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Modeling failure mechanisms in solids by using sharp crack discontinuities suffers various shortcomings that can be diminished by diffusive crack conception or phase-field method. The phase-field method describes sharp crack surfaces with a continuous field variable evaluated through a differential evolution equation. This study deals with the discretization and solution of equilibrium and crack evolution equations by the meshless radial point interpolation method (RPIM). A simple equation is proposed to evaluate the average distance between the field nodes distributed/scattered non-uniformly in the solution domain. A novel meshless scheme is proposed to select the field nodes around the quadrature points placed near the crack tip. A modified Newton–Raphson method is applied to restore the iterative convergence of the proposed method. Error analysis of the developed RPIM is carried out, and the RPIM results are compared with finite element method (FEM). The model verification is performed through four well-known benchmark tests, and the computed results are then compared with the solutions reported in the literature or derived from FEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Employee turnover causes significant cost to firms, both economically and otherwise. Knowing and understanding the reasons for employee turnover would help firms to reduce the same, and in the process, lessen costs significantly. This study aims to understand the role of various job stressors (i.e., role ambiguity, role conflict, work overload, work–family conflict) in predicting the turnover intention of workers in the spinning and weaving industry. We collected data from 311 workers, belonging to the spinning and weaving industries of the Kashan city in Iran. Then, we analyzed the data using both SPSS© and process macros. Our results suggest that there's indeed a positive and significant relationship between the job stressors vis-a-vis the workers' turnover intention. Overall, the findings do have strong potential for both theoretical and practical implications, especially in terms of developing people management interventions for reducing employee turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Third places are a successful example of public places, which, due to their special characteristics, play an important role in enhancing the social sustainability of cities. Sustainable social development is a significant issue for the metropolis of Isfahan as this city today is facing serious challenges such as inequality and conflict in maintaining and increasing the life quality of its citizens. This research aims to explore the role of third places in promoting social sustainability in the urban districts of the city of Isfahan and to discover their significant dimensions and components. The current applied research employed a library based descriptive-analytic approach together with a field study method. Urban experts and managers comprised the statistical population of whom 25 individuals were selected to form the sample. DEMATEL method was used to discover the trend of classification patterns of sustainability components and the role of third places. The results of the cause and effect analysis through DEMATEL show that dynamism and vitality, and flexibility are the main and the most influential factors in increasing the social sustainability in Isfahan. The results also highlight the impact of combined components and indicators of the third place with different dimensions of social sustainability, especially in the urban districts in Isfahan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Due to recent changes in workplace risks, it is required to investigate the motivations of employees and employers for occupational examination performance. This study aims to develop a self-report scale to overcome prior methodological defects and evaluate barriers of performing periodic examinations. Methods. The study was conducted with 200 participants, including employers, occupational health inspectors, occupational physicians and occupational health experts working in the industrial sector, aged 25–70 years. The subjects supplied sociodemographic information and completed the experimental version of the instrument. Results. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) provided evidence for a five-factor model, including knowledge, quality, law, capability and service, with 62.68% variance. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) proved stability rates of both models (root mean square error of approximation [rmsea] = 0.062, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.92, Tucker–Lewis index [TLI] = 0.906, incremental fit index [IFI] = 0.921, normed fit index [NFI] = 0.835, relative fit index [RFI] = 0.808). The scale also revealed appropriate levels of reliability (α = 0.916 and composite reliability [CR] >0.7) and validity (average variance extracted >0.5). Conclusion. The psychometric characteristics of the scale demonstrated acceptable validity and reliability. This study developed this valid instrument to be used by health decision-makers for assessing barriers of performing periodic examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of various types of experimental and numerical uses in this area is mostly due to the significance of welded connections in the behaviour of steel moment-resisting frames (SMRFs). The most effective conditions that aggravates the undesirable performance of welded connections is high-temperatures. With regard to conduct analytical research, three types of welded angle seat connections will be selected for finite element