Effect of Education on Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Iranian Adult Population toward Food Additives

Background: Nowadays, more than 2500 additives are added to foods to achieve the desired goals or to extend the shelf life. However, application of these substances has raised concerns about consumers’ health. It seems public information on these substances is inadequate. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of education on public awareness, attitude, and practice regarding food additives. Methods: In this interventional study, 80 Iranian adult population who were chosen from personnel of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, were randomly assigned to two groups of case (n = 40) and control (n = 40). Face to face education was performed by pamphlet and booklet with the subject of introducing food additives. Demographic situation, knowledge, attitude, and practice of people regarding food additives were evaluated through self-administered questionnaire with the maximum score of 100 before and after education. The scores below and above 50 were considered weak and desirable, respectively. Quantitative and qualitative variables were analyzed based on the intended tests in SPSS software at the significance level of 0.05. Findings: Before education, the scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward food additives in the control group were 73.1 ± 8.2, 48.9 ± 4.7, and 46.7 ± 5.4, while the scores were 73.7 ± 7.3, 48.2 ± 6.4, and 45.4 ± 7.8 in case group, respectively. In parallel, the scores were 73.9 ± 8.7, 48.1 ± 4.7, and 45.6 ± 7.3 after education in control group. The scores improved to 88.9 ± 2.3, 80.9 ± 3.7, and 75.9 ± 4.7, respectively, in the case group after education. A significant difference was observed between two groups in the mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward food additives. Conclusion: The efficacy of education regarding food additives was observed in adult Iranian population. The level of knowledge, then the attitude and practice of employees had the highest score, respectively. Therefore, considering the lowest score related to practice, it is recommended to provide continuous education on food additives in order to improve the community's practice in choosing the proper food

Analysis of the dual phase lag bio-heat transfer equation with constant and time-dependent heat flux conditions on skin surface

This article focuses on temperature response of skin tissue due to time-dependent surface heat fluxes. Analytical solution is constructed for DPL bio-heat transfer equation with constant, periodic and pulse train heat flux conditions on skin surface. Separation of variables and Duhamel’s theorem for a skin tissue as a finite domain are employed. The transient temperature responses for constant and time-dependent boundary conditions are obtained and discussed. The results show that there is major discrepancy between the predicted temperature of parabolic (Pennes bio-heat transfer), hyperbolic (thermal wave) and DPL bio-heat transfer models when high heat flux accidents on the skin surface with a short duration or propagation speed of thermal wave is finite. The results illustrate that the DPL model reduces to the hyperbolic model when τT approaches zero and the classic Fourier model when both thermal relaxations approach zero. However for τq = τT the DPL model anticipates different temperature distribution with that predicted by the Pennes model. Such discrepancy is due to the blood perfusion term in energy equation. It is in contrast to results from the literature for pure conduction material, where the DPL model approaches the Fourier heat conduction model when τq = τT . The burn injury is also investigated

Investigation on the effect of nanoclay on physical and tensile properties of nanocomposite made from reed residues

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of using reed flour and different contents of montmorillonite (nanoclay) nanoparticles on the physical and tensile properties of polypropylener/reed flour/nano clay composite. The amount of coupling agent and reed flour was constant at 5% and 40%, respectively and nanoclay content, adjusted at four levels of 0, 1, 3 and 5% were considered. The materials were mixed in an internal mixer and the samples were prepared by injection molding method. The specimens were tested in accordance with EN ISO 527 standard test method for tensile properties (tensile strength and module) and elongation at break. Physical properties such as water absorption and thickness swelling were measured. The results of tensile moduli and strengths, elongation at break and physical properties (water absorption) showed improvement by the addition of nanoclay up to 3%

The Characteristics of Effective Clinical Teachers as Perceived by Nursing Faculty and Students

ِIntroduction. Since the major part of professional nursing education takes place in clinics, clinical teaching is considered one of the most important parts of nursing education process. Accordingly, clinical teaching effectiveness and the characteristics of an effective teaching have overshadowed a good number of nursing and midwifery research studies. This study was performed to determine and compare the teachers' and students' perspectives regarding the characteristics of effective clinical teachers in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in the year 2002. Methods. In a triangulation study using both qualitative and quantitative methods, 93 teachers and 475 students in the school of nursing and midwifery were investigated. During the first stage, the Delphi method was used and the teachers and students were interviewed regarding the characteristics of effective clinical teacher. Then a 56- item questionnaire was designed with the five domain of "professional", ''personal", ''communicative", ''teaching methods" and "evaluation" using 1 to 7 Likert scale. In the second stage, through survey method and using the designed questionnaire, the students and teachers' perspectives were determined. The data were analyzed by SPSS software using mean, standard deviation and t-test. Results. The mean of Students' and teachers' scores for effective clinical teachers characteristics were 6.15±0.98 and 6.19 ± 0.48, respectively which showed a statistically significant difference between them. Based on the viewpoints of students and teachers, the most important characteristic of effective clinical teachers was responsibility for one's own action and the lowest score belonged to educating clinical ward's staff. Conclusion. All the characteristics mentioned in the questionnaire were approved by the teachers and students. Moreover, the mean of the scores given by teachers was higher than the one given by the students. It is recommended that teacher evaluation be performed using these characteristics and teachers pay more attention to them

