Weight Gain in Pregnancy and Pre-menopausal Breast Cancer: a population-based case-control study

Background: The risk of breast cancer increases transiently after pregnancy and then falls to a lower level than for age-matched nulliparous women. Higher levels of estrogen are known as the primary reason. Several pregnancy characteristics are thought to be confounding the above link; however, except for the age at first pregnancy no other pregnancy-related factor has been proved to be significant. Specifically, it has not been established that an excessive weight gain in pregnancy is linked to the maternal risk of breast cancer. Objectives: To identify independent influence of weight gain in pregnancy on the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer following a delivery. We also examine the effect of demographic factors and other relevant pregnancy characteristics on the risk of breast cancer. Methods: Our cohort consisted of 213,250 women who gave birth to a live neonate from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 2003. We performed a nested population-based case-control study on 126 Nevada patients with a first lifetime breast cancer diagnosed from January 1, 1995 through December 31, 2003, and 504 Nevada participants without breast cancer. The two groups were matched on age at the recorded delivery. Our dataset was a linkage between the Nevada Cancer Registry database for the years 1995-2008 and birth certificates from the Nevada State Health Division for the years of 1994-2008. Results: The excessive weight gain in none of the categories was associated with increased risk of premenopausal breast cancer. After adjustment for other pregnancy characteristics the results remained unchanged. Women whose pregnancies progressed beyond 40 weeks of gestation were at significantly lower risk of developing breast cancer up to five years following delivery, compared to the women who delivered at 37-40 weeks of gestation (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.11-0.93), after adjustment for confounding variables. Conclusions: Our study did not show an association between excessive weight gain in pregnancy and the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer. However, pregnancies that extended beyond 40 weeks of gestation were strongly associated with a lower likelihood of pre-menopausal breast cancer up to 5 years after delivery. Biological plausibility for this may relate to the fact that as pregnancy develops into more advanced stages, mammary cells have more time to complete differentiation and maturation; a process that started earlier in the third trimester. The results of this study will therefore contribute to the literature and may provide a basis for future studies

Mathematical Analysis and Computational Integration of Massive Heterogeneous Data from the Human Retina

Modern epidemiology integrates knowledge from heterogeneous collections of data consisting of numerical, descriptive and imaging. Large-scale epidemiological studies use sophisticated statistical analysis, mathematical models using differential equations and versatile analytic tools that handle numerical data. In contrast, knowledge extraction from images and descriptive information in the form of text and diagrams remain a challenge for most fields, in particular, for diseases of the eye. In this article we provide a roadmap towards extraction of knowledge from text and images with focus on forthcoming applications to epidemiological investigation of retinal diseases, especially from existing massive heterogeneous collections of data distributed around the globe.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, submitted and accepted in Damor2012 conference: http://www.uninova.pt/damor2012/index.php?page=author

Application of Freire\u27s adult education model in modifying the psychological constructs of health belief model in self-medication behaviors of older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Self-medication by older adults has been always a public health concern. The present study aimed to modify the psychological constructs of Health Belief Model (HBM) in relation to self-medication behaviors using Freire\u27s Adult Education Model (FAEM) among older adults in Khorramabad, Iran, from 2017 to 2018. METHODS: The mean age of the older adults was 66.28 ± 7.18 years. This was a randomized controlled trial study conducted on 132 individuals older than 60 who were referred from different health care centers. The participants were selected using multistage sampling method and randomly divided into two groups of intervention and control. The data collection instruments included a questionnaire which was designed based on both HBM and self-medication behaviors questionnaire. The phase of adult education model (AEM) was used to modify the psychological constructs of HBM and self-medication behaviors. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20 with a significant level of 0.05. Descriptive statistical tests, chi-squared test, paired t-test, independent t-test, and univariate modeling were employed for the purpose of analyzing data. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of self-medication. Unawareness of the effects of medicine were the most important reason for self-medication (p = 0.50). The two groups were not significantly different in terms of knowledge, HBM constructs, and self-medication behaviors (p \u3e 0.05). However, they came up to be considerably different for the above variables after the intervention was implemented (p \u3c  0.05). When the findings were adjusted for the effects of confounding variables, there were significant differences between the two groups in almost all constructs of HBM and their behaviors (p \u3c  0.05). However, the perceived barrier modality of HBM did not reach to a significant level of difference between two groups. CONCLUSION: The educational intervention, which was based on Freire\u27s AEM, had positive effects on the constructs of HBM and consequently on self-medication behaviors. The psychological constructs of HBM were affected at the phases of listening to problems. Self-medication was tempered at the action-reflection phase with shared creation and evaluation of the action plan geared toward the achievement of the behavioral objectives. The results might be of importance to healthcare professionals involved in care of older patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials IRCT2013091814512N2. Registered on January 2 - prospectively registered, the trial was registered in the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry http://www.irct.ir