modeling (FEM) in ABAQUS software to investigate the performance of them under high-temperature loading. The parameters of increasing thickness, length of welded angle seat connection, and simple connection with angle by adding stiffener are assessed. For this aim, a flexible angle seat connection is used to help the web angle. The characteristics of the web angles and seats are determined based on the features of the beam. Based on the results, the sample COL-ST10-L50-SP15 has the best performance versus other samples. In this sample, beam to column connection is welded angle seat with dimensions such as 10 mm thickness, 50 mm length and 15 mm thickness of stiffener. The displacement of this sample is 502.52 mm under heat conditions. It means that the displacement ratio of the mentioned sample is 18.25% versus reference sample. Therefore, the results showed that by increasing the heat, two important factors should be suggested in the design of steel connections. These factors such as increasing the force due to longitudinal expansion and decreasing the strength and stiffness are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for a biological disease risk assessment method to prevent the contagion of these diseases, particularly among healthcare personnel, is crucial. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a biological risk assessment tool for biological agents among hospital personnel under COVID-19 conditions. This cross-sectional study was performed on 301 employees in two hospitals. Firstly, we identified the items affecting the contagion of biological agents. Then, we computed the weight of the items using the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) method. We used the identified items and the estimated weights in the next step to develop a predictive equation. The outcome of this tool was the risk score of biological disease contagion. After that, we used the developed method to evaluate the biological risk of the participants. The ROC curve was also used to reveal accuracy of developed method. In this study, 29 items were identified and categorized into five dimensions, including environmental items, ventilation items, job items, equipment-related items, and organizational items. The weights of these dimensions were estimated at 0.172, 0.196, 0.255, 0.233, and 0.144, respectively. The final weight of items was used to develop a predictive equation. The area under ROC curves (AUC) was also calculated as 0.762 (95% CI: 0.704, 0.820) (p<0.001). The tools developed using these items had acceptable diagnostic accuracy for predicting the risk of biological diseases in health care. Therefore, one can apply it in identifying persons exposed to dangerous conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vinyl acetate (VA) is a volatile compound and the main compound of the carpenter's glue. VA causes upper respiratory tract irritation, cough, and hoarseness in occupational exposure. As Iran is one of the biggest carpet producers in the world, this study was carried out to determine the inhalational health risk for employees exposed to VA. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first health risk assessment and the first evaluation of the lung functions and respiratory symptoms in employees exposed to VA. In the six finishing shops of carpet manufacturing industry in Kashan city, Iran the cross-sectional studies were conducted in 2022. The subjects comprised of forty male employees exposed to VA and of forty non-exposed employees in the reference group. VA analyses in the workers' breathing zones were performed based on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1453 Method. VA concentrations were measured using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Inhalational risk assessment to VA was performed using the United States Environmental Protection Agency method and the Monte Carlo simulations. Respiratory functions were determined using the spirometry indices. In the exposed employees, considerably higher prevalence rates of pulmonary symptoms were observed in comparison with the control group. Statistical analysis showed a remarkable difference between lung function parameters measured in the case and the control groups. The VA Hazard Quotient (HQ) values for all working posts, except the quality control unit, were > 1 indicating the substantial inhalational non-cancerogenic risk. The sensitivity analysis revealed that the VA concentrations and exposure time had the most significant contribution in the uncertainty assessment. Therefore, it is recommended to decrease exposure to VA concentrations and to reduce the working time of exposed employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent earthquakes indicate that the welding connections of steel moment-resisting frames (SMRFs) are so brittle. Then, huge damages are generated by cracking the weld between the beam flange and column face. After the 1994 Northridge and the 1995 Kobe earthquakes, reduced beam section (RBS) connections were proposed to reduce the damages by forming a plastic hinge outside the panel zone. Thus, with the great effect of seismic performance and ductility of the panel zone, RBS moves the formation of the plastic hinge at a suitable distance from the column face. In this regard, in order to evaluate the behavior of SMRF with RBS connections under fire conditions, four types of steel frame connections, including RBS with radial, rectangular, triangular, and trapezoidal cuts, were modeled in ABAQUS software. Due to the fact that fire is an unpredictable phenomenon, both in terms of size and fire load, it has special complexities. The fire load was simulated either by a steady state method to reach a fully-developed fire or by a transient state method following the standard temperature-time curve. The results of this study showed that by increasing the temperature of the heated area, the transferring of the plastic hinge is conducted better. Meanwhile, based on the obtained outputs of displacement-time coefficients, the Frame-RBS-01 sample had the most ultimate strength compared to other samples up to 748.34 ° C temperature, and the least ultimate strength is related to the Frame-RBS-Rectangle-02 sample up to 526/90 ° C temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Unsafe behaviors (UBs) are the most important cause of accidents, so there is a need to identify the factors effective on it. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the occurrence of UBs and also to build a strong theoretical model with fuzzy logic. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted among 270 participants in the steel industry in Iran. The factors, such as work-family conflict, job stress, and general health were investigated using relevant questionnaires, and the prevalence of UBs was investigated with the safety behavior sampling technique. Finally, the results were analyzed with SPSS 21.0 and MATLAB software. Findings: The results showed that out of 1310 samples of observed behavior, 531 UBs were observed (39.81%). There were 202 cases of nonuse or inappropriate use of personal protective equipment. General health, job stress in the supervisor, and colleagues' support were significantly associated with UBs (P < 0.05). In addition, general health, work-family conflict, job stress and were significantly correlated with each other (P < 0.001). Diffuse results using fuzzy logic predicted 56% of the behavioral conditions. Conclusions: This study showed that managing UBs is possible by controlling factors such as the support of supervisors and the way of management, as well as the reduction of social stresses such as work-family conflict, in addition to being able to increase people's health, also reducing accidents and UBs. Finally, using fuzzy logic, it is able to predict reality, and by knowing several behaviors, better models can be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Fatigue is a state in which a person's energy is completely depleted due to excessive physical or mental work. In addition to the importance of women workers and the effects of fatigue on them, limited studies have been conducted in this field in the world, especially in Iran. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of fatigue and related factors among women workers in one of the cities of Iran. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among women workers in Kashan in 2018. The sample size was 265 participants from 300 workers. The data collection tool was the multidimensional fatigue inventory questionnaire. Data were analyzed via SPSS version 16. Results: The lowest and highest total score was 38 and 78, respectively. The mean score of activity decrease was 11.78, which was the highest score among questionnaire. Factors such as overtime, number of children, and work experience showed a statistically significant relationship with the total fatigue score (P < 0.05). Conclusion: According to the results, a large percentage of participants had a high score of fatigue. Managements should identify and modify the factors affecting fatigue to reduce the worker's fatigue. It seems that further studies are needed to reveal the relationship between fatigue and other variables to provide a deeper understanding of the causes of fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, through the development of international awareness regarding the scale and severity of the environmental change, the phenomenon of ecological cities has toturn out to be a global event. Instead, the development of green roofs as vertical green spaces and due to problems, such as lack of land and water resources can be really important to increase green space per capita, improve environmental quality, optimize climatic conditions, reduce pollution and achieve the goals of ecological cities. District 5 of Isfahan, regarding issues such as improper distribution of green spaces, lack of barren lands, air pollution, noise pollution, etc., and, due to its potential, can use green roofs to attain ecological city goals. This study aims to assess the feasibility of green roof development to achieve an ecological city in the study sample. The research method is applied in terms of purpose, descriptive-analytical interms of nature, and quantitative in terms of paradigm. The data collection method was documentary and field study through a questionnaire. The statistical population of the study is citizens over 15 years old. In 2016, their number was 126,530, out of which 375 were selected by cluster sampling. Based on the purpose of the research, 55 items were designed in the form of 11 ecological city indicators and according to the research hypotheses. The validity of the questionnaire was confirmed as face validity from the perspective of academic experts and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha (more than 0.7). Regarding the results attained from the citizens’ point of view, there is the necessary preparation for the construction of green roofs to achieve an ecological city in this region. Also, there is a significant relationship between raising the level of culture and awareness of citizens living in the region and participation in the development of green roofs in the region (0.364) and there is a significant relationship between the application of incentive criteria and the desire to develop green roofs (0.232). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since unreinforced structures have the highest potential for earthquake damage and have multiple failure mechanisms, due to the lack of many uncertainties in the parameters of this type of structures, their vulnerability should be studied with proper knowledge of this and considering the parameters and the most probable modes for its failure. Also, most of the structures that are of historical importance are made of building materials and bricks. These types of structures usually have major weaknesses against earthquakes. Recognition of these weaknesses is a prelude to choosing the appropriate method to strengthen them. In recent decades, researchers have used various methods to enhance the seismic behavior of brick walls. Common methods for this work are coating and reinforcement with plaster and sprayed concrete, which is the most common method of using sprayed concrete. In this study, the micro method is used for finite element modeling in ABAQUS software. In modeling, three methods of reinforcement are used, which include reinforcement with steel sheet, FRP sheet and mortar. The results of this study showed that the sequential arrangement of FRP strips, compared to other methods, had a greater effect on improving the flexibility and the diagonal arrangement of the mentioned strips had a tangible effect on increasing the final strength of masonry walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and Scope: Health monitoring is important component of the employee health maintenance program, which is performed by periodic examinations in accordance with Article 92 of the Labor Law. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the barriers of performing periodic examinations in the industries of Kashan in 2019. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 200 people (employer, health inspector, and medicine physician and industry health experts). A researcher-made questionnaire used to collect the data. Barriers were prioritized based on the scores of each group. Then, a weighting technique was used to accumulate the opinions and final prioritization. To analyze the data, SPSS 16 software was used. Results: Out of 200 subjects the number (percentage) of employers, inspectors, occupational medicine physicians and industry experts were 103 (51.5%), 31 (15.5%), 5 (2.5%) and 61 (31.5%) respectively. Using AHP (hierarchical analysis) and Expert Choice software. Final weight for the perspective of occupational health inspectors, employer, occupational medicine physician, and industry expert was obtained at 0.38, 0.257, 0.195, and 0.168, respectively. After applying the weight from the perspective of the four groups, the final priorities were obtained as the high cost of examinations, lack of awareness of workers about the importance of examinations, and lack of a comprehensive plan to reduce occupational diseases in industry, respectively. Conclusion: It is recommended that examinations be performed in clinics covered by the University of Medical Sciences at a lower cost. And train employers about the benefits and importance of occupational examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Underlying psychological causes of road accidents needs to be more identified in Iran. According to studies, human errors are the most effective factor of driving accidents. The purpose of this study was to identify dangerous driving behaviors among professional drivers in Kashan. Materials and Methods: Data for this descriptive cross-sectional study were collected in Occupational Medicine Center of Kashan, Truckers Cooperative, and Aran and Bidgol Kavir Steel Company during autumn 2017 and winter 2018. Demographic information and Driving Behavior Questionnaire were completed. Data were analyzed using Chi-square and one-way ANOVA tests by SPSS version 16. Results: Studied drivers included 61 (20.1%) bus, 95 (31.4%) truck, and 147 (48.5%) trailer drivers aged 43.15 ± 10.29 with 19.48 ± 11.34 years of driving experience. Fifty-nine drivers (19.5%) had at least one accident; of them, 10 (17%) resulted in death. Seventy-two drivers (23.7%) received up to 20 penalties. There was a significant relationship between type of vehicle and age, work experience, number of working days per week, average driving speed, and smoking. There was a statistically significant relationship between slip and accident (P = 0.007). Penalties in bus drivers were significantly related to mistake (P = 0.026) and slips (P = 0.027). There was a statistically significant relationship between penalty and risky violations (P = 0.002), slips (P = 0.002), highway violations (P = 0.003), mistake (P = 0.029), and general behavior (P = 0.001) in trailer drivers. Conclusion: Assessing driving behavior and screening procedures when selecting professional drivers can reduce the incidence of accidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Posttensioned tendons can be used for rehabilitation of frames as well as for providing self‐centering ability. The optimum selection of retrofit parameters is carried out based on their effect on the seismic behavior of a structure. The results of 2D numerical modeling of the frames in this paper revealed that the rehabilitation of a frame with weak end plate bolted connection by adding posttensioned tendons improves the seismic response of the weak frame to be close to that of the reference frame, whose connections are designed according to AISC code. It was observed that the roof displacements were reduced by 5%, and the maximum story drifts in near‐ and far‐field earthquakes were reduced by 8% and 2% in the rehabilitated frames on average compared to those of the reference frame. The results of 3D substructure numerical models, verified by experimental results, indicated that the changes in the tendon diameter from 12 to 18 mm increased the moment capacity and initial rotational stiffness by 38% and 60%, respectively, compared to those of the reference model. The increase in tendon distance from 18 to 22 cm resulted in 29% rise in moment capacity compared to that of the reference frame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and stress are important factors in determining the life quality as well as many social and economic problems in workers' life. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of psychological symptoms (depression, anxiety, and stress) among the examined workers in the periodic examinations of the medical centers of Kashan County during the 4-month period in 2018–2019. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted randomly on 154 workers examined in different industrial towns of Kashan County (5 areas). Data were collected using a DASS-42 questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16 software, using Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests for qualitative variables and t-test and ANOVA test for data analysis of quantitative variables. Results: The symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were 18.83%, 33.12%, and 18.74%, respectively, in the present study. Moreover, the comparison of depression, anxiety, and stress with demographic variables showed a significant relationship between education level, employment type, and sex (P < 0.050). Conclusion: According to the results, workers' anxiety symptoms were more than depression and stress. Hence, it is essential to plan to identify such disorders in the workers to implement educational interventions and empowerment of these worthy people to increase mental health in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Dormitories as the second home of students are very decisive in increasing their academic quality. Unfortunately, dormitories of the universities in Iran are not safe due to a large number of causes. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the level of safety of the dormitories at Kashan University of Medical Sciences using the audit method. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study was conducted by the safety audit checklist at Kashan University of Medical Sciences. The checklists were completed by observation, interviewing, and document control. The safety status index (SSI) was then used to evaluate the safety of the student dormitories. The SSI was then graded based on the three scales of undesirable (below 50), moderate (50–75), and desirable (above 75). Results: According to the results, the highest percentage of noncompliance with the safety dimensions and the different parts of the dormitory building was related to the safety signs (99.12%) and warehouse (83.95%), respectively. Furthermore, the lowest percentage of noncompliance with the safety dimensions was related to housekeeping and surface safety and public safety (33.3%). Such a noncompliance was related to staircases (53.84%) in different parts of the dormitory building. Conclusion: This study showed that the safety was not desirable in the dormitories studied. Therefore, it is recommended that a safety and health management system should be established to both improve the level of safety and eliminate the deficiencies in the student dormitories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have examined violence against female workers in the industrial sector. This study explored the prevalence of various types of violence and associated factors among female workers in the industrial sector. This descriptive survey was conducted in eleven industrial sites in Kashan, Iran, from April through September 2014. We used a 78-item questionnaire to obtain data from 817 female workers. More than half of the participants reported having experienced at least one type of violence. The prevalence rates of verbal aggression, sexual harassment, and physical violence were 52.5%, 12% and 11.5%, respectively. Single female workers (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.09–4.27), and age older than 35 years were (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI = 1.26–2.93) each significantly related to increased odds of verbal violence. Short duration of employment (≤ five years) was the most strongly associated factor for sexual harassment (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.7–2.94). Working the night shift was significantly associated with encountering verbal violence (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.69–3.06). The high prevalence of violence suggests that management in industrial workplaces should invest time and resources in addressing violence. Developing a reporting procedure and training programs are recommended in dealing with workplace violence risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrofit method for bolted end plate connections is the use of haunches. This method needs no change or replacement of connection components. The optimum selection of rehabilitation parameters like thickness or haunch-beam angle is of great importance for designers. Besides, one of the important factors for designers to select this retrofit method, is the efficiency of retrofitting by haunches and the effectiveness of retrofit parameters on behavior of retrofitted frames in near- and far-field earthquakes. The results of 2D numerical modeling of the frames shows that rehabilitation of the weak end plate connections using haunch improves the seismic behavior of the weak frame relative