Comparative repellency effect of three plant extracts on Paederus beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), the cause of linear dermatitis in Iran

Objective: To investigate the repellent effect of neem, juniper and eucalyptus extracts as a form of protection against Paederus beetles, which are a cause of linear dermatitis in Iran. Methods: After collecting and extracting plant samples, the extracts were tested on Paederus beetles in three concentrations (2.5%, 5.0% and 10.0%) with direct method under laboratory conditions. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 20). Results: The results indicated that there was a significant difference between neem with juniper and eucalyptus at the 2.5% and 5.0% concentrations (P < 0.05), whereas there was a significant difference between all three extracts at the 10.0% concentration (P < 0.05). Conclusions: This is the first report on the repellent effect of these three plant extracts on Paederus beetles. Neem oil appeared to have the largest effect on Paederus spp. and juniper essential oil exhibited the second highest repellency, followed by eucalyptus

A MATHEMATICAL FRAMEWORK FOR OPTIMIZING DISASTER RELIEF LOGISTICS

In today's society that disasters seem to be striking all corners of the globe, the importance of emergency management is undeniable. Much human loss and unnecessary destruction of infrastructure can be avoided with better planning and foresight. When a disaster strikes, various aid organizations often face significant problems of transporting large amounts of many different commodities including food, clothing, medicine, medical supplies, machinery, and personnel from several points of origin to a number of destinations in the disaster areas. The transportation of supplies and relief personnel must be done quickly and efficiently to maximize the survival rate of the affected population. The goal of this research is to develop a comprehensive model that describes the integrated logistics operations in response to natural disasters at the operational level. The proposed mathematical model integrates three main components. First, it controls the flow of several relief commodities from sources through the supply chain until they are delivered to the hands of recipients. Second, it considers a large-scale unconventional vehicle routing problem with mixed pickup and delivery schedules for multiple transportation modes. And third, following FEMA's complex logistics structure, a special facility location problem is considered that involves four layers of temporary facilities at the federal and state levels. Such integrated model provides the opportunity for a centralized operation plan that can effectively eliminate delays and assign the limited resources in a way that is optimal for the entire system. The proposed model is a large-scale mixed integer program. To solve the model, two sets of heuristic algorithms are proposed. For solving the multi-echelon facility location problem, four heuristic approaches are proposed. Also four heuristic algorithms are proposed to solve the general integer vehicle routing problem. Overall, the proposed heuristics could efficiently find optimal or near optimal solution in minutes of CPU time where solving the same problems with a commercial solver needed hours of computation time. Numerical case studies and extensive sensitivity analysis are conducted to evaluate the properties of the model and solution algorithms. The numerical analysis indicated the capabilities of the model to handle large-scale relief operations with adequate details. Solution algorithms were tested for several random generated cases and showed robustness in solution quality as well as computation time

MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES AS PREDICTORS OF READING COMPREHENSION AND VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE

Abstract: The present study was conducted to investigate types of Multiple Intelligences as predictors of reading comprehension and vocabulary knowledge. To meet this objective, a 60-item TOEFL test and a 90-item multiple intelligences questionnaire were distributed among 240 male and female Iranians studying English at Qazali and Parsian Universities in Qazvin. Data were analyzed using a multiple regression procedure. The result of the data analysis indicated that musical, interpersonal, kinesthetic, and logical intelligences were predicators of reading comprehension. Moreover, musical, verbal, visual, kinesthetic and natural intelligences made significant contributions to predicting vocabulary knowledge.  Key words: Multiple intelligences, reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge

Preparation and Physicochemical Evaluation of Cochleate-based Carriers for Insulin

Introduction: Cochleates are&nbsp; cylindrical lipid structures that are more stable against oxidation and temperature than liposomes.&nbsp; Our research is formulation of&nbsp; cochleates for oral delivery of insulin as a model protein drug. Protein drugs are softer from environmental degradation and poor oral absorption; therefore any carrier system for their oral delivery must have protection against enzymes and absorption&nbsp; enhancing ability. Methods and Results: In this study, liposomes with different proportion of lipids (DPPC and DMPC) and cholesterol were prepared by film hydration method and converted to cochleates by hydrogel method with CaCl2 and MgCl2. Microscopically observation of structures was carried out by phase-contrast microscope and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Physicochemical characteristics of these structures were evaluated by measuring size distribution&nbsp; using with&nbsp; laser light scattering technique, entrapment efficiency percentage, investigation of release profile, and stability of selected cochleates. HPLC method&nbsp; was used for analytical evaluation of entrapped and released insulin.Best formulation of liposomes contains 70% of lipid and 30% of cholesterol. According to microscopic size distribution, cochleates with CaCl2 bridges were better. The size of vesicles was less than 6 µm. Insulin entrapment efficiency of cochleates with DPPC was more than DMPC type. Between 60-70% of encochleated insulin released after 2-4 hours in a buffer with pH 6.8. Conclusions:The results shows that cochleates can be suitable oral delivery systems for insulin

