Physicians' Knowledge about Radiation Dose in Radiological Investigation in Iran

BACKGROUND

Although ionizing radiation is very important in diagnostic and treatment of many diseases, the hazards of this radiation are considerable and irrefutable. One of the main stages in radiation protection is knowledge about radiation dose in radiological investigation. The aim of this study was to determine the physicians' knowledge in radiological examinations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The data collected by questionnaire were designed and the most commonly requested radiological investigations were listed. The questionnaire was distributed among 106 consultant physicians. The survey was conducted on the awareness about the radiation dose and risks among health professionals in Iran.

RESULTS

The results indicated that the majority of physicians did not know about ionizing radiation and evaluation of absorbed dose in patients. Many of these physicians were not aware of radiations risks and the most important aspects of radiation protection; although, they have passed some courses in radiobiology and medical physics.

CONCLUSION

Since radiological examinations play an indispensable role in medicine, knowledge about radiation doses and hazards is very important. Generally, this study showed that knowledge of radiation doses is inadequate among physicians.

Nitrogen removal by ANAMMOX and simultaneous nitrification–denitrification (SND) processes in a novel single airlift bioreactor

The aim of this research was to assess anaerobic ammonium oxidation and simultaneous nitrification–denitrification processes in a novel continuous feed and intermittent discharge airlift bioreactor which provides anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic zones by physical separation.

Response surface analysis of effects of hydraulic retention time and influent feed concentration on performance of an UASFF bioreactor

The interactive effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and influent chemical oxygen demand (COD(in)) on the performance of an up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed film (UASFF) bioreactor treating palm oil mill effluent (POME) was studied. Anaerobic digestion of POME was modeled and analyzed with two variables i.e. HRT and COD(in). Experiments were conducted based on a general factorial design and analyzed using response surface methodology (RSM). The region of exploration for digestion of POME was taken as the area enclosed by HRT (1-6 days) and COD(in) (5260-34,725 mg/l) boundaries. Eight dependent parameters were either directly measured or calculated as response. Increase in the variables resulted in decrease in COD removal efficiency, solid retention time (SRT) and sludge retention factor (SRF) and increase of COD removal rate, volatile fatty acid to alkalinity ratio (VFA/Alk), CO(2) percentage in biogas and methane production rate. The value of the maximum specific microbial growth rate (micro(m)) determined through the equation that correlated organic loading rate (OLR) and mu (calculated by quadratic model for SRF) was found to be 0.153 d(-1). This value was close to that obtained using Chen and Hashimoto kinetic equation (0.207 d(-1)) in a previous study. The present study provides valuable information about interrelations of quality and process parameters in POME digestion using a UASFF bioreactor.

Evaluation of chickpea resistance against some isolates of Ascochyta rabiei, the causal agent of ascochyta blight

Ascochyta blight, incited by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab., is one of the most important fungal diseases that has been shown to cause significant yield losses on chickpeas in Kermanshah province, Iran. One of the most effective and reliable methods of controlling the disease has been the use of resistant cultivars worldwide. This requires the identification of the physiological races of the fungus in the region in advance. In this regard, pathogenicity of 30 isolates of A. rabiei was determined using 10 differential chickpea varieties (mean of 1-9 degree of disease in three replications) under greenhouse conditions. In this respect, isolates fell into four groups, whereas based on infection type three groups were identified using cluster analysis. Disease resistance of four chickpea cultivars, Hashem, Jam, ILC-482 and Bivanij, were evaluated against isolates from each of three groups separately and in combination in the greenhouse and field conditions (with 4 replications). The experiment was repeated twice with three replications in greenhouse. Chickpea cultivars were sprayed with fungal spore suspension (2x10(5) spores/ml). Results showed that Jam and Bivanij cultivars were susceptible under greenhouse as well as field conditions. Hashem was tolerant to group I and susceptible to groups II and III and in the field. ILC-482 was tolerant to groups II and I and susceptible to group III and the combination of groups under greenhouse condition.