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1 – 8 of 8Mohadese Borazjani, Mehran Nouri, Kamesh Venkatakrishnane, Maryam Najafi and Shiva Faghih
Plant-based diets have been related to decreasing morbidity and mortality of many non-communicable diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between…
Abstract
Purpose
Plant-based diets have been related to decreasing morbidity and mortality of many non-communicable diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plant-based diets and lipid profiles and anthropometric indices.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study was performed on 236 men and women selected from Shiraz health-care centers. This study used a 168-item food frequency questionnaire to calculate plant-based diet index (PDI), healthy plant-based diet index (hPDI) and unhealthy plant-based diet index (uPDI). Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Furthermore, body mass index, a body shape index and conicity index (CI) were calculated after measuring weight, height and waist circumference.
Findings
Higher score of PDI was significantly related to higher triglycerides level (OR = 2.16; 95% CI: 1.04, 4.48; P = 0.03). In the fully adjusted model, there was a significant association between ABSI and hPDI (OR = 4.88; 95% CI: 1.17, 20.24; P = 0.03). A significant inverse association was observed between uPDI and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (OR = 0.45; 95% CI = 0.21, 0.98; P = 0.03). Also, this study found a decreasing, but insignificant trend in relation of ABSI (OR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.22, 2.34) and CI (OR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.56) with PDI.
Research limitations/implications
Further studies are needed to explore the association of PDI with anthropometric indices and lipid profile and also to assess the potential causality of the observed associations. Plant-based diets according to their contents could affect triglycerides, HDL and anthropometric properties.
Practical implications
Hence, dietitians should consider the findings of this study such as the inverse effect of unhealthy plant-based diets on HDL and the relation between healthy plant-based diets and WC and abdominal obesity.
Originality/value
This study showed that adherence to a plant-based diet was related to higher triglycerides levels. Also, uPDI was inversely associated with HDL level. Furthermore, participants who adhered more to a healthy plant-based diet had higher abdominal adiposity.
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Fatemeh Andami, Maryam Ataeefard, Farhood Najafi and Mohammad Reza Saeb
Printing toners are polymer composites accountable for transmission of digital images onto target substrates. Bearing in mind the ever increasing demand for high quality digital…
Abstract
Purpose
Printing toners are polymer composites accountable for transmission of digital images onto target substrates. Bearing in mind the ever increasing demand for high quality digital printing, modification and/or integration of existing techniques for manufacturing toners with favourable morphological and colour characteristics appears of vital importance. The present study aims to uncover the significance of in-situ polymerisation method, i.e. suspension, emulsion and mini-emulsion to control the microstructure of toner particles (particle size, particle size distribution and sphereness) while keeping the energy required for polymerisation along with reaction conversion at a reasonable level.
Design/methodology/approach
Assessment of particle size, particle size distribution and reaction conversion visualised the potential of suspension, emulsion and mini-emulsion polymerisation techniques to control microstructure, and colour characteristics of synthesized toners as well.
Findings
The results provided support for the fact that either the emulsion or mini-emulsion polymerisation routes will result in toners having an acceptable particle size and particle size distribution in the presence of a redox precursor. The higher monomer conversion at low temperature, as compared to the suspension polymerisation, was noticeable.
Practical implications
Analysing the glass transition temperature and colour characteristics of the resulting toners elucidated the superiority of mini-emulsion with respect to the other two cases which ranks this method on account of application.
Originality/value
For the first time, mini-emulsion route was put into practice and toners with acceptable colour and microstructure features were synthesised. In spite of lower polymerisation temperature and higher conversion of mini-emulsion compared to suspension and emulsion polymerisation techniques, further investigations are required to fine-tuning the properties of toners produced through this method.
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Bahareh Babaie, Mohsen Najafi and Maryam Ataeefard
Toner is a crucial dry colorant composite used in printing based on the electrophotographic process. The quality of printed images is greatly influenced by the toner production…
Abstract
Purpose
Toner is a crucial dry colorant composite used in printing based on the electrophotographic process. The quality of printed images is greatly influenced by the toner production method and material formulation. Chemically in situ polymerization methods are currently preferred. This paper aims to optimize the characteristics of a composite produced through emulsion polymerization using common raw materials for electrophotographic toner production.
