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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of salicylic acid (SA) treatments on chlorophyll (Chl) degradation and postharvest quality of two lime (‘Persian lime’ and ‘Tahiti’) cultivars during cold storage. SA at 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mM were applied to fruit by vacuum infiltration at 30.55 kPa for 7 min and afterward stored at 4 °C, and 85% RH for 60 days, then kept at 20 °C for 2 days as a simulated shelf life. Postharvest SA application effectively maintained greater fruit firmness and lessened weight loss during cold storage. The results displayed that SA treatments efficiently delayed the reduction of the Chl a contents and hue values. During cold storage, ascorbic acid content, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic content were greater in SA treated limes than the control. SA treated limes had the highest titratable acidity (TA), whereas soluble solids concentration (SSC), pH, and SSC/TA ratios of control fruit were greatest. Altogether, SA application by vacuum infiltration could be an effective and simple method for maintaining postharvest quality of limes during cold storage without chilling injury symptom.

Background An important part of the spiritual needs of patients is 'presence'. The increased demand for holistic care has led to increased attention on 'presence' and its quality. Aims and objective Given the importance of understanding the phenomenon of presence in order to promote the spirituality dimension among hospitalised patients, this study aimed to describe the lived experience of hospitalised patients in the context of presence. Research methods This was a descriptive phenomenological qualitative study carried out on 12 admitted patients in general hospital settings. The data were collected through individual and semi-structured interviews. The Colaizzi method was used for analysing and interpreting the data, while the criteria of the Guba and Lincoln method were used to ensure the trustworthiness of these data. Results The experience of hospitalised patients concerning 'presence' appeared in the form of three main themes: 'multidimensional connection', 'receiving support' and 'dignity'. During hospitalisation, patients need to experience effective connection with the transcendent and individuals, and receive various types of comprehensive support, such that their and others' dignity is preserved. Patients considered that 'presence' was beyond 'being' and able to provide them with comfort. Conclusions Patients' need is very important in the field of presence. In the social and religious context of Iran, in which both supernatural and human aspects of presence are emphasised, it seems that healthcare teams, health authorities and policymakers must provide an appropriate supportive environment in terms of providing a healing presence in its different dimensions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Digestive diseases are one of the problems of the health system in the world. From the perspective of Persian medicine, the stomach begins the second stage of digestion and its function plays an important role in human health or illness. The written sources of Persian medicine have been widely used to determine the health of the stomach. The purpose of this study is to summarize indices of Mizaj-e-Meda (Temperament of Stomach) identification to help better diagnose the status of health or illness of stomach. METHODS: In this review article, 11 valid Iranian medicine sources and scientific databases of Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Elsevier, and web of science as well as Persian indices of SID, Iran Doc, Magiran were searched and the existing views were summarized. FINDINGS: In the sources of Persian medicine, the indices of different types of Mizaj (temperament) and Su-e-mizaj (abnormal temperament) have been proposed. Seventeen articles on the subject of gastric diseases in Persian medicine were found; one case merely examined gastric symptoms, while others only slightly referred to the indices. Some of the most important indices considered in these sources for identifying the type of Mizaj-e-Meda were the way of digestion, desire for food according to the type of Mizaj (temperament), thirst, appetite, burrow, moisture and taste of the mouth, tongue and mouth condition, flatulence, quality of waste matter, speed of food passage, sour stomach, burning stomach, stomach ache and stomach malmas (touch). CONCLUTIONS: Persian medicine sources have fully cited gastric indices, which can be used for a more effective diagnose and treatment and even prevention of gastric diseases, and can also be used for designing and validating standard scales for Mizaj-e-Meda (Temperament of Stomach) identification.

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the extrudability (flow-ability and shape-stability) of concrete mixtures by using contour crafting (CC) as an automated construction process. Design/methodology/approach Several experiments have been performed for flow-ability and shape-stability of concrete mixtures. Experimental results were compared to understand significant factors and their interactions. After developing the empirical model for flow-ability, the model was validated. Findings The experimental investigation of varied combination of concrete components developed a mixture within constrains of the CC nozzle and improved the quality of the extruded part. Originality/value Several experimental samples were fabricated using CC, and the derived empirical model was validated after more than 700 h of work.

