Development and psychometric testing of a new instrument to measure factors influencing women's breast cancer prevention behaviors (ASSISTS)

Background: Breast cancer preventive behaviors have an extreme effect on women's health. Despite the benefits of preventive behaviors regarding breast cancer, they have not been implemented as routine care for healthy women. To assess this health issue, a reliable and valid scale is needed. The aim of the present study is to develop and examine the psychometric properties of a new scale, called the ASSISTS, in order to identify factors that affect women's breast cancer prevention behaviors. Methods: A multi-phase instrument development method was performed to develop the questionnaire from February 2012 to September 2014. The item pool was generated based on secondary analyses of previous qualitative data. Then, content and face validity were applied to provide a pre-final version of the scale. The scale validation was conducted with a sample of women recruited from health centers affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The construct validity (both exploratory and confirmatory), convergent validity, discriminate validity, internal consistency reliability and test-retest analysis of the questionnaire were tested. Results: Fifty-eight items were initially extracted from the secondary analysis of previous qualitative data. After content validity, this was reduced to 49 items. The exploratory factor analysis revealed seven factors (Attitude, supportive systems, self-efficacy, information seeking, stress management, stimulant and self-care) containing 33 items that jointly accounted for 60.62 % of the observed variance. The confirmatory factor analysis showed a model with appropriate fitness for the data. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the subscales ranged from 0.68 to 0.85, and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) ranged from 0.71 to 0.98; which is well above the acceptable thresholds. Conclusion: The findings showed that the designed questionnaire was a valid and reliable instrument for assessing factors affecting women's breast cancer prevention behaviors that can be used both in practice and in future studies

Evaluation of Golgol river water quality in Ilam province based on the National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI)

Background and Aims: Setting up a well arranged control plan and water quality monitoring are the most important methods for reducing water pollution and to enhance their quality. Regarding Golgol river importance as one of the main water resources which supplies Ilam dam reservoir as well as disposing different pollutants in to this river, the qualitative analysis of the Golgol river water is necessary.Materials and Methods: This study was a practical monitoring in which sampling period was conducted during 6 months from 6 stations. The qualitative parameters including: Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, TS, BOD, Turbidity, Temperature, Phosphate, Nitrate and Fecal Coliforms. The data were analyzed with National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI) and the river route was zoning with Geographical Information System (GIS) software.Results: The results showed that based on NSFWQI, water quality of Golgol river were in the good or average conditions at all stations and in different months . The maximum index value measured at station #1 (downstream of Zardaloo-Abad village) in June and the minimum amount measured at station #5 (downstream of Jafar-Abad village) in September were 72.5 and 52.1 respectively. In average, during 6 months of sampling period, station #1 with index value of 70.8 and station #5 with index value of 55.1 had the best and the worst qualitative conditions among the other stations.Conclusion: Regarding to study results, the pollution from station #1 toward the subsequent stations has significantly increased and the river water quality has been reduced. Nevertheless, at the last station, due to the river flow increase and its self purification potential, its pollution reduced and the water quality index reveals a better condition. In general, the NSF water quality index is an appropriate index for classification of Golgol river water quality.Key words: Water quality, NSFWQI index, Golgol rive

Concentration analysis and non-carcinogenic risk assessment from arsenic exposure in Hasht-Bandi of Minab with spatial distribution model (surface kriging map)

Background and Aims: The entrance of heavy metals, such as arsenic, in water resources can adversely affect human health and ecosystem through bioaccumulation, toxicity, and environmental resistance.Materials and Methods: The concentration of arsenic in 17 wells in the region of Hasht-Bandi Minab (Iran) was measured during 2012-2013. Groundwater arsenic concentration and hazard quotient (HQ), which describes non-carcinogenic risk, were assessed applying spatial distribution map (surface kriging map).Results: The concentration of arsenic in groundwater ranged from non-detectable (ND) to 23.7 ppb, with a mean value of 7.69±2.56 ppb. Depending on the location and season of year, arsenic in groundwater covered a wide range of concentration. In autumn (north-west region), winter (north-east region), spring (north-east, north-west, and center regions) and summer (center and east regions), arsenic concentrations were considered unsafe. Chronic daily intake (CDI) and HQ of studied population were respectively calculated as 0.00028 mg/ kg-d and 0.92.Conclusion: The mean concentration of arsenic was in worrying range; however, the population living in Hasht Bandi had a HQ in secure range. The spatial maps prepared by kriging method showed that the highest and lowest concentrations of arsenic and subsequently hazard quotient were observed in the north-east and in the south and south-west regions, respectively. The findings of the present study draw a meaningful conclusion relating to the use of spatial distribution model in the evaluation of environmental pollutants concentration and risk.Key words: Arsenic, Non-carcinogen, Kriging surface ma

Treatment of dairy products processing industrial wastewater by Electro-Coagulation-Flotation (ECF) process