Design/methodology/approach
Emulsion polymerization provides the possibility to optimize the physical and color properties of the final products. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize variables affecting particle size (PS), PS distribution (PSD), glass transition temperature (Tg°C), color properties (ΔE) and monomer conversion. Box–Behnken experimental design with three levels of styrene and butyl acrylate monomer ratios, carbon black pigment and sodium dodecyl sulfate surfactant was used for RSM optimization. Additionally, thermogravimetric analysis and surface morphology of composite particles were examined.
Findings
The results indicated that colorants with small PS, narrow PSDs, spherical shape morphology, acceptable thermal and color properties and a high percentage of conversion could be easily prepared by optimization of material parameters in this method. The anticipated outcome of the present inquiry holds promise as a guiding beacon toward the realization of electrographic toner of superior quality and exceptional efficacy, a vital factor for streamlined mass production.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, for the first time, material parameters were evaluated to determine their impact on the characteristics of emulsion polymerized toner composites.
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Fatemeh Ghaemi, Maryam Emadzadeh, Ali H. Eid, Tannaz Jamialahmadi and Amirhossein Sahebkar
The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) intake on glycemic control in adults.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine the effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) intake on glycemic control in adults.
Design/methodology/approach
Materials and methods: PubMed (Medline), ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases, measuring glucose and/or insulin and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) in adults, were searched from inception to December 11, 2021. Moreover, to examine whether grouping factors influenced heterogeneity between research results, subgroup analysis was used.
Findings
This meta-analysis showed that PJ intake reduced HOMA-IR significantly, especially if =250 mL was used. This reducing effect remained significant in females, nondiabetic patients and unhealthy subjects.
Originality/value
The authors believe the presented data would be highly motivating and of a wide readership for the readers of your journal, and this paper stimulating a surge of research on the impact of PJ consumption on glycemic indices.
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Naema Khodadadi-Hassankiadeh, Leila Kouchakinezhad-Eramsadati, Maryam Tavakkoli, Shahrokh Yousefzadeh-Chabok, Ali Davoudi Kiakalayeh and Enayatollah Homaie Rad
Studying the relationship between crime and traffic accidents in different geographical regions is very critical since varying relationships have been reported to exist in diverse…
Abstract
Purpose
Studying the relationship between crime and traffic accidents in different geographical regions is very critical since varying relationships have been reported to exist in diverse areas. The purpose of this paper is to determine the relationship between crime with injuries and deaths due to road traffic accidents in Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, macro-level panel data between 2007 and 2013 were used. The number of folders due to crimes in each province was used as explanatory variables to show the amount of crime in each province. The number of fatal and injury death was used as outcome variables. The models were estimated using fixed effect panel regression estimator.
Findings
The results of this study showed that the number of records in courts (Cr) had a significant positive relationship with fatal accidents (coefficient=0.006). In the injury accidents model, Cr coefficient was 0.008 and significant. In addition, GINI had positive relationship with fatal accidents (coefficient: 1.396), while it had no significant relationship with injury accidents.
Originality/value
A positive association was found between crime and mortalities and morbidities due to traffic accidents. Traffic accidents and crimes are derived from a similar nature. So traffic accidents could be categorized as crime and it is important to increase more prohibitions to decrease traffic accidents. Prevention programs should focus on population groups with high social distinction and criminals, especially traffic offenses.
Maryam Dehghani, Peyman Akhavan and Morteza Abbasi
This study aims to propose a quantitative approach to reduce the number of suppliers in an organization. This method is based on grouping, and different parts are grouped based on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to propose a quantitative approach to reduce the number of suppliers in an organization. This method is based on grouping, and different parts are grouped based on the capabilities they need and are allocated to suppliers who have these capabilities. In this regard, an integrated model for supplier reduction and grouping of parts using a group technology-based algorithm is proposed.
