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Examining the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) and expenses spent on food preparation on nutritional intake has always been one of the critical concerns for policymakers. This study aims to investigate the association between household food expenditure as well as SES and dietary nutrient intake in Kermanshah, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, households were randomly selected from different strict in Kermanshah, Iran. Data were collected with an SES questionnaire, a demographic data collection form, a weekly food purchase checklist and a food record. The authors performed the analysis of covariance to determine the relationship of dietary nutrient intake of study participants across quintile categories of SES and total food expenses per day.

Out of 125 households, 119 households including 401 people finished the study. A significant association was observed between higher SES and higher intake of vitamin B2 (p-value = 0.03). Moreover, the household members at the top level of total food expenses per day had significantly greater dietary nutrient intake of energy (p < 0.001), potassium (p < 0.001), magnesium (p < 0.001), calcium (p < 0.001), zinc (p < 0.001), vitamin B2 (p < 0.001), B6 (p < 0.001), B12 (p = 0.002) and vitamin C (p = 0.04).

In our study, higher dietary nutrient intake was observed in the household members at the highest level of total food expenses daily as well as SES. Therefore, governments and policymakers should pay basic attention to optimizing food costs and improving the economic status of people.

Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI)-2010, an index that determines the quality of a diet, was created to predict the risk of chronic diseases. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether this index can predict the risk of prostate cancer, one of the most prevalent cancers among men around the world. The study aims to investigate the association between adherence to the AHEI-2010 and the risk of prostate cancer in Iranian men.

The case–control study was conducted in Kermanshah, Iran in the year 2016. The study included 50 cases of Iranian men with prostate cancer and 150 healthy controls. Anthropometric indices were measured by bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA). The AHEI-2010 included 11 food components that were assessed by using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to analyze the association of the AHEI-2010 (expressed as a dichotomous variable) with prostate cancer.

As per the analysis, there were no significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) between case and control groups, statistically. After adjustment for potential confounders, the higher AHEI-2010 scores were associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer (OR AHEI > 55 vs ≤ 55 = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11-0.63). Moreover, the Mean of AHEI scores was higher in controls than in the cases (p < 0.001).

The authors’ findings suggest that adherence to the dietary patterns with high scores of AHEI-2010 is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, so this index may be used as an effective measure to predict prostate cancer.

It has been suggested that there is a link between the dietary intake of certain nutrients and the risk of prostate cancer. The aim of this study is to examine the associations between dietary intakes of all nutrients and the risk of prostate cancer in Kermanshah.

This case-control study was conducted in Kermanshah, a province in the west of Iran in November of 2016. The sample consisted of 50 patients with confirmed prostate cancer, and 150 healthy men who matched in age with these cases and did not have any symptoms of prostate disorder were chosen as controls. Dietary intakes were collected by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire that contained 147 food items and were then analyzed by Nutritionist 4 software.

After adjustment for potential confounding factor, highest tertile compared to lowest tertile of dietary vitamin E intake [odds ratio (OR) = 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.05-0.89], lycopene intake (OR = 0.11; 95% CI = 0.01-0.86) and magnesium intake (OR = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.01-0.55) had a protective effect on the incidence of prostate cancer. However, there were no associations between dietary intakes of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin B₁₂, folate and calcium with prostate cancer.

The finding suggests that the dietary intakes of vitamin E, lycopene and magnesium could decrease the risk of prostate cancer. Nevertheless, dietary intake of other nutrients such as fiber, calcium, vitamins D, A, B₁₂ and folate was not associated with prostate cancer.

Lactose intolerance (LI) is a disturbing gastrointestinal disorder with a high prevalence in all parts of the world, especially in Asian countries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of LI in students from Zabol, Iran.

Based on cluster random sampling method, 887 subjects were selected for the study. Of all, 54.7 per cent of the students were boys. The mean (±SD) of age, weight and body mass index (BMI) for participants were 13.27 ± 1.14 years, 42.12 ± 10.25 kg and 18.7 ± 3.9 kg/m², respectively. LI was assessed using a validated self-administered questionnaire. After measuring the anthropometric indices, students were asked to ingest 200cc of milk. The questionnaires were completed 2 h after the ingestion of milk.

