Prevalence of depression among infertile couples in Iran: A meta-analysis study

Background: Several studies have been conducted in Iran in order to investigate the prevalence of depression among infertile couples. However, there is a remarkable diversity among the results. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate an overall prevalence rate of depression among infertile couples in Iran. Methods: International and national electronic databases were searched up to June 2011 including MEDLINE, Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus, SID, MagIran, and IranMedex as well as conference databases. Furthermore, reference lists of articles were screened and the studies' authors were contacted for additional references. Cross-sectional studies addressing the prevalence of depression among infertile couples were included in this meta-analysis. We assessed 12 separate studies involving overall 2818 participants of which 1251 had depression. Results: Overall prevalence rate of depression among infertile couples was 0.47 (95% CI: 0.40, 0.55). The prevalence rate of depression was 0.44 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.56) during 2000 to 2005 and 0.50 (95% CI: 0.43, 0.57 during 2006 to 2011. The prevalence rate of depression was 0.46 (95% CI: 0.39, 0.53) among women and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.40, 0.54) among men. Conclusion: Not only the prevalence of depression in infertile couples was high but also had increasing growth in recent years. Furthermore, despite many studies conducted addressing the prevalence of depression in infertile couples, there is however a remarkable diversity between the results. Thus, one can hardly give a precise estimation of the prevalence rate of depression among infertile couples in Iran now

Motion of nanodroplets near chemical heterogeneities

We investigate the dynamics of nanoscale droplets in the vicinity of chemical steps which separate parts of a substrate with different wettabilities. Due to long-ranged dispersion forces, nanodroplets positioned on one side of the step perceive the different character of the other side even at some distances from the step, leading to a dynamic response. The direction of the ensuing motion of such droplets does not only depend on the difference between the equilibrium contact angles on these two parts but in particular on the difference between the corresponding Hamaker constants. Therefore the motion is not necessarily directed towards the more wettable side and can also be different from that of droplets which span the step.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Three-particle Bell-like inequalities under Lorentz transformations

We study the effects of Lorentz transformations on three-particle non-local system states (GHZ and W) of spin 1/2 particles, using the Pauli spin operator and a three-particle generalization of Bell's inequality, introduced by Svetlichny. In our setup, the moving and laboratory frames used the (same) set of measurement directions that maximally violate Svetlichny's inequality in the laboratory frame. We also investigate the behavior of Mermin's and Collins' inequalities. We find that, regardless of the particles' type of entanglement, violation of Svetlichny's inequality in the moving frame is decreased by increasing the boost velocity and the energy of particles in the laboratory frame. In the relativistic regime Svetlichny's inequality is a good criterion to investigate the non-locality of the GHZ state. We also find that Mermin's and Collins' inequalities lead to reasonable predictions, in agreement with the behavior of the spin state, about non-locality of the W state in the relativistic regime. Then, comparing our results with those in which Czachor's relativistic spin is used instead of the Pauli operator, we find that the results obtained by considering the Pauli spin operator are in better agreement with the behavior of spin state of the system in the relativistic information theory.Comment: Accepted for QIN

Determination of pion and kaon fragmentation functions including spin asymmetries data in a global analysis

We present new functional form of pion and kaon fragmentation functions up to next-to-leading order obtained through a global fit to single-inclusive electron-positron annihilation data and also employ, the semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering asymmetry data from HERMES and COMPASS to determine fragmentation functions. Also we apply very recently electron-positron annihilation data from BaBar and Belle at $\sqrt{s}=10.54$ GeV and $\sqrt{s}=10.52$ GeV, respectively. In this analysis we consider the impression of semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering asymmetry data on the fragmentation functions, where the produced hadrons of different electric charge are identified. We break symmetry assumption between quark and anti-quark fragmentation functions for favored partons by using the asymmetry data. The results of our analysis are in good agreement with electron-positron annihilation data and also with all the semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering asymmetry data. Also we apply the obtained fragmentation functions to predict the scaled-energy distribution of $\pi^+/K^+$ inclusively produced in top-quark decays at next-to-leading order using the zero-mass variable-flavor-number scheme exploiting the universality and scaling violations of fragmentation functions.Comment: 18 pages, 16 figures and 8 table

Textural and chemical attributes of sausages developed from talang queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianuus) mince and surimi

Talang Queenfish (Scomberoides commersonnianuus) is relatively inexpensive fish with low consumption in Fars Province, South of Iran. In this research which was performed in 2011, sausages were produced from mince and surimi of this species and some physicochemical attributes of the products were investigated during 60 days of cold storage at 4 °C. According to the results, free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide and TBARS values of minced fish sausage were significantly higher than those for surimi sausage (p<.05). It was found that minced fish sausage significantly had (P<.05) more breaking and gel strength compared to the surimi sausage at each time of preservation. There were significant differences (P<.05) in L*, a* and whiteness colorimetric parameters of the sausages. Scanning electron microscopy images demonstrated that the surface porosity increased during preservation. This study demonstrated that surimi sausage had better textural and chemical characteristics than minced fish sausage during cold storage

