An Exploratory Study on the Physical Activity and Dietary Behaviours of Iranian Immigrant and Refugee Women in the United Kingdom

This research considers the role of migration on the physical activity and dietary practices of Iranian migrant women in the United Kingdom. It takes into account previous studies that migration leads to poorer socio-economic status of women that limits their physical activity and food choices. Conversely, a study in Britain reveals that Iranians continue with their traditional Iranian food practices. This qualitative study was informed by social practice theory, which posits that practices depend on the integration of three key elements: materials, competences and meanings. The study participants were 22 first generation Iranian migrant women aged 24-64 residing in London. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured, individual interviews and were analyzed thematically. The findings show that for those women from traditional family backgrounds, migration corresponds with liberation from the social and cultural pressures in Iran and greater motivation (meanings) to adopt physically active lifestyles. Nonetheless, migration for the recent arrivals results in living with limited financial resources (materials) in the context of fragmented Iranian community in the UK. This leads to diminishing the women’s motivation (meanings) to participate in physical activity (competence). Moreover, motherhood and childcare responsibilities (other priorities) limit their choices to use sports facilities and it prevents the women participating in moderate physical activity (lower competence). In relation to dietary practices, the multicultural food environment, affordable prices and widespread food stores (materials) coupled with the women’s cooking skills and improved knowledge of healthy food (greater competences) result in practising a healthier traditional Iranian diet for the women. The application of social practice theory shows the dissimilar food infrastructure/resources compared with the resources for physical activity (materials). Moreover, the respondents attributed greater values (meanings) to food than physical activity that results in colonizing their energy, time, skills (competences) and budget to food especially amongst those living with family members

Exploring the physical activity of Iranian migrant women in the United Kingdom: a qualitative study

Purpose: This article explores the role migration has on the physical activity of Iranian migrant women living in the United Kingdom. Method: This qualitative study includes 22 first-generation Iranian migrant women, aged 24–64, residing in London. Data was collected through in-depth, semi-structured, individual interviews and was analyzed thematically. Results: The findings show that for those women from traditional backgrounds, migration corresponds with liberation from social and cultural pressures experienced in Iran and greater motivation to adopt a physically active lifestyle. However, for Iranian women who had arrived in the UK more recently and had a higher social standing in Iran, migration was associated with the loss of their careers, sources of income, and social networks. These issues were compounded by a lack of cohesion in Iranian migrant communities and poor access to local physical activity resources. This resulted in diminishing motivation and the subsequent de-prioritisation of the women’s physical activity, even though they had regularly engaged in physical activity in Iran. Conclusion: Despite migration leading to improving physical activity for some Iranian women, for others, migration leads to marginality in Britain. Local authorities and Iranian community organizations need to adopt innovative strategies to reach out to recent Iranian migrant women

BN Nanotube Serving as a Gas Chemical Sensor for N₂O by Parallel Electric Field

Density functional theory calculations were performed to understand the electronic properties of C₂₄, B₁₂N₁₂, B₁₂P₁₂, and (6, 0) BNNT interacted with N₂O molecule in the presence and absence of an external electric field using the B3LYP method and 6-31G** basis set. The adsorption of N₂O from O-side on the surface of (6, 0) BNNT has high sensitivity in comparison with B₁₂N₁₂ nano-cage. The adsorption energy of N₂O (O-side) on the sidewalls of B₁₂N₁₂ and BNNT in the presence of an electric field are −21.01 and −15.48 kJ mol⁻¹, respectively. Our results suggest that in the presence of an electric field, the B₁₂N₁₂ nano-cage is the more energetically notable upon the N₂O adsorption than (6, 0) BNNT, C₂₄, and B₁₂P₁₂. Whereas, our results indicate that the electronic property of BNNT is more sensitive to N₂O molecule at the presence of an electric field than B₁₂N₁₂ nano-cage. It is anticipated that BNNT could be a favorable gas sensor for the detection of N₂O molecule. © 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York

Gender Determination Using Diagnostic Values of Foramen Magnum

Background: Foramen magnum is a big hole in the base of the skull. Its appearance can be useful in gender determination. So far, no study has been conducted in Iran that evaluates the value of foramen magnum in sex determination and calculates the cut-off points. This study aimed to evaluating of diagnostic value of the foramen magnum and to calculate the cut-off points for sex determination.Methods: In this cross sectional study 50 male and 50 female patients referring to the radiology department of Rasol Akram Hospital in Tehran were evaluated. The required information about the sagittal diameter, transverse diameter, and diameter of foramen magnum were assessed by brain CT scan. Chi-square and independent t test was used for the comparison of different shapes and diameters between the sexes. ROC curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off point for each indicator.Results: The best cut-off point to distinguish males from females along the anterior-posterior foramen magnum was calculated as 36.45 mm, at the transverse diameter of 30.4 mm. The proper cut-off points for the area of the foramen magnum were 877.477 mm2 and 870.29 mm2, based on the Teixeria formula and Routal formula respectively. Overall, the accuracy of these indicators was calculated as 85%.Conclusion: Based on the results of this study using CT scans images, the diameter of the foramen magnum and its area had a high accuracy in sex determination

Activité biologique d'un agoniste non stéroïdien de l’hormone de mue sur Culiseta longiareolata: analyses morphométrique, biochimique et énergétique

