Ground rubber contains 15-20 g Zn kg −1 but very low levels of Cd and could serve as an inexpensive byproduct Zn fertilizer. The aim of this investigation was to test Zn release in a soil treated with ground tire rubber and rubber ash compared with commercial Zn fertilizer and a laboratory grade zinc sulfate. A Zn-deficient soil was chosen from wheat fields in Isfahan province, central Iran, and the ground rubber, rubber ash and fertilizer-Zn and laboratory ZnSO 4 were added at 0.5 and 2 mg Zn kg −1 ; 0.5 kg ha −1 would usually correct Zn deficiency in such pot tests. The soil DTPA-extractable Zn was then measured with time and the results were described examining first order, Elovich, power function and parabolic diffusion kinetics models. In the pot experiment, corn (Zea mays L.) plants were exposed to three rates of Zn (0, 20, 40 mg Zn kg −1 ) from two different sources (ZnSO 4 and ground rubber). Ground rubber was applied as 2-3 mm and <1 mm diameter particles. Zinc treatments were mixed with the soils before planting. At harvest, concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd in roots and shoots of corn were measured. Results showed that ground rubber and rubber ash significantly increased the concentration of DTPA-Zn in the soil and this increase was higher than achieved with the commercial Zn fertilizer. At the lower Zn application rate, Zn release followed parabolic diffusion, while at the higher rate the kinetics of release followed power function and Elovich models. There was an increase in Zn concentration of corn shoot and roots by adding of Zn regardless the source of applied Zn. With increase in the rate of rubber used, the shoot Zn uptake increased. The Pb concentration of shoot and Cd concentrations of shoot and roots were low (less than 0.02 mg kg −1 ) in all treatments. The results showed that the soil DTPA Zn decreases over time if the soil is amended with a soluble form of Zn whereas the reverse was observed if the Zn is added as ground rubber which only gradually transforms. Thus ground rubber and rubber ash offer strong value as Zn fertilizer for Zn deficient soils.

Introduction: The relationship between caregivers and patients plays a vital role in providing effective care. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of group logo therapy on the burden of hemodialysis patients’ caregivers. Patients and Methods: The present research was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design. The study population was all caregivers of hemodialysis patients in Qazvin. The sample of this study consisted of 100 caregivers (50 participants in the intervention group and 50 participants in the control group) who were selected according to the inclusion criteria and then randomly allocated in two groups. After the initial evaluation of burden in both groups, 10 sessions, (90 minutes for each session) logo therapy was conducted for intervention group. Immediately after the end of the course and one month later, the intensity of caregiver burden in both groups was measured. The data collection tools were demographic questionnaires for the patient and caregiver and the Zarit Burden Interview. Results: In this study we found, the intervention group with a mean score of 44.6±7.4 and the control group with a mean score of 44.8±5.38 experienced severe burden. Regarding the effect of logo therapy on caregiver burden, the results showed that the mean score of burden before the intervention was 44.6±7.4 and immediately after the intervention and one month later were 37.2±12.6 and 2.14±6.34, respectively (P<0.001). Conclusion: The findings showed the positive effect of group logo therapy on reducing the burden of hemodialysis patients’ caregivers. Considering the high level of caregiver burden, it appears that the application of logo therapy in educational programs for dialysis centers is necessary to reduce the caregiver burden and improve the quality of life.

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