to the reference frame with connections designed according to AISC code. For example, the roof displacements are reduced by 8% averagely and the maximum story drifts in near and far-field earthquakes are reduced by 22% and 12% in the rehabilitated frames compared to those of the reference frame. The results of 3D substructure numerical models, after verification by experimental results, showed that the increase of haunch thickness from 12 to 18 mm did not significantly increase the moment capacity and initial rotational stiffness. However, the pinching in moment-rotation hysteresis is decreased. The increase of haunch angle from 30 to 60 resulted in shift of plastic hinge to haunch internal area and 100% reduction of energy absorption and initial rotational stiffness compared to those of the reference specimen. Since the change of retrofit method parameters results in change of stiffness and natural time period of the structure and the affecting parameter on structure dynamic behavior is "the ratio between structure main time frequency to earthquake predominant time period", the selection of the first haunch thickness with an angle of 30 degree toward the beam that satisfy the requirements of FEMA350 will be economic and optimized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bolted steel connections have been frequently used after Northridge earthquake. Among the concerns regarding the poor performance of weak connections is the ability to effectively and economically rehabilitate steel moment connections in existing buildings. Strengthening of these connections without the need for changing or replacing their components is a problem that has been recently considered by engineers. This study develops and experimentally validates an innovative technique for enhancing the seismic performance of steel beam to column moment connections. The use of haunch as a way to rehabilitate end plate bolted connections with weak end plate or bolts is studied constructing 6 experimental specimens of corner connections under SAC (Structural Engineers Association of California) cyclic loading protocol. The results of the study show that this strengthening method improves the cyclic behavior of the weak connections. Besides, it provides specimens with better performance than that of the reference connection designed according to AISC. The moment capacity, initial rotational stiffness and energy dissipation of the rehabilitated connections are averagely higher than those of the reference connection by 25, 10 and 12 percent respectively. Moreover, the failure potential in the connection is reduced because the plastic hinge is kept away from connection region and is transferred to the haunch end. It should be noted that this strengthening method is more efficient for cyclic behavior of a bolted connections with weak end-plate than a bolted connection with weak bolts, since the moment capacity is more increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine and compare the patterns of spinal injury in car occupants. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study enrolling all patients with spinal fracture after car accidents, who were admitted to hospital more than 24 h during 2004--2009. Results: The lumbosacral spine was the most commonly involved region (64.8). Six patients had spinal cord injury (6.6%). The majority of the victims were drivers of the vehicle (86.8%) and remaining were passengers. There was a significant difference in lumbar anatomic region (P = 0.05) and place of accident (P = 0.05) in car occupants' position (P = 0.05). Car rollover was the most common mechanism of spinal fractures. There was a significant difference in lumbar anatomic region (P = 0.05), and two or more associated organ injuries (P ≤ 0.05) in car accident mechanism (P = 0.05). Conclusion: The chance of sustaining serious spine and associated multiple injuries in car accidents is quite high in our today's society. This may be due to the low level of standards for car manufacturing, absence or inadequacy of appropriate safety measures in cars, and poorly designed roads and problems in quality of driving to mention some reasons. Therefore, these victims are prone to significant morbidity and even mortality and need more specific prehospital supportive interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the construction limitations, proper and correct design of connections is vital and of great importance. At the construction stage, it is probable to use a connection bolt with a diameter less than the design assumptions. It can occur due to an imperfection in construction or even to changes in the function of the building. The unforeseen changes can increase the structural load, and consequently the moment and shear force demand values. Therefore, the present paper is aimed to examine the sensitivity of the bolted connections to the diameter of bolts using a numerical method. The results show that bolted T-stub connections are more sensitive to bolt diameter than end plate connections. Hence, the bolted end plate connections are recommended where the imperfection in construction or changes in function of the building is probable. Moreover, in construction of bolted connections, if changing the number of bolts regarding the constant total cross sectional area is considered, it is recommended to use the symmetric arrangement of bolts on each beam flange. In design of connections for a particular frame according to AISC, the moment capacity of T-stub connection is higher than that of end plate connection. However, the total energy absorptions of these connection types are approximately equal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Semi-rigid