Medical Meteorology: The Relationship between Meteorological Parameters (Humidity, Rainfall, Wind, and Temperature) and Brucellosis in Zanjan Province | Author : Nahideh Mohammadi , Koorosh Kamali , Yousefali Abedini , Mohsen Ahadnejad , Mehdi Azari | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: Brucellosis (Malta fever) is a major contagious zoonotic disease, with economic and public health importance.
Methods: To assess the effect of meteorological (temperature, rainfall, humidity, and wind) and climate parameters on incidence of brucellosis, brucellosis distribution and meteorological zoning maps of Zanjan Province were prepared using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) and Kriging technique in Arc GIS medium. Zoning maps of mean temperature, rainfall, humidity, and wind were compared to brucellosis distribution maps.
Results:Correlation test showed no relationship between the mean number of patients with brucellosis and any of the four meteorological parameters.
Conclusion: It seems that in Zanjan province there is no correlation between brucellosis and meteorological parameters. |
| Multi-Purpose Ergonomic Backpack for High School Students | Author : Shirazeh Arghami , Mojtaba Moshayedi , Idin Rahim Ziad | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are among the most prevalent pains which could be ignited via material handling. Backpack wearers are among those who may carry heavy loads. Since MSDs mainly originate in school-aged children, students (as the largest group of backpack wearers) are considered more important. The purpose of this study is to design a backpack based on minimization of shearing force.
Methods: At first the relevant patents were investigated at national and international levels. Then the appropriate ones selected for optimizing. The main selection criterion was based on reduction of pressure on body. As an extra function we used a generator to produce electricity. The criterion for electricity generator selection was: 1) small dimension, 2) low weight, and 3) safe voltage.
Results: A suspending system used to eliminate shearing forces. Since a wearing backpack student is under the shearing force caused by walking, a spring system was used as a reducing device for shearing force. Physical spring calculation revealed that springs with stiffness coefficient equal to 588 was appropriate.
Conclusion: In comparison with existing designs, suggested backpack design can reduce forces on upper limb during handling the backpack. |
| Quality Assessment of Some High Consumption Foods in Zanjan City | Author : Tooran Yarahmadi , Hassan Hassanzadaza , Sajad Chamandoost , Majid Aminzarer | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: Foods have been many changes from production to tables and continuous control is necessary to maintain food safety and supply foods with good quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of some foods with high consumption in Zanjan city during the 5 years from 2009 to 2013.
Methods: In a case-control descriptive study with an annually control program during 5 years from 2009 to 2014, some food samples including pasteurized milk, vegetables oils, flour, kabab, salt, confectionary products and a special sweet named nan-chay were collected and analyzed in food control laboratory of Zanjan university of medical sciences.
Results: According to national standard of Iran, 68.4%, 46%, 24.3%, 10.4%, 9.3%, 5% of Nan-chay, salt, vegetable oils, kabab, confectionary products, pasteurized milk and samples were out of national standard limits and unacceptable, respectively. All flour samples had good standard quality. Mean±sd values of pH in Nan-chay samples were 7.5 and 1.19, respectively. Mean±sd values of the degree of purity in salt samples were 98.21 and 1.75, respectively.
Conclusion: Results showed that among the 7 types of collected foods in Zanjan city, the most nonstandard cases were of Nan-chay samples and the best quality belongs to flour samples. |
| Optimization of Extraction Method of the Natural Coagulant from Descurainia Sophia Seed: Minimization of Color Generation | Author : Rezan Rezaeian , Mazyar Peyda , Mehran Mohammadian Fazli , Tooran Yarahmadi | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: Water treatment sometimes needs a coagulation and flocculation process to remove suspended and colloidal materials. Inorganic coagulants used create concerns about pollution of the environment and harmful effects on the human’s health. The studies carried out previously indicated the capability of an active coagulant agent extracted from Descurainia Sophia seed to remove turbidity of water.
Methods: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of NaCl (0.05-1 gL-1), NaOH (0.01-0.1 gL-1), extraction duration (1-25 min) and the ultrasound frequency (0-45-75 kHz), used in the extraction of Descurainia Sophia seed, on the generation of color in purified water and to provide a model to predict the effects of the studied variables on color generation. Extraction was performed using water as solvent, supplemented with NaCl and NaOH and irradiated by ultrasound. Design of experiments and analysis of results were conducted by the D-optimal method based on the response surface methodology (RSM).
Results: The results demonstrated that only the effect of concentration of NaOH is significant in color generation (with p&It;0.05).