ABSTRACTBackground and aims: Dairy industry is one of the important sources of environmental pollution. The presentstudy set out to investigate the removal percentages of COD and turbidity, as well as changes in the effluent pH byElectro-Coagulation Flotation (ECF) process during the treatment of dairy effluents.Materials and methods: Electrochemical coagulation process was applied to treatment of pre-treated highly loadedreal wastewater of a factory producing dairy products in Damavand-Tehran. The experiments were carried outin an electrochemical cylinder-shaped reactor made of steel (cathode electrode) and aluminum (anode electrode)connected to each other in a Bipolar-serial (BP-S) way. The influence of initial pH, current intensity, electrolysistime, and initial electrolyte (NaCl) concentration on the performance of ECF was explored. Owing to the nature ofthe study, there were not ethical issues.Results: The findings revealed that the bulk liquid pH, current intensity and electrolysis time had a considerableinfluence on the performance of the reactor. The obtained optimal values were 9, 3 A, and 60 min, respectively. Underoptimal condition, the efficiency of COD and turbidity removal were estimated at 70.9% and 99.08%, respectively.It was also found that the reactor effluent pH increased by 1.6 units. Moreover, electrical conductivity of solutiondid not affect the pollutant removal efficiency in this study. Sludge volume index (SVI) was further estimated to be89.01 ml/g.Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that the ECF coupled process can be regarded as anenvironment-friendly method in the pre-treatment of dairy effluents. In addition, considering the increase of BOD5/COD ratio from 0.41 (raw wastewater) to 0.79 (effluent), electrochemical treatment was conceived to enhance thebiodegradability for a biological post-treatment.Keywords: Dairy wastewater, electro-coagulation flotation, COD, turbidit

Survey of calcium oxide as a heterogenous catalyst for biodiesel production from restaurant waste frying oil

Background and Aims: Today, biodiesel is being produced and consumed worldwide as one of the main sources for replacing fossil fuels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the production of biodiesel from restaurants waste frying-oil using commercial calcium oxide as a heterogeneous catalyst. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, commercial calcium oxide was activated by calcination at 750 °C for 5 hours in an electric furnace with a temperature rate of 10 °C /min. Operational parameters for the production of biodiesel in the presence of calcium oxide included weight percent of catalyst, molar ratio of methanol to oil, and reaction time, all were investigated at three levels. Also, the study was carried out ethically and there was no bias and confinement on the part of the researcher during the research process. Results: Optimum conditions for the production of biodiesel in the presence of calcium oxide were obtained as the molar ratio of methanol to oil 12:1, the reaction time of 3 hours and the weight percent of catalyst 2 at 62 °C. Under obtained optimum conditions, the maximum production efficiency of biodiesel from waste frying oil of the restaurant was 95.5±1.22%. Conclusion: The use of commercial calcium oxide showed a great efficiency in the production of biodiesel from waste frying oil of restaurants. Calcium oxide thus is considered to be a very effective catalyst in biodiesel production. Keywords: Biofuel, Calcium Oxide, Waste frying oil, Reusabilit

Formation of the double helix: a mutational study

To investigate the mechanisms by which oligonucleotides hybridize to target molecules, the binding of two oligodeoxynucleotide probes to RNA targets was measured over a broad range of temperatures. Mutations were then scanned across each DNA/RNA hybrid to map, at single base resolution, sequences important for hybridization. Despite being unrelated in sequence, each hybrid formed by a similar mechanism. In the absence of secondary structure, two stretches of bases, termed nucleation regions, cooperated with one another by a looping mechanism to nucleate hybridization. Mutations inside each nucleation region strongly decreased hybridization rates, even at temperatures well below the melting temperature (Tm) of the hybridized duplex. Surprisingly, nucleation regions were detected in a RNA target but not a corresponding DNA target. When either nucleation region was sequestered in secondary structure, the hybridization rate fell and the mechanism of hybridization changed. Single-stranded bases within the nucleation region of the probe and target first collided to form a double helix. If sufficiently G + C rich, the double helix then propagated throughout the oligonucleotide by a strand invasion process. On the basis of these results, general mechanisms for the hybridization of oligonucleotides to complementary and mutant targets are proposed

Assessing breast cancer risk among Iranian women using the gail model

Background: Breast cancer risk assessment is a helpful method for estimating development of breast cancer at the population level. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, participants consisted of a group of 3,847 volunteers (mean ± SD age: 463 ± 7.59 years) in a convenience sample of women referred to health centers affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. The risk of breast cancer was estimated by applying the National Cancer Institute's online version of the Gail Risk Assessment Tool. Results: Some 24.9 of women reported having one first-degree female relative with breast cancer, with 8.05 of them having two or more first-degree relatives with breast cancer. The mean five-year risk of breast cancer for all participants was 1.61±0.73, and 9.36 of them had a five-year risk of breast cancer > 1.66. The mean lifetime risk of breast cancer was 11.7±3.91. Conclusions: The Gail model is useful for assessing probability of breast cancer in Iranian women. Based on the their breast cancer risk, women may decide to accept further screening services

Breast cancer-preventive behaviors: exploring Iranian women’s experiences

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer-preventive behaviors are critical for community and women’s health. Although many studies have addressed women’s knowledge and attitudes toward breast cancer, little information is available about their experiences of breast cancer preventive behaviors. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian women regarding preventive behaviors. METHODS: This was a qualitative study. A sample of Iranian women aged 30 years and over was selected purposefully. Data collected through focus group and semi-structured audiotaped interviews and were analyzed by conventional content analysis. RESULTS: The following five main themes emerged from the analysis: attitude toward breast cancer and preventive behaviors, stress management, healthy lifestyle, perceived social support and individual/environmental barriers. The findings showed that women were highly motivated to preventive behaviors of breast cancer but faced considerable challenges. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicated that increased awareness, positive attitudes, stronger motivational factors, and fewer barriers toward preventive behaviors are most important parameters that might encourage women to practice breast cancer-preventive behaviors