Background: Dignified care is one of the main objectives of holistic care. Furthermore, paying attention to dignity as one of the fundamental rights of patients is extremely important. However, in many cases, the dignity of hospitalized patients is not considered. Dignity is an abstract concept, and comprehensive studies of the dignity of Iranian patients hospitalized in general hospital settings are limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the concept of dignity from the perspective of patients hospitalized in general hospital settings in Iran. Research design: This study takes a qualitative approach. Data were gathered using individual, semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was the method used to analyse and interpret the data. The criteria suggested by Guba and Lincoln were used ensure the trustworthiness of the study. Participants and research context: A total of 14 hospitalized patients in general hospital settings in Shiraz participated in this study. Ethical considerations: The Research Ethics Committee of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences approved the protocol of the study and the ethical principles were followed throughout. Findings: The findings of this study revealed four main themes – ‘respectful atmosphere’, ‘patient privacy’, ‘preservation of authority’ and ‘receiving attention’ – and 10 categories. Discussion: Patients need to be hospitalized in a respectable environment in which their privacy is preserved and paid attention, providing them with sufficient authority in terms of medical decisions and their life-related issues. The dignity of hospitalized patients will be preserved under these conditions. Conclusion: Patients hospitalized in general hospital settings need to retain their dignity. This can contribute to the optimal therapeutic outcomes for them. Therefore, it is suggested that a cultural, professional and institutional background, in which all components of the patient’s dignity are protected and emphasized, should be provided.

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the strength at interlayer of specimens fabricated using Contour Crafting (CC) to develop a concrete mixture for large-scale three-dimensional printing. Design/methodology/approach The collected data from several experiments were analyzed to understand significant factors and their interactions. After developing the empirical model, condition for maximum desirability was identified and the model was validated. Findings The experimental investigation of varied combination of concrete components introduced an empirical model which can predict the strength at interface. Moreover, an optimized mixture within constrains of the CC nozzle was developed and validated. Originality/value Several experimental samples were tested, and the derived empirical model was validated after more than 600 h of work.

In a pot experiment, essential oil composition, extract polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity of Pimpinella anisum L. seeds (aniseed) treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) (0.1 and 0.2% w/v) were investigated. In all living organisms, the compound 5-ALA is natural and has various effects on plants physiology. 5-ALA has attracted increasing attention as a plant growth regulator (PGR) owing to its nontoxicity to humans, crops and animals. The essential oil constituents in the aniseed are significantly changed by 5-ALA foliar application. Sesquiterpenes, particularly β-bisabolene, (447.51 and 424.39 g kg−1) were nominated as the predominant fundamental class of essential oil components under 5-ALA treatments. Also, after foliar application of 5-ALA at the level of 0.2% w/v, polyphenolic contents as well as the antioxidant activity of aniseeds extract increased. The highest level of chlorogenic acid (0.47 mg g−1) as the main phenolic compound was obtained from the 5-ALA (0.2%) treated aniseeds. In conclusion, the results demonstrated the potential and positive efficacies of 5-ALA to improve the pharmaceutical properties and oil composition of aniseeds.

Introduction An ethical plan is required to make decisions regarding setting the priority for assisting injured patients through triage. The aim of this study was to explore the measures used to sort patients for ethical decision-making in disaster triage. Method The participants were 54 clinicians and non-clinicians among the Iranian experts. Q-statements were selected from a literature review and face-to-face interviews. Data were analyzed by principal components factor analysis (PCA), Varimax, and hand-rotation techniques. Results Distinct perspectives included: Saving patients with greater medical needs, survivability of patients and the community, providing effective treatment based on available capacity, maximizing health gain, supporting the human generation and productive and independent lives. Approximately 61% of the variance in decision is explained by these factors. Conclusion A combination of saving more people and more positive outcomes has been accepted to make an ethical decision in triage. Public engagement needs to reach a more acceptable view of patients’ prioritizing factors in a scarce-resource situation.

