تحلیل داده ها از نرم افزار DOE= Design of Experiments)) استفاده شد. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد که با افزایش نرمالیته اسید، pH، دوز جاذب و زمان تماس، کارایی جاذب در حذف رنگ افزایش می یابد، به طوری که بیشترین راندمان حذف (100) برای جاذب اصلاح شده با اسید استیک 12 نرمال در 11 =pH، دوز جاذب 4/1 گرم در لیتر و زمان 75 دقیقه به دست آمد. همچنین جذب رنگ از هر دو ایزوترم لانگمیر و فروندلیچ و سینیتک شبه درجه دوم تبعیت مناسبی داشت. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج می توان گفت که جذب رنگ هم به صورت چند لایه ای و تک لایه ای صورت می گیرد و اصلاح اسکوریا با اسید استیک موجب افزایش کارایی آن نسبت به اسکوریا طبیعی می شود

Sensitivity and specificity of chest computed tomography scan based on RT-PCR in COVID-19 diagnosis

Purpose: COVID-19 is a novel, severely contagious and progressive infection occurring worldwide. The diagnosis of the disease is based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and computed tomography (CT) scan, even though they are still controversial methods. Material and methods: We studied 54 patients with suspected COVID-19 and the two mentioned methods were compared with each other. Results: Sensitivity and specificity of the abnormal chest CT scan, ground-glass opacity (GGO), consolidation opacity, and both of GGO and consolidation were also surveyed based on RT-PCR. The results showed that RT-PCR assay was negative in 23 (42.6%) patients and positive in 31 (57.4%) cases. Also, the patients with an abnormal chest CT scan comprised 37 (68.5%). The sensitivity and specificity of abnormal CT scan were 78.6% and 42.3%, respectively, based on the RT-PCR method. Conclusions: Other techniques alongside CT scan and RT-PCR are advocated for accuracy of the COVID-19 diagnosis

The comparison of plasma fibronectin in term and preterm delivery: A cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study

Background: Preterm delivery is one of the main causes of infant death. Therefore, prediction of preterm delivery may eliminate a large number of prenatal complications. Objectives: The present study aimed to understand if preterm delivery can be predicted by assessing maternal plasma fibronectin concentration. Materials and Methods: Serum samples from 105 pregnant women participating in this study were collected. The plasma fibronectin were measured at 24-28 wk of gestation and again at 32-36 wk of gestation. Unfortunately, only 65 of the 105 pregnant women, returned for the second sampling. The plasma fibronectin was analyzed using ELISA method and its concentration in term and preterm deliveries was compared. The delivery dates of all the women were also recorded. Results: Out of 105 pregnant women, 28 delivered preterm (26.7%). The Plasma fibronectin concentrations in women with preterm delivery were higher than in those who delivered at term (p = 0.001). Accordingly, Plasma fibronectin concentrations were significantly higher in the second serum samples (p = 0.01). Plasma fibronectin concentrations was also higher in obese women and in those suffering from preeclampsia (p = 0.12) and gestational diabetes (p = 0.81). Conclusion: Plasma fibronectin concentrations test could be used as an optional screening test for preterm delivery at 28 to 34 wk of gestation in pregnant women who prefer to avoid vaginal sampling. Key words: Premature birth, Fibronectin, Maternal serum screening tests

Duration of delayed diagnosis in HIV/AIDS patients in Iran: a CD4 depletion model analysis

ObjectiveDelayed diagnosis of HIV can lead to an inappropriate response to antiretroviral therapy (ART), rapid progression of the disease, and death. It can also carry harmful effects on public health due to the increment of transmission. This study aimed to estimate the duration of delayed diagnosis (DDD) in HIV patients in Iran.MethodsThis hybrid cross-sectional cohort study was conducted on the national HIV surveillance system database (HSSD). Linear mixed effect models with random intercept, random slope, and both were used to estimate the parameters required for the CD4 depletion model to determine the best-fitted model for DDD, stratified by the route of transmission, gender, and age group.ResultsThe DDD was estimated in 11,373 patients including 4,762 (41.87%) injection drug users (IDUs), 512 (4.5%) men who had sexual contact with men (MSM), 3,762 (33.08%) patients with heterosexual contacts, and 2,337 (20.55%) patients who were infected through other routes of HIV transmission. The total mean DDD was 8.41 ± 5.97 years. The mean DDD was 7.24 ± 0.08 and 9.43 ± 6.83 years in male and female IDUs, respectively. In the heterosexual contact group, DDD was obtained as 8.60 ± 6.43 years in male patients and 9.49 ± 7.17 years in female patients. It was also estimated as 9.37 ± 7.30 years in the MSM group. Furthermore, patients infected through other transmission routes were found with a DDD of 7.90 ± 6.74 years for male patients and a DDD of 7.87 ± 5.87 years for female patients.ConclusionA simple CD4 depletion model analysis is represented, which incorporates a pre-estimation step to determine the best-fitted linear mixed model for calculating the parameters required for the CD4 depletion model. Considering such a noticeably high HIV diagnostic delay, especially in older adults, MSM, and heterosexual contact groups, regular periodic screening is required to reduce the DDD

Lifestyle Changes, Mental Health, and Violence against Women during the Corona Outbreak

The present study is to examine lifestyle changes, mental health, and violence against women during the corona virus outbreak. The method of the present study is fundamental in terms of purpose and mode of data collection, a survey conducted in the form of a regression correlational research project. The population includes all married women living in the cities of Tehran and Shiraz in 2021. Among them, a sample of 193 subjects was selected by purposive sampling. The subjects answered the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), Questionnaire to Measuring Wife Abuse (QMWA), and Lifestyle Changes Questionnaire (LCQ) during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Data were analyzed with SPSS 22 software using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. The results of the study showed that lifestyle changes had a negative significant relationship with mental health (p0.05). In addition, among the lifestyle changes examined, changes in sleep were significant predictors of mental health (p<0.01). Overall, the results suggest that the side effects of the Corona pandemic are severe and put women at risk for mental health problems. In addition, women may be exposed to abuse due to lifestyle changes caused by the Corona virus epidemic. Therefore, the negative impact of Corona virus on mental health and violence against women can be minimized through interventions, timely follow-up by individuals, and effective measures by society

