This paper presents a modified 32-bit ROM-based Direct Digital Frequency Synthesizer (DDFS). Maximum output frequency of the DDFS is limited by the structure of the accumulator used in the DDFS architecture. The hierarchical pipeline accumulator (HPA) presented in this paper has less propagation delay time rather than the conventional structures. Therefore, it results in both higher maximum operating frequency and higher maximum output frequency. Ripple Carry Adder (RCA) is used at each stage of Conventional pipeline accumulators, whereas the modified pipeline technique contains Carry Look-ahead Adder (CLA) instead of RCA. The proposed method consists of hierarchical adders that have three parts, two blocks of 4-bit CLA and a separated block to estimate carry bits independently. To reach a better frequency resolution in the DDFS, larger phase accumulator is needed. Moreover, in conventional DDFSs, as the number of phase bits increases, to have non-truncated phase mapping, huge amount of memory will be needed. The trigonometric relations of the sine and the cosine functions are used in the phase mapping technique proposed by Symon in order to reduce the size of the Look Up Table (LUT). The method applied in this work combines quarter wave symmetry of the sine samples, the phase difference between the sine and the cosine samples and trigonometric relations of the sine and the cosine functions to reduce the total memory size. The SFDR of the output wave will remain approximately constant (132 dBc) in comparison with the previous works. Finally, the proposed architecture is simulated on Stratix II FPGA. This structure has the frequency range of 0 to 245 MHz with 0.05 Hertz frequency resolution.

Introduction: After low back pain, the neck pain is the most prevalent pain among (especially elderly) peoples. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of one period of exercise program on subjects neck ROM and chronic neck pain.Materials and Methods: For executing this study 60 elderly patient (24 Males and 36 Females) with mean age 56±4.5 years old and 71±4.4 kg with chronic neck pain randomly were selected. Executed exercise program was stretching (for three month) and strengthening exercises (for three month) to accompany with external support in remedial period. Training protocol started with one set of 8 repetition (in first session) and ended with three sets of 16 repetitions (in final session). For measurement of neck muscles flexibility, neck pain, neck range of motion and neck extensor muscles strength were used flexometer, visual analog scale (VAS), Leighton flexometer and dynamometer respectively. Independent and paired t test were used for statistical analysis (p≤ 0.05).Results: The results showed that after accomplishment of exercise program, neck rang of motion and neck extensor muscles strength was increased but cervical lordosis degree and pain score was decreased.Conclusion: Based on this study results, we concluded that exercise program can decrease the amount of pain in people with neck pain. The probable mechanisms that through them exercise program have better results in patients with neck pain, we can refer to increasing cervical muscles strength, increasing range of motion and decreasing cervical lordosis degree.

Introduction: Success in surveillence programs is mostly dependent on physicians’ skill to report diseases.Self-learning is an appropriate method for medical education programs and has been used in many countries. The purpose of this study was to compare self-learning of reporting diseases through compact disks (CD) and booklets in physicians’ education.Methods: This study was a quasi-experimental study performed on 40 general physicians in Qom. They were divided into two groups [CD (n=20) and booklet (n=20)] by balanced block randomization.Knowledge and attitude were assessed before the intervention and a month after. The data collection tool was a self-administered questionnaire in 4 parts: demographic information, knowledge and attitude about notifiable diseases and evaluation of the educational method applied. The data were analyzed by SPSS software, through calculation of frequency, mean, standared deviation, t-test, kolmogorov -smirnov test and mann-whithney U- test.Results: Knowledge and attitude were promoted significantly in both groups (p<0.05). Mean and standard deviation of knowledge increased, in the CD group, the mean score for knowledge increase was 10.55 ± 3.97 and in the booklet group it was 7.55±4.40, which showed a significant difference (p=0.03). There was no significant difference in attitude scores in the two groups.Regarding the evaluation of the methods, there was no significant difference between the groups in total mean scores. But as for two items, preference for either method and attraction, the CD group score stood significantly higher than the booklet group (p<0.001).Conclusion: Self-learning methods such as CD and booklet can be used for physicians to learn reporting skills; and CD is more effective than booklet. These methods especially educational CD is recommended to be used in continuing medical education programs.

Introduction: Development of clinical skills for nursing students is a critical component of nursing education programs. CD-ROM is as a valuable teaching and learning strategies in theory learning but more research is needed in practical courses.This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two educational methods demonstration and CD-ROM showing on the measure vital signs skills of nursing.Method: This research was before and after experimental study. The sample was consists of 70students. Nursing students to be selected purposeful and then randomly assigned to two groups. The intervention was a group demonstration & a group showing CD-ROM about vital signs measurement. Data were collected via questionnaire and rating scale consisting of vital sing. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software 16 versions.Results: The results showed the average score in CD 66.88±5.60 and in demonstration 62.66±8.41, temperatures score in CD 85.44±15.73 and in demonstration 81.94±13.50, respiratory assessment score in CD 15.44±1.61 and in demonstration 13.22±2.58, score of blood pressure in CD 45.22±4.165 and demonstration 44.19±4.14 and vital signs in CD 212.98±27.1 and in demonstration 203.01±28.63, which was significant difference T=23.45, P=0.05.Conclusion: Using of compact disc is improving the skills of measuring vital sign in nursing student. Therefore, computer-assisted instruction can be implemented with other teaching methods such as demonstration or this should be used an independent method to meet educational goals in Practical training courses such as measuring vital sign.