Relationship between Brand Personality, Attitude and Commitment to Brand Name (Case study: Dairy Industry of Iran)

The present study was conducted with the aim of exploring the relationship of brand personality with attitude and commitment to brand name in Dairy Industry of Iran. For this purpose, 385 consumers of Dairy Industry of Iran were selected by using simple random sampling method and completed the questionnaire adopted from Ambroise et al. (2005). In the end, data collected from research questionnaires were analyzed by two variable linear regression test and regression. The results indicate that brand personality has a significant relationship with attitude toward brand name in dairy industry of Iran. Brand personality has a significant relationship with commitment to brand name in diary industry of Iran. Attitude to brand name has a significant relationship with commitment to brand name in Dairy Industry of Iran. Level of attachment has an effective role in the relationship between brand personality with attitude toward brand name in Dairy Industry of Iran. Finally, level of attachment has an effective role on the relationship of brand personality with commitment to brand name in Dairy Industry of Iran

Sensing of Alzheimer’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis Using Nano-Bio Interfaces

It is well understood that patients with different diseases may have a variety of specific proteins (e.g., type, amount, and configuration) in their plasmas. When nanoparticles (NPs) are exposed to these plasmas, the resulting coronas may incorporate some of the disease-specific proteins. Using gold (Au) NPs with different surface properties and corona composition, we have developed a technology for the discrimination and detection of two neurodegenerative diseases, Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Applying a variety of techniques, including UV-visible spectra, colorimetric response analyses and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, we found the corona-NP complexes, obtained from different human serums, had distinct protein composition, including some specific proteins that are known as AD and MS biomarkers. The colorimetric responses, analyzed by chemometrics and statistical methods, demonstrate promising capabilities of the technology to unambiguously identify and discriminate AD and MS. The developed colorimetric technology might enable a simple, inexpensive and rapid detection/discrimination of neurodegenerative diseases. KEYWORDS: Alzheimer’s disease; colorimetric technology; disease-specific protein corona; gold nanoparticles; multiple sclerosi

Prevalence of diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors in an Iranian population with acute coronary syndrome

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in industrialized countries and most patients with diabetes die from complications of atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to determine the presence of diabetes mellitus and other conventional coronary heart disease risk factors (cigarette smoking, hypertension and hyperlipidemia) in patients with acute coronary events in an Iranian population. METHODS: The study included 514 patients with unstable angina or myocardial infarction (MI) out of 720 patients admitted to CCU ward of a general hospital from March 2003 to March 2005. History of diabetes, hypertension and cigarette smoking, demographic indices, coronary heart disease and diabetes mellitus treatment, myocardial enzymes, serum triglycerides (TG) and cholesterol and fasting and non fasting blood glucose levels and HbA1C of diabetics were recorded of admission sheets. The data were structured to appropriate one way ANOVA, T tests, and chi square test with SPSS 13 product for windows. RESULTS: Out of all patients 35.8% were female, 30% were diabetics (Duration 13.4 ± 8.7 years), 42% were smoker and 91% were hypertensive. Twenty four percent had MI and 76% had unstable angina. MI was significantly higher in diabetic patients (36.4% vs. 19.2%, P < 0.001). Location and extension of MI and myocardial enzymes did not differ between diabetics and non-diabetic patients. Diabetic patients were older than non diabetics (65 ± 11.6 vs. 59.7 ± 12.5 years, p < 0.05). Five (66.7%) out of 9 patients with fatal MI were diabetics (Odds Ratio = 2.98). Age, duration of diabetes and HbA1c levels, did not differ between diabetic patients with or without MI. Hypertension and current smoking was significantly higher in patients with MI compared to patients with unstable angina (p < 0.05). Serum TG, HDL-C, LDL-C and total cholesterol level did not differ between patients with MI and unstable angina. Diabetic patients compare to non diabetic patients were more hypertensive (96% vs. 88.7%, p < 0.005) and had higher serum triglyceride (TG over 200 mg/dl, 35.1% vs. 26.4, p <0.05). Diabetes was more frequent among women than men (36.4% vs. 26.4%, p < 0.05). Women were older than men (65 ± 11.6 vs. 59.2 ± 13 years, p < 0.005) and had higher total serum cholesterol (200 ± 41.8 vs. 192 ± 42.5 mg/dl, p < 0.05) and HDL-C levels (49.7 ± 22 vs. 40 ± 13 mg/dl, p < 0.005). Ninety seven percent of all patients had at least one of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and low HDL-cholesterol levels). CONCLUSION: In this study 19 out of 20 patients with acute coronary event have at least one of conventional cardiac risk factors. Diabetes and hypertension are leading risk factors, which may directly or indirectly interfere and predict more serious complications of coronary heart disease