Stress Testing of Banking Systems: an examination against the Shocks of Macroeconomic Variables

In the past years, overdue due receivables of the banks have increased in an unprecedented way compared to all the facilities granted in Iran’s banking network, showing the not very acceptable quality of bank assets that decrease the bank credit and make them financially unstable. The macroeconomic variables in this article are as follow: GDP growth rate, economic growth, exchange rate, inflation rate, unemployment rate, government debt. The decrease in this amount of arrears shows the ability of banks to maintain their resources. At this research, after identifying the macroeconomic variables affecting the default of banks using the stress test and applying one standard deviation with the help of the historical scenario, the study examined the banks’ resilience to the shocks of these variables from 2006 to 2019. The results indicated that the shock of the economic growth rate had the greatest effect. In other words, the decrease in the economic growth rate had the greatest effect on the increase of borrowers’ default rates. In addition to this, shocks of economic growth and government debt have highly effect on the borrowers’ default rates and inflation rate, unemployment rate, GDP growth rate and exchange rate have a significant impact upon borrowers’ default rates

Evaluation of the effect of chain training methods on improvement of household awareness and attitude toward healthy nutrition

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the major causative factors of morbidity and mortality in the world which can be easily prevented through lifestyle changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chain training methods on increasing household awareness on and attitude toward healthy nutrition in order to prevent CVD. METHODS: This study was performed as a community trial. For the purpose of this study, 4 areas were selected and 4 educational methods were conducted in these areas. The participants were told to share their information with their neighbors and relatives in that area (chain training). Primary knowledge of the residents of these areas before and after the intervention were evaluated in a randomly selected sample (n = 400). Data were analyzed using independent t-test, chi-square, and Fisher’s exact test. RESULTS: Pre-intervention and post-intervention mean of knowledge were 16.42 (± 3.5) and 16.4 (± 3.6), respectively (P = 0.025). Pre-intervention and post-intervention mean of knowledge did not differ in area 1, 2, and 4. A statistically significant increase in knowledge was only observed in area 3 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of chain training method by non-governmental organization (NGOs) may not be effective in increasing awareness on healthy lifestyle. Therefore, training through public classes and direct education by health personnel is recommended.

Oral health status and associated lifestyle behaviors in a sample of Iranian adults : an exploratory household survey

Background Poor oral hygiene can lead to serious diseases, such as periodontitis, tooth decay, pain and discomfort in teeth or gums, infections, and loss of teeth. In Iran, adults aged 50 y and older are a high-risk group for oral health problems, and this age group will grow in the coming decades. Despite increasing attention on healthy aging, there is relatively less emphasis on oral hygiene and health-related problems. The present study investigated the oral health status of Iranian adults using the oral health self-assessment questionnaire (OHQ) developed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Methods A population-based household survey of a sample of adults aged 18-65 y was conducted. In this study, the participants were recruited between May and October 2016 in Tabriz, Iran, and the study population was sampled using a multi-stage cluster sampling design. The WHO's OHQ for adults was used for measuring oral health status and oral hygiene behavior. Results In total, 2310 respondents completed the survey. The mean age (SD) of the participants was 41.6(23.4) y. Males accounted for 48.8% of the participants. Of the 2310 respondents,187 (8.1%) individuals were edentulous, 152(20.7%) of whom were aged 51-65 y. Furthermore, 72.3% of those aged 51-65 y were dentate, and 50% of adults aged 51-65 y said they had 20 or more teeth. About one-third of the participants reported that they did not brush their teeth daily (23% of those aged 18-35 y,35.9% of those aged 36-50 y, and 44.6% for those aged 51-65 y). In the sample, 39.4% of individuals aged 18-35 y,34.1% of individuals aged 36-50 y, and 26.6% of individuals aged 51-65 y had visited a dentist less than 6 month ago. One-third of the participants consumed sweets and sugary drinks daily. Conclusions Although the majority of Iranian adults considered their oral health status good, only a small percentage of the sample visited their dentist regularly. Furthermore, visits to the dentist declined in accordance with increasing age, a time when the incidence of oral health problems may increase. Poor oral health may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes, particularly among the aging population

Modeling the Impact of Citizens' Social Responsibility on Sustainable Development Based on the Modifying Role of the COVID-19 Pandemic

In light of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there is a strong correlation between citizens' social responsibility (SR) and sustainable development (SD). Accordingly, the present study aimed to model the impact of citizens' SR on SD concerning the modifying role of the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the data were collected from two target groups, namely, elites (viz. experts and professionals) (n=15) and the citizens of Tehran, Iran (n=384), through a questionnaire. The research model was also designed based on expert opinions, using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), type-II fuzzy logic, and ELECTRE III, and then modified. The given model was subsequently examined by the partial least squares regression (PLS regression). Results showed that if citizens' SR is elevated by about one-unit, social justice, sustainable economy, and stable environment would be augmented by 0.693, 0.735, and 0.583 units, respectively. SD would also grow by 0.485, 0.948, and 0.743 units if social justice, sustainable economy, and sustainable environment increased by one unit. Consequently, the results of the present study confirm the mechanism of the impact of citizens' SR on SD

