[Assessment of hazard kiln cement factory with failure mode effects and criticality analysis [FMECA]]

Technique of Failure Modes Effects and Criticality Analysis, FMECA, is a method for identifying and analyzing all potential failure modes of a system.This technique is used to prevent failures and to reduce their effects on the system. The main goal of this study was identifying and analyzing of the potential failure modes and assessing the effects of failures in the cement kiln by FMECA method. First the boundaries of the system were determined and then system was divided into its components [systems and subsystems] at a specified level with respect to the analysis goals. Then, effects of failures on production and system were appointed and causes and severity of failures were determined. Finally the results were recorded in FMECA appropriate worksheet. Meanwhile failure priority was presented. Totally one hundered failures were identified. While the highest risk priority number was related to body warping with RPN = 270, the lowest risk priority numbers [RPN=15] were associated to lacking of air supply by fan and unproperly acting of the main brake of kiln. The maximum frequency of failures was found in the kiln body. This study indicated that one failure may lead to other defects in various components of the system itself. Therefore, the implementation of a documentation system to record defects was emphasized in order to improve the machinery safety level. Furthermore, it can be concluded that a planned preventive maintenance could effectively decrease the probability of failures and number of defects consequently.

[Citation and quantitative analysis for articles of "Iran Occupational Health" journal affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences]

Nowadays, citation analysis study of journal is a common type of research. For the first time, "Iran Journal of Occupational Health" [IJOH] is considered for a quantitative and a citation analysis study. Using a descriptive cross-sectional study, all IJOH issues with scientific-research grade [n=12, including 106 papers] were investigated. The study tool was an author-made questionnaire and also an inventory. The data was gathered directly from the original published journals. Collected data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 Software. Findings showed that the majority of articles have used a descriptive cross-sectional method. The subject most surveyed was ergonomics. The majority of studies used enumerative sampling method and cited to English references more than Persian. Male authors were five times more than the females and team-work corporation coefficient was calculated 0.62. There was no normal distribution of subjects among articles. English references were cited more than Persian ones maybe because of short of Persian resources of Persian poor indexing systems. The most repeated study methods were observational. Therefore, it is clear that interventional and other types of studies should be considered are ignored. Conditions and facilities must be enhanced for facilitating other types of studies

Trends in prevalent injuries among Iranian pilgrims in Hajj

Annually millions of Muslims depart to Saudi Arabia for performing a religious pilgrimage called "Hajj". In this ceremony, pilgrims face numerous health hazards and injuries such as pressing in overcrowding, sliding, burning, falling down, traffic accidents etc. The main purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of injuries in Hajj period across 2004 to 2008. This study was conducted on 253808 Iranian pilgrims on five consecutive years of Hajj ceremonies, from 2004 to 2008. We used a report sheet with 13 types of injuries and 13 mechanisms of these injuries. SPSS V13.5 soft ware was used for analyzing the data. ANOVA and independent sample t- test was conducted, and relationships were considered significant at P< 0.05. The most common injuries was "tissue contusions and ruptures "[about 76/10000], and "tendon lesions" [about 62/10000]. In addition, the most common mechanism of injuries was "ankle sprain" [69/10000] during the five consecutive years. The prevalence of all fractures was about 49/10000 and the proportion of burning with hot water or fire was about 40/10000. Changes of all causes of the injuries were significant in this study [P< 0.05]. We have suggested some directions for preventing of injuries and related Injuries in Hajj, in this study

Effects of vitamin C on testicular and seminal characteristics of markhoz goats

The effect of subcutaneous injections of vitamin C on the seminal characteristics of Markhoz bucks [2-4-year-old] was studied. The bucks, trained to serve an artificial vagina, were randomly allotted into three equal groups [n=4] and received daily either zero [1 mL normal saline; control group], or 20 [VitC20 group] or 40 [VitC40 group] mg per kg body weight vitamin C from July 06, 2006 to Oct. 06, 2006. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein at monthly inter, als, and semen samples were collected at 15-day intervals. Testicular dimensions in the scrotum [circumference, width, and length] were also determined on the day before semen collection. The ejaculates were evaluated for volume, sperm concentration, pH, motility, and abnormal and live sperm. Testing measurements were not affected by administration of vitamin C. The abnormal and live sperm. Testicular measurement were not affected by administration of vitamin C. The vitamin C in the blood plasma and seminal fluid, sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm abnormality, and the number of live-normal sperm in the ejaculate. Vitamin C increased the levels of vitamin C in blood and seminal plasma. Both doses of vitamin C increased the percentage of progressively motile sperm showing forward motility. VitC40 injection for 90 days increased sperm motility and the effect was still evident up to 30 days after the cessation of injections. The percentage of live sperm and mass motility showed similar trends. Both doses were equally effective in decreasing the percentage of abnormal sperm. The total number of live and normal sperm in the ejaculate increased by vitamin C injections and the effect was still evident of live and normal sperm in the ejaculate increased by vitamin C injections and the effect was still evident after the injections had been discontinued. The present data indicates the importance of vitamin C in the reproduction of male goats, as also shown for several mammalian species. They further show that under certain conditions, the in vivo synthesis of this vitamin in ruminants might not be sufficient for optimum reproduction