Background and Aims: The most common mechanism of anterior cruciate ligament injury in basketball is non-contact and dynamic knee valgus is the key risk factor of these injuries. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of corrective exercise program on strength, ROM, and performance in basketball players with dynamic knee valgus. Materials and Methods: A total of 32 basketball players (age: 20. 8± 1. 7 years, weight: 74. 0± 5. 2 kg, height: 183. 9± 5. 0 cm) with dynamic knee valgus participated in the current study and were randomly divided into two groups of exercise (n=16) and control (n=16). Assessment included ROM (dorsiflexion, abduction, and external rotation of the hip), strength (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, abduction, and external rotation of the hip), and performance (balance and hop test) in dominant leg. Results: Data analysis via ANCOVA showed that the exercise groups experienced significant reduction (P<0/01) in dynamic knee valgus (6/51 degree) during drop-jump task, significant improvement (P<0/01) in ROM (3/43 degree dorsiflexion with the knee flexion, 2/25 degree dorsiflexion with the knee extension, 2/38 degree abduction, and 1/75 degree external rotation of the hip), strength (2/32 kg dorsiflexion, 4/87 kg plantarflexion, 1/82 kg abduction and 1/58 kg external rotation of the hip), balance (3/33 cm), and hop tests (13/25 cm). Conclusion: It can be concluded that participation in this corrective exercises program can lead to significant improvement in strength and ROM distal and proximal knee joint and performance, and it seems that it can help for prevention of lower extremity injuries caused by dynamic knee valgus during functional activity.

Background and objectives: In order to further protect of rangeland ecosystems, range suitability should be investigated before the utilization of medicinal and industrial plants. Plant composition, production and steep of the slope are among the criteria that determines the suitability of rangeland for the use of medicinal plants. In four habitats of the following species (Achillea santolinoides, Ziziphora tenuior, Sclerorhachis leptoclada and Hymenocrater calycinus) on three slope classes (less than 30%, 30-30% and more than 60%), importance Value Index (IVI) and accessible production were determined. Methodology: After field visit and observation of medicinal plants as the dominant species in the rangelands of Room districts of Qaen county, plant habitats were identified and sketched. In herbaceous and woody habitats, plots sized 1 m2 and 2 m2 were respectively placed. Samples were taken randomly. After measuring the slope on all sampling plots, the slope was statistically analyzed at three levels of less than 30%, 30 to 60% and more than 60%. During the slope gradient, the structural characteristics of vegetation including density, frequency, abundance and dominance of species were measured and based on that, Importance Value Index (IVI) was determined. In order to compare the total production of medicinal plants for different slopes, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan multiple range tests were used. Cluster analysis was also used to group the habitats based on species composition. Species abundance distribution was investigated using geometric series, broken stick, log-normal, Zipf and Mandelbrot models and the data were fitted with each of the above models. The goodness of fit of these models was measured by the Akaike information criterion (AIC). All statistical analysis was done by R software. Results: The floristic list of the study area showed that in total, 47 plant species belonging to 15 plant families were available, 31 herbaceous, 8 bush, 7 grasses and 1 shrub species. Among the observed species, 66% were medicinal and industrial, 23% forage plants and 11% invasive and thorny. Medicinal plants mostly belonged to Compositae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae and Brassicaceae. The results showed that Ziziphora tenuior and Achillea santolinoides had the highest density and Artemisia aucheri and Sclerorhachis leptoclada had the highest ground cover. The low presence of medicinal and industrial were seen on low slopes and the highest on moderate and high slopes. The rank-abundance curve showed that the species abundance distribution (SAD) of the whole study area was fit by Mandelbrot model and log-normal, which indicates a stable community. The results showed that with increasing slope, the production of medicinal plants decreases. Achillea santolinoides and Ziziphora tenuior, located on slopes of less than 30%, have the highest production and relative importance, and in terms of these two factors, have the necessary competence for exploitation. Conclusion: Although the relative composition of medicinal plants in the region increases with increasing slope, but in terms of plant composition and production, habitats with a slope of more than 60% are not suitable to be used as medicinal plants sites. Generally, in range suitability assessment studies, vegetation cover percentage alone is not enough, because there may be species that are pharmacologically and industrially valuable that have a low cover percentage. Although in this study, not all factors affecting rangeland suitability have been studied directly, but the important value index for rangeland suitability studied and the effect of slope on some vegetation characteristics have been investigated and the results showed that the moderate and high slope and production of medicinal plants decreased. Therefore, with increasing slope, rangeland's suitability for medicinal and industrial plants also decreases.