Search

The aim of this study was to map and model the noise pollution level (NPL) of a highway in Iran by using statistical techniques, geographic information system (GIS) Software, and the Traffic Noise Model version 2.5 (TNM2.5). The equivalent noise level in A weighting network (L eq(A)) was measured in 28 stations in different seasons using the sound level meter of the TES-1358 model. The traffic noise data and indices L eq (equivalent noise level), L max and L min (the maximum and minimum time-weighted noise levels), L n (noise pressure level exceeded for n percent of the time), NPL, and TNI (traffic noise index) were measured and calculated to determine the daily sound level. They were then statistically analyzed by SPSS and Sigma Plot Software. Finally, the GIS software and TNM2.5 techniques were used to map and predict the traffic NPL in the region and the distribution of noise levels. The highest noise level was measured at about 80 and 79.61 dB in Kouhsangi and Abadgaran stations, respectively. The lowest level was measured at around 58 dB in the Hafez Square station. In addition, the results show that the highest and lowest L eq were almost in the same range (81–85 dB). It appears that the TNM2.5 model can reasonably predict traffic noise levels as well as the dispersion and nature of noise pollution on the highway.

Ali Asghar Ghorbani, 1 Zohreh Sohrabi, 2 Shahram Yazdani, 3 Salimeh Khalili Azandehi 4 1Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, CERMS (Center of Educational Research in Medical Sciences), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 2School of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, CERMS (Center of Educational Research in Medical Sciences), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 3School of Medical Education, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; 4Social Security Organization, Valiasr Regional Hospital, Education & Research Unit, Ghaemshahr, IranCorrespondence: Zohreh SohrabiSchool of Medicine, Department of Medical Education, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran, Tehran Tel +98-21-88622607Email zo_sohrabi@yahoo.comIntroduction: Given the social, economic, environmental and internal developments of universities, the necessity for medical universities to move to being third-generation universities has been demonstrated. These universities, along with the requirements of entrepreneurship and commercialization of research, are in need of structural requirements. This study was conducted with the aim to identify and introduce the structural requirements of medical sciences universities in Iran in the transition to the third-generation universities.Materials and Methods: This study was a qualitative approach using a conventional content analysis method. The contributors comprised 16 faculty members working in medical universities in Iran who were purposefully recruited and interviewed face to face in semi-structured interviews between October 2018 and March 2019.Results: Two wide classifications containing macro-structural requirements (institutional requirements) and micro-structural requirements (organizational requirements) were developed. Institutional requirements included four subcategories including redefining the university as a holding of knowledge business units, redefining academic units as a strategic business unit (SBU) which refer to the mission of the universities and eliminate bureaucracy, independence, and ‘Competition in recruitment and contracts’ which refer to the administrative requirements of the universities. The organizational requirements included units and offices, centers, and parks that are grouped because of similarities in internal processes.Conclusion: Medical universities need structural requirements to move to third-generation universities and improve infrastructure. These requirements, which develop in a spiral over time, must be appropriate and tailored to the capacity of each university.Keywords: third generation university, medical sciences universities, structural requirements, Iran

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic disease of the bones. Osteoporosis reduces bone density, predisposes a person to fractures, and imposes high costs on societies. Osteoporosis develops from a variety of causes, one of the most significant is vitamin D deficiency. This study investigates the impact of vitamin D on osteoporosis.

Mansour Amraei,1,* Ayub Ghorbani,1,* Yaser Seifinejad,1 Seyedeh Fatemeh Mousavi,2 Mahmoud Mohamadpour,3 Ehsan Shirzadpour3 1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; 2Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran; 3Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Cardiovascular diseases are among the most common causes of mortality worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to control the risk factors of these patients. Since the level of inflammatory markers and lipid profiles has increased in cardiovascular diseases and due to the increasing role of plants in the treatment of diseases, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Teucrium polium on inflammatory markers and lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.Materials and methods: A total of 24 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of six each and treated with oral administration for 8 weeks. The control group received normal diet, the sham group received high-cholesterol diet and experimental groups 1 and 2 received high-cholesterol diet in the 8 weeks and doses of 85 and 170 mg/kg, respectively, of the T. polium hydroalcoholic extract (TPHAE) in the second 4 weeks. At the beginning and the end of the study, rats were examined for biochemical parameters. The mean level of variables for each group was presented as mean ± standard error of mean.Results: The results of this study showed that, after administration of TPHAE, there was a significant decrease in the mean of inflammatory markers in all groups compared to sham group (P

Performing complex tasks such as writing an argumentative essay and providing high-quality argumentative peer feedback are challenging for higher education students. This study aims to explore whether and how students' argumentation performance during peer feedback activities and essay writing is related to their culture and gender. In this exploratory study, 240 students participated from a Dutch university. Since this study was conducted in a Dutch context, students' culture was categorized as either Dutch or non-Dutch. Both Dutch and non-Dutch students followed an online module for three consecutive weeks and completed three tasks each week. In week one, students wrote an argumentative essay. In week two, students were invited to provide two sets of feedback on two peers' essays. In week three, students were requested to revise their essays based on the received feedback from peers. Finally, students' culture and gender were collected. The results showed that non-Dutch students provide higher-quality feedback than Dutch students in terms of justifying the identified problem in the essays. Similarly, non-Dutch students outperformed Dutch students regarding their essay writing performance by providing deeper arguments against the position, justifications for arguments against the position, and responses to counter-arguments. Although the overall differences between Dutch and non-Dutch students in peer feedback and argumentative essays were not significant between males and females, non-Dutch male students provided more affective feedback than Dutch male students. The results of this study provide insights for teachers regarding how to support international students in performing complex skills such as peer feedback and argumentative essay writing.