An Investigation on Adoption of Socio-Culturally Based Teaching Strategies Among Iranian Clinical Nurse Educators

Background: In today’s complex healthcare environments, the traditional teaching strategies and learning models are unable to prepare learners to confront with rapid changes. Some education scholars believe that the teaching strategies based on socioculturally theory are more responsible and efficient. Objectives: The present study was conducted to investigate socio-culturally-based teaching strategies being adopted or assigned by Iranian clinical nurse educators as high priorities. Patients and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted on 38 nurse educators from two nursing and midwifery faculties in Tabriz and Urmia, Iran. Data were collected over a period of 2 months in 2010 using the Phillip’s Adoption Appraisal Instrument, developed by Bonk & Kim. The instrument items have been ranked on a 4-point Likert-type scale and ordered in 10 subscales. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 13.0. The overall mean, standard deviation, and confidence interval 95% were calculated for each subscale to determine the rank distribution of subscales. Results: All strategies were known as a moderate adoption (2.72 ± 0.44 of 4), however prioritizing in adoption of socio-culturally-based teaching strategies from clinical nurse educators’ viewpoints indicated that 60% of strategies were evaluated as the most adopted strategies, 10% as the least, and the other 30% in moderate mode. Conclusions: Due to the importance of socio-culturally-based theory strategies in clinical settings and the moderate adoption of strategies from clinical nurse educators’ viewpoints,educational planners and policymakers should prepare required prepositions to progress the adoption and the usage of these strategies

Use of poultry pre-cooked slaughterhouse waste as ruminant feed to prevent environmental pollution

The nine samples from each slaughterhouse were pooled and sub-sampled to make three samples per slaughterhouse. Dried PSW samples were ground through a 1 mm screen (Wiley mill, Arthur H. Thomas, Philadelphia, PA), and samples analyzed for amino acids, total nitrogen, fat, ash and organic matter (AOAC, 1990). The CNCPS protein fractions of the PSW was determined according to standardized procedure of Licitra et al. (1996) at the University of Bahonar, Kerman. The B2 fraction was calculated by difference and results are reported as CP percentage. Phosphate buffer soluble nitrogen (PBSN) was determined using the phosphate buffer. Neutral detergent insoluble nitrogen (NDIN) and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen (ADIN) were determined as the nitrogen content of the residual after neutral and acid detergent procedures. The analysis of 11 amino acids i.e. arginine, cysteine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine in three different PSW samples was performed using NIRS, FOSS 5000 Denmark at the Paya Amin Mehr Company (Tehran, Iran).The generation of poultry slaughterhouse waste from poultry production is not only unavoidable but the amount and kinds of waste can cause environmental problems. In the present study, the potential rumen digestion of poultry slaughterhouse waste which consists of protein-rich organic residues was evaluated. The chemical composition, amino acid profile and Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System fractions of these wastes was determined. Rumen digestion of poultry slaughterhouse waste was compared with two common protein sources (fish meal and roasted soybean). Three poultry slaughterhouse waste samples were collected from industrial poultry slaughter-houses and the in situ degradation was done using rumen cannulated sheep. The protein (50e63%), ether extracts (18e27%) and ash (9e15.5%) contents of different poultry slaughterhouse waste samples were different (P < 0.05). Methionine and lysine contents were similar among different poultry slaughterhouse waste sources. Difference were observed for cystine (1.2e1.7%), threonine (1.9e2.2%), arginine (3e3.5%), leucine (3.5e4.1%) and valine (2.8e3.3%) (P < 0.05). Ruminal degradation rate for dry matter, organic matter and protein were different among poultry slaughterhouse waste, fish meal and roasted soybean. The degradation parameter for protein degradation was 76% for poultry slaughterhouse waste, 79% for fish meal and 98% for roasted soybean (P < 0.05). Results revealed that there was great variation in chemical composition, protein fractioning, and amino acid profiles of different poultry slaughterhouse waste sources. Poultry slaughterhouse waste is slowly-degraded protein in the rumen and thus can be an economical and rich source of rumen undegradable protein in ruminant nutrition. This implies that the use of poultry slaughterhouse waste in ruminant nutrition has a huge potential as a cleaner product of animal feeding and prevention environmental pollution. However, further studies are warranted to evaluate the digestibility of poultry slaughterhouse waste amino acids escaping the rumen into the intestine in ruminants and to compare the biological values for the amino acids in these waste material with common ruminant feedstuffs

The "Mohazell" herbal formula in combination with a calorie-restricted diet can improve systemic inflammation in obesity: A randomized double-blind, clinical trial

