This qualitative study was implemented using Grounded Theory to evaluate internal and external barriers of laying hens cooperatives in economic, social, cultural and organizational aspects and to determine appropriate solutions to the activation and development of these production units in Kermanshah Province. Data were collected through deep and semi-structured interviews with executives of cooperatives and union officials of laying hens. The data analysis was implemented using the constant comparative in a manner of Astraus and Corbin. Based on the findings, the most important challenges of egg producers are lack of efficient use of production capacity, lack of sub-industries in Kermanshah Province, fluctuations in the price of needed inputs, not suitable network for sales and distribution, lack of egg guaranteed purchase system, decisions of the government, lots of decision-making and policy-making bodies in the poultry industry, lack of organization for conducting and supporting egg producers and the absence of the tools necessary to support the export of eggs. The most important strategies for reducing problems in the poultry industry were improving the capacity of the poultry industry, resolving credit deficiency of poultry units by providing necessary liquidity by credit institutions and banks, centralization of decisionmaking, policy and advocacy; regulation of input provision system, and export incentives.

Sarcopenia and physical INACTIVITY synergistically progress in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are strong predictors of mortality in this population. Exercise training and essential amino acids and vitamin D supplements may contribute to improving sarcopenia and physical INACTIVITY in CKD patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between physical INACTIVITY and academic record in Korean adolescents.Methods: Adolescent students from the first grade of middle school to the third grade of high school (n=75, 066) participated in the 5th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey project in 2009. The association between physical INACTIVITY and academic record was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjusting for gender, age, body mass index, family’s socioeconomic status, parents’ education level, and frequency of vigorous or moderate physical activity (PA) as well as muscular strength exercises.Results: During weekdays, the odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for reporting a higher than average academic record, as compared with<1 hour of physical INACTIVITY per day, was 0.796 (0.761–0.832, for ≥1 to<2 hours, 0.632 (0.603–0.663, for ≥2 to<3 hours, 0.567 (0.535–0.601, for ≥3 to<4 hours, and 0.494 (0.468–0.522, P< 0.001 for all cases) for ≥4 hours of physical INACTIVITY per day. During the weekends, the ORs (95% CI) for reporting a higher than average academic record, as compared with<1 hour of physical INACTIVITY per day, were 0.901 (0.848– 0.957, P=0.001) for ≥3 to<4 hours and 0.785 (0.743–0.830, P<0.001) for ≥4 hours of physical INACTIVITY per day.Conclusion: Korean adolescents who spend more time engaged in physical INACTIVITY are predisposed to a belowaverage academic record.