INVESTIGATION OF THE MORPHOLOGICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF WASTE NEWSPRINT/ RECYCLED POLYPROPYLENE/ NANOCLAY COMPOSITE

The main objective of this research was to study the potential of waste polypropylene and waste newsprint fiber for making wood-plastic nanocomposites. We used 30 wt.% waste newsprint fiber and 10 wt.% compatilizer in this study. Nanoclay was used at two levels: 2.5 and 5% by wt. Materials were mixed with either recycled or virgin polypropylene. The effects of nanoclay (NC) on the mechanical and thermal properties were also studied. The improvements in tensile properties of the blended composites with the addition of NC were further supported by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) data. Thermal degradation behavior of the composites showed that the degradation temperatures shifted to higher values after addition of nanoclay. The XRD data showed that the relative intercalation of composites with 2.5% nanoclay was higher than 5% nanoclay. The experimental results demonstrated that the waste materials could be used as appropriate alternative raw materials for making low cost wood-plastic composites (WPCs)

Effect of maternal polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on screening of aneuploidy in the first and second trimesters

Abstract Background Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by insulin resistance and hormonal disorder in women. This study aimed to assess the effect of maternal PCOS on screening of aneuploidy in the first and second-trimesters. Methods This case-control study was conducted in Arash Hospital and Nilou Laboratory in 2017–2018. The screening test was conducted on 90 PCOS and 90 healthy mothers. Finally, the first and second-trimester screening was compared between the two groups using Chi-square, Mann-Whitney’s U and students T tests and regression model by SPSS 21. P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Free Beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (Free-β-HCG) (P = 0.04), inhibin-A (P = 0.001) and Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) (P = 0.02) levels were higher in the PCOS women comparing to the healthy women but there was no significant difference between the mean of HCG, Plasma Protein A (PAPP-A), and Unconjugated Estriol (UE3) between the two groups. Pre-eclampsia (P < 0.001) and trisomy 18 risks in quad screening were higher in the PCOS women (P = 0.002) than the control group; however, trisomy 13, trisomy 18 and trisomy 21 risks, Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome (SLOS) and Neural Tube Defect (NTD) risks were not different between the two groups. The logistic regression model showed that the first- and second-trimester screening of aneuploidywas related to PCOS. Conclusions There was a significant difference in the mean of free-β-HCG, inhibin-A, AFP level, and the risks of pre-eclampsia, SLOS and trisomy 18 between the two groups but no significant association was found in the mean of HCG, PAPP-A, UE3, NTD and other aneuploidies between the two groups. PCOS may affect the first- and second-trimester screening tests and pregnancy health. It may also require correction in the calculation of risks related to the first- and second-trimester screening for aneuploidy

Identification and classification of factors affecting the non-use of safety harness at height among construction workers in Tehran.

IntroductionThe accident of falling from a height is high among construction workers. Construction workers do not use harnesses. Thus, the present study was conducted to identify the factors affecting the non-use of harnesses among construction workers in Tehran, Iran.Materials and methodsIn this study was conducted by interviewing professors and construction workers in order to identify factors affecting the non-use of harness. Factors influencing the non-use of safety harnesses were identified from the workers' point of view. The obtained data were classified and coded using MAXQDA 10 software. After that, the most essential, effective and powerful factors were identified using the degree and intersectionality of social network analysis.ResultsAccording to the interview results, 27 factors were determined as factors affecting the non-use of harnesses by construction workers and divided into four main groups. The four groups were harness design, management factors, harness comfort, and attitudinal factors. Based on the results of the degree centrality, the non-ergonomic design and attitude of the harness inefficiency were identified as the most influential and powerful factors. The betweenness indicator also showed that the non-ergonomic design could mediate other factors in the non-use of the harness.ConclusionThe findings showed that by considering various factors such as considering more comfort in the design of the ergonomic harness, it produced a better product. Also, the use of safety harnesses by workers increases