TOLOO-E-BEHDASHT
Year:2011 | Volume:9 | Issue:4 (30)|Papers Count:11

Background: There are various techniques for reduction or removal of hardness of water each with its own special advantages and disadvantages. Nanofiltration, process due to its simplicity and efficiently, has gained a great attention and is used for removal of various ions and organic matters. The aim of this study was to investigate the evaluation of efficiency of calcium and magnesium removal by a nanofiltration membrane from synthetic water under different operating conditions.Methods: This study was performed in laboratory scale using a commercial NF membrane similar to pilot scale. NF experiments were conducted using a calcium initial concentrations (280, 300, 320, 340 and 360 mg/L) and magnesium initial concentrations (60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 mg/L) with flow rate of 0.4 L/min (Q1) and 0.8 L/min (Q2). To investigate the removal of calcium and magnesium as a function of co-existing anions and cations for NF membrane, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium ions (as cation) and chloride, nitrate and sulfate ions (as anion) were chosen.Results: The results revealed that with the increase in initial calcium and magnesium concentration, the removal efficiency decreased. with increasing initial calcium concentration from 280 mg/L to 360 mg/L, the removal efficiency decreased from 69.08% to 61.25%, respectively and magnesium removal efficiency declined from 70.05% to 62.25% with increasing concentration from 60 mg/L to 140 mg/L, respectively. In addition, while flow rate varied from 0.4 L/min to 0.8 L/min, calcium and magnesium removal efficiency descended to approximately 5 %. Most effectiveness due to anions and cations with calcium and magnesium were related to sulfate and divalent cations and chloride and sodium lowest effectiveness related to choride anion and sodium cation respectively.Conclusion: According to the results, nanofiltration process was applied as efficient and proper method for hardness (calcium and magnesium) removal from water.

Background: Old age is a critical stage in human life so paying attention to problems and needs of this group is a social necessity. Considering special needs of this stage, paying attention to behaviors that promote the place and situation of the elderly people in society and family is an important issue, but this is often neglected.The purpose of the present study is to investigate causes and factors that affect the place and situation of the elderly people in their families. This study tries to take a step toward maintaining and promoting this place and situation by identifying factors that stabilize and improve the place and situation of the elderly in families, and it tries to help, though slightly, improve and promote the elderly life conditions in family circles.Methods: The present study was performed using survey method on 280 elderly people aged more than 60 residing in families that were living in Dezful. These people were selected by cluster sampling method randomly. A questionnaire the reliability and validity of which had been determined was used to gather data.Results: After data were analyzed, there was a meaningful relationship between all independent variables considered in this study and dependent variables of the situation of the elderly people so that variables such as age, academic degree, health conditions, cooperation rate and economic status, as well as family type and, finally, religious beliefs of the elderly people families influence the situation of elderly people.There results obtained from independent "t" test showed that there was difference between the elderly men and women in terms of health conditions, cooperation rate in household work, economic and religious status of their families. This difference in health conditions and economic status was in favor of elderly men, and the difference in family being religious and cooperation rate in household work were proved to be in favor of elderly women. that is, elderly men acted better than elderly women in health conditions and economic status. whereas elderly women acted better than elderly men in being religious of families and cooperation rate in household work.Conclusion: factors such as religious being rate of families of elderly people are highly important; therefore it can be possible to promote and improve their situation as much as possible in their families as well as prevent and minimize their present and future problems by identifying and studding these factors acting properly and planning effectively.

Background: Unintended pregnancies include unwanted pregnancies at least for one of couples. Totally, 33% (about 75 millions) of pregnancies Worldwide are unintended. Unintended pregnancies are considered a major cause of about 14 million deaths in under-5-years-old children per year. Infectious abortion following unwanted pregnancy is also one of the five major leading causes of maternal mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and demographic related factors of unintended pregnancy in pregnant women referring to hospitals in Yazd city.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 330 pregnant women referring to hospitals of Yazd in September and October 2008 were studied. Data were collected by interview using a valid and reliable questionnaire. Data were computerized and analyzed by SPSS16 software.Results: The prevalence of unwanted pregnancies in the women admitted to hospitals living in Yazd city was 22.9% and in the non-resident women in was 28.9%. There was a significant relationship between unintended pregnancy whit age and educational level of the couples, number of children, economic satisfaction, history of unintended pregnancy and opinion of the husband about family planning methods. Among women who had unwanted pregnancies 41.3% had used the withdrawal method to prevent pregnancy and condoms and pills had been used 20%, 16.3% respectively. According to the logistic regression statistical model, the factors affecting unwanted pregnancies was husband Literacy, number of children and the history of unwanted pregnancies.Conclusion: Due to a high prevalence of unintended pregnancy in this study, further investigations are suggested in this field in cluding revision in family planning programs as well as improving the education of all women especially high risk women about family planning methods and proper use of them and focusing on the participation of men.

