Districts Of Tehran Research Articles

Home Food Safety Practice and Household Food Insecurity: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach

Food safety and food security are interrelated concepts with a profound impact on the quality of human life. The current study, for the first time, was set to identify associations between home food safety practice and household food insecurity a structural equation modeling approach. In this cross-sectional study, urban households were selected from among 10 health centers of five districts of Tehran, Iran (2015). The following questionnaires were completed: socioeconomic status (SES), food security and food safety. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was applied for predicting the relationships between SES, food insecurity, and food safety in households. Food security was observed in 56% of households. Mild, moderate and severe food-insecure households were determined to be 29%, 12%, and 3%, respectively. In addition, the scores of home food safety practice in 37.5%, 33% and 29.5% of the households were classified as desirable, acceptable and weak, respectively. Low-educated mothers having husbands with low educational and occupational level had a weaker food safety practice compared to high-educated ones. Based on the SEM results, an inverse association between food safety practice and food insecurity score was observed (t= -2.89, ɣ = 0.16). Food insecurity and undesirable food safety practice were relatively prevalent among households. In addition, the economic and social factors could inversely affect both food insecurity and food safety practices.

Investigation of knowledge, attitude, and practice of Tehranian women apropos of reducing, reusing, recycling, and recovery of urban solid waste.

This paper aimed to explore knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of women towards the municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Tehran, Iran, to provide a basis for experts and decision-makers to develop or improve practical waste management strategies. Women's contribution could markedly promote accomplishment of MSW management strategies, which has been neglected in many developing countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two stages: first, a random sample of 384 respondent women was selected from the 22 urban districts of Tehran, then 64 of them were randomly selected and trained face-to-face. The second phase was aimed at determining the effectiveness of face-to-face training and its impact on women's performance in waste management. In both stages, data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire containing 21 questions in four categories. Chi square (χ2) and Pearson correlation tests were applied to identify the association among variables. Results indicated that 69.6% and 72.9% of the women had adequate knowledge and attitude, respectively, while only 46.0% performed moderate practice on MSW management. Overall, significant association between education level, occupation, and marital status of the women with KAP towards reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery of MSW were yielded (p < 0.05). Adequate knowledge and positive attitude did not necessarily lead to the proper practice in this study. However, face-to-face training positively affected women's practice in solid waste recycling and source separation. Conducting training programs and motivation of women by municipalities and decision-makers to elevate women's environmental performance could substantially promote MSW management strategies in developing nations.

Social aspect of quality of urban life: how does social capital affect desire of residents to continue living in historical neighborhoods? Evidence from Tehran, Iran

Purpose The purpose of this study is on the social aspects of regeneration of historical neighborhoods in Iranian cities. For this purpose, the authors investigated the effect of the social capital of the residents of historical neighborhoods in Tehran on their subjective quality of life and on their willingness to continue living in these historical districts. This study was motivated by the fact that the primary issue in regeneration of Tehran’s historical districts is to stimulate the residents’ desire to continue living in their neighborhoods, thereby preventing the population from decreasing. Design/methodology/approach A review of the theoretical literature revealed that the subjective quality of urban life could act as an intermediary construct that explains the link between social capital and willingness to continue living in a district. With this assumption, the authors administered a questionnaire to 389 residents of different historical neighborhoods who had been randomly selected by cluster sampling. The analysis of the data and the relationships among the constructs was conducted using structural equation modeling. Findings The results suggest that increase in the participants’ social capital, including neighborhood bonds, civic participation, social networks and trust, could increase both their life satisfaction (i.e. subjective quality of urban life) and their willingness to live in the historical district. As indicated by the structural model of this study, the social capital both directly influences willingness to continue living and has an indirect effect on it through the intermediary construct of subjective quality of urban life. Practical implications The findings of this study can help the policymakers of historical districts in Tehran to determine high-priority strategies for regenerating these districts. Some of the most practical policies that can be applied to the context of Tehran include provision of facilities for enhancement of social networks and bonds, formation of non-governmental organizations and using neighborhood bonds to improve the environmental conditions of neighborhood units. Originality/value This study has several advantages. First, the measures used that were taken from the literature have been adjusted to the context of the study with the help of a group of experts. In other words, although the constructs have their roots in theory, their measures are of a local and context-based nature. Second, the obtained results would direct the current approaches to regeneration of historical districts in Iran, which primarily have a physical, economic and elitist basis, towards additional social and participatory approaches.

