Health and Development Journal
Year:2014 | Volume:2 | Issue:4|Papers Count:8

Background: Ammonia is one of the most important pollutants in water, which not only is toxic for aquatic animals, but also damages human health. The purpose of this study was evaluation of removal efficiency of ammonia from water samples of Ekbatan Dam using modified multi-walled carbon nanotube.Methods: In order to evaluate the removal of ammonia from water samples, in a field- lab study during summer 2012, under optimal conditions a batch of modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes were used to study the effects of pH, the amount of adsorbent and kinetics of absorption. Ammonia concentration was measured using spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 200 nm. To determine the adsorption rate constant, experimental data were compared by first-order kinetic model and pseudo second order model and were adjusted to Langmuir isotherms, Freundlich and Compliance.Results: According to the results, at optimum conditions of pH=6, ammonia removal efficiency of the samples was 88.3% and at the optimum conditions of 0.01 g of adsorbent dose, adsorption efficiency was 88.2%. Moreover, under these conditions, the kinetics of the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order and Langmuir adsorption isotherm with a correlation coefficient of 0.995.Conclusion: Based on the results, modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes can efficiently adsorb ammonium in acidic pH; therefore, it can be used for removal of this environmental pollutant more than before.

Background: Mammography is one of the best methods for early detection and appropriate treatment of breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate stages of mammography adoption and its relationship to perceived threat and fatalism beliefs among Turkmen women.Methods: In this descriptive study, 558 Turkmen women over 40 years old living in Gonbade-Qabous and Turkmen districts were selected through systematic clustered sampling. Data were gathered using perceived threat section of Champion Health Belief Scale, Rakowski mammography stage adoption questionnaire and fatalism beliefs questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whithney, Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher exact tests, throgh SPSS 15 software.Results: From all studied samples, 479 women (85.5%) were in pre-contemplation stage, 65 ones (11.6%) were in contemplation stage, 12 ones (2.2%) were in action stage and 2 women (0.4%) were in maintenance stage. None of them were in relapse stage. Mammography adoption stage showed significant relationship with job, city of residence, educational level and history of breast cancer in first degree relatives. Mean score of perceived susceptibility increased along transition stages, but not significantly. Meanwhile, fatalism score decreased along transition stages but this decrease was not significant.Conclusion: The majority of Turkmen women had inappropriate practice in regard to mammography. Also, their perceived susceptibility toward breast cancer was low, while their fatalism beliefs were high.

Background: Nowadays, in competitive conditions, healthcare providers must pay attention to their customers' loyalty in order to keep and increase their market share and to promote the health level of society. However, hospital managers do not know that which factors influence their customers' loyalty. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify influencing factors on patients' loyalty to hospitals' brands.Methods: The statistic population of this study included all hospitalized patients in Tehran, Iran hospitals in a period of one year (Jan 2011-Jan 2012). Sampling was done through two stage clustering and convenient method and 390 samples were studied. Collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and through LISREL 8.80 and SPSS 19.Results: According to the results, loyalty toward hospital brand is significantly related to customer satisfaction, trust to the brand and commitment to the relationship.Conclusion: This study indicates that the loyalty of patients toward hospital brands could be improved by improving the quality of services, employing skillful and experienced physicians, honesty and justice in the treatment of patients, providing patients with adequate information about their treatment, following up health status of discharged patients, and reinforcing relationship with referring physicians.

Background: Entry of heavy metals into water resources through different routes has caused some dangers such as toxicity, cancer, etc., for living animals. Abshineh River is one of the most important rivers supplying the drinking water of Hamedan, Iran. The present study aimed at investigating the amount of heavy metals including Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd in this river.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study and based on health importance, 4 heavy metals including Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd were analyzed by means of standard methods. Quarterly sampling (December 2011, February 2012, April 2012 and August 2012) was carried out in 7 stations. A total of 84 samples (21 samples in each season) were collected in tightly-closed one-liter bottles. Sample digestion was performed through evaporation method and heavy metal concentrations were measured by ICP. Data were analyzed through SPSS16 and single sample t-test with confidence levels of 95% was used to compare means of each heavy metal with WHO standards while ANOVA test was used to compare mean amount of metals among the sampling stations.Results: Mean and standard deviation of Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd in four seasons were respectively (0.06292±0.04157), (0.00308±0.00526), (0.01436±0.02082) and (0.00127±0.00100) mg/lit. So, the amount of heavy metals in Abshineh River, except for Pb in spring, is about the standard level for drinking consumptions.Conclusion: Regarding the findings of this study, Abshineh River was a safe source to supply drinking water in terms of the measured metals during the time of the study. Nevertheless, it is suggested that the amount of heavy metals, particularly Pb, in this region is measured regularly.

