Islamic Azad University, Bonab Branch

This study investigates the thermal performance of four innovative insulation materials phase change materials (PCM), aerogel, vacuum insulated panels (VIP), and autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC)for cold-climate buildings in Varzaqan, Iran. Using 24 years of hourly climate data, five wall configurations (uninsulated reference, PCM, aerogel, VIP, and AAC) were simulated in EnergyPlus, with PCM behavior modeled via an enthalpy-temperature phase change routine. Key indicators included annual heating energy demand, wall surface temperature stability, time lag, and comfort hours. Results show that VIP achieved the greatest reduction in annual heating demand (36.6%), followed by aerogel (29.5%), AAC (24.1%), and PCM (21.4%). PCM and AAC provided substantial thermal inertia, delaying heat transfer by150-180 min and90-120 min, respectively, thereby enhancing night-time comfort. In contrast, VIP and aerogel maintained nearly constant surface temperatures (fluctuations <3ºC). Hybrid configurations offered the most favorable outcomes: a VIP+PCM wall reduced annual demand by 40.3% and achieved∼6510 comfort hours (74% of the year). Passive solar gains, when integrated into the analysis, improved PCM effectiveness by ∼12% in sunny winter days, while AAC showed moderate benefit and VIP remained largely unaffected. Sensitivity analysis highlighted VIP’s vulnerability to vacuum loss ∼12% performance degradation and AAC’s dependence on moisture, whereas aerogel and PCM proved more robust. Overall, the findings underscore the complementarity of ultra-low conductivity materials (VIP, aerogel) and high thermal mass/storage materials (PCM,AAC). While economic and practical barriers remain, hybrid approaches represent a promising pathway to significantly reducing heating energy demand and improving thermal comfort in cold climates.

BACKGROUND:The lengthy and multi-stage nature of assisted reproductive technology (ART) can impose financial and social burdens on couples while also affecting their psychological well-being. Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques help individuals cope effectively and cultivate inner calm. Additionally, lifestyle choices can impact fertility outcomes. In this study, we investigated the effects of mindfulness and health-promoting lifestyles on in vitro fertilization outcomes in infertile couples.MATERIALS AND METHODS:We conducted a randomized controlled clinical trial involving 300 infertile couples who were candidates for ART. The block randomization method randomly assigned participants to the intervention or control groups. The intervention group received an educational program of eight weeks of face-to-face interactive sessions supplemented by social media support. The control group received standard care. We compared the number of clinical pregnancies, health-promoting lifestyle scores, and anxiety levels between the two groups using Chi-square tests and independent t-tests.RESULTS:The clinical pregnancy rate in the intervention group (39.3%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (22%) (P < 0.001). After the intervention, the mean health-promoting lifestyle scores were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Additionally, anxiety scores were significantly lower in the intervention group (P < 0.001).CONCLUSION:Simultaneously improving lifestyle choices, cultivating awareness of body and soul, and maintaining a non-prejudiced attitude toward the environment can lead to better outcomes in achieving the desire for a child.

ABSTRACT This study proposes a data‐driven framework to assess the impact of climatic parameters on building energy consumption across three diverse Iranian cities: Tehran (semi‐arid), Bandar Abbas (hot‐humid), and Rasht (humid‐moderate). Using hourly weather data from 2000 to 2023 and Energy Plus simulations for a standardized office building, we evaluated how temperature, humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation influence annual and seasonal HVAC energy demand. A dual‐model approach was adopted, combining Long Short‐Term Memory (LSTM) and Random Forest (RF) algorithms, to forecast heating and cooling loads and quantify the relative influence of each climate variable. Results show that Bandar Abbas has the highest annual cooling load (~ 5100 kWh), while Tehran exhibits the highest heating demand (~ 5000 kWh). LSTM outperformed RF in all cities, with MAE values as low as 0.04 and RMSE reductions up to 30%. Seasonal analysis revealed that temperature and solar radiation dominate cooling loads, while wind speed and temperature influence heating demand in winter. Variable importance was derived using RF's impurity‐based feature importance and LSTM's permutation sensitivity analysis. Both methods identified temperature as the most influential factor, while wind speed had minimal impact. Model uncertainty was addressed using 5‐fold cross‐validation for RF and holdout validation with early stopping for LSTM. Practical deployment of these models is feasible via integration into IoT‐based smart HVAC systems, enabling predictive and adaptive control. The framework is transferable to other climate zones and provides a replicable approach for smart city energy planning, climate adaptation strategies, and data‐informed HVAC system design under evolving climate conditions.

