effect of saccharomyces strains and fermentation condition on the ph, foam property and CO2 concentration of non-alcoholic beer [Ma-al-shaeer]

This study aims to determine the effect of fermentation condition and Saccharomyces strains on the pH, foam property and CO[2] concentration of non-alcoholic beer [Ma-al-shaeer]. For this, the beer samples were inoculated with four different species of Saccharomyces [Saccharomyces rouxii 70531, S. rouxii 70535, S. ludwigii 3447 and S. cerevisiae 70424] and fermented for 48h in both aerobic and periodic aeration at three different temperatures. Then their pH, CO[2] concentration and foam property were analyzed in 12h intervals during 48h fermentation. The results shows that the treatments with 4×10[7] CFU.ml[-1] and periodic aeration at 24?C showed the greatest decrease in pH, and the treatments with 10[7] CFU.ml[-1] and aerobic-periodic aeration at 4?C showed the lowest decrease in pH. The highest and lowest amounts of CO[2] and foam property were obtained in the treatments with 4×10[7] CFU.ml[-1] inoculation, aerobic condition, and the treatments with 10[7] CFU.ml[-1], periodic aeration, respectively. These results further demonstrated that the highest drop in pH, and the highest ability of producing CO[2] and foam were for S. cerevisiae 70424, and the lowest belonged to S. rouxii 70531. The overall outcome of the study points to the fact that physico-chemical properties of Ma-al-shaeer is important from the consumers' point of view. Therefore, S. cerevisiae with 4×10[7] CFU.ml[-1] inoculation and aerobic condition at 4°C has promising potential for producing Ma-al-shaeer with good physicochemical properties

Knowledge and attitude toward oral and dental health among Zahedan's guidance school students

As need assessment is the first step for oral health promotion, the level of knowledge and attitude toward oral and dental health among Zahedan's junior school students was evaluated in this research. In this cross - sectional descriptive research, 800 students among junior school [431 boys and 369 girls] were chosen through cluster sampling method. Data was gathered through a self report questionnaire including gender, level of education, school type, parent occupation and level of their education, knowledge and attitude among students. The data were analyzed by SPSS [ver. 10] and chi - square statistics. Sixty percent of students had moderate level of knowledge and 29.6% had desired knowledge. 17.3% held positive attitude and 45% held a moderate attitude toward oral and dental health. Significant relationship was found between oral health knowledge and attitudes of parents with their educational level and occupation [P<0.001]. There was also a significant relationship between student's educational level, school type, and gender with oral health knowledge [P<0.001]. The girls and students of private schools and last year of junior high school had a better level of knowledge. 56.5% of students brushed at least twice daily and 18.8% used dental floss. 43% of students had not dental visit for the past 12 months. The most important source of oral and dental health information of 75% of students were dentists and parents, and there was a direct relationship between health habits [at least brushing twice a day and using dental floss] and visiting the dentist in the last year with the level of knowledge and attitudes. The level of knowledge of Zahedan's junior high school students about oral health was not enough which may be due to poor teacher's role in education of oral and dental health

Coping strategies used by parents of children with cancer in Shiraz, Southern Iran

The assessment of family coping patterns and resources will provide a further basis for helping family's adaptation. This study was undertaken to assess the coping strategies used by parents of children with cancer in Aliasghar Cancer Hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. Data collection was conducted based upon Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scale [F-COPES] including social and spiritual support, reframing, seeking help and passive appraisal. A total of 72 parents including 28 couples, 8 single mothers and 8 single fathers participated in this study. The spiritual support ranked the highest and the social help, the lowest strategies used by the parents. Seeking help, reframing and passive appraisal were the remaining strategies. Statistically significant differences were found between the age of participants and reframing and seeking help strategies. A significant difference was also observed between the level of parent's education and reframing strategy but not between gender and coping strategies. Familiarity with coping strategies and the method to use them could balance the emotional, psychological and social consequences of parents who have a child with cancer