a cross-sectional study

Background The purpose of this study is to assess attitudes toward premarital dating and sexual encounters in individuals aged 15–49 years in Tehran. Methods Utilizing the attitudes section of an original cross-sectional study (n = 755) aimed at assessing sexual health needs of adults, this paper examined personal attitudes towards premarital dating, non-sexual relationships and sexual encounters in both male and female adults aged between 15–49 years. Multi-stage cluster random sampling and a validated/reliable questionnaire were used. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted using statistical software. Results The results indicated that the majority of the participants were supportive of dating. Almost three-fourths of the males were more positively inclined towards non-sexual, yet tactile, affectionate interactions between unmarried males and females as opposed to only half of the females (70 % vs. 50.5 %). Also, males held significantly more liberal attitudes than females in their acceptance of premarital sex. On preserving virginity prior to marriage, 43 % of the males felt that it was important for a female to be a virgin, whereas only 26 % felt it was important for males to remain a virgin. Interestingly, more females (61 %) supported the importance of a female’s virginity compared with the importance of males’ virginity (48 %). This study showed that, being a male, of a younger age, single, and being less religious or being secular were important determinants of a liberal sexual attitude. Conclusion These results might reflect a socio-cultural transition in the sexual attitudes of different age groups of participants - a phenomenon that will need empirical studies to unpack in the Iranian socio-cultural context

A Comparative Analysis of Spatial Configuration in Designing Residential Houses Using Space Syntax Method (Case Studies: Houses of Isfahan and Modern Architecture Styles)

In the traditional Persian architecture, the design of different spaces of houses was based on the needs of their inhabitants, and these needs affected even the arrangement and the mode of spatial relationships. In contemporary architecture, housing patterns do not usually meet the needs of their inhabitants. This research investigates spatial configuration in a sample of houses of the first modern and Isfahan style architecture; in order to find the functional space and the most important factor affecting the space syntax. Selected samples were analyzed using "E-Graph" software, and by calculating the average and the Pearson coefficients of three variables of depth, integration and connectivity, and the correlation of these variables on space syntax was studied. The results show that in traditional houses, the yard and the porch, had the role of connection in the system; and Majlesi (chamber) was located at the lowest depth. In modern houses, the living room and the hall are functionally used and perform as space divider while other spaces connect to this space with direct access. Finally, the variables of integration and connectivity had the greatest impact on the space syntax, both in traditional and modern houses

Evaluation of cumulative radiation dose in neonates in neonatal surgery ward of Alzahra Hospital of Isfahan

Introduction: The purpose of this study, is evaluation of the average of cumulative radiation exposure in admitted neonates in neonatal surgery ward.Materials and methods: Participants were all neonates consecutively admitted to the neonatal surgery unit of the study hospital for surgery and need one type of radiological study during hospitalization. Thermo luminescent dosimeters (TLD GR200) were used for evaluating absorbed dose of radiation on the body. For controlling of confounding variables, 130 admitted neonates who need no radiation were selected as control group.Results: In this study, we evaluated 169 neonates.The most x -ray examination was on ribcage (338 cases). Total amount of bowel and backbone x-ray examinations were 117 and 11 respectively. Total amount of contrast enema, meal and swallow was 8, 9 and 5 respectively. The cumulative absorbed dose in 19 patients was more than 10 mSv. There was a significant differences between control group with other x ray examination groups (p=0.001). The mean of accumulated received dose for patients during admission period was 3.13±5.12 mSv.Conclusion: The average of accumulated received dose for neonates was about 3.13 mSv. Although this dose is less than annual limit dose, but it is inacceptable in comparison with other medical centers

A review on natural background radiation

The world is naturally radioactive and approximately 82% of human-absorbed radiation doses, which are out of control, arise from natural sources such as cosmic, terrestrial, and exposure from inhalation or intake radiation sources. In recent years, several international studies have been carried out, which have reported different values regarding the effect of background radiation on human health. Gamma radiation emitted from natural sources (background radiation) is largely due to primordial radionuclides, mainly 232 Th and 238 U series, and their decay products, as well as 40 K, which exist at trace levels in the earth′s crust. Their concentrations in soil, sands, and rocks depend on the local geology of each region in the world. Naturally occurring radioactive materials generally contain terrestrial-origin radionuclides, left over since the creation of the earth. In addition, the existence of some springs and quarries increases the dose rate of background radiation in some regions that are known as high level background radiation regions. The type of building materials used in houses can also affect the dose rate of background radiations. The present review article was carried out to consider all of the natural radiations, including cosmic, terrestrial, and food radiation

IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS OF SHOPPING CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE DESIGN

