This study was conducted to create a nutritional database on brown seaweeds and to popularize their consumption and utilization in Iran. The fatty acid contents, amino acids profiles, and certain mineral elements composition of some brown seaweeds, Padina pavonica (L.) Thivy, Dictyota dichotoma (Huds.) J. V. Lamour., and Colpomenia sinuosa (Mert. ex Roth) Derbés et Solier were determined. Total lipid content ranged from 1.46 ± 0.38 to 2.94 ± 0.94 g · 100 g(-1) dry weight (dwt), and the most abundant fatty acids were C16:0, C18:1, C20:4 ω6, and C20:5 ω3. The unsaturated fatty acids predominated in all species and had balanced sources of ω3 and ω6 acids. Highest total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels occurred in C. sinuosa. The protein content of D. dichotoma was 17.73 ± 0.29 g · 100 g(-1) dwt, significantly higher than the other seaweeds examined. Among amino acids essential to human nutrition, methionine (Met; in D. dichotoma and P. pavonica) and lysine (Lys; in C. sinuosa) were present in high concentrations. The crude fiber content varied by 9.5 ± 11.6 g · 100 g(-1) dwt in all species. Chemical analysis indicated that ash content was between 27.02 ± 0.6 and 39.28 ± 0.7 g · 100 g(-1) dwt, and that these seaweeds contained higher amounts of both macrominerals (7,308-9,160 mg · 100 g(-1) dwt; Na, K, Ca) and trace elements (263-1,594 mg · 100 g(-1) dwt; Fe, Ni, Mn, Cu, Co) than have been reported for edible land plants. C. sinuosa had the highest amount of Ca, Fe, and a considerable content of Na was measured in P. pavonica.

No abstract

ObjectivesAs the largest group providing healthcare services, nurses require well-designed information systems in their practice. This study aims to evaluate the usability of nursing information systems (NIS).MethodsThis cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015. The settings of the study consisted of four hospitals affiliated with three medical universities in Tehran (Iran). The subjects of the study included nurses who had access to and used a NIS developed by four major software companies. The data were collected using a modified version of a usability questionnaire known as IsoMetrics, based on the International Standard ISO 9241, Part 11. The questionnaire is composed of 35 questions divided into seven general criteria. The validity of the questionnaire was determined by experts in the field, and the reliability was checked using Cronbach's alpha (α = 0.91). The questionnaire was then distributed to 184 nurses.ResultsThe response rate was 64.6%. Among the seven ISO usability criteria, suitability for the task (3.10 ± 1.24) and suitability for learning (3.10 ± 1.27) had the highest mean value. The lowest mean value (2.37 ± 1.29) was related to the suitability for individualization.ConclusionsAddressing issues related to individualization and self-descriptiveness could improve the usability of nursing systems. Considering usability requirements in the design of a NIS will lead to the efficient and effective use of these systems.

Abstract. An experiment was designed to investigate the effects of soybean, sunflower oil and dietary Lcarnitine supplementation on growth performance, some blood biochemical parameters and antibody titer against Newcastle disease of broiler chicks. A 5-week feeding trial, 240 1-day old male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments as a 3 × 2 factorial experimental design where three sources of dietary oil contained soybean, sunflower and soybean plus sunflower oil with and without 120 mg kg −1 of Lcarnitine supplementation in the diet. Results showed that soybean oil with L-carnitine significantly improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of broiler chicks in the grower and total period of rearing (p < 0.05). L-carnitine supplementation significantly increased total protein, globulin, cholesterol, HDL and LDL (high-and low-density lipoprotein) of blood serum in broiler chicks (p < 0.05). L-carnitine supplementation increased antibody titer against Newcastle disease of chicks and the highest levels were observed in those with the supplement of L-carnitine in the soybean oil dietary treatment. Results of this experiment showed that the growth performance and blood biochemical responses of broiler chicks to dietary supplementation with L-carnitine in dietary oil source and soybean oil, in comparison to sunflower oil, is the better plant oil for growth and immunological performance of broiler chicks.

Introduction:To obtain necessary information for managing communicable diseases, different countries have developed national communicable diseases surveillance systems (NCDSS). Exploiting the lesson learned from the leading countries in development of surveillance systems provides the foundation for developing these systems in other countries. In this study, the information and organizational structure of NCDSS in developed countries were reviewed.Methods:The study reviewed publications found on the organizational structure, content and data flow of NCDSS in the United States of America (USA), Australia and Germany that were published in English between 2000 and 2016. The publications were identified by searching the CINAHL, Science Direct, ProQuest, PubMed, Google Scholar databases and the related databases in selected countries.Results:Thirty-four studies were investigated. All of the reviewed countries have implemented the NCDSS. In majority of countries the department of health (DoH) is responsible for managing this system. The reviewed countries have created a minimum data set for reporting communicable diseases data and information.Conclusion:For developing NCDSS, establishing coordinator centers, setting the effective policies and procedures, providing appropriate communication infrastructures for data exchange and defining a communicable diseases minimum data set are essential.

No abstract

BackgroundLong-term complications and high costs of cerebral palsy (CP) as well as inconsistency in data related to this disease reveal the need for extensive planning to obtain accurate and complete data for the effective management of patients.ObjectiveThe present study reviews the information architecture of CP information system.MethodThe relevant articles published from early 1988 to 31 July 2018 were extracted through searching PubMed, Scopus, Cochran, Web of Science and Embase databases conducted independently by two researchers.ResultsA total of 39 articles on CP information system were reviewed. Hospitals, rehabilitation centres and outpatient clinics were found to be the main organisations in charge of generating CP data. Each CP database used several data sources, with hospitals serving as the most important sources of information and the main generators of data. The main CP datasets were categorised into four groups of demographic data, diagnosis, motor function and visual impairment. The majority of data standards were related to the use of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and the Gross Motor Function Classification System. Finally, accuracy, completeness and consistency were the criteria employed in data quality control.ConclusionDeveloping a robust CP information system requires deploying the principles of information architecture when developing the system, as these can improve data structure and content of CP system, as well as data quality and data sharing.

No abstract