Aims: Nowadays, with the aim of reducing conflicts or inconsistencies between couples, different methods of couples therapy are introduced. Self-regulation couples therapy pattern is the application of self-control behavioral theory in the relationship problems. This model is a development of cognitive behavioral couples therapy and also is an attempt to provide an eclectically integrated framework for the use of different methods of couple therapy. The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of self-regulatory brief couples therapy on reducing the couples' marital stress. Materials & Methods: In this quasi-experimental study and with the pretest-posttest model 16 couples which were referred to Golha House Health in the 6th district of Tehran City in Summer 2014 were selected by accessible sampling method and were divided to 2 experimental and control groups (each of 8 couples). The research tool was Stockholm- Tehran Marital Stress Scale (STMSS) which completed in the pretest and posttest by the samples. Data were analyzed using univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS 20 software. Findings: The average score of marital stress in experimental group was significantly reduced according to control group in posttest (p=0.0001). Conclusion: Self-regulatory brief marital therapy is effective in reducing couple’s marital stress.

Aims: Leachate is a type of highly concentrated wastewater containing chemical and microbial contaminants. Leachate discharged in receiving earth and water leads to the diffusion of different types of dangerous environmental pollutions. The aim of this study was to reduce the coliform bacteria in fresh urban leachate through electrolysis equipped by copper-iron combined electrodes.

Materials & Methods: In the laboratory-experimental study, 36 fresh leachate samples were prepared from urban solid-waste collecting trucks in Gonabad using standard combined method from July to November 2015. The leachate samples were poured into a closed reactor containing three copper-iron combined electrode pairs. Data was analyzed by SPSS 18 software using one-way ANOVA.

Findings: The higher the voltage and reaction time were, the higher the coliform removal was. In 60 minutes, all three voltages removed 100% of microbial pollution. There was a significant difference between the rate of the removed coliforms through different voltages in 15, 30, and 45 minutes (p<0.05). The rates of the removed coliforms in different reaction times were significant in 10V (p=0.001) and 20V (p=0.002).

Conclusion: Through the utilization of copper-iron combined electrodes and applied proper voltages, the electro-chemical method can be used as a clean and eco-friendly method to remove the coliform bacteria from fresh leachate.

Aims: One of the major components of waste comprehensive management is the recycling. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of awareness, attitude, and performance of the housewives in Gonabad towards home wastes recycling.

Instrument & Methods: In the descriptive-analytical study, 253 housewives were studied in 2015. The subjects were randomly selected based on the family files recorded by the health centers of Gonabad. Data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of 4 parts including demographic information (5 questions), awareness (6 questions), attitude (10 questions), and performance assessment (8 questions). 33.3%, 33.3-66.6%, and 66.7-100% of the scores were classified as weak, moderate, and good, respectively. Data was analyzed using multivariate ANOVA.

Findings: The awareness levels of 13.6%, 27.4%, and 59.0% of the housewives were weak, moderate, and good, respectively. 6, 50.1, and 43.9% of the housewives were with weak, moderate, and good attitudes towards the recycling, respectively. 31.1%, 49.1%, and 19.8% of the housewives were with weak, moderate, and good performances, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the educational level of the housewives and the levels of their awareness and attitudes (p=0.025). The performance of the families with their heads working at the non-governmental sectors was significantly better than other groups (p=0.026).

Conclusion: 59%, 50%, and 19.8% of the housewives in Gonabad are with good awareness, attitude, and performance towards the urban waste recycling, respectively.

Aims: Following the peripheral nervous system trauma, prescribing anti-inflammatory agents is one of the strategies to control the damage and promoting the recovery process. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methylprednisolone on improvement of motor function and tissue changes following sciatic nerve transection and repairing by decellularized scaffolds transplantation in rats.

Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 50 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 10; negative control group (receiving no medication with transection of the sciatic nerve), sham group (nerve-mediated surgery with solvent drug), experimental groups 1 and 2 (transection of the sciatic nerve and scaffold transplantation with 1- and 30mg/kg of methylprednisolone intraperitoneally) and experimental group 3 (transection of the sciatic nerve and scaffold transplantation with solvent drug). Behavioral, electrophysiological and tissue tests were performed during the experiment. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software and using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests.

Findings:  the rate of repair and improvement of motor function was increased significantly in the treated groups with methylprednisolone compared to the control group (p<0.05). Musculoskeletal atrophy of gastrocnemius was decreased in methylprednisolone treated groups. In addition, the number of neural fibers, axon diameter and thickness of myelin sheath were significantly higher in the treated groups (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The prescription of methylprednisolone increases the amount of motor improvement and tissue repair after the sciatic nerve transection and the decellularized scaffold transplantation. Recovery of the motor and tissue functions at high dose of methylprednisolone is better than low dose.