Background: The Existence of a safe, efficient, clean, fast, and economical public transportation system with the least environmental effects seems to be necessary with increasing population and people's need for using transport vehicles. The aim of this research is the investigation of air pollution in road transportation in Yazd-Ardakan route and estimation of the pollution at this route.Method: In this study, the primary data were first collected by referring to the relevant organizations & departments and then by providing and distributing three questionnaires among drivers and passengers. The data were then analyzed by the Excell and Spss software for estimation of research results.Results: The findings of this study indicated that transportation vehicles and relocation of the passengers in this route resulted in emission of annually 17.65 tons of suspended dust, 59.04 tons of hydrocarbons, 182.76 tons of carbon monoxide, 21.96 tons of sulfur dioxide and 40.8 tons of nitrogen oxide.Conclusion: Railway transportation because of reducing the emission of 286.31 tons of pollutants per year to the atmosphere and road accidents, improving traffic status in Yazd- Ardakan route, carrying many more number of passengers, having high efficiency on speed of transportation, saving and reducing of travel time, energy and cost of using personal vehicles and health proposed as a practical solution.

Background: Pre-hospital care has an important role in the management of critical patients. The more this management is appropriate, accurate and rapid, the less there is mortality and morbidity. It is there fore imperative to assess the current status of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in to improve its performance. Three measures that can be considered in such assessments are the status of EMS staffing and equipments and more important, the response time of EMS system. This study had a main objective to survey these measures in Yazd pre-hospital EMS stations and to compare them with the existing standards.Methods: In a descriptive, analytical and cross- sectional study, we surveyed all 7 EMS stations of Yazd. We extracted the staffing status and the ambulance equipments trough checklist and compared them with reference standards. Also, we surveyed 11961 run report forms from all stations that had been submitted to central station during 2008-2009. By using Excell software and descriptive statistics (percent, cumulative distribution and standard deviation), we calculated fractile response times for Yazd EMS and compared it with reference standards of Iran and North America.Results: The results of the study showed that Yazd EMS system has major deficiencies in terms of staffing and access to advanced EMS equipments. Based on the results, only 1 station (14/3%) had sufficient staff. Also, none of the ambulances had the necessary equipments required for critical patients’ management. Despite these deficiencies, 81/15% of response time was within 8 minutes, a reference standard for EMS.Conclusion: We concluded that the majority of call services in Yazd EMS have been responded in a suitable time interval compared with reference standards and country's approved EMS response time goal. Although, response time is an important factor in reducing morbidity and mortality in emergencies but deficiencies of personnel and equipments can affect the effectiveness of delivered services. There fore improving in staffing and equipments is an inevitable necessity to reach the goal.

Background: Dyes are one of the most important existing pollutants in textile industrial wastewater. They are often toxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and non-biodegredable. Reactive red 198 dye is one of the azo dyes that is currently used in the textile industry. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating on reactive red 198 dye absorption process titanium dioxide nanoparticles from synthetic textile wastewater.Methods: This applicable research was performed in a batch reactor on synthetic wastewater with dye concentrations of 100, 150 and 200 mg/L and the effects of parameters such as concentrations of initial dye and TiO2 nanoparticles, time, and pHs on dye absorption efficiency were investigated. The dye concentrations were measured via spectrophotometer (518 nm wavelength).Results: The RR 198 absorption capacity rates were 92.5, 70, and 37.5 mg/g respectively at pH of 4, 7 and 10 for the initial dye concentration of 100 mg/L and 0.4 g/L absorbent mass at 180 minute. Also dye absorption rates were 51.8, 56.1, and 61.4 mg/g on absorbent respectively for 100, 150, and 200 mg/l dye concentration, at pH of 4, 1 g/L absorbent mass, and 180 minutes time and the studied dye absorption isotherm was fitted Langmuir model (R2=0.98) which was 38.46mg/g for maximum adsorption.Conclusion: The results of absorption studies showed that reactive red 198 absorption/removal rates would increase with increasing the primary dye concentration, reaction time, absorbent mass, and decreasing pH. On the basis of the results, titanium dioxide nanoparticles can absorb reactive red 198 dye appropriately and efficiency of the process is higher in acidic pH. Regarding to TiO2 application as a photocatalyst in environmental pollutant removal, more pollutant absorption on nanoparticles in acidic condition increases photocatalyst process efficiency.