In total, 25.8 per cent of the adolescents had LI. Of all, 1, 4.6, 11, 30.2 and 53.2 per cent of affected students had severe, relatively severe, moderate, relatively mild and mild LI, respectively. The association between LI and gender, and BMI was not significant (p > 0.05 for both); however, the association between LI and the history of LI in parents (OR = 2.06; 95 per cent CI: 1.47-2.88; p < 0.001), and breakfast consumption was significant (OR = 1.49; 95 per cent CI: 1.04-2.14; p = 0.028).

Although the prevalence of LI is noticeable, majority of adolescents had mild and relatively mild LI. Parents’ history and breakfast consumption are related to the rate of LI prevalence. Appropriate strategies should be considered to prevent breakfast skipping.

The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach for the optimal design of protective current transformers (CTs). The proposed technique is applied to the design of typical CTs and results are compared with traditional CT design method and genetic algorithm optimization algorithm.

The aim of CT design is to make current measurements more accurately, particularly for the high fault currents which arise in short circuits, and more efficient CT in terms of both size and cost. The present work formulates these objectives as an optimization problem to be solved by particle swarm optimization.

Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique in optimizing the CT design parameters. The designed CTs have smaller measurement errors compared to standard values and respond well to high fault currents. Manufacturing costs have also been reduced.

In addition to improved efficiency, the benefits of this method are its treatment of CT design in terms of an equivalent circuit and design parameters. The proposed algorithm also extends the linear operation area of the CT and guarantees its good response to high fault currents that may occur in power systems.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Considering the restricted and enclosed nature of prisons and closed environments and the prolonged and close contact between individuals, COVID-19 is more likely to have a higher incidence in these settings. This study aims to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 among prisoners.

Papers published in English from 2019 to July 7, 2023, were identified using relevant keywords such as prevalence, COVID-19 and prisoner in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar. For the meta-analysis of the prevalence, Cochrane’s Q statistics were calculated. A random effect model was used due to the heterogeneity in COVID-19 prevalence across included studies in the meta-analysis. All analyses were performed in STATA-13.

The pooled data presented a COVID-19 prevalence of 20% [95%CI: 0.13, 0.26] and 24% [95%CI: 0.07, 0.41], respectively, in studies that used PCR and antibody tests. Furthermore, two study designs, cross-sectional and cohort, were used. The results of the meta-analysis showed studies with cross-sectional and cohort designs reported 20% [95%CI: 0.11, 0.29] and 25% [95%CI: 0.13, 0.38], respectively.

Through more meticulous planning, it is feasible to reduce the number of individuals in prison cells, thereby preventing the further spread of COVID-19.

Occupant behavior can lead to considerable uncertainties in thermal comfort and air quality within buildings. To tackle this challenge, the use of probabilistic controls to simulate occupant behavior has emerged as a potential solution. This study seeks to analyze the performance of free-running households by examining adaptive thermal comfort and CO2 concentration, both crucial variables in indoor air quality. The investigation of indoor environment dynamics caused by the occupants' behavior, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, became increasingly important. Specifically, it investigates 13 distinct window and shading control strategies in courtyard houses to identify the factors that prompt occupants to interact with shading and windows and determine which control approach effectively minimizes the performance gap.

This paper compares commonly used deterministic and probabilistic control functions and their effects on occupant comfort and indoor air quality in four zones surrounding a courtyard. The zones are differentiated by windows facing the courtyard. The study utilizes the energy management system (EMS) functionality of EnergyPlus within an algorithmic interface called Ladybug Tools. By modifying geometrical dimensions, orientation, window-to-wall ratio (WWR) and window operable fraction, a total of 465 cases are analyzed to identify effective control scenarios. According to the literature, these factors were selected because of their potential significant impact on occupants’ thermal comfort and indoor air quality, in addition to the natural ventilation flow rate. Additionally, the Random Forest algorithm is employed to estimate the individual impact of each control scenario on indoor thermal comfort and air quality metrics, including operative temperature and CO2 concentration.

The findings of the study confirmed that both deterministic and probabilistic window control algorithms were effective in reducing thermal discomfort hours, with reductions of 56.7 and 41.1%, respectively. Deterministic shading controls resulted in a reduction of 18.5%. Implementing the window control strategies led to a significant decrease of 87.8% in indoor CO2 concentration. The sensitivity analysis revealed that outdoor temperature exhibited the strongest positive correlation with indoor operative temperature while showing a negative correlation with indoor CO2 concentration. Furthermore, zone orientation and length were identified as the most influential design variables in achieving the desired performance outcomes.

