BackgroundWork Ability Index (WAI) is a well-known and valid self-report tool that has been widely used in various studies to identify and avoid early retirement and work-related disability. Nevertheless, very few studies have been carried out to evaluate work ability in Iran. We aimed to investigate the WAI and the effect of work-related stress on it among Iranian workers.MethodsA cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study was carried out among 449 workers from five working sectors in three big cities of Iran. Work ability and work-related stress were measured using the Persian version of WAI and the Persian version of Health and Safety Executive Stress Indicator Tool.ResultsMore than a third of the workers surveyed (34.70%) did not have an appropriate level of work ability (WAI < 37). There was a significant correlation between subscales of work-related stress and the mean score of WAI. Furthermore, the variables of body mass index, sleep quality, exercise activity, job tenure, and three subscales of work-related stress including demands, supervisor support, and role were significant predictors of WAI.ConclusionAccording to the results of this study, the interventional programs must be focused on improving supervisors support, eliminating ambiguity and conflicts in the role of workers in their job and organization, reducing job demands, improving sleep quality, and increasing exercise activity.

Sexual dysfunction has been demonstrated to be related to a poor quality of life. These dysfunctions are especially prevalent among men. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian translation of the Sexual Quality of Life-Male (SQOL-M), translated and adapted to measure sexual quality of life among Iranian men. Forward-backward procedures were applied in translating the original SQOL-M into Persian, and then the psychometric properties of the Persian translation of the SQOL-M were studied. A total of 181 participants (23-60 years old) were included in the study. Validity was assessed by construct validity using confirmatory factor analysis, convergent validity, and content validity. The international index of erectile function (IIEF) and the work ability index were used to study the convergent validity. Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency and test-retest reliability analyses. The results from confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a one-factor solution for the Persian version of the SQOL-M. Content validity of the translated measure was endorsed by 10 specialists. Pearson correlations indicated that work ability index score, dimensions of the IIEF, and the IIEF total score were positively correlated with the Persian version of the SQOL-M ( p < .001). Reliability evaluation indicated a high internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and intraclass correlation coefficients were .96 and .95, respectively. Results indicated that the Persian version of the SQOL-M has good to excellent psychometric properties and can be used to assess the sexual quality of life among Iranian men.

The use of natural biodegradable fibers in manufacturing of porous sound absorbers is an environmental-friendly approach employed by many researchers in the field of noise control and acoustics. The present study aimed to determine and compare the sound absorption coefficients of samples fabricated from fibers of coir and date palm by experimental and analytical methods. Experimental measurements of the sound absorption coefficients were performed in an impedance tube by modifying several parameters (thickness and air gap) of the samples. Prediction of sound absorption coefficient was determined by Delany-Bazley, Miki and Johnson-Champoux-Allard models along with differential evolution algorithm in MATLAB software and data from the experiments. The correlation between the sound absorption coefficients obtained from the experiments and the ones predicted by the existing models was examined by the Pearson correlation test. Samples from both type of fibers showed a poor and almost similar sound absorption in low-frequency range. In intermediate range (1000-3000 Hz), the sound absorption significantly increased to the maximum levels of 0.81 and 0.84 at 2000 Hz for the thickness of 40 mm. An increase in the samples thickness led to a fair agreement between values of sound absorption coefficient obtained from experimental and analytical methods. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant and strong correlation between the outputs from the existing models and the experiments. The values approximated by Johnson-Champoux-Allard model demonstrated a better fit with the ones determined by the experimental tests.

Background: Safety has affected the productivity of many industries, including the nuclear power, oil and gas, and railway industry. Resilience engineering is a new field in safety science. This study investigated the dimensions that contribute to safety culture and resilience and their relevance in petrochemical industry. Methods:This is a descriptive-analytical study. At first, a questionnaire was used to assess the level of safety culture in twelve dimensions. Then, a six-factor resilience engineering questionnaire was administered. Data were analyzed in SPSS 19 and EXCEL software programs using statistical tests such as the correlation coefficient. Results:The mean safety culture score was 290(43.2). The lowest score was related to the training indicator and incident and near-miss reports. The mean score of the resilience index was 201.5(25). The lowest score was related to the learning and reporting culture index. There was a significant correlation between the safety culture score and resilience engineering score (P=0.003). The results also showed that the score of safety culture and resilience increased with age and experience. Conclusion: Safety culture and resilience are correlated directly, implying that individuals and organizations can become more resilient by increasing levels of safety culture.

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