Evaluation of GPR method in identification hidden faults of Alluvial deposits in north of Persian Gulf artificial lake, twenty-two district of Tehran

In this research, to detect hidden faults around Persian Gulf artificial lake (22 District of Tehran), Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was used. Three profiles were studied in this method. South of Persian Gulf artificial lake there is a trench of which first profile is designed on top. There are eight observable subsidiary faults which indicate a high seismic potential of the target area. Second and third profiles are close and parallel to each other. They are designed 260 m far from north of Persian Gulf artificial lake. The GPR data prove the existence of faults and fractures in layers. A fault zone with an approximate length of 200 m in the northern part of the lake is found out. Generally, results suggest that second and third profiles in comparison with first profile, have more severe changes in layers conditions. In addition, subsidiary faults recognized are in the same direction of North Tehran fault (most dangers fault of Tehran). Therefore, they are absolutely fault branches of North Tehran fault.

Social factors of sustainability for a smart city development

Sustainable development of smart cities is based on the consideration of many areas of urban life in which the implementation of modern innovative technologies is taking place. Urban planning is aimed on providing citizens’` life and ensuring their daily needs in comfortable and safe living. The problem is that urban environment and the population must be ready to accept the idea of a smart city in order to organize its greatest efficiency. On the other hand, smart technologies should address both global and local challenges and threats to the urban environment in the wide range from environmental problems caused by climate change to the possibility of easy orientation and service search on city streets. The article proposes an approach to strategic urban planning of the environment based on a socially-oriented smart city model that combines social factors, their reflection in urban environment and defines the set of smart technologies that are in citizens’` demand. On the example of the Monirye district in Tehran, Iran the developed method is applied using analytical methods of SWOT and VMOSA analysis. This application provides a systematic approach for smart cities planning in accordance with the needs of the population and the existing level of development of the urban environment and to determine the strategic directions of its sustainable development in the interests of the population.

Factors predicting the oral health behaviors of the Iranian students in the District 1 Tehran, Iran

Aim: The purpose of this examination is determining the predictors of oral health behaviors among Iranian students in district 1 Tehran based on the health belief model with added commitment to plan construct. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 351 four grade female students in the first district of Tehran, Iran in 2017. The multi‑stage random cluster sampling method was used to recruit students. The inclusion criteria were being in four – graded level of elementary schools of the 1st district in Tehran, being female students aged between 9-11 years and being physically and psychologically healthy student. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the variables that predict oral health behaviors. Results: Totally, (N= 31.8%) students reported that they were brushing less than twice a day and (N= 55.2% ) students claimed using of dental floss once a week or less than once a day. The results indicated that perceived self-efficacy (OR=1.46, 95% CI=0.57-3.78, P&lt;0.001), commitment to plan (OR=1.13, 95% CI=1.04-1.23, P&lt;0.001) and cues to action (OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.14–1.76, P=0.002) were the significant predicting variables of brushing twice a day, and use of dental floss once a day or more (OR=1.02, 95% CI=0.23-3.53, P=0.003). Conclusion: This study has shown the effectiveness of the health belief model with added commitment to plan construct to predict oral health behavior in female students. Thus, it seems that the model as a acceptable framework for designing training programs to improve oral health behavior in students.

Developing the framework for evaluation of the inherent static resilience of the access to care network

The efficient response of a community in confronting a disaster mainly depends on the functionality of the healthcare system. The necessity of timely access to care highlights the importance of studying the resilience of the access to care network in pre- and post-disaster stages. This research is conducted to develop a framework to evaluate the inherent resilience of the access to care network in time-independent status. For this purpose, first, the concept of Inherent Static Resilience is developed, and then, the quantitative indicators of measuring the properties of inherent static resilience in the access to care network are proposed. Moreover, as a proof-of-concept, the implementation of the developed framework and indicators is specified for a real case study in one of the districts of Tehran, the capital of Iran. Finally, one of the applications of this framework in developing pre-disaster decision-making is presented with the aim of improving the inherent static resilience of the community. Improving the inherent static resilience achieved by upgrading the system’s serviceability under normal operating conditions, results in enhancing the efficiency of the system in utilizing the available resources and capabilities in the pre-disaster stage, as well as, enhancing the amount of performance provided right after a disaster occurrence and reducing immediate losses and inefficiencies.

