Study and Analysis of Optimized Site-selection for Urban Green Space by Using Fuzzy logic: Case Study: Seventh Region of Ahvaz Municipality

Public land-uses in many cities are not able to present desirable services to citizens because of some problems such as high population density, lack of regularity in establishment and site-selection, and lack of attention to accessibility radius and population thresholds. This problem is magnified in big cities especially for land-uses such as green spaces. In urban supplying services only increasing of services is not a reason for proper supplying services but more important is optimized distribution of these centers. In this regard, present paper based on descriptive-analytical method as well as GIS follows optimized distribution of green space in the cities according to site-selection principals of urban green space. Case study is region 7 of Ahvaz municipality which has a population of 150215 persons and 2.78 green space capita, and this amount in addition to significant difference to standards determined by environment united nations (20-25 for a person), has been not distributed optimally. Regarding this city locating warm and dry zone of the earth, it is very important to select an optimized site for green spaces .Hence, in order to select a proper and optimized site for the green spaces according to site-selection principals layers (criteria) such as vicinity to residential centers, educational centers, cultural centers, urban infrastructures and establishments, commercial centers, hygienic centers, industrial centers and wastelands and etc. have been used. Research results in fuzzy logic valued region lands based on their importance in recognizing optimized location. Afterward, these lands were compared with land-use map and it was distinguished that lands with very good, good, and medium degree were placed close to residential, cultural, and educational centers which had more governmental ownership, and lands with weak and very weak degree were placed far from compatible land-uses, and were more placed close to industrial, administrative, hygienic sportive, and commercial centers which often had private ownership, therefore, they were not suggested for creating green space

Barriers to research activities of faculty members in Islamic Azad University

Background: The present study was conducted to determine the inhibiting factors of research activities among the faculty members of Islamic Azad University.  Methods: In the present cross-sectional study, conducted between 2009-2013, 300 faculty members of Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, were selected following stratified random sampling method. Data collection instrument was a questionnaire comprising 20 questions about their research activities and 22 questions about their unwillingness to perform research activities.  Results: A total of 254 faculty members participated in the present study. About 15% of the participants were female. The findings of the current study showed that a) lack of physical space for work, study, and research, b) unfamiliarity with the searching methods on the Internet, and c) lack of sufficient familiarity with research methods and Statistics were the most important obstacles for the participant to carry out research projects.  Conclusion: Supporting the researcher financially and spiritually, considering the priorities and research needs, honoring the social status of faculty members, creating a calm and active environment for them, and removing encumbering administrative rules and regulations can help faculty members become eager to join in scientific research projects.

Dyslipidemia Prevalence in Iranian Adult Men: The Impact of Population-Based Screening on the Detection of Undiagnosed Patients

Purpose: Dyslipidemia has been established as one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Due to the higher prevalence of dyslipidemia in males, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of dyslipidemia in Iranian urban men. Materials and Methods: A screening program was conducted in 845 Iranian men 25 years of age and older in 2014. A health interview survey was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of self-reported dyslipidemia and to collect demographic data, as well as serum lipid profile screening by a reference laboratory. Lipoprotein levels was categorized based on the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria and the data were analyzed using the chi-square test and analysis of variance. Results: The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 51.8%, and the prevalence of various forms of dyslipidemia was as follows: hypercholesterolemia (>= 240 mg/dL), 11.4%; hyper-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (>= 160 mg/dL), 9.6%; hypertriglyceridemia (>= 200 mg/dL), 25%; and hypo-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (<40 mg/dL), 34.3%. With the exception of hypo-HDL, all forms of dyslipidemia were significantly less common in men over 65 years of age ( p<0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of hypo-HDL and hypertriglyceridemia was higher than expected in Iranian adult men, with half of men 25 years of age and older affected by at least one form of dyslipidemia. A large gap in primary and secondary care was observed, because nearly 80% of patients with dyslipidemia were unaware of their status. Urgent preventive programs and lifestyle changes are necessary to reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors

The Factors Predicting Quality of Life in Elderly People in Kerman Using PRECEDE Model

Background: As life expectancy and the population of old people increases, quality of life in elderly people becomes more important. The aim of this study was to determine the factors predicting quality of life in elderly people using PRECEDE model. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study. Data were collected using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL)–BREF questionnaire and another questionnaire including 67 questions according to the PRECEDE model components, which its reliability and validity were approved. Multi-stage random sampling method was used in two healthcare centers in Kerman and 80 elderly people were selected. Date were analyzed using linear regression and statistical indices via SPSS 15. Results: The mean age of participants was 67.7±7.1 years old, and most of them were female and married. The quality of life of elderly people was moderate. Among components of the PRECEDE model, knowledge (a component of predisposing factors) and enabling factors were the most significant factors predicting quality of life among the participants (R2 =0.46). Conclusion: According to the results, enabling factors and knowledge (a component of predisposing factors) were identified as the most important factors predicting quality of life. Therefore, more focus on these factors in educational programs for elderly people is recommended

Caenorhabditis elegans as a Valuable Model for Studying Apoptosis and Autophagy in Cancer Development: Current insights, Future directions, and Challenges

Abstract Despite significant progress in the fight against cancer, cancer treatment remains a significant public health concern and a societal burden worldwide. To develop better intervention strategies to counter tumor development, it is important to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying oncogenic diseases. In-vivo and in-vitro models have traditionally been utilized to understand the biological processes involved in cancer, including apoptosis, proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, genome instability, and metabolism. The present review aims to look at the way Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) can affect cancer cellular and molecular bases, concentrating on mechanisms like apoptosis and autophagy. In recent years, . elegans has emerged as a promising model organism for studying the molecular basis of tumorigenesis. This model organism is attractive since it is genetically tractable and has a simple and well-understood anatomy. The C. elegans exhibits conserved cellular pathways and mechanisms relevant to human diseases, including cancer. Furthermore, C. elegans has been used to study the roles of tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes in tumorigenesis. In conclusion, C. elegans is an emerging animal model that has the potential to facilitate the development of better intervention strategies to prevent or counter tumor development and to advance our understanding of cancer progression with further research. https://jlar.rovedar.com/index.php/JLAR/article/view/1

The Effect of Educational Intervention Based on the Health Belief Model on Medication Adherence among Patients with Diabetes Referred to a Diabetes Center in Zarand, Kerman

Background: Medication adherence in patients with diabetes is one of the main factors in diabetic patients care. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) on medication adherence in patients with diabetes referred to a diabetes center in Zarand, Iran, in 2014. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 100 patients with diabetes. The patients were divided into two groups (intervention and control). Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire including demographic variables, constructs of HBM, and the Morisky self-report questionnaire. The intervention group were divided into 5 groups including 8-12 patients, and according to the HBM, education was performed in four 60-90 minute sessions during one month. One month after the intervention, data were collected again and analyzed using descriptive statistics, linear regression, and Mann–Whitney U test. Results: There was a significant difference in mean score of knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived efficacy, and cues to action between intervention and control groups after the intervention. Medication adherence was significantly related to the level of education (P=0.006). Among constructs of HBM, perceived self-efficiency was the strongest predicting factor (P=0.03). After the intervention, the mean scores of perceived sensitivity (P<0.001), perceived severity (P<0.001), perceived benefits (P<0.001), perceived barriers (P<0.001), perceived self-efficiency (P<0.0001), cue to action (P<0.0001), and medication adherence (P<0.0001) increased significantly. Conclusion: Education based on the HBM was effective in increasing adherence to medical instructions in patients with type 2 diabetes