Conclusion: The effect of NaOH on color generation in purified water is predictable by the use of a statistically valid linear model at a confidence level of 95%. |
| Comparison of Electrocoagulation and Chemical Coagulation Processes in Removing Reactive red 196 from Aqueous Solution | Author : Ali Assadi , Armita Soudavari , Mehran Mohammadian | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: Conventional chemical coagulation is considered as the old method to color and COD removal in textile effluent. Electrocoagulation (EC) process is a robust method to achieve maximum removal.
Methods: This work was designed to compare the result of operational parameters including optimum pH and coagulant concentration for chemical coagulation with ferric chloride and alum. Also, the effect of voltage, electrolysis time, initial pH, and conductivity for EC with iron electrodes on removal of reactive red 196 (RR 196).
Results: The results show that ferric chloride and alum at optimum concentration were capable of taking away color and COD equal to 79.63 %, 84.83%, 53%, and 55% respectively. In contrast, EC process removed the color and COD equal to 99.98% and 90.4%, respectively.
Conclusion: The highest treatment efficiency was obtained by increasing the voltage, electrolysis time, pH and conductivity. Increase in initial dye concentration reduces removal efficiency. Ultimately, it could be concluded that EC technology is an efficient procedure for handling of colored industrial wastewaters. |
| Natural Gamma Radiation in Primary Schools of Zanjan Province | Author : Mohammad Reze Mehrasbi , Faranak Saghatchi , Zahra Khodaei , Jose Luis Gutierrez-Villanueva , Koroosh Kamali | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: Environmental gamma ray refers to the gamma radiation from terrestrial sources and building materials. In enclosed spaces radiation can become a health hazard leading to potential increase in the rates of lung cancer. The goal of this study is to assess the exposure to natural gamma radiation of children in the schools of Zanjan province.
Method:The natural gamma radiation was assessed in 46 primary schools of Zanjan province. A total number of 75 classrooms were studied. The measurements were performed in classrooms and schoolyards using a Geiger–Muller detector (RDS-110). Alongside radiation measurements, all the data corresponding to the characteristics of each school building were collected.
Results: The results showed that the outdoor dose rate ranged from 82 to 106nSv h-1 while gamma dose rate due to inside classrooms ranged from 106 to 137nSvh-1. The findings represented that the highest indoor gamma dose rate belonged to the buildings of more than 30 years and metal frame and brick (P<0.05).
Conclusion: We concluded that the effective dose due to gamma radiation from terrestrial sources and building materials for students of primary schools in Zanjan province (0.83 mSv) was higher than worldwide average of the annual effective dose (0.48 mSv). |
| Is the Process of Media Production and Educational Intervention in Iran Standard? | Author : Fatemeh Zarei , Amir Nassiri , Maryam Khazaee-Pool , Hadi Tehrani , Fatemeh Rakhshani , Mohammad Masoud Vakili | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background;It is important to know media and educational intervention and also produce them according to standards. Thus, media and health educational interventions should evaluate to improve education quality.
Methods;The study sample were whole produced media and interventions in all medical universities, deportments, offices, and centers affiliated to ministry of health in 2008 and in the first half of 2009. Sampling took a census. The evaluating tool was a checklist which made in four domains including pre-media, media and intervention specifications, production, and implementation, evaluation.
Results; 7.1% percent of media and interventions achieved 50 percent score in pre-media. The other results were respectively in media specification 63.7% percent, implementation and production 15.7% percent, and also evaluation 2.9% percent.Intervention just evaluated in pre-media.
Conclusion; The results of the evaluation in health education media indicate that the IEC cycle (Information, Education, Communication) in health care system is an incomplete process. Meanwhile regardless of prerequisite the scoped phase will implicate and lead to educational budget dissipation. |
| Study of Noise Map and its Features in an Indoor Work Environment through GIS-Based Software | Author : Faramarz Majidi , Nahid Rezai | Abstract | Full Text | Abstract :Background: Noise mapping in industry can be useful to assess the risks of harmful noise, or to monitor noise in machine rooms. Using GIS -based software for plot of noise maps in an indoor noisy work environment can be helpful for occupational hygienists to monitor noise pollution.
Methods: This study was carried out in noisy packaging unit of a food industry in Ghazvin industrial zone, to evaluate noise levels by GIS technique. For this reason the floor of packaging unit was divided into squares 2×2 meters and the center of each square was marked as a measurement station based on NIOSH method. The sound pressure level in each station was measured and then the measurement values were imported into Arc GIS software to plot of noise map.
Results: Unlike current method, the noise maps generated by GIS technique are consistent with the nature of sound propagation.
Conclusion: This study showed that for an indoor work environment, the application of GIS technology renders the assessment of noise levels in the form of noise maps, is more real and more accurate than the routine method that is now using by the occupational hygienists. |
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