Le halofenozide (RH-0345), un régulateur de croissance des insectes mimétique de l’hormone de mue, a été évalué sur une espèce de moustique ayant un intérêt vétérinaire, Culiseta longiareolata (Diptera: Culicidae). Les traitements ont été réalisés en conditions de laboratoire sur des larves nouvellement exuviées des troisième et quatrième stades avec une durée d’exposition à l’insecticide de 24h conformément aux recommandations de l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé relatives aux tests d’efficacité des régulateurs de croissance des insectes sur les moustiques. L’insecticide est additionné dans l’eau d’élevage à deux concentrations finales (12,58 μg/L and 28,58 μg/L). Les résultats montrent que le composé affecte le volume corporel, le contenu en lipides, glucides et protéines, et les indices caloriques. Ces modifications morphométriques et biochimiques suggèrent des effets dépressifs du traitement insecticide sur la fécondité et le pouvoir pathogène de l’espèce utilisée.Mots clés: régulateurs de croissance des insectes; halofenozide; toxicologie; biochimie; moustiques; Culiseta longiareolata. The halofenozide, an insect growth regulator (IGR) belonging to the ecdysteroid agonists class, has been evaluated on Culiseta longiareolata (Diptera: Culicidae). The insecticidal bioassays were conducted on newly ecdysed 3rd and 4th instar larvae under laboratory conditions. The insecticide was added to the rearing water at two final concentrations (12,58 μg/L and 28,58 μg/L). The larvae were exposed to the insecticide for 24h according to instructions of World Health Organization guidelines concerning the insecticidal bioassays using IGRs against mosquitos. The compound affected the body volume as well as contents on lipids, carbohydrates and proteins, and the caloric indexes. These morphometric and biochemical modifications could be indicative of negative effects of this insecticidal treatment on the fecundity and pathogeny of the species used.Keywords: insect growth regulators; halofenozide; toxicology; biochemistry; mosquitos; Culiseta longiareolata

Activity of boric acid on German cockroaches: Analysis of residues and effects on reproduction

In order to complete previous studies, boric acid (an inorganic compound) was evaluated on reproduction during the first gonadotrophic cycle (0, 2, 4 and 6 days) of the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Insecta, Dictyoptera). The compound was incorporated into the diet and orally administrated at two concentrations 8.2 and 49.6% corresponding to LC50 and LC90, respectively. The observed effects were correlated with the amount of boric acid detected into the body. Data showed that boric acid reduced the number of oocytes per paired ovaries and the size of basal oocytes. Furthermore, the compound was examined on ovarian contents of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. Results from biochemical analyses revealed a significant reduction of ovarian constituents with the two tested doses. Finally, the quantity of boric acid really incorporated into the body was determined for the two tested doses (LC50 and LC90) during the first six days of the adult life. The amounts of residues incorporated into the body increased as a function the doses and the period of treatment

General methods for designing single-mode planar photonic crystal waveguides in hexagonal lattice structures

We systematically investigate and compare general methods of designing single mode photonic crystal waveguides in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice of air holes in a dielectric material. We apply the rather general methods to dielectric-core hexagonal lattice photonic crystals since they have not been widely explored before. We show that it is possible to obtain single mode guiding in a limited portion of the photonic bandgap of hexagonal lattice structures. We also compare the potentials of different photonic crystal lattices for designing single-mode waveguides and conclude that triangular lattice structures are the best choice

Effects of different levels of dietary nucleotide on growth performance, survival and liver enzyme activity of Caspian salmon (Salmo trutta caspius Kessler, 1877) juveniles

Caspian salmon (Salmo trutta caspius) juveniles were fed with dietary nucleotide levels of 0, 0.15, 0.25, 0.35 and 0.5% to investigate their effects on growth performance, survival rate and liver enzymes. Juveniles with an initial average weight of 12.26±0.001g were fed with the experimental diets for 60 days. The trial was carried out in 300 liter tanks each containing 35 fish which were fed with five meals a day at the rate of 34•5% of body weight. Statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA. Results of the study showed that the addition of dietary nucleotide led to significant increase of body weight gain (BW), weight increase percentage (BWI), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER), protein productive value (PPV) and feed intake but significant decrease of food conversion ratio (FCR) as compared to the control treatment (P0.05). The best value of growth improvement indices was observed at the dietary level of 0.25% nucleotide. Liver enzymes including AST, ALT and LDH at the level of 0.35% and ALP at the level of 0.25% were significantly lower than control treatment (P<0.05). Our results also indicated that dietary nucleotide can have positive effects on growth performance and would decrease liver demolition

Elucidation of big data analytics in banking : a four-stage Delphi study

Purpose In today's networked business environment, a huge amount of data is being generated and processed in different industries, which banking is amongst the most important ones. The aim of this study is to understand and prioritize strategic applications, main drivers, and key challenges of implementing big data analytics in banks. Design/methodology/approach To take advantage of experts' viewpoints, the authors designed and implemented a four-round Delphi study. Totally, 25 eligible experts have contributed to this survey in collecting and analyzing the data. Findings The results revealed that the most important applications of big data in banks are “fraud detection” and “credit risk analysis.” The main drivers to start big data endeavors are “decision-making enhancement” and “new product/service development,” and finally the focal challenge threatening the efforts and expected outputs is “information silos and unintegrated data.” Originality/value In addition to stepping forward in the literature, the findings advance our understanding of the main managerial issues of big data in a dynamic business environment, by proposing effective further actions for both scholars and decision-makers