Size Control in the Nanoprecipitation Process of Stable Iodine (127I) Using Microchannel Reactor—Optimization by Artificial Neural Networks

In this study, nanosuspension of stable iodine (127I) was prepared by nanoprecipitation process in microfluidic devices. Then, size of particles was optimized using artificial neural networks (ANNs) modeling. The size of prepared particles was evaluated by dynamic light scattering. The response surfaces obtained from ANNs model illustrated the determining effect of input variables (solvent and antisolvent flow rate, surfactant concentration, and solvent temperature) on the output variable (nanoparticle size). Comparing the 3D graphs revealed that solvent and antisolvent flow rate had reverse relation with size of nanoparticles. Also, those graphs indicated that the solvent temperature at low values had an indirect relation with size of stable iodine (127I) nanoparticles, while at the high values, a direct relation was observed. In addition, it was found that the effect of surfactant concentration on particle size in the nanosuspension of stable iodine (127I) was depended on the solvent temperature. © 2015, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists

Effectiveness of a psychoeducation program on the quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease: A clinical trial

Aim The present study was conducted to evaluate effectiveness of a psychoeducation program (PEP) on the quality of life in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Background CHD affects patients' quality of life. PEPs may be useful to help patients reach maximum functional health. Methods A pretest–posttest controlled clinical trial was conducted on a study population of 70 CHD patients, who were selected through convenience sampling and randomly allocated to either the intervention or the control group. The MacNew Quality of Life Questionnaire in heart disease was completed by participants twice: first as a pretest, and then in a follow-up posttest. Results After the intervention, the quality of life (QOL) score was 157.97 ± 25.51 in the intervention group and 105.03 ± 8.38 in the control group, making for a significant difference (p < 0. 05). Conclusion Based on the findings, PEPs helped CHD patients improve their quality of life through reducing tension, relieving their negative emotions, and improving their social relationships. © 2016 Elsevier Inc

Laser cooling of a magnetically guided ultra cold atom beam

We report on the transverse laser cooling of a magnetically guided beam of ultra cold chromium atoms. Radial compression by a tapering of the guide is employed to adiabatically heat the beam. Inside the tapered section heat is extracted from the atom beam by a two-dimensional optical molasses perpendicular to it, resulting in a significant increase of atomic phase space density. A magnetic offset field is applied to prevent optical pumping to untrapped states. Our results demonstrate that by a suitable choice of the magnetic offset field, the cooling beam intensity and detuning, atom losses and longitudinal heating can be avoided. Final temperatures below 65 microkelvin have been achieved, corresponding to an increase of phase space density in the guided beam by more than a factor of 30.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Older adults' and nurses perception of dignity in the setting of Iranian hospitals: A cross-sectional study

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the perceptions of hospitalized older adults and nurses regarding the importance and observance of dignity, and, in addition, to address the relationship between the importance and observance of dignity and individual social variables in nurses and hospitalized older adults, and the relationship between importance and observance of dignity in older adults and hospital wards and bed layouts. Design: A cross-sectional study. Methods: Convenience sampling was used to select 400 hospitalized older adults and 146 nurses in Kashan University of Medical Science hospitals, Iran. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, and a dignity scale including three fields: privacy, communication, and autonomy. The data were described using descriptive statistics, and analyzed via the one-way ANOVA, t- test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and linear regression model. Results: Over half of the older adults were female (57), and 76.5 were married. More than 60 of older adults believed that dignity had a high degree of importance and that observance of dignity was at a good level. The majority of nurses rated the importance and observance of dignity at weak to moderate levels (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Due to the difference in viewpoints between older adults and nurses regarding dignity, barriers to the observance of dignity as perceived by nurses should be surveyed. © 2019 Central European Journal of Nursing and Midwifery

The Effect of Massage With Lavender Oil on Restless Leg Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a common problem in patients with chronic renal failure. It can reduce the quality of life and sleep disturbances. This disorder is usually treated pharmacologically. Recently, complementary medicine methods have been suggested because of chemical drugs adverse effects. There is not enough evidence about the effect of aromatherapy on RLS. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of massage with lavender oil on RLS symptoms in hemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods: This randomized clinical trial study included 70 hemodialysis patients with RLS that were randomly assigned into two groups in 2014. The experimental group received effleurage massage using lavender oil and control group received routine care for three weeks. Data was collected with RLS questionnaire and analyzed using independent and paired t-test and Chi-square test. Results: The mean RLS scores were not significantly different in the two groups at the start of study (22.41 ± 7.67 vs. 22.90 ± 4.38, P = 0.76). At the end of study, the mean RLS score significantly decreased in the intervention group, while this score remained relatively un-changed in the control group (12.41 ± 5.49 vs. 23.23 ± 4.52, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Lavender oil massage was effective to improve RLS in hemodialysis patients. It has no adverse effects, is practical and cost-effective. It is suggested to be used along with routine treatment of RLS in hemodialysis patients

Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire (CASQ): a translation and validation study of the Persian version

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Cleveland Adolescent Sleepiness Questionnaire (CASQ) in Iranian adolescents. Methods: The CASQ consists of 16 items measuring extreme sleepiness during the day in adolescents aged 11�17 years old. The questionnaire includes two dimensions: Sleepiness Statements and Alertness Statements. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The original English text of CASQ was translated into Persian using backward-forward translation. Then, 310 secondary school adolescents aged 11�17 years old completed that in Kashan. The internal validity of the questionnaire was determined two times at an interval of two weeks using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The concurrent validity was determined using Spearman correlation coefficient. Factor analysis was used by performing principle component analysis for assessing construct validity. Results: 199 (47.1) of the adolescents participated in this study, were male and 111 (52.9) were female. Mean and standard deviation of the age of adolescents were 14.31 ± 0.9. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the entire CASQ was the satisfactory value of 0.8. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC coefficient) of the tool was 0.78, which confirmed the repeatability of this test. Spearman�s correlation coefficient between CASQ and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) was equal to 0.21, and the correlation coefficient between CASQ and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was 0.25. Both were significant at P < 0.05 level. Conclusions: Based on the present study findings, we concluded that the Persian version of CASQ has an appropriate validity and reliability for assessing the sleepiness of adolescents in the Persian language community. © 2020, Japanese Society of Sleep Research

The juvenile antisocial brain : brain imaging studies in clinically antisocial youth with nascent phychopathic traits

The work presented in this thesis provides important new clues on the neurobiology of juvenile psychopathic traits in clinically antisocial juveniles. The data specifically shows that these traits are ostensibly underpinned by highly specific corticolimbic network dysfunctions, in which amygdala subregional networks seem particularly relevant. That data additionally suggests that some of these network dysfunctions and their associated neurocognitive deficits are possibly driven by alterations in the oxytocinergic system. Interestingly, the data also provides preliminary neurobiological support for the scientific utility of using juvenile psychopathic traits to subtype the highly heterogeneous group of clinically antisocial teens. While these data may represent important new steps towards a deeper understanding of clinical youth antisociality, their significance has to be evaluated by replication studies that further explore and validate the findings presented here. LUMC / Geneeskund