Background: The importance of clean air in industrial workplaces is well known. Cement dust, due to its silica content, is very dangerous. The aims of this study were to assess and control the release of cement dust from silos of concrete batching units during charging and production processes in a dam project.Methods: In this study, dust particule mass released from the cement silos were investigated by performing environmental sampling and personal sampling from 15 operators of batching machine. Samples were analyzed by gravimetric method. Control methods were used to control the released dust. Data collected before and after the intervention were analyzed through SPSS19 and using paired t-test and one sample t- test.Results: Mean concentrations of dust particles masses in personal and environmental samples were respectively 15.56 and 30.77mg/m3 and both were higher than the standard exposure limit values in Iran. After implementation of dust control methods, mean concentrations of dust in personal and environmental samples decreased respectively to 4.1 and 5.2 mg/m3 that show the efficiency of control methods.Conclusion: The control method applied in the present study is a novel and cost-effective method to control the released particles from batching units of cement silos. It is possible to decrease the dust concentration in industrial workplaces to the standard levels, by performing simiar methods.

Background: Light is an important and adjustable physical factor in the job environment. This study aimed to determine the intensity of natural and mixed light and also the level of ultraviolet radiation in libraries and computer sites of Ilam universities in spring 2011.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 10 libraries, 16 study saloons, and 7 computer sites were selected. Luminosity assessing form was used to collect related data about selected places. Light intensity measuring device (Hanger-EC1) and ultraviolet radiation intensity measuring device (Hanger-EC1) were used to measure these two variables. Measurement was performed according to the suggested method by IESNA and data analysis was done by SPSS17 software.Results: Mean general light intensity of libraries in mixed and natural conditions, were respectively 235.2±140.2 lux and 198.2±154.6 lux. Maximum mean of Ultraviolet Radiation in mixed and natural conditions were 0.012±0.0131 and 0.008±0.007 w/m2 respectively. These show that light intensity and ultraviolet radiation in the majority of studied units were significantly higher in mixed conditions (natural and artificial light) than in the natural conditions.Conclusion: Improper design and light source selection, oldness of the constructions, and altering the applications of the constructions from administrative places into libraries, studying saloons, and computer sites have caused light intensity lower than the standard levels in these places. Therefore, redesigning the light systems is necessary.

Background: The implementation of the targeted subsidies law by increasing energy price will change hospital hoteling cost. The purpose of this research was to study the energy price changes due to targeted subsidies on Tehran Shahid Hashemi Nejad Subspecialty Center hoteling cost.Methods: This case study was done in a descriptive and cross-sectional method, during 2009-2010. To accomplish this study, the documented information in the financial department of this center including water, electricity and gas bills and in addition, internet bills were used. The data was collected in Excel software and was analysed through SPSS 16 software.Results: In this center, the hoteling cost in 2010-2011 (49,424 million Rials) was more than the cost in 2009-2010 (44,485 million Rials) with a difference about 4, 938 million Rials (11.1%). The hoteling cost in winter 2009-2010 (18, 829 million Rials) was more than winter 2010-2011 (17,003 million Rials) with a difference about 1, 826 million Rials (10%). The energy cost in 2010-2011 (1,372 million Rials) was more than the cost in 2009-2010 (749 million Rials) with a difference about 622 million Rials (83%). The energy cost in winter 2010-2011 (557million Rials) was more than this cost in winter 2009-2010 (209 million Rials) with a difference bout 348 million Rials (167%).Conclusion: The hoteling cost decreased in winter 2010-2011 after implementing targeted subsidies. This deduction was due to the hospital’s behavior change toward items except energy carriers including service’s compensation (repayment), repair and maintenance, and also detergents. Therefore, it is being suggested to prepare a comprehensive cost management plan considering the effective dimension in this hospital in order to compensate the forced energy cost.

Background: One of the appropriate tools in performance measurement of Radiology units is measuring the technical, allocative and economic efficiency. This factor has been analyzed in the current study for Shiraz hospitals.Methods: In this study, output data which includes radiographs (either outpatient or inpatient) and number of admitted patients in radiology departments of related hospitals; and input data which includes information regarding expert personnel, technicians and number of medical radiology equipment and finally, the variable of price that is related to radiology staff salaries and medical equipment prices; was collected. The research population and sample in this study were the general hospitals of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences and all radiology units of these hospitals, respectively. After data collection, the data was analyzed using Deap software and the different types of efficiency were calculated.Results: The findings show that the average scores of the economic efficiency were around 0.749.This value is lower than the scores of technical efficiency and allocative efficiency. About 15 percent of the radiology units have been efficient in terms of economic efficiency. Also, 21 Radiology units have had increasing returns to scale and 6 units had constant returns to scale.Conclusion: Considering that 75% of radiologoy departments have been economically inefficicent, it is necessary for authorities to consider allocating optimum resources according to the price of radiology equipment and input costs.