connections are widely used in different countries. These connections are usually used in semi-rigid frames with bracing system. Considering the frequent use of these connections, studying their behavior as an individual connection or as a frame with a semi-rigid connection is of great importance. In this paper, moment-rotation behavior of bolted angle connection as a usual semi-rigid connection is studied, and the affecting factors on there are investigated. Finite element connection models are developed. These models are verified by comparing the results of finite element analyses with the results of experimental test, and the verified models are used to investigate the behavior of the connections. The behavior of semi-rigid frame with bolted angle connection is then studied conducting time-history analyses. The results show that the increase in shear stiffness of angle bolted connections significantly decreases the lateral drift and increase the frame stability against lateral loading. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY This paper numerically studies the behavior of castellated beams with two simply supported ends under moment gradient loading and investigates the effect of beam and braced lengths on rotational capacity of castellated beams. To assure the ability of numerical models in predicting the complex behavior (especially at the location of opening) as well as the failure modes, numerical models of two experimentally tested specimens are developed. Comparison of force-displacement curves and failure modes shows that neglecting the boundary condition of the specimens, the numerical method can properly predict the behavior of castellated beams. All geometrical properties of the beams are the same as the study parameters so that the finite element model of the corresponding plain-webbed beams can be easily created by filling the web openings in castellated beams. The accuracy of finite element models of plain-webbed beams is evaluated by comparing the moment-rotation behavior with that of numerical models developed by other researchers. Rotational capacity of castellated beams derived from numerical models is compared with that of the corresponding I-shaped plain-webbed steel beams, and it is observed that in the case of short beams, web openings reduce energy absorption and plastic moment capacity of the beams compared with that of long ones. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bus and truck drivers are apparently more involved in metabolic syndrome and its complications due to their working conditions. The related impacts are not only harmful for driver's health, but also may endanger others. The present research was carried out to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among bus and truck drivers in Kashan, a city in Iran. Materials: In 2007, 429 bus and truck male drivers were enrolled to this cross sectional study to examine the metabolic syndrome using ATPIII criteria. Statistical tests including Chi-Square test, T-student test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in subjects was 35.9%. Hypertension and diabetes were seen in 42.9% and 7% of the drivers respectively. Body mass index (BMI) in 41% of the drivers within the range of 25-30 was considered overweight and 23% of them were found to be obese. High triglyceride (53.4%) and low HDL-C levels (48.7%) were more common than other components of metabolic syndrome. A significant positive correlation was seen between BMI, diabetes, high blood pressure and metabolic syndrome (p < 0.001); but there was no positive correlation between metabolic syndrome and smoking (p < 0.06). Conclusion: High prevalence of metabolic syndrome and other relevant risk factors for coronary heart diseases (CHD) were detected among the drivers. Based on these findings, it is recommended to consider training programs, establish pertinent health regulations, and focus on the metabolic syndrome complications in high risk group to improve and maintain their quality of life and to promote their public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is evidence in the scientific literature of the adverse physiological and psychological effects of shift work. The work of nurses in hospitals is connected with shift and night work. Several publications have described gastrointestinal disturbances in shift workers. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of gastrointestinal (GI) complaints of nurses on a rotating shift with that of nurses on a regular day shift. Methods: The study involved 160 nurses (133 working in shifts and at night and 27 working on day shifts) in the Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran. These nurses answered a Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire regarding the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms (including heartburn, regurgitation, constipation, diarrhea and bloating). Positive responses required frequent symptom occurrence in the past 4 weeks. Significance of group differences was assessed by chi-square and Fisher-exact tests. Results: Prevalence of GI symptoms was significantly higher (p = 0.009) in rotating-shift nurses (81.9%) than in dayshift nurses (59.2%). Irregular meal consumption (p = 0.01) and GI medications (p = 0.002) were all significantly higher among the rotating shift nurses. In both groups, regurgitation was the most common symptom. Conclusion: Nurses on rotating shifts in Iran experience more GI disturbances than do nurses on day shifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor commenting on a study on visual fitness of Iranian drivers published in an earlier issue of the journal is presented.