It’s important to acknowledge the limitations of this study. Firstly, the potential impact of air circulation through the central zone was not considered. Secondly, the investigated control scenarios may have different impacts on air-conditioned buildings, especially when considering energy consumption. Thirdly, the study heavily relied on simulation tools and algorithms, which may limit its real-world applicability. The accuracy of the simulations depends on the quality of the input data and the assumptions made in the models. Fourthly, the case study is hypothetical in nature to be able to compare different control scenarios and their implications. Lastly, the comparative analysis was limited to a specific climate, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings in different climates.

Occupant behavior represents a significant source of uncertainty, particularly during the early stages of design. This study aims to offer a comparative analysis of various deterministic and probabilistic control scenarios that are based on occupant behavior. The study evaluates the effectiveness and validity of these proposed control scenarios, providing valuable insights for design decision-making.

This qualitative study sought to explore how Iranian English language professors used social media network Telegram in their classes and what possibilities and constraints they experienced with regard to classroom interactions and university education, and how they rethought the use of social media network Telegram.

Data were collected through written reflective exercises and semi-structured interviews. Furthermore, data were analyzed based on three moments of critical hermeneutics: a moment of social-historical analysis, a moment of formal analysis and a moment of interpretation-reinterpretation.

The analysis of the data led to four themes: a dialogic classroom, the critical awareness of power-relations, the critical reflection on the experiences of the classroom and digital inequality. In fact, the participants pointed out that using social media network Telegram could lead to the persuasive discourse and multiplicity of voices as opportunities for sharing knowledge and distributing powers.

Indeed, the present study addressed the learning processes resulted from using social media network Telegram rather than the product and outcome that were mainly addressed by the previous studies by considering three levels of descriptions, which included micro-level of the learner and teacher interaction, meso-level of the processes of educational institutions and macro-level of wider cultural and societal contexts.

This study aims to examine the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership (EL) and new product development performance (NPDP) at the firm level (level 2) of analysis and employee’s creativity (EC) at the cross level (level 1) of analysis. It also examines the serial mediations of (1) intrinsic motivation (IM)-EC and (2) creative self-efficacy (CSE)-EC on the relationship between EL and NPDP.

A systematic random sampling technique was used to collect data through self-administered surveys from leaders and employees of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Pakistan’s IT sector. Analysis was conducted on net responses from 114 leaders and 476 employees.

The results revealed significant positive associations between EL and NPDP at the firm level of analysis and EC at the cross level of analysis. The results of the cross-level serial mediations show that (1) IM and EC, and (2) CSE and EC serially mediate the relationship between EL and NPDP.

This study is among the few to use the Coleman bathtub model to show top-down and bottom-up relationships. The study extends and complements the multilevel perspective on leadership and new product development research by simultaneously examining the relationships between EL and NPDP at the individual and firm levels.

This study aims to design and implement a multimaterial system for printing multifunctional specimens suitable for various sectors, with a particular focus on biomedical applications such as addressing mandibular bone loss.

To enhance both the mechanical and biological properties of scaffolds, an automatic multimaterial setup using vat photopolymerization was developed. This setup features a linear system with two resin vats and one ultrasonic cleaning tank, facilitating the integration of diverse materials and structures to optimize scaffold composition. Such versatility allows for the simultaneous achievement of various characteristics in scaffold design.

The printed multimaterial scaffolds, featuring 20 Wt.% hydroxylapatite (HA) on the interior and poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) with 1 Wt.% graphene oxide (GO) on the exterior, exhibited favorable mechanical and biological properties at the optimum postcuring and heat-treatment time. Using an edited triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) lattice structure further enhanced these properties. Various multimaterial specimens were successfully printed and evaluated, showcasing the capability of the setup to ensure functionality, cleanliness and adequate interface bonding. Additionally, a novel Gyroid TPMS scaffold with a nominal porosity of 50% was developed and experimentally validated.

This study demonstrates the successful fabrication of multimaterial components with minimal contaminations and suitable mechanical and biological properties. By combining PLLA-HA and PLLA-GO, this innovative technique holds significant promise for enhancing the effectiveness of regenerative procedures, particularly in the realm of dentistry.