Are product design researchers and practitioners on the same page? The way professional product designers view creative design

PurposeThis paper aims to explore professional product designers’ views on creative design and to compare their viewpoints with the related academic literature on product marketing.Design/methodology/approachTo find the designers’ views on creative design, face-to-face in-depth interviews based on repertory grid analysis and semi-structured questions were conducted with 32 professional and award-wining product designers who mostly design for international producers.FindingsAlthough marketing scholars often approach design as a noun – something that can be viewed and analysed as a bundle of attributes, dimensions or characteristics – professional designers view design differently. To them, design is a verb, a problem-solving process through which they meet the challenges consumers have with products. Comparing professional product designers’ views on design creativity with the main topics in the product marketing literature places scholars’ dispositionalism against designers’ situationalism; it also enables marketing scholars to improve their viewpoints on product design and to bring practical problem-solving and design thinking into their research. This also increases mutual understanding between marketers and designers.Research limitations/implicationsThis research enhances the knowledge of marketing scholars, marketers and designers about each other’s perspectives on product design creativity, which will improve their mutual understanding and the business-to-business relationship between marketers and designers.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research is the first study that has attempted to discover product designers’ opinions on the main topics in the related academic literature.</jats:sec

Development and application of a service design-based process for improvement of human resource management service quality

PurposeThis research approaches human resource management (HRM) as a service and aims to develop and test a process for improving perceived HRM service quality.Design/methodology/approachA three-step process was developed by incorporating concepts and tools from service design approach. Based on the literature, it was hypothesized that applying this process could improve perception of HRM service quality, perceived HRM service value, level of leader–member exchanges along with perceived organizational support, role clarity and role ambiguity. A case study was conducted and these variables were measured and compared, before and after testing the process for a test group and a control group within an organization.FindingsThe main findings suggest the effectiveness of the presented process in improving the perceived HRM service quality and social exchanges (in terms of perceived organizational support and leader–member exchanges), while reducing role conflict and role ambiguity in employees and supervisors.Practical implicationsIn a general sense, the obtained result implies that leveraging holistic and collaborative service design tools and concepts in (re)designing internal services, such as HRM, could improve perception of quality in organizational services, which in turn may lead to several important benefits for organizations, particularly in terms of HRM as per the context of this study.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates development of an employee-centered method by borrowing from service design concepts and tools, to improve the perception of HRM service quality.</jats:sec

Associations Between Anthropometric Measures and Body Fat Percentage in Iranian Adolescents: a Quantile Regression Analysis

Abstract Background: The puerpose of this study was to assess the association between anthropometric measures and skinfold thickness as well as parental obesity and physical activity with body fat percentage (BFP) percentiles using a quantile regression (QR) model within a representative sample of Iranian adolescents. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2873 school children (1472 girls) aged 14-20 years old were selected by multi-stage random sampling approach from different areas of two cities of Fars Province in southern Iran. Demographic characteristics, parental history of obesity, physical activity were collected by using a self-reported questionnaire. Height, weight, waist (WC), hip (HC), arm (AC) circumferences, triceps (TST), abdominal (AST), clavicle muscle (CMST) skinfold thicknesses, and BFP were measured. A QR analysis was used to evaluate the association between the obesity measures with BFP at different quantiles.Results: The results of QR models showed that circumference measures and skinfold thicknesses were statistically significant positive associations with BFP across all quantiles (P&lt; 0.05). Among boys, having a history of obesity in mothers associated with higher BFP at the 15th to 95th percentiles (the parameter estimates ranged from 1.9 to 4.9, P&lt;0.05). However, there were statistically significant positive associations between parental obesity with BFP in girls at the 25th to 95th and all percentiles for maternal and paternal obesity, respectively (the prameter estimates ranged 1.6-2.6 and 2.7- 5.6 with P&lt;0.05). Moreover, physical activity negatively associated with the lower BFP at 50th to 95th only in grils (prameter estimates ranged -2.5 to -1.7 with P&lt;0.05). Conclusions: This study revealed that anthropometric measures and SF measures associated with higher BFP at all quantiles in Iranian adolescents. The findings of the study also showed that having a history of parental obesity as well as a high physical activity associated with higher and lower BFP, respectively.</jats:p

Explaining the Dimensions of Social Support for Breakfast and Healthy Snacks in Students: A Qualitative Study