Household Food Insecurity and Health-related Quality of Life in an Urban Adult Population in Iran

Background: The relationship between food insecurity and mental and physical components of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been less addressed by healthcare professionals. Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between household food insecurity and mental and physical components of HRQOL in a large sample of urban people and to determine whether household food insecurity has a negative effect on mental and physical components of HRQOL. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted across twenty-two districts of Tehran (capital of Iran) during 2011. The participants were selected through multistage cluster random sampling. Two questionnaires were used to measure household food insecurity and HRQOL in the study population, while descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to test the relationships between these two parameters. Results: The mean age of the study population was 44.5 ± 15.5 years and most were female (64.8%). The results of this study indicated an independent relationship between household food insecurity and different subscales of HRQOL (P&lt;0.001). Household food insecurity had a significant negative relationship with physical (β= -5.93; P&lt;0.001) and mental (β= -6.54; P&lt;0.001) summary scores of HRQOL. Likewise, average scores on all subscales of HRQOL according to household food security status were significantly different (P&lt;0.001). Conclusion: Food insecurity was associated with mental and physical components of HRQOL among urban participants and can be considered as a part of comprehensive interventions that target to improve general health.

Survival analysis for motorcycle usage time in work-tours

The aim of this paper is to identify effective factors on motorcycle usage time in work-tours. To do so, a survey on motorcyclists whose workplaces are in the Central Business District (CBD) of Tehran is conducted. Due to the connected nature of daily activities, travel pattern usually has tour shape, so tour-based approach is employed in this study. For identifying and comparison of variables reflecting motorcycle usage time in simple and complex work-tours, two Accelerated Failure Time (AFT) models are developed. The results indicate that in simple tours model “home location” and “tour start time” are significant while in complex tours model “trip number”, “motorcycle age” and “driving experience” are the most significant factors. Moreover, it has been shown that trip distance and monthly fuel cost are two effective factors on motorcycle usage time in both simple and complex tours. However, trip distance has greater effect in complex tours.

Flowers in the Garbage: Transformations of Prostitution in Iran in the late Nineteenth-Twenty-First Centuries in Iran

The archaeology of garbage project was conducted in 2017-18 to investigate the daily garbage of inhabitants of two districts of Tehran. Among the discarded materials, we recognized scattered evidence of prostitutes’ daily life. Finding such evidence gave us an alibi to work on the historical documents in order to trace the patterns of prostitution in nineteenth-century Tehran. In this article, we configure “the geography of prostitution” and the politics of marginalization in the largest city of Iran through investigating the material culture found in garbage fills, surveying the city plan, photos, written documents, and archival data.

The Effect of the Task- based Language Teaching Method on the Comprehension Ability of Iranian High-School Students

The Task-Based Approach has obtained popularity in the part of language teaching since the last decade of the 20th Century and significant scholars have joined the discussion and increased the amount of analytical studies on the issue. Teaching the English language is based on a task-based language teaching is an effective way to improve linguistic knowledge and learners' comprehension. Reading and comprehension is one of the essential things to get meaning from the text. The emphasis on reading comprehension skills of foreign languages is one of the most important issues in language teaching. This research has investigated the impact of Task-Based Language Teaching (TBLT) on reading comprehension ability and performances of Iranian students. For this purpose, 60 high school students in the third district of Tehran were selected as the participants. The two groups took a pretest to test reading ability. In the next step, they were divided to experimental and control group. The results showed that by t-test analysis, the experimental group with three reading task types in comparison to the control group with traditional method, showed better performance. Finally, the scores were compared by ANOVA test and the students in creative tasks performed better.

Modeling the effectiveness of urban agriculture education courses

Urban agriculture can provide food security that is essential to sustainable development goals. Citizen education plays a vital role in urban agriculture formation. The present study examined the effectiveness of urban agriculture education courses in the three levels of the Kirkpatrick model and estimated a structural equation model to obtain the direct effects of the studied factors. This study consisted of citizens (N = 80) who participated in the urban agricultural education courses in flowering centers of the 2nd district of Tehran, Iran. According to the results, 55, 46.25 and 48.75% of the respondents evaluated the education courses as “good” in the reaction, learning, and behavior levels, respectively. In addition, 58% of participants believed these courses had a great impact on their understanding of urban agriculture. Attending education courses was well explained by the three levels of the Kirkpatrick model (P 0.05], RMSEA = 0.02, SRMR = 0.065, NFI = 0.91, CFI = 0.92, and GFI = 0.90) showed the model provided an excellent fit for the data. There is limited information about urban agriculture among the citizens. According to the results the training courses can increase the citizen’s knowledge on urban agriculture which improve food security and urban environmental management.