Objective: This study aims to design a model for enhancing the symbolic capital of managers in the SAIPA Automotive Group. Methods and Materials: The research method is qualitative and based on grounded theory. The statistical population of the study in the documents section includes articles, theses, books, and scientific documents related to the research topic between the years 2000-2024 and in the interview section includes three groups: academic experts, experienced specialists, and executive managers of the SAIPA Automotive Group. In this study, purposive and snowball sampling were used to select the sample, which was achieved based on the saturation rule by conducting 15 interviews. The data were analyzed using the seven-stage approach of Sandelowsky et al. (2007) grounded theory and MAXQDA2020 software. Findings: According to the analysis of the data obtained from the interviews, this study identified a total of 93 concepts within four main categories (development of managerial skills and capabilities, integrated performance management, personal and professional capitalization of managers, and sustainable and innovative value management), and sixteen subcategories (team empowerment and development, improvement of motivation and self-confidence, conflict management and team diversity, strategic and operational planning, commitment to quality and performance, risk management, structuring and regulating activities, improvement of psychological capabilities, strengthening behavioral and ethical values, creation and development of effective communication networks, creation of a dynamic and flexible organizational culture, protection of shareholder value, co-creation of value, sustainable competitive development, enhancement of service-oriented motivation, and development of organizational resilience capacity). Conclusion: This study presents a model for enhancing the symbolic capital of managers in the SAIPA Automotive Group, focusing on key areas like managerial skills development, integrated performance management, and sustainable value creation.

This study aims to quantitatively examine the factors affecting the realization of smart government in Iran with an emphasis on the dimensions of digital governance. The research employed a descriptive-correlational survey design and targeted experts and managers in the field of information technology and digital transformation in Iran’s public sector. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 384 participants selected via purposive sampling. The instrument measured constructs such as IT infrastructure, digital governance, organizational agility, digital policymaking, and citizen participation. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS and AMOS software. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test hypothesized relationships and evaluate the measurement and structural models. Inferential statistical analysis using SEM confirmed that all hypothesized relationships were statistically significant at p &lt; 0.001. IT infrastructure (β = 0.804, t = 9.653), comprehensive service delivery (β = 0.308, t = 7.118), choice provision (β = 0.760, t = 9.35), security (β = 0.809, t = 9.39), goal alignment (β = 0.654, t = 12.34), smart services (β = 0.756, t = 7.118), and other factors such as digital governance, digital roadmaps, and smart interaction showed significant positive effects on the realization of smart government. Digital policymaking and digital governance emerged as the strongest predictors. The model’s goodness-of-fit index (GOF = 0.56) indicated a strong overall model fit. The coefficient of determination (R²) for the final structural model was 0.72, demonstrating high explanatory power. The realization of smart government in Iran is significantly influenced by a combination of digital infrastructure, governance mechanisms, policymaking strategies, organizational agility, and civic engagement. Among these, strategic digital policymaking and robust digital governance play pivotal roles. These findings underscore the need for integrated digital strategies and institutional capacity building to support the digital transformation of public administration in Iran.

This study aims to identify and categorize the key components of an e-government governance model that facilitates the creation and development of digital businesses in Iran. The research employed a qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews with 13 purposively selected experts, including senior managers, policymakers, scholars, and digital entrepreneurs. Participants were chosen based on their expertise and active engagement in the fields of e-government and digital business. Data collection was conducted through recorded face-to-face interviews, each lasting between 45 to 70 minutes. The interview protocol included open-ended questions focusing on governance mechanisms, infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and cross-sector collaboration. Thematic analysis was applied to analyze the transcribed interviews. Initial coding resulted in 238 raw codes, which were refined into 57 basic themes. These were further categorized into 15 organizing themes and synthesized into 7 overarching (global) themes. The analysis revealed that effective e-government governance for digital business development relies on seven global themes: smart policy-making and digital management, technological infrastructure and interoperability, integrated digital services and collaborative platforms, human resource empowerment and innovative culture, supportive legal frameworks, stakeholder collaboration, and continuous evaluation mechanisms. These themes reflect the interdependence of institutional, legal, technical, and participatory factors. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the necessity of coordinated policymaking, user-centered platforms, data security, inter-organizational collaboration, and adaptive evaluation processes to sustain digital transformation and entrepreneurial growth. The study concludes that a robust and multidimensional e-government governance model must integrate strategic policymaking, institutional agility, stakeholder participation, and technological inclusivity to foster digital entrepreneurship. The proposed framework offers actionable insights for policymakers seeking to harmonize public sector digitalization with private sector innovation and economic development.

Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are essential long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) that are essential for optimal health and development. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of maternal fish oil (containing omega-3 LCPUFA) intake from 21th week of pregnancy to 30 days postpartum for neurodevelopment and growth of infants at 9 and 12 months. This was a follow-up study of a triple-blinded clinical trial. The study population was 9- month-old infants. Their mothers were randomly divided into two groups of 75 people with a 1:1 ratio to take one fish oil supplement or a placebo daily. The anthropometric indicators of infants at months 9 and 12 and neurodevelopment at month 12 by the ASQ questionnaire were measured. In the fish oil and placebo groups, respectively, 73 and 71 infants at nine months, as well as 71 and 69 at 12 months, were analyzed. No statistically significant impact was observed following consuming omega-3 capsules on the neurodevelopmental domains, growth parameters, and the profile of maternal serum FAs (p > 0.05) except DHA. Neurodevelopmental problems were illustrated in one case in the intervention group and two cases in the placebo group. Perinatal relatively low-dose omega-3 LCPUFAs supplements indicated no statistically significant impacts on the growth and neurodevelopment of 9- and 12-month-old infants in a population with low consumption of marine products. Further studies investigating the effect of higher doses of omega-3 LCPUFAs are suggested.

Background: Besides its physical and psychological effects on individuals, addiction is a major personal and societal issue that threatens cultural, political, and community well-being. Genetic factors play essential roles in susceptibility to methamphetamine dependence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlation between methamphetamine use disorder in Iranian males and the rs2652511 polymorphism in the promoter of SLC6A3.Methods: We recruited 100 men with methamphetamine use disorder as cases and 100 age- and ethnically-matched normal men from East Azerbaijan, Tabriz, Iran as healthy controls. From peripheral blood leukocytes, genomic DNA was extracted. PCR-RFLP was utilized for genotyping. Findings: The genotype distribution of rs2652511 polymorphism in the case group was 56% CC, 33% CT, and 11% 44, whereas in the control group it was 25% CC, 42% CT, and 33% TT. According to statistical analysis, there was a substantial variation in genotype and allele frequencies of the rs2652511 polymorphism between the case group and the healthy control group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Our research revealed that the rs2652511 polymorphism in the SLC6A3 gene was associated with methamphetamine misuse disorder in the Iranian population. To clarify the exact role of this polymorphism in the pathology of methamphetamine use disorder, further research is required across different racial and geographic groups.

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent and deadly cancer worldwide. Chemotherapy is the primary treatment, but some patients use herbal remedies, such as Peiminine from Fritillaria walujewii, for palliative care. Cancer cells can affect the expression of noncoding RNAs, like microRNA, which can then influence the expression of genes. This research aims to study the effects of Peiminine on Doxorubicin cytotoxicity and detect the expression levels of hsa-miR-106a-5p and hsa-miR-181a-5p in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. AGS cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of Peiminine. An MTT assay was performed to determine the concentration of Peiminine required to prohibit 50% cell growth (IC50) and the cell viability percentage of the AGS cell line. The percentage of AGS cell line apoptosis was determined using acridine orange (AO) and ethidium bromide (EtBr). Finally, molecular studies were conducted to compare hsa-miR-106a-5p and hsa-miR-181a-5p expression in the control and treated groups. According to the study, Peiminine has been found to enhance the cytotoxicity of Doxorubicin, which reduces cell viability and increases apoptosis in the AGS cell line. Furthermore, the study also indicates that the AGS cell line treated with Peiminine shows lower expression of hsa -miR-106a-5p and hsa -miR-181a-5p compared to the control group that was not treated. Peiminine enhances Doxorubicin's effectiveness, inhibits AGS cell line growth, and reduces miRNA expression. Further research is needed for potential use as a supplementary GC treatment.