Intervention to Improve Menstrual Health Among Adolescent Girls Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior in Iran: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: Poor menstrual health may lead to school absenteeism and adverse health outcomes for adolescents. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pubertal and menstrual health education on health and preventive behaviors among Iranian secondary school girls. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a health intervention program. A total of 578 students (including intervention and control participants) in 12 schools in Tehran Province, Iran were included by multistage random sampling. The program comprised seven 2-hour educational sessions. After confirming the reliability and validity of a researcher-made questionnaire, that questionnaire was used to collect the required data, and the groups were followed up with after 6 months. Results: After the educational intervention, the mean scores of menstrual health-related knowledge and constructs of the theory of planned behavior were significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group (p<0.001 for all dimensions). Conclusions: The results of this study emphasize the effectiveness of menstrual health interventions in schools. These findings should also encourage health policy-makers to take committed action to improve performance in schools

Preparation and physicochemical evaluation of transdermal aerosols containing ketoprofen

Purpose: To prepare transdermal ketoprofen metered-dose aerosol formulations containing menthol and isopropyl myristate (IPM) as penetration enhancers and to evaluate their physicochemical and permeation properties.Methods: Selected ratios of ketoprofen, ethanol, polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30, anti-nucleant), and penetration enhancers were mixed and filled into aluminum aerosol cans with hydrofluoroalkane- 134a as propellant. The physicochemical properties of the films, and their ex vivo permeation properties in rat skin were investigated over a 24-h period. Rat skin was exposed to a definite dose of each ketoprofen film to determine the quantity of drug in the receptor compartment over a 24-h period.Results: All the transdermal formulations showed good integrity and film uniformity. Formulations with permeation enhancers presented higher rates of skin penetration compared to control formulations. Formulations containing 3% PVP and 5% IPM produced the highest permeation rates (Jss, 85.35 μg/cm2/h).Conclusion: These results indicate that incorporation of antinucleant polymer and permeation enhancers in aerosols containing ketoprofen enhances aerosol stability and drug permeation through rat skin.Keywords: Ketoprofen, Antinucleant, Permeation enhancer, Topical aerosol, Transdermal deliver

Evaluation of the effect of chain training methods on improvement of household awareness and attitude toward healthy nutrition

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the major causative factors of morbidity and mortality in the world which can be easily prevented through lifestyle changes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of chain training methods on increasing household awareness on and attitude toward healthy nutrition in order to prevent CVD. METHODS: This study was performed as a community trial. For the purpose of this study, 4 areas were selected and 4 educational methods were conducted in these areas. The participants were told to share their information with their neighbors and relatives in that area (chain training). Primary knowledge of the residents of these areas before and after the intervention were evaluated in a randomly selected sample (n = 400). Data were analyzed using independent t-test, chi-square, and Fisher’s exact test. RESULTS: Pre-intervention and post-intervention mean of knowledge were 16.42 (± 3.5) and 16.4 (± 3.6), respectively (P = 0.025). Pre-intervention and post-intervention mean of knowledge did not differ in area 1, 2, and 4. A statistically significant increase in knowledge was only observed in area 3 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of chain training method by non-governmental organization (NGOs) may not be effective in increasing awareness on healthy lifestyle. Therefore, training through public classes and direct education by health personnel is recommended

Relationship between Capital Structure, Free Cash Flow and Performance in Companies Listed on Tehran Stock Exchange

Financial performance criteria are a part of a company's performance criteria, which are used for measuring financial performance. stakeholder groups such as the government, customers and public should enter the scene and with taking advantage of various mechanisms should impose their goals on these companies. The other perspective claims that for-profit companies, considering the effort they make toward obtaining profit, are considered as the best tool for demanding economic productivity and efficiency and that, it is not necessary for them to consider any other goals other than the goals of capital owners (increasing the company's value). This indicates to the importance of performance of companies and in order to obtain maximum outcome in this regard, the effective factors on company performance should be studied carefully.  To this end, the aim of the present study is to explore the relationship between capital structure, free cash flow and performance of companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange and for this purpose, all the companies listed on Tehran Stock Exchange during the time period of 2007 - 2013 were selected by using systematic elimination sampling method as research sample and were studied. Finally, research data were analyzed by multiple regression test and results indicated that there is a significant relationship between equity ratio of a company and its performance. Also, there is a significant relationship between debt ratio (capital structure) of a company and its performance and there is a significant relationship between free cash flow and company performance.  Finally, there is no significant relationship between debt ratio (capital structure) and free cash flow in a company

NH4Cl-CH3OH: an efficient, acid- and metal-free catalyst system for the synthesis of quinoxalines

The direct condensation of various benzene-1,2-diamines [4-R-Ph-(NH2)2, where R = H, Me, Cl and NO2] and 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds (R'-CO-CO-R', where R' = Ph, 4-MeO-Ph and Me) has been successfully achieved mostly in excellent yields (95-100%) using (NH4Cl-CH3OH) as a mild, efficient, cost-effective, readily available, acid-free, metal-free and eco-friendly catalyst system at room temperature. The procedure can be performed for a broad scope of quinoxalines, however, the nature of the functional group on the aromatic ring of 1,2-diamine exerts a strong influence on the time and the reaction yield. The condensation efficiency could be further regulated by the amount of catalyst and reaction time