Explaining the theoretical model of place branding: an asset-based approach to regeneration of the historic district of Tehran

Over recent years, place branding has come to vogue as a tool for urban planning and management projects such as regeneration of historic districts. In line with the context-oriented nature of regeneration, place branding should also be based on contextual conditions. Using a method based on grounded theory, therefore, the present study aims at developing a contextualized model for place branding of the historic district of Tehran. For this purpose, 32 in-depth interviews were conducted. The extracted codes were classified into 173 concepts and 47 categories. The final model, which was the result of modification of the paradigmatic model, moves place branding toward an asset-based approach. This model introduces the identity of place brand as the core category of place branding; an identity which is made up of three types of identity, namely tourism, inhabitation, and bazaar. In this model, place brand is not a phenomenon imposed from outside but the result of interaction among various agents on the basis of their shared interests that pave the way for place branding in a strategic process by virtue of the assets of the place. Therefore, this model creates added value for the historic district which guides the task of regeneration.

The relationship between dietary patterns and depression mediated by serum levels of Folate and vitamin B12

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder is among main worldwide causes of disability. The low medication compliance rates in depressed patients as well as the high recurrence rate of the disease can bring up the nutrition-related factors as a potential preventive or treatment agent for depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns and depression via the intermediary role of the serum folate and vitamin B12, total homocysteine, tryptophan, and tryptophan/competing amino acids ratio.MethodsThis was an individually matched case-control study in which 110 patients with depression and 220 healthy individuals, who completed a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire were recruited. We selected the depressed patients from three districts in Tehran through non-probable convenience sampling from which healthy individuals were selected, as well. The samples selection and data collection were performed during October 2012 to June 2013. In addition, to measure the serum biomarkers 43 patients with depression and 43 healthy people were randomly selected from the study population. To diagnose depression the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, were utilized.ResultsThe findings suggest that the healthy dietary pattern was significantly associated with a reduced odds of depression (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61–0.93) whereas the unhealthy dietary pattern increased it (OR: 1.382, CI: 1.116–1.71). The mediation analysis showed that the healthy dietary pattern was associated with a reduced risk of depression via increased serum levels of the folate and vitamin B12; however, the unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with increased risk of depression via decreased serum levels of folate and vitamin B12, based on tree adjusted logistic regression models.ConclusionDietary patterns may be associated with depression by changing the serum levels of folate and vitamin B12. Further studies are required to confirm the mechanism.

Assessing the Efficiency of Muster Point in Crisis: A Case Study in Tehran City

Background: One of the most important factors in crisis management is the location of a muster point to reduce vulnerability. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of designated sites for muster point during a crisis in one of the districts of Tehran. Methods: This study was conducted in a cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study in 2018 using a researcher-made questionnaire. The assessed areas in this study included (1) the adequacy of the number of muster points, (2) parameters affecting muster points, (3) the use of the GIS in crisis management, (4) solutions affecting the reduction of damages, (5) attention to safety of muster points and (6) crisis management. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 and independent t-test. Significance level was considered as 0.05. Results: 80 crisis management experts participated in this study (63 males and 17 females). The mean age and experience of the participants were less than 40 and 15 years. The results of assessing the effeciency of the muster points in 6 studied areas showed that the highest value was related to the use of the GIS in crisis management 3.88(0.65), effective parameters on muster points 3.78(0.75) and the safety of the muster points 3.74(0.69). In addition, the analytical findings showed a significant difference with the criterion value (p &lt;0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that the studied muster points were sufficient and determined based on population density and geographical information system parameters. In addition, these results can be used as a basis for macro managerial decisions.

Urban social security survey

The article is devoted to security topics, which is one of the key requirements for improving the quality of life. The article presents the results of a study aimed at improving the safety of people in the area of the largest cities. Questionnaires were prepared and data were collected among residents of the study area on identified security problems as a result of field observations of the vicinity of Tehran (Iran). The study area is Lashkar district in Tehran 8 and east of Tehran where security is very low and the environment is relatively worn and width. The method of this research is descriptive-research. For the purpose of analyzing and assessing the security at the neighborhood level, a set of indicators are used, such as quality of passages, lighting, texture compaction, openness and closure of space, physical form. The following tables are presented in the article: Types of Security, The four theories of crime and violence in urban space, in the context of Swat Lashkar District. The study presented specific proposals (Solutions and Suggestions to create security in the Lashkar neighborhood) for measures of urban planning policy of the study area in Iran.