ABSTRACT Purchasing process in shopping centers, are among the main issues in design and management of shopping centers, therefore the following research that is intended to determine the buyer 's needs and changes in space to meet the needs, has been developed. In this research , we accessed the person in the environment by using a experimental laboritical method and as a result to 155 people who centered in this place a question air and a form to report was given to record their opinions , which in them people tell their reason for shopping and the required conditions to purchase. By analyzing these issues , it is inferred that different factors will inference to process of purchasing which among them are feeling of security, calmness, anxiety. Therefore we could use the findings from the present research to increase the rate of purchase and transforming them to a full trading center for designing these shopping centers. By assuming that study of behaviors. In the users of these spaces , could offer approaches in design of shopping centers, these questions have been answered. By considering to the results from histograms, rate off effect of effective environmental factors on the purchasing process and also that much these factors are effective , was determined in this study. In this research , it was found that people have a large inclination to the their shopping at night , because in this time the existing environmental factors have the most influence on the shopping , singularly and recognize this process as a part of luxury , they wanted the auxiliary space beside shopping centers . so they can do other things such as eating. In this regard , these shopping centers did not have favorable environmental space and conditions and this is one of the weaknesses in this centers. For this purpose in designing the shopping centers we must consider to environmental factors such as security , attractiveness of space , environmental variations, and also in design of shopping centers, they allocate faces for doing those auxiliary activities. to these consumers. In the other word all of these groups were interred in these centers. The reason for this is having more free time because of industrialization and mechanizing and raising the level of incomes. Also the modern consumption, instead of considering to the needs, focuses on the wishes and therefore the main entity of consumption, would be on the social and cultural aspects instead of economical aspects. These shopping centers are a place for supply and demand to be in contact .increasing changes in technology, appearance of new products and their variation , and lack of familiarity of consumers, together with severe competition and unfavorable of producers are some of the reasons for forming these new shopping centers. These centers could offer any kind of information's such as cultural, artistic, economical, technological and scientific information . those people with these information's and goods are gathered in a specific place to help each other by offering their own abilities to each other and to the consumers by intend of development and promotion of job opportunities and discovering the new grounds of jobs. These information's could be one the Old streets and bazaars which in one time industries craft men were supplying and offering their goods, now is becoming a place for shopping from various shops including boutiques, dress shops, restaurants, coffees, whole sale stores, agencies for big and famous manufactures of cameras and computers, banks and travel agencies. At the same time of industrial change and transitions, type of bazaars were formed and civic life was expanded and a result the big stores. Were established to serve to these consumers and also to better distribute the KEYWORDS

Does nitrogen gas bubbled through a low density polymer gel dosimeter solution affect the polymerization process?

Background: On account of the lower electron density in the lung tissue, the dose distribution in the lung cannot be verified with the existing polymer gel dosimeters. Thus, the aims of this study are to make a low density polymer gel dosimeter and investigate the effect of nitrogen gas bubbles on the R 2 responses and its homogeneity. Materials and Methods: Two different types of low density polymer gel dosimeters were prepared according to a composition proposed by De Deene, with some modifications. In the first type, no nitrogen gas was perfused through the gel solution and water. In the second type, to expel the dissolved oxygen, nitrogen gas was perfused through the water and gel solution. The post-irradiation times in the gels were 24 and 5 hours, respectively, with and without perfusion of nitrogen gas through the water and gel solution. Results: In the first type of gel, there was a linear correlation between the doses and R 2 responses from 0 to 12 Gy. The fabricated gel had a higher dynamic range than the other low density polymer gel dosimeter; but its background R 2 response was higher. In the second type, no difference in R 2 response was seen in the dose ranges from 0 to 18 Gy. Both gels had a mass density between 0.35 and 0.45 g.cm -3 and CT values of about -650 to -750 Hounsfield units. Conclusion: It appeared that reactions between gelatin-free radicals and monomers, due to an increase in the gel temperature during rotation in the household mixer, led to a higher R 2 -background response. In the second type of gel, it seemed that the collapse of the nitrogen bubbles was the main factor that affected the R 2 -responses

Evaluation of the Position and Course of the Posterior Superior Alveolar Artery by Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in an Iranian Population

Background and Aim: Understanding the vascular anatomy of the maxillary sinus plays an important role in the success of sinus grafting and determining the location of lateral osteotomy. The aim of the present study was to localize the posterior superior al-veolar artery (PSAA) and to measure the distance from this vascular canal to the maxil-lary sinus floor and alveolar crest by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 600 CBCT scans. The distance from the inferior border of the PSAA to the maxillary sinus floor and alveolar crest was measured and the position of this vascular canal was evaluated. The distance from the vascular canal to the maxillary sinus floor was also compared in dentulous and edentulous patients. The results were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc test. Results: The PSAA was detected on 150 scans. The intraosseous position of the canal was seen in 51.30% of the cases. There were insignificant differences among the distances from the vascular canal to the maxillary sinus floor in different dental areas. However, there were significant differences in the distances from the vascular canal to the alveolar crest in different regions (P<0.001). Conclusion: In this study, the PSAA was detected in 25% of the cases. The smallest distance between the vascular canal and maxillary sinus floor was observed in the first premolar and first molar regions, respectively. Determining the position of the PSAA by CBCT is useful for reducing perioperative bleeding; therefore, CBCT is recommended as a routine imaging technique prior to sinus lifting