Assessment of Moisture Status and Crop Production in Different Climate of Iran

Drought varies with regard to the time of occurrence, duration, intensity, and extent of the area affected from year to year. The objective of this study was therefore to gather and analyze standardized information on Role of Early Warning Systems by FAO56 and UNESCO models for cereals (wheat, barley, corn and rice), leguminous (bean, chickpea, lentil and alfalfa) and industrial crops (soybean, sunflower, canola, sugare beat, potato and cotton) in Iran environmental zones. To gather information on perceived risks and foreseen impacts of climatic factors on crops production, we designed a set of qualitative and quantitative data from agrometeorological and agriculture organizations in 44 stations in Iran (1961-2010). Annual average rainfall (mm.y-1) and ETo (mm.y-1) in stations with very dry climate are 76.56 and 3001.03, respectively, these rates for stations with dry climate are 195.41 mm.y-1 and 2249.44 mm.y-1, for stations with semi dry climate is 343.9 mm.y-1 and 1351.62 mm.y-1, for stations with semi humid climate is 583.8 mm.y-1 and 1153.4 mm.y-1 and for stations with humid climate is 1272.16 mm.y-1 and 949.91 mm.y-1. The maximum and minimum of Annual average rainfall happened in Rasht (1337.5 mm.y-1) and Zabol (57.7 mm.y-1) stations, and the maximum and minimum for Annual average ETo happened in Chabahar (3909.15 mm.y-1) and Anzali harbor (890.6 mm.y-1), respectively. Therefore, 13.63 percent of stations have suitable conditions for crop productions and 86.37 percent are in critical and unsustainable conditions

Excess Deaths During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Iran: Estimating the Absolute Count and Relative Risk Using Ecological Data

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to increased mortality rates. To assess this impact, this ecological study aimed to estimate the excess death counts in southern Iran. Methods: The study obtained weekly death counts by linking the National Death Registry and Medical Care Monitoring Center repositories. The P-score was initially estimated using a simple method that involved calculating the difference between the observed and expected death counts. The interrupted time series analysis was then used to calculate the mean relative risk (RR) of death during the first year of the pandemic. Results: Our study found that there were 5571 excess deaths from all causes (P-score=33.29%) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 48.03% of these deaths directly related to COVID-19. The pandemic was found to increase the risk of death from all causes (RR, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 1.33), as well as in specific age groups such as those aged 35-49 (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.32), 50-64 (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.49), and ≥65 (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.32) years old. Furthermore, there was an increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.22). Conclusions: There was a 26% increase in the death count in southern Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of these excess deaths were not directly related to COVID-19, but rather other causes, with cardiovascular diseases being a major contributor

Two-Step Estimation of the Impact of Contextual Variables on Technical Efficiency of Hospitals: The Case Study of Public Hospitals in Iran

Background: Measuring the efficiency and productivity of hospitals is a key tool to cost contamination and management that is very important for any healthcare system for having an efficient system. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of contextual factors on hospital efficiency in Iranian public hospitals. Methods: This was a quantitative and descriptive-analytical study conducted in two steps. First, we measured the efficiency score of teaching and non-teaching hospitals by using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. Second, the relationship between efficiency score and contextual factors was analyzed. We used median statistics (first and third quarters) to describe the concentration and distribution of each variable in teaching and non-teaching hospitals, then the Wilcoxon test was used to compare them. The Spearman test was used to evaluate the correlation between the efficiency of hospitals and contextual variables (province area, province population, population density, and the number of beds per hospital). Results: On average, the efficiency score in non-teaching hospitals in 31 provinces was 0.67 and for teaching hospitals was 0.54. Results showed that there is no significant relationship between the efficiency score and the number of hospitals in the provinces (p = 0.1 and 0.15, respectively). The relationship between the number of hospitals and the population of the province was significant and positive. Also, there was a positive relationship between the number of beds and the area of the province in both types of teaching and non-teaching hospitals. Conclusion: Multilateral factors influence the efficiency of hospitals and to address hospital inefficiency multi-intervention packages focusing on the hospital and its context should be developed. It is necessary to pay attention to contextual factors and organizational architecture to improve efficiency

Association between inter-arm blood pressure difference and cardiovascular disease: result from baseline Fasa Adults Cohort Study

The inter-arm blood pressure difference has been advocated to be associated with cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Our study aimed to investigate the association between Inter-arm systolic and diastolic blood pressure differences and Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD). A total of 10,126 participants aged 35–70 years old were enrolled in a prospective Fasa Persian Adult Cohort. In this cross-sectional study, the cutoff values for inter-arm blood pressure difference were less than 5, greater than 5, greater than 10, and greater than 15 mm Hg. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Based on the results the prevalence of ≥ 15 mmHg inter-arm systolic and diastole blood pressure difference (inter-arm SBPD and inter-arm DBPD) were 8.08% and 2.61%. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that inter-arm SBPD ≥ 15 and (OR<5/≥15 = 1.412; 95%CI = 1.099–1.814) and inter-arm DBPD ≥ 10 (OR<5/≥10 = 1.518; 95%CI = 1.238–1.862) affected the risk of CVD. The results showed that the differences in BP between the arms had a strong positive relationship with CVD. Therefore, inter-arm blood pressure could be considered a marker for the prevention and diagnosis of CVD for physicians