Shelf Life Prediction of Infant Formula by Using Rancidity Test

Abstract Infant formula has a fatty acid composition that meets the needs of the neonates for unsaturated fatty acids.These fatty acids are of major importance during this period of life in which the brain and retina are developing, and will therefore have an influence upon visual acuity and learning abilities. Oxygen reacts readily with unsaturated fatty acids, so that every time these compounds are handled there is a danger of contaminated with oxidative products. Oxidative stability is an important parameter in characterization of fats and oils. The purpose of this study was to predict the shelf life of an infant formula using accelerated stability test (rancimat), to save time. The Rancimat method is based on conductometric determination of volatile degradation products and features automatic plotting of the conductivity against time. The evaluation was performed graphically after completion of the experiments. The stability of a commercially available infant formula in Tehran, Iran was measured using rancimat method at temperatures of 60, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 °C. Equations have been derived by which the shelf life can be predicted on the basis of the Rancimat method, thus avoiding the time-consuming long-term studies. The shelf life of the commercial infant formula studied was estimated as 534 days (approximately 18 months)

Selection Criteria of Hospital Volunteers for the Provision of Health Services in Disasters

Background: Hospitals need volunteers to help the injured people during disasters. Thus, it is necessary to prepare some criteria for selecting volunteers. The purpose of this study was to determine and prioritize individual and social criteria for selection of local volunteers in hospitals before disasters, the volunteers who provide health services for victims in disasters. Materials and Methods: This was an analytical descriptive study in which a researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect the data in 2015. The statistical population consisted of emergency and health managers and experts in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The sample were selected using Cochrane methodology and calculated as 180 subjects. The data were analyzed through calculating mean, standard deviation, 1-sample t-test, and Friedman test using SPSS. Results: Based on the results, most personal and social criteria were significant (P≤0.05) and important in volunteers’ selection. The results showed that the most important personal criteria were physical ability and fitness, practical expertise, and voluntary attendance experience with the mean ranks of 4.03, 3.94, and 3.77, respectively. Also among social criteria, prompt response with the mean rank of 7.26, responsibility with 6.25, and conscience with 6.06 have been determined as important factors in the selection of volunteers for health services of hospitals in disasters. Conclusion: Hospitals could select volunteers based on the determined criteria. Personal criteria of physical fitness and practical expertise along with social criteria of prompt response and responsibility were reliable norms that based on them, the best volunteers could be chosen to perform health duties and decrease injuries in relief and health services