Background: However, medical education, played a great role in human health in the twentieth century but this system has changed over time requires, so this study is conducted with aim of Educational performance assessment of Hashemi Nejad Training hospital in Tehran Based on Educational Model of Malcolm Baldrige Excellence Model.Methods: descriptive study, conducted by cross-sectional method. The environment of this research was Hashemi Nejad educational Hospital in Tehran. Data gathering tools was international and standard checklist of Malcolm Baldrige’s Model. Data gathering approach was interviewing chief managers of hospital, studying the records and documents in each criterion and separately supplementing the checklist. The data are analyzed qualitatively.Results: This hospital has obtained 222 of total 1000 points exist in Malcolm Baldrige’s score in educational field (22.2% of the total score of 100 percent in model). Finding also shows those main criteria of strategic planning and the focus on students, interest groups and marker obtain the maximum score. Since, each of them has obtained 33 percent of total score of the model and the minimum score, 18 percent, belongs to results of organizational performance criterion.Conclusion: the hospital’s performance in educational fields was weak. Science The first mission of hospital activities to better education and training student, so more attention to organizational performance is necessary.

Background: Waste production is an integral part of human life. This waste should be eliminated from human life and be recyeled again into material and energy. Effective steps have to be taken to improve public health. So for a good management of materials, this study aimed to clarify the knowledge and practice of Yazd people in the management of municipal solid waste in 2008.Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study which was conducted by filling up questionnaires. Validity of the data and monitoring was performed by using Cronbach alpha test. Totally 300 questionnaires were completed in different parts of the city of Yazd. The data were then entered into the software SPSS.11.5 and were analyzed by Chi-square test and frequency distribution tables and charts.Results: The results of the study showed that performance of the citizens regarding separation of waste from the beginning and transportation of waste to the collection vehicle is not in a good condition, the performance of the citizens in delivering waste and storage of waste at home before delivery; is in a good condition. the performance of the citizens in relation to the municipality is in a weak condition. Knowledge of recycling items such as waste paper, cardboard, glass, metals and plastics stands in the rank of moderate to good. Reducing waste production and disposal methods situation is not favorable. Citizens' awareness of the waste-borne diseases is ranks moderate to good.Conclusion: Waste management system in the city of Yazd requires promoting public awareness and performance and Municipal communication with citizens Also a regular educational program for increasing public knowledge related to specific waste management is necessary.

Background: From the health perspective one of the most important problems in contemporary society is decreasing appropriate physical activity among individuals. Moderate physical activity reduces the risk of mortality and morbidity from heart disease and has a great impact on high blood pressure, diabetes ii, osteoporosis, colon cancer, and obesity. Physical activity can also have positive psychological effects, with lower levels of anxiety and depression thus enhaning selfconfidence. In addition, epidemiological studies have shown that physically in active lifestyle increases mortality. Unfortunately, despite much physical and mental health benefits, many people do not exercise adequately. The purpose of this study is to determine the status of physical activity in employed women.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted on 230 women employed at Hamedan University of Medical Sciences with stratified sampling among various departments of the university. The data collection tool used in this study was a standardized questionnaire. Finally, using SPSS software version 13 the data were analyzed with Spearman correlation test.Results: The results showed that over 65% of the subjects did not have enough mobility; 25.7% of them had irregular exercise and only 8.7% did daily and regular exercise. Statistically a significant relationship was found between the benefits, barriers, self-efficacy and stages of change (p<0.05).Conclusion: Due to a high prevalence of inactivity among women, educational classes for women seems to be necessary. Also adequate provision of sports facilities can promote physical activity in women.