For comparing reproductive performance of sexed versus conventional semen a total of 3573 heifer insemination records collected from five herds in four provinces of Iran were investigated. The studied provinces were classified into three regions: hot semiarid (Tehran and Alborz provinces), temperate semiarid (Khorasan Razavi province) and cold semiarid (Zanjan province). Various parameters including the conception rate, number of services per conception, calf sex ratio, calf birth weight, gestation length, calving ease score, abortion and stillbirth as well as twining rate were investigated. The logistic regression method was deployed for the analysis of categorical variables while the GLM procedure was applied for the analysis of continuous variables. The average conception rate of sex sorted and conventional semen was 48.3 and 63.8%, respectively. The utilisation of sex sorted semen resulted in 91.1% female calves. The conception rate, number of services per conception, gestation length, calf birth weight and the calf sex ratio were among the reproductive variables that were significantly influenced by the semen sexing. A greater number of services per conception and calving ease score were observed in hot and temperate semiarid areas. These climatic regions also provided a lower incidence of female calf births compared to the cold semiarid regions. Our results highly reaffirm the previous findings on the reproductive performance of sex sorted semen. Yet, climatic and management practices of a herd within a special climate have to be considered when deciding for utilisation of sex sorted semen in a dairy farm. ARTICLE HISTORY

Background: Aggression is a complex behavior affected by different psychological, genetic, and biological factors. Nutrition is an important factor affecting aggressive behavior. Objectives: The aim of the present research was to study the effect of cold and hot nature food on students' mental health and aggressive behavior. Materials and Methods:In a quasi-experimental study, we recruited 61 normal students in Gonabad University of Medical Sciences during summer semester. The students were randomly allocated into three groups for three weeks, of which one group was served with food of normal nature, the second with hot food and the third group with food of cold nature. Students' mental health and aggressive behavior were measured by General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and Buss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire before and after intervention. Results: There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics and physical examination among students of three groups (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference regarding mental health and its components after serving the students with normal, hot, or cold nature food (P > 0.05). No significant differences in aggressive behavior and associated factors were found among three groups of students before and after intervention (P > 0.05). Conclusions:The findings of this study showed that cold and hot nature of food had no effect on students' mental health and aggressive behavior.

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Background Skipping breakfast and replacing it with non-nutritious snacks are progressively increasing among adolescents. This study aimed to develop an educational intervention based on The Social Marketing Model and evaluate its effects on healthy breakfast and snack consumption among female adolescent students. Methods This mixed method study was conducted in 2016–2018 in two phases. In the first phase, a qualitative study was conducted through directed content analysis in guidance schools in Khorramabad, Isfahan, and Tehran, Iran, to explore factors affecting breakfast consumption. The results of this phase were set in the benchmarks of the Social Marketing Model. In the second phase, a randomized controlled trial was conducted based on the benchmarks of the Social Marketing Model on 94 students randomly recruited from guidance schools in Khorramabad, Iran. Results The findings of the qualitative phase were categorized into the benchmarks of the Social Marketing Model, namely the social marketing mix, the intended behavior, internal and external competing factors for behavior modification, theoretical concepts related to the behavior, and the role of supporters. In the quantitative phase, the univariate modeling showed significant between-group differences concerning the product, price, promotion, and behavior (P < 0.05). Conclusion Healthy breakfast and snack consumption can be promoted through making acceptable the tastes, costs, preparations, and consumption places of breakfast and snack.