3D printing of concrete uses computer controlled layering of cementitious material to fabricate structures. The paper presented here investigates the effect of interlocking on bond strength between layers of Contour Crafted structure using experimental approaches. A concrete mixture which is compatible with the existing extrusion system is used and different interlock configurations are tested. The results show that bonding strengths is sensitive to interlocking and it can be increased by an average of 26% as shown by splitting test.

Contour Crafting (CC) is a method that builds coherent concrete structures in a layer-by-layer fabrication fashion. During fabrication, layers must be bonded together to make a homogenous structure, as there is no vibration or external force during layer deposition. This research investigates the structural integrity of Contour Crafted structures using experimental approaches to analyze the bond strength between layers. Initially, a concrete mixture which the compressive and tensile strength is significantly improved through modifying the aggregate size and aggregate to cement ratio is developed. The mixture is compatible with an existing extrusion system and it is tested to quantify the strength at interface for different extrusion rate and layer thickness. The results show that an improvement of up to 16% at interface is achievable for different fabrication conditions.

Garlic (Allium sativum, Liliaceae) is used widely as a spice and medicinal herb not only in its native region (Central Asia and northeastern Iran) but also all around the world. Garlic has abundance chemical compounds such as allicin, alliin, S-allyl cysteines, thiacremonone, diallyl-disulfide, diallylsulfide, and others. This medicinal plant and its constituents offer a lot of benefits including free-radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, anticholesterolemic, anti-gastric ulcer, antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Garlic also modulates the activity of several metabolizing enzymes. This review summarizes various in vitro and animal studies on the protective effects of garlic against natural and chemical toxicities. It has been shown that garlic and its major components can ameliorate the toxicity of different agents in brain, kidney, blood, liver, embryo, spleen, pancreas, heart, reproductive system in part through radical scavenging, antioxidant effect, reducing lipid peroxidation, anti-inflammatory, chelating agent, cytoprotective activities, increase protein synthesis in damaged tissues, suppressing apoptosis, modulation of p53, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, Akt, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, antioxidant responsive element, p38 MAPK, inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, cytosolic phospholipases A2, cleaved-caspase-9, cleaved-caspase-3 Bcl-2, Bcl-2-associated X, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, NF-jB, nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathways and cytochrome P450 enzymes. With controlled clinical trials, garlic may be introduced as a universal antidote or protective plant against many toxic agents.

Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) is a complex, multi-disciplinary, and culture-dependent concept. This study aims to explore a conceptual definition, the subjective framework of CCA including its domains, attributes, and consequences. The approach of qualitative conventional content analysis was considered for the explanation of the subjective concept, and at the same time as the collection process, data analysis was performed using Zhang and Wildemuth's method. The interview method was semi-structured and sampling was targeted and with maximum diversity. The interview was conducted with 22 qualified experts. The accuracy and validity of the data were ensured using Guba and Lincoln scientific accuracy criteria. Six main categories including "sustainability, productivity, stability, empowerment, transformation, and flexibility" were conceptualized in the theme of adaptation characteristics. "Sustainable development, life improvement, response coordination and integration, creativity and innovation, resilience promotion, vulnerability reduction, effective management, and independence" were the main categories in the theme of the adaptation consequences. According to the results, the following conceptual-functional definition can be presented for adaptation to climate change: "CCA refers to the ability of system instability, sustainability, empowerment, productivity, flexibility, and transformation to climate change through the optimal use of resources, resistance, and coping, capacity building and opportunity creation". This definition is conceptual, it means that includes the main features of climate-adaptation and is also functional that is, includes adaptation strategies for climate change.