On the feasibility of attribute-based encryption on Internet of Things devices

Attribute-based encryption (ABE) could be an effective cryptographic tool for the secure management of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, but its feasibility in the IoT has been under-investigated thus far. This article explores such feasibility for well-known IoT platforms, namely, Intel Galileo Gen 2, Intel Edison, Raspberry pi 1 model B, and Raspberry pi zero, and concludes that adopting ABE in the IoT is indeed feasible

Motion of nanodroplets near edges and wedges

Nanodroplets residing near wedges or edges of solid substrates exhibit a disjoining pressure induced dynamics. Our nanoscale hydrodynamic calculations reveal that non-volatile droplets are attracted or repelled from edges or wedges depending on details of the corresponding laterally varying disjoining pressure generated, e.g., by a possible surface coating.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figure

Modelling the evaporation of nanoparticle suspensions from heterogeneous surfaces

We present a Monte Carlo (MC) grid-based model for the drying of drops of a nanoparticle suspension upon a heterogeneous surface. The model consists of a generalised lattice-gas in which the interaction parameters in the Hamiltonian can be varied to model different properties of the materials involved. We show how to choose correctly the interactions, to minimise the effects of the underlying grid so that hemispherical droplets form. We also include the effects of surface roughness to examine the effects of contact-line pinning on the dynamics. When there is a `lid' above the system, which prevents evaporation, equilibrium drops form on the surface, which we use to determine the contact angle and how it varies as the parameters of the model are changed. This enables us to relate the interaction parameters to the materials used in applications. The model has also been applied to drying on heterogeneous surfaces, in particular to the case where the suspension is deposited on a surface consisting of a pair of hydrophilic conducting metal surfaces that are either side of a band of hydrophobic insulating polymer. This situation occurs when using inkjet printing to manufacture electrical connections between the metallic parts of the surface. The process is not always without problems, since the liquid can dewet from the hydrophobic part of the surface, breaking the bridge before the drying process is complete. The MC model reproduces the observed dewetting, allowing the parameters to be varied so that the conditions for the best connection can be established. We show that if the hydrophobic portion of the surface is located at a step below the height of the neighbouring metal, the chance of dewetting of the liquid during the drying process is significantly reduced.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figure

Knowledge of Mothers in Management of Diarrhea in Under-Five Children, in Kashan, Iran

Background: Diarrhea has been considered as a major cause of mortality in children aged less than five years old. Most of these deaths are due to dehydration and mis management or delayed management of the disease. Most of the diarrhea episodes are treated in the home by mothers. Therefore the mothers’ knowledge in management of diarrhea is likely related to its mortality and morbidity. Objectives: This study designed to evaluate the knowledge of the mothers with children under five years old about diarrhea and its management and to identify the relation of the knowledge content with some demographic characteristics. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 430 mothers who had at least one child aged below five years old were selected by cluster sampling. The mothers were asked to complete the 22 items questionnaire designed to evaluate their knowledge of diarrhea. Some demographic characteristics such as age, number of children, education of the mother and her spouse and the source of knowledge also were recorded. Subsequently, the data analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test. Results: Most of the mothers were 25-30 years old (43.8%). Slightly more than half (55.6%) had just one child. The health center, educational programs and the personal reading were the main sources of the knowledge about the treatment (43.7%). Twenty eight point eight percent of the mothers had a good knowledge in diarrhea diagnosis and its treatment, while the 46.5% had medium and 24.7% suffered low knowledge. The knowledge of the mothers had significant relationship with the age of the mother, education of the father, number of children, occupation of the mother, and the source of the knowledge. Conclusions: The mothers studied in this research had inadequate knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of diarrhea. The educational programs must be an essential part of the health centers programs

Correlation of End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide with Arterial Carbon Dioxide in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Background:: Patients undergone mechanical ventilation need rapid and reliable evaluation of their respiratory status. Monitoring of End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) as a surrogate, noninvasive measurement of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) is one of the methods used for this purpose in intubated patients. Objectives:: The aim of the present trial was to study the relationship between end-tidal CO2 tensions with PaCO2 measurements in mechanically ventilated patients. Materials and Methods:: End-tidal carbon dioxide levels were recorded at the time of arterial blood gas sampling. Patients who were undergoing one of the mechanical ventilation methods such as: synchronized mandatory mechanical ventilation (SIMV), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and T-Tube were enrolled in this study. The difference between ETCO2 and PaCO2 was tested with a paired t-test. The correlation of end-tidal carbon dioxide to (ETCO2) CO2 was obtained in all patients. Results:: A total of 219 arterial blood gases were obtained from 87 patients (mean age, 71.7 ± 15.1 years). Statistical analysis demonstrated a good correlation between the mean of ETCO2 and PaCO2 in each of the modes of SIMV, CPAP and T-Tube; SIMV (42.5 ± 17.3 and 45.8 ± 17.1; r = 0.893, P < 0.0001), CPAP (37 ± 9.7 and 39.4 ± 10.1; r = 0.841, P < 0.0001) and T-Tube (36.1 ± 9.9 and 39.4 ± 11; r = 0.923, P < 0.0001), respectively. Conclusions:: End-tidal CO2 measurement provides an accurate estimation of PaCO2 in mechanically ventilated patients. Its use may reduce the need for invasive monitoring and/or repeated arterial blood gas analyses