Short-Term Traffic Flow Prediction Using the Modified Elman Recurrent Neural Network Optimized Through a Genetic Algorithm

Traffic stream determining is an essential part of the intelligent transportation management system. Precise prediction of traffic flow provides a basis for other tasks, like forecasting travel time. While traditional methods have some merits for improving traffic prediction precision in some ways, high precision, considering different circumstances, is still difficult to achieve. This article presents a short-term traffic flow prediction model based on the Modified Elman Recurrent Neural Network model (GA-MENN) to deal with this practical problem. In GA-MENN, the algorithm of Elman Recurrent Neural Network is modified, optimized through the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and considered weather conditions, weekday, hour and day’s classification to forecast the vehicle velocity in Tehran streets and highways. The traffic data were collected from the online Google Map API service for 139 routs in 7 districts in Tehran. The method improves prediction precision and also lowers the prediction error rate, according to experimental results. Exploratory outcomes verify the superior performance of the proposed traffic condition prediction model over Regression Multi-layer Perceptron, Linear Regression, Logistic Regression, Probabilistic Neural Network, Regression Generalized Feedforward, Time-lag Recurrent Network, Support Vector Machine model, Elman neural network, K- NN model, ARIMA, Kalman filter model, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), SARIMA, and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first occasion when that traffic stream is gauged in urban roads and avenues in this specific way.

Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity and Its Association with Renal Function and Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Older Adults: a Report from a Developing Country.

While evidence exists for an association between the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC), mortality, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases, data about DTAC and renal function, and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are scarce. This study aimed to determine the associations between DTAC, renal function, and progression of CKD in older adults. The present cross-sectional study consisted of 226 older adults aged ≥ 60 years old from five districts of Tehran, Iran. DTAC was estimated using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method. Dietary intake, socio-demographic data, medical history, and anthropometric measurements were collected using a validated questionnaire. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was assessed from serum creatinine. Albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) was calculated by dividing albumin concentration by creatinine concentration and reported as mg/g. The DTAC ranged from 112.8 to 2,553.9. Analyses indicated that DTAC was not associated with eGFR (p = 0.35) and ACR (p = 0.91) even after controlling for confounding variables. Additionally, in logistic regression, no association between eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (p = 0.32) and ACR ≥ 30 mg/g (p = 0.32) with DTAC was observed, which was independent of confounding variables. We observed that more compliance with DTAC is not associated with renal function and CKD progression. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings of the present study in larger samples on different populations.

Is Tehran’s Public Spaces Disability Friendly?

Public space act like a living spaces of the cities where people gather to socialize, communicate with each other and where urban activities being carried out. It defined the character of the city and play important role to connect people to the city. Comfortable and accessible public spaces lead to vitality and livability to the city. Lack of the maintenance and attention to public spaces could reduce the comfort level and livability to the city. United Nations Convention emphasized that the people with disability have the same rights to access the public spaces, where World Health Organization declare that about 10% of world population are disabled. The eight years war between Iran and Iraq had increased disability rate among the citizens. Tehran as capital of Iran and the most populous city in Iran need to improve facilities and accessibility in order to support the need of the people with disability to live actively in the society. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the need of urban public space for people with disability in Tehran. Among the identified obstacles for people with disability in Tehran are related to lack of application of Universal Design (UD) elements on the urban spaces and public facilities. This study is based on applied theory and quantitative method for evaluating satisfaction of people with disability. This research focused on two type of disability group, visual impairment and wheelchair users. One of the city district in Tehran is chosen as a case study. The findings of this study obtain will be analyses to provide UD solutions in urban public spaces for them.

Comparison of peer led and teacher led oral health educational program among students

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of Peer-Led Education (PLE)comparing with the Teacher-led education(TLE) approach about oral health behavior of female school- student aged at 6-12 in district 6 of Tehran, Iran. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. Two primary public schools in Tehran district 6, were selected by simple random sampling and from each school one class considered for PLE and TLE. 120 fourth grade female students of the 6th district of Tehran were enrolled for study. All participants were assessed about knowledge, attitude, and practice in oral health by Pre-test one month before the intervention program. A valid questionnaire in Persin version used for data gathering. Two representatives including teacher and students from both groups trained under the supervision of a health educator. In PLE each of the six students trained 10 other students in the middle of the day per three consecutive sessions. In TLE one teacher trained one class with about 30students. Both education program set up at the same time and duration. The educational materials included educational short films, animation, and booklet powered driven by Oral Health Burea, Iran health ministry. Apart from, the intervention included role play and storytelling too. The evaluation had done by post-test with the same tool one month later after the intervention. Results: The average mean score of the knowledge, attitude, and practice in both group after educational intervention significantly increased (P&lt;0.05).The mean score of knowledge, attitude, and practice in PLE have been effective than TLE. Conclusion: Health education with peer education approach is effective in improving oral health behavior in children at school age.