Background: Educational quality assessments are those activities you undertake to demonstrate the accuracy and precision of your monitoring. A good strategy for increasing educational services quality can be achieved by considering the result of SERVQUAL (Gap Analysis) model. Objectives: Quality measurement of educational services that are offered at the Military University of Medical Science is evaluated based on the SERVQUAL model in this study. Methods: This study is a descriptive-analytic study. In this study, the dimensions of the quality of service provided by the SERVQUAL (Gap Analysis) model have been investigated in Five dimensions including tangible, responsiveness, empathy, reliability, and assurance. Data set of this sectional analytical descriptive study coordinates 317 students and 102 professors’ observations in the mentioned university. Stratified sampling method, according to the number of students and professors in each faculty (five faculties) and SERVQUAL questionnaire, were used. Descriptive statistics and statistical inferences were done by SPSS23 software. Results: Based on the findings, a negative gap was observed in all dimensions of the model. Empathy dimension (-2.215) had the maximum gap value, while the responsiveness dimension (-2.109) had the minimum gap value based on the student’s viewpoint. Moreover, based on the professor’s viewpoint maximum gap was related to physical dimension (-1.866) and the minimum gap was related to the responsiveness dimension (-1.292). Unlike professors, students who are studying in different faculties have not same idea regard to services quality. The quality gap can be sufficiently predicted by using the logistic regression model with assuming age as a predictor variable. Professor’s viewpoint is not affected by their age and gender. Conclusions: Based on the results, student’s and professors’ expectations are greater than their perceptions. Empathy and physical dimensions are the priority of the model as they have a positive relationship with the quality.

Background: Advances in surgical and medical management have significantly reduced the length of time that patients with spinal cord injury have to stay in hospital; however, less attention has been paid to their psychological issues. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the effect of self-care program training on self-efficacy in veteran with spinal cord injury. Methods: This study is a randomized control trial study that in that pre-test/post-test plan with the control group was used. All of the veterans with paraplegia spinal cord injury, who referred to a private hospital in 2017 - 2018, were our statistical study population. Sixty veterans were selected based on the inclusion criteria and purposive sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control by using a table of random numbers. For the intervention group, six sessions of a 60 - 45-minute self-care education were performed. Patients filled Moorong self-efficacy scale before, one week and one month after the intervention. SPSS statistical software version 19 was used to analyze the data using chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, independent t-test, and repeated measures. Results: The results showed that no significant difference was between the two groups of the intervention and control in terms of demographic characteristics. The mean self-efficacy score was 39.26 ± 4.03 in the intervention group, and 38.56 ± 3.99 in the control group before the intervention, which reached to 43.86 ± 5.15 and 38.36 ± 3.89 one week and 51.16 ± 5.36 and 39.26 ± 4.16 one month after the implementation of the intervention, respectively and this difference was significant in the intervention group (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: According to the results, self-care program training is effective in self-efficacy of veterans with spinal cord injury. Therefore, this method is simple, non-invasive, low-cost, and effective in increasing self-efficacy and the treatment of these veterans, which may be applied to nurses.

Background: Gastrointestinal diseases are a major source of mortality and impose high cost in the United States. The stomach is a hollow muscular bag which begins the second stage of digestion. The whole consumed food first passes through this organ, so it is the most important part of the digestive system .Traditional and complementary medicine have always been considered for the selection of new therapies. Iranian traditional medicine is one of the traditional medicine systems whose history dates back to thousands of years ago. In the ITM scientific field which is based on temperament (Mizaj), the gastrointestinal tract, especially the stomach, is of particular importance. Objective: This study is aimed at understanding the concept using the qualitative method and hybrid concept analysis, which collect qualitative data. Method: This study investigates the stomach-related concepts by studying the books and reviewing the views of the professors and experts in this field and patients' experiences. Results: The concept of cold and warm gastric dystemperament was extracted. After the implementation and review of the interview with ITM professors and experts, this concept were out reached. Conclusion: In this study, the concept of cold and warm gastric dystemperaments has been gathered from Iranian traditional medicine books and the opinions of experts and patients' experiences so that we could offer it as an acceptable questionnaire in the future by investigating its validity and reliability for quick and better diagnosis of gastric dystemperaments.