Abstract Background: breakfast elimination as well as consumption of low-value snacks is ever increasing among adolescents. This study sought to explain the dimensions of social support for breakfast and healthy snacks among students. Methods : A qualitative research was conducted in Isfahan, Tehran, and Khorramabad high schools in 2017--18. Data were obtained from five focus group discussions and 35 in-depth interviews as well as semi-structured interviews with students of both sex, parents and school authorities. The data simultaneously analyzed using conventional content analysis in three stages including preparation, organization, and reporting. Prolonged engagement, maximum variation of sampling and member check were the enrichment factors of the research. Results : Three main categories emerged. First, family supports with sub- categories of family in the school programs as well as mother-sponsored support and family life patterns. Second, school supports with sub- categories of instrumental and informational support. And third, support of other community organizations with sub- categories of intra-department coordination and mass media. Conclusion : By providing exciting advocacy opportunities such as holding an exhibition and building families' confidence in the safety of school nutrition, school can attract family partnerships. In addition, promoting healthy eating needs multi-level supports such as mass media, municipalities, police, and the school's renovation office as well as the coordination of these organizations with health sector.</jats:p

Psychiatrists’ Attitude to the Psychiatrist’s Style of Dressing and Addressing: A Cross -Sectional Study

Abstract Background The relationship between physician and patient is important topic in medical practice. How a physician dresses and addresses the patients are key factors that contribute to developing a rapport. This study aimed to investigate the psychiatrist's perspectives in order to facilitate an effective communication with patients.Methods This descriptive-analytic study was done on psychiatrists and psychiatric residents through a non-selective and non-randomized sampling method. Data were collected based on a questionnaire. Variables were such as age, sex, duration of practice as a psychiatrist, priority for male psychiatrist dress preference, priority for female psychiatrist dress preferences, priority for choosing a doctor from a gender perspective, priority for being addressed by patients, using the word of the gentleman or lady to address the patients, and the type of verbs and pronouns used by the psychiatrist and the patient during the interview in terms of the total number of verbs and pronouns. Subsequently, eight photographs of male and female physician’s coverage according to the in Iranian culture were shown to the participants and they were asked to choose one.Results A total of 77 psychiatrists participated in this study, of which 45 (58.4%) were male and 32 (41.6%) were female. In case of male psychiatrist’s coverage, 56 (72.7%) participants preferred suits; whereas in case of female psychiatrist’s coverages, 25 (32.5%) participants chose colored mantos and scarves, 22 (28.6%) selected black manteos and head dresses. Sixty three (81.8%) patients believed that the gender of the physician was not important in determining the treating physician. According to the type of addressing the psychiatrist by patients, 71 (92.2%) participants preferred to call the doctor's name followed by surname and 60 (77.9%) psychiatrists wanted patients to use the word "Mr. or Ms.” prior their names. Sixty three (81.8%) psychiatrists stated that it was better to use plural pronouns and verbs in interviewing patients, and 67 (87%) preferred their patients to use plural verbs to address them.Conclusions Psychiatrists’ appearance and the accuracy of the patient-referring type, based on what the physicians believe, along with the characteristics of the patients’ perspectives, help improving physician-patient relationship.</jats:p

Methods comparison for attitude determination of a lightweight buoy by raw data of IMU

Today, one of the most important issues is the determination of instantaneous sea level and distinguishing the Tsunami by floating buoy in the ocean. Usually, gyroscopes are used to measure the angular velocity of a buoy. On the other hand, considering the advancement of various technologies in the field of precise accelerometers, make it possible to use these kinds of sensors for navigation purpose. In this research, stable and optimal methods for determining the orientation of a moving buoy is presented using a combination of the gyroscope, accelerometers, and magnetic sensors data. In order to prove the effectiveness of the proposed methods, the raw data were collected from accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers of (Xsens MTI-G-700) mounted on a Buoy in coastal waters of Kish Island, Iran. Then, by using the proposed methods, the Euler angles of the buoy are determined, while the Euler angles are derived from the Xsens sensor we are considered as a reference. Based on the results, RMSD for Madgwick algorithm are 0.57° 0.37° and 0.50° for Mahony algorithm are 0.56° 0.37° and 0.50° and finally for Complementary algorithm is 0.63° 0.26° and 2.38° which these values are for roll, pitch, and yaw angles respectively. Thus Mahony algorithm for determining roll and yaw Euler angles is more accurate than other algorithms; however, this differences is negligible compared to the Madgwick algorithm. The Complementary algorithm is less accurate than the other two algorithms, especially for determining the yaw angle of the buoy.</p