Design/methodology/approach
Design science research methodology was used in this study. The main problem under investigation is a large number of suppliers in an organization’s supply base. The proposed model was used to solve this problem in the electric motor industry.
Findings
The results of implementing the proposed model in the electric motor industry showed that reducing suppliers had a significant effect on reducing cost, increasing information sharing, increasing supplier innovation and technology, enhancing the relationship between buyers and sellers and reducing risks in the production process.
Practical implications
From a managerial point of view, reducing the number of suppliers plays an important role in the company’s overall strategy, and seems to be a prerequisite for building a strong supplier partnership and an effective supply chain, and will have many benefits for the focal company and suppliers.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, grouping and formation of product families have never been performed based on the similarity of the operational capabilities required for producing parts, and it has not been addressed as a solution for reducing suppliers.
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Maryam Ranjbar Zahedani, Mohammad Hassan Eftekhari, Mehran Nouri, Shohreh Alipour, Jafar Hassanzadeh and Majid Fardaei
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of methyl donor supplementation on anthropometric indices, body composition, glycemic control, lipid profile, homocysteine…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of methyl donor supplementation on anthropometric indices, body composition, glycemic control, lipid profile, homocysteine and appetite regulatory hormones in overweight and obese subjects.
Design/methodology/approach
This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted on overweight and obese subjects in Shiraz, Iran, in 2018. The 25 participants in each intervention and control group were required to take methyl donor supplement and placebo, respectively, for eight weeks. A variety of measurements was collected at baseline and the end of the study. The data were analyzed using SPSS 21 software.
Findings
The results indicated a significant reduction in weight, body mass index, body fat and waist and hip circumference (p < 0.001 for all parameters) within both groups and a significant improvement in skeletal muscle (p = 0.005), fat-free mass (p = 0.006), visceral fat area (p < 0.001) and body cell mass (p = 0.004) in the intervention group. Also, the results showed a significant difference between the two groups regarding serum homocysteine concentration at the end of the intervention (p < 0.001).
Originality/value
The results demonstrated that methyl donor supplementation might have effects on the improvement of anthropometric indices, body composition, glycemic and lipid profile status and appetite regulatory hormones among obese and overweight individuals. These effects might be attributed to their roles in energy metabolism, protein synthesis and epigenetics regulation.
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Mansour Abedian, Atefeh Amindoust, Reza Maddahi and Javid Jouzdani
This paper aims to propose an integrated centralized data envelopment analysis (CDEA)-balanced scorecard (BSC) model to provide a selective approach to determine the most…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose an integrated centralized data envelopment analysis (CDEA)-balanced scorecard (BSC) model to provide a selective approach to determine the most efficient indicators for evaluating the four perspectives of the BSC.
Design/methodology/approach
An integer linear programming model based on the efficiency concept of the CDEA method is presented to select the best indicators for evaluating four perspectives of the BSC. The basis for selecting indicators in this method is to maximize the overall performance of each BSC perspective. The modeling is performed on a real case. The considered model is solved using a general algebraic modeling system software for the data set of the real case.
Findings
A real-world case is solved using the proposed method. The integration of the CDEA and the BSC seems to be advantageous because it sheds more light on the complexity and tradeoffs inherent in actual performance measurement. It is important to note that there cannot be a unique and universal model of performance measurement applicable in every situation, in every organization and at any time.
Research limitations/implications
The data set of a single organization in the manufacturing industry is used to show the performance of the proposed mathematical model; therefore, generalization of the results should be done cautiously. This framework is based on the Iranian community and experts’ viewpoints; therefore, different results may be obtained if it is applied elsewhere, and the importance of perspectives and their indicators might show different results in other populations and other countries. In addition, because the data is collected in a specific period of time, the results cannot be extended to other periods of time.
Originality/value
The main contribution of this paper lies in the adaption of a new integrated CDEA-BSC model to performance measurement in the industrial sector that technology improves the ultimate results of performance measurement and provides wider opportunities for decision-makers. This paper aids managers and decision-makers to control the efficient indicators in perspectives.
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