Inflammation is one of the primary mechanisms involved in the development of metabolic complications. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of "Mohazell", a traditional herbal formula consisting of Origanum vulgare, Carumcarvi, Trachyspermum copticum and Ruta Graveolen in combination with a calorie-restricted diet on biomarkers of systemic inflammation in obese adults. In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, 68 volunteer obese (Body mass index: 30-35 kg/m2) subjects aged 25-50 years were recruited. Participants were randomly divided into two groups, an intervention group (n=34) and a placebo group (n=34). Each group received either: (1) a low-calorie diet with 3 g/day of 'Mohazell' or (2) a low-calorie diet with 3 g/day placebo for 8 weeks. Patients weight was measured, their BMI was calculated and biochemical parameters such as high Sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and IL-6 were measured at baseline and after the intervention. No side effects were reported with the 'Mohazell' supplementation. 'Mohazell' decreased serum levels of TNF-α (p=0.001) and hs-CRP (p=0.04) in the treatment group. Also, IL-6 decreased insignificantly in both groups (p=0.78). Additionally, significant reductions were observed for weight, BMI, Energy and macronutrients (p<0.05). There were statistically significant differences for weight (0.023), BMI (0.046) and TNF-α (0.001) in between group analysis. The 'Mohazell' supplementation combined with a calorie-restricted diet may modulate systemic inflammatory biomarkers in obese adults. However, more studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of 'Mohazell' as an adjunct therapy to improve inflammatory parameters in obese subjects. © Mattioli 1885

Renal and liver injury following the treatment of covid-19 by remdesivir

Remdesivir initially was intravenously administrated to treat the Ebola disease however right now it has been administered to treat COVID-19 in some countries. However it is necessary to find the exact effect of remdesivir in patients with COVID-19. Remdesivir solution is administered with a cyclodextrin carrier that filters solely by the glomeruli; thereby patients with abnormal renal function cannot eliminate it quickly; therefore, remdesivir can lead to renal failure or liver dysfunction during therapeutic process of COVID-19. Assessment of renal function in patients with COVID-19 who have acute kidney injury (AKI) or end-stage renal disease is fundamental. © 2021 The Author(s); Published by Society of Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention

Phytochemistry and insecticidal effect of different parts of Melissa officinalis on Tetranychus urticae

Background and objectives: In recent years, biological control of parasites by essential oils (EOs) derived from plants is one of the alternatives to synthetic pesticides.Melissa officinalis from Lamiaceae family is distributed in many parts of Iran. It is known as an excellent source of antioxidants, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal constituents. The present study investigated the insecticide properties of M. officinalis against Tetranychus urticae tick. Methods: The EO of different parts of plant was extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The ticks were placed on the filter paper in the bottom of a petri dish (9 mm), and contact toxicity assay was then performed by contacting the extract with the ticks. Results: The EO of leaves showed the most potent insecticidal effect while the stem EO demonstrated the weakest effect. The lowest concentration of EO from the leaves showed more considerable insecticide activity compared to the highest concentration of stem and flower EOs. Conclusion: Melissa officinalis is an effective insecticide with potent effect against T. urticae and it could be suggested as a natural pesticide against T. urticae

High power impulse magnetron sputtering of thin films for superconducting RF cavities

The production of superconducting coatings for radio frequency cavities is a rapidly developing field that should ultimately lead to acceleration gradients greater than those obtained by bulk Nb RF cavities. The use of thin films made from superconductors with thermodynamic critical field, Hc>Hn/cb, allows the possibility of multilayer superconductor – insulator – superconductor (SIS) films and also accelerators that could operate at temperatures above the 2 K typically used. SIS films theoretically allow increased acceleration gradient due to magnetic shielding of underlying superconducting layers [1] and higher operating temperature can reduce cost [2]. High impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and pulsed DC magnetron sputtering processes were used to deposit NbN and NbTiN thin films onto Si(100) substrate. The films were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford back-scattering spectroscopy (RBS) and a four point probe

Physical vapour deposition of NbTiN thin films for superconducting RF cavities.

The production of superconducting coatings for radio frequency (RF) cavities is a rapidly developing field that should ultimately lead to acceleration gradients greater than those obtained by bulk Nb RF cavities. The use of thin films made from superconductors with thermodynamic critical field, Hc > HC(Nb), allows the possibility of multilayer superconductor – insulator – superconductor (SIS) films and accelerators that could operate at temperatures above 2 K. SIS films theoretically allow increased acceleration gradient due to magnetic shielding of underlying superconducting layers [1] and higher operating temperature can reduce cost [2]. High impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) and pulsed DC magnetron sputtering processes were used to deposit NbTiN thin films onto Si(100) substrate. The films were characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford back-scattering spectroscopy (RBS) and a four-point probe

Sars coronavirus 2, severe acute respiratory syndrome, and middle east respiratory syndrome in children: A review on epidemiology, clinical presentation, and diagnosis

Context: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused irreparable damage to society. The pediatric population may be asymptomatic but has positive viral nucleic acid test results and plays an important role in spreading the infection in populations. However, there is a substantial information gap on the epidemiology, pathology, and clinical presentations of COVID-19 in pediatric patients. Evidence Acquisition: English research articles published before April 18, 2020, were reviewed to understand the clinical characteristics of SARS coronavirus 2, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in children. The WHO (https://www.who. int/) and CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/) websites were also reviewed to find eligible studies, besides articles extracted from PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Results: In comparison with SARS and MERS, COVID-19 seems to have wider clinical symptoms and routes of transmission. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome is a unique clinical feature of this novel virus. The low prevalence of COVID-19 in children may be due to lower contacts or incomplete identification rather than resistance to the virus. Conclusions: As this virus is novel, we believe that lessons learned from SARS and MERS outbreaks are very valuable in handling the current pandemic. The aim of this paper was to provide the updated summary of clinical manifestation, diagnostic, molecular, and genetic aspects of the novel coronavirus in comparison with SARS and MERS coronaviruses in children. © 2020, Author(s)