Response Surface Methodology Optimization of Friedel-Crafts Acylation Using Phosphotungstic Acid Encapsulation in a Flexible Nanoporous Material.

The present study aims at investigating the performance of Friedel-Crafts acylation of phenols and acyl chlorides over the PTA@MIL-53 (Fe) catalyst (phosphotungstic acid encapsulated in MIL-53 (Fe) via the one-pot method) under ultrasound irradiation. PTA@MIL-53 (Fe) was synthesized using ultrasound irradiation at ambient temperature and pressure. Moreover, X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray, Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy, N2 physisorption, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry characterization analyses were performed to characterize the prepared composite. The reactions took place under an ultrasonic environment at ambient temperature and pressure. The obtained results reveal that the synthesized catalyst is efficient in an ultrasound irradiation environment for Friedel-Crafts reactions. The regeneration experiments indicated no significant change in the catalyst performance even after being reused for five times. Furthermore, the response surface methodology was applied to find the relationships between some specific variables and para-hydroxy acetophenone yield as a response. Finally, the results were validated with the experimental data, with which the model results were in good agreement.

Evaluation of quality of life in diabetic pregnant women.

AIMS: Gestational diabetes is the most common clinical complication during pregnancy. Women with gestational diabetes face many problems in their personal, family and social lives that affect their quality of life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of life of diabetic pregnant women. METHODS: This study was a descriptive study and the study population was all diabetic pregnant women referred to health centers in Kermanshah, Iran in 2019-2020. The studied variables were collected using a short form of quality of life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF-26 items). Then, with the help of SPSS software version 25, data analysis was performed based on frequency table and independent t-test. RESULTS: 101 pregnant women with gestational diabetes were studied. Their mean age was 33.06 ± 05.05 years. The quality of life of all mothers participating in the study was above average. The average quality of life and psychological domains, social and environmental relationships of mothers were higher in people with higher incomes and employment, and also the average quality of life and psychological domains, social and environmental relationships were higher in mothers who had less than 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of mothers were overweight (BMI = 25-29.9) and obese (BMI ≥ 30), which is one of the most important risk factors for gestational diabetes. Given the importance of quality of life of pregnant mothers, health policy makers are asked to provide more training for pregnant mothers on nutrition and increased physical activity to prevent gestational diabetes and improve their quality of life.

Development of an instrument based on the theory of planned behavior variables to measure factors influencing Iranian adults' intention to quit waterpipe tobacco smoking.

BACKGROUND: Theory of planned behavior (TPB) is one of the most widely used theoretical frameworks to explain addictive behaviors, such as tobacco smoking. The aim of this study is to develop and validate an instrument based on TPB variables to measure factors influencing Iranian rural adults' intention to quit waterpipe tobacco smoking. METHODS: This study was performed on a sample of rural adult waterpipe consumers living in two villages in Shiraz, Southern Iran. In the beginning, the initial items of instrument were extracted from the literature review and interviews with 20 waterpipe consumers. After that, face validity and qualitative content validity of the items were appraised. To measure quantitative content validity index (CVI) and the content validity ratio (CVR), a panel of experts reviewed the items. In addition, the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were applied to characterize the construct validity of the instrument. Finally, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were computed. RESULTS: CVI and CVR of items were within the ranges of 0.89-0.95 and 0.85-0.96, respectively. EFA indicated the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (=0.71) and Bartlett's test of sphericity was significant (=912.36, df=105, p<0.0001). Principal component analysis revealed that 15 items could be grouped into four subscales that accounted for 64.97% of the variance. Based on CFA, two items were deleted. CFA results showed that the remained data were fit to the model. The Cronbach's alpha and ICC of subscales were, respectively, in the ranges of 0.72-0.87 and 0.64-0.82. Finally, a 13-item instrument with four subscales was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: The findings reveal that the developed TPB instrument is a reliable and valid scale to identify the determinants of the intention to quit waterpipe smoking among Iranian rural adults.

Psychometric Properties of the Iranian Brief Version of the Transtheoretical Model Instrument in Terms of Hookah Tobacco Smoking Cessation.

BACKGROUND: Transtheoretical model (TTM) has been recognized as a common theoretical model in researches in terms of addictive behaviors. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian brief version of the TTM for hookah tobacco smoking cessation in a sample of Iranian rural adults who were in the preparation stage for hookah cessation. METHODS: This was a validation study on Iranian rural adult hookah smokers by the TTM instrument. First, to translate the questionnaire items from English to Persian, backward-forward procedure was used. Face and content validity of the instrument items were assessed. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to determine the construct validity of the instrument. For this aim, 300 participants completed the instrument. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were calculated to examine the internal consistency and reliability of the subscales of the instrument. FINDINGS: The content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR) of the items were ≥ 0.80 and ≥ 0.60, respectively. Based on CFA, the data fitted the TTM model. root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the goodness of fit index (GFI), adjusted GFI, and comparative fit index (CFI) were 0.037, 0.960, 0.910, and 0.950, respectively. At this stage, 6 items were deleted. The ICC and Cronbach's alpha of the subscales ranged between 0.60-0.74 and 0.71-0.86, respectively. The final instrument with 29 items was confirmed. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that translating Persian brief version of the TTM instrument was a reliable and valid tool to identify the determinants of hookah smoking cessation among Iranian rural adults.