Microstructural examination and mechanical characterization of Ti/HA and Ti/SiO2 functionally graded materials fabricated at different loading rates.

Functionally graded material (FGM) is a heterogeneous composite material that consists of two or more constituent phases with continuous changes in the microstructure from one material to another with adjustable through thickness properties. FGMs are utilized in medical applications, such as dental implants, due to their excellent mechanical and tribological properties. In this study, the powder metallurgy method (PMM) is used to produce Titanum/Hydroxyapatite (Ti/HA) and Titanum/Silicon dioxide (Ti/SiO2) FGM samples. A new designed blender is employed to mix the particles constituting the FGM samples. The mixed particles are then compacted at different strain rates from quasi static loading, using a universal testing apparatus, to dynamic loadings, using a drop hammer and a split Hopkinson bar. The effect of strain rate on mechanical properties and microstructure of specimens is studied by conducting various tests such as indentation and compression tests and by microstructural examinations using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the relative density of fabricated specimens was increased with the increase of the strain rate. The highest relative density for the Ti/HA composite was achieved for the specimens produced by the split Hopkinson bar. For both of Ti/HA and Ti/SiO2 FGMs the maximum indentation force and indentation energy, obtained from the load-penetration depth curve, and the ultimate strength, obtained from the compressive stress-strain curve, were increased with the increase in strain rate. The results also indicated that the increase in volume fraction of reinforcing ceramic particles (HA or SiO2) led to the decrease of the maximum indentation force and indentation energy.

Determination and Diversity of Bovine Coccidia in Zabol, East of Iran.

The present study was designed to investigate the prevalence of Eimeria spp. in Zabol, east of Iran. The samples were examined microscopically for the presence of oocysts from February 2015 to December 2016. Out of 196 cattle, 124 (63.26%) were identified to be positive for Eimeria species. Eight species of Eimeria were found as follows: E. bovis (42.54%), E. zuernii (38.67%), E. subspherica (5.52%), E. brasiliensis (4.97%), E. ellipsoidalis (4.41%), E. cylindrical (1.65%), E. pellita (1.65%), and E. wyomingensis (0.55%). Multiple infections with two or three species were identified in 56 (45.16%) and 2 (1.61%) cases, respectively. The infection rate was observed to be higher in calves (75%) as compared to adult cattle (59.02%). The prevalence of Eimeria was greater in female cattle (67.94%). The highest prevalence and mean number of oocysts were observed in winter (69%) and autumn (209.09), respectively. All the faecal samples had an oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) less than 1000. The prevalence of infection and mean OPG were directly correlated with rainfall and relative humidity and inversely correlated with temperature. Considering the high prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in Zabol, increasing awareness of farmers and veterinarians regarding the economic importance of bovine coccidiosis should be regarded as an important factor in preventing and controlling the infection.

Problems of providing services to people affected by HIV/AIDS: service providers and recipients perspectives.

This qualitative study aimed to identify the health-care problems of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2 large cities: Tehran and Kermanshah. Two main groups of stakeholders - service providers (policy-makers, managers, physicians and counsellors) and service recipients (PLHIV and their relatives) - participated in focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. We identified 24 themes covering the major health problems of PLHIV, including: incomplete and inadequate coverage of health-care services; patients' substance abuse; patients' fear of stigma; occupational burnout of certain service providers; patients' dissatisfaction with some of the services provided by counselling centres/clinics; medical staff's failure to observe confidentiality; and patients' lack of access to required specialized services. The problems and needs identified can inform the design and implementation of health programmes in our country and elsewhere in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Tinidazole removal from aqueous solution by sonolysis in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

Aqueous solutions of the tinidazole (TNZ) have been treated by applying the combination of ultrasound irradiation and H2O2. Based on the results, the maximum removal efficiency of 75% was achieved under the optimum operating conditions (pH 3, 120 kHz frequency, 333 mM/L of H2O2 and 150 min of operating time) while, under the same conditions the minimum removal efficiency was found to be 8.5 by ultrasound radiation in the absence of H2O2. The results also revealed that the degradation of TNZ was enhanced with decreasing both TNZ initial concentrations and pH. Furthermore, TNZ removal efficiency in the case of actual wastewater was less than of synthetic wastewater (75% and 68% of synthetic and actual, respectively). According to the chromatographic analyses, no harmful intermediate compounds were observed. The chemical oxygen demand analysis (65% reduction) confirmed our findings.