Improving participation in voluntary activities in Iran is important because increasing productivity among young people, given the country's young population, contributes to community sustainability. Therefore, a better understanding of volunteer motivation in Iranian youth is needed. The Volunteer Functions Inventory (VFI) for assessing volunteer motivations has good psychometric properties and is adapted to several languages, but no validated Iranian translation yet exists. The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric CHARACTERISTICS of voluntary functions inventory in members of Iranian Red Crescent Society. Sample size was 595 members of Youth Organization of Iranian Red Crescent Society from 31 provinces and 175 cities of Iran that were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method and responded to voluntary functions inventory. Data were collected using a demographic sample and voluntary functions inventory (VFI). Confirmatory factor analysis using principal components method was used for data analysis. The results of the present study showed that the voluntary functions inventory had validity and reliability. Also, the factor structure showed that 29 items and 6 factors well assess people's attitudes to volunteering, and the structure of this inventory was well-fitted and confirmed all goodness of fit models. The present study provides the use of the Iranian translation of the Voluntary Functions Inventory (6 scales and 29 items) to assess volunteer motivation among young Iranian volunteers.

Strombus canarium or dog conch is an economically important gastropod species for food in many coastal communities in the Philippines. Therefore, there is a need for protective measures to safeguard the stock in the wild. A better understanding of REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS is needed to establish a management strategy for the conch fisheries. This study aims to determine the sex ratio, gonadosomatic indices, spawning period, and the relationship between shell length, lip thickness, and gonadal development stage of S. canarium. A total of 212 individuals were collected, of which 71 were male and 141 female. The overall ratio of the population is 1:1.99, of which females dominate in all sampling months. The male dog conch spawned from August to November, with a clear peak in September and October, while the female population has no clear peak. Only three gonadal developmental stages (intermediate, active, and ripe) were observed in both sexes across all sampling months. The correlation analysis indicated that the shell length and lip thickness were reliable indices of sexual maturity for both male and female S. canarium. The information gathered in this study indicates that this species exhibited partial spawning behavior, with complete spawning recorded only in males during specific periods. For fishery management measures, only sexually mature S. canarium with 76 mm shell length should be collected to ensure the individual can reproduce before being harvested.

Introduction: Placental weight is one of the key determinants of its health and adequacy which is affected by some maternal fertility and biochemical properties. Therefore, this study was performed with aim to evaluate the relationship between maternal fertility CHARACTERISTICS and some blood markers with placental weight. Methods: This cross-sectional analytic study was conducted on 365 parturient women referred to Kazeroon Vali-E-Asr maternity in 2017. The individual and fertility CHARACTERISTICS of qualified women (maternal age, gestational age, maternal weight in early pregnancy, maternal height, parity, Hb & HCT level and placental weight) were collected via a researcher-made questionnaire, and the placentas were weighted by standard scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 21) and person correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. PResults The mean placental weight was 583± 1. 3 g, mean BMI was 25. 1± 5. 3 kg/m2, mean hemoglobin level was 12. 75± . 0. 94 mg/dl and mean hematocrit level was 28. 23± 2. 92%. There was significant and positive relationship between maternal BMI, gestational age (P< 0. 05), and placental weight. In addition, the multiple regression coefficients indicated that BMI and gestational age are positive predictors of placental weight (P < 0. 001, β = 0. 24, and β = 0. 20, respectively) and explained an overall 10% of the variance in placental weight. However, the distribution of placental weight had no significant relationship with parity, maternal age, Hb and HCT levels. Conclusion: There was a significant relationship between placental weight with maternal BMI and gestational age. Therefore, in order to protect the proper function of the placenta, proper cares for favorable maternal BMI and proper weight gain and taking caution about pregnancy termination is recommended.

Background and Aim: Job enrichment is a method that has been used to increase employee satisfaction and work motivation. The Hackman and Oldham job CHARACTERISTICS model (1976) has served as the foundation for many job enrichment efforts. In particular, a considerable amount of research has been devoted to the study of the job CHARACTERISTICS-job satisfaction relations. Te purpose of this study was to statistically determine the relation between job CHARACTERISTICS and job satisfaction among employees of hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) in 2007. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional one, including 6 TUMS-affiliated hospitals-Emam, Shariati, Baharlo, Ziaeian, Madaen and Azadi. The sample size was 400, consisting of 200 administrative employees (50%), 151 nurses (38%) and 49 physicians (12%). The random sampling and stratified proportional sampling methods were used to select the hospitals and interviewees, respectively. Two questionnaires were developed and used to identify job CHARACTERISTICS and job satisfaction: 1) job diagnostics surveys (JDS) and 2) Hertzberg's job satisfaction questionnaire. The reliability of the questionnaires was ascertained by test-retest using the Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.88). Linear-by-linear association and ordinal logistics regression analysis were used for analyzing the data gathered.Results:The relations between the Motivational Potential Score (MPS) and job CHARACTERISTICS (except for feedback) with job satisfaction were statistically significant (p<0.05). Task identity was the most effective determinant of job satisfaction. Conclusion: It appears that all the job CHARACTERISTICS (except feedback) are important determinants of job satisfaction of the hospital employees. Although the work environment is in need of restructuring, it is important to note, from a positive perspective, that the job CHARACTERISTICS discussed in this study are readily amenable to change job satisfaction at the organizational level.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the association between daily zinc intakes and REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS in pregnant women.Materials and Methods: During May- December 2010 a cross sectional study was conducted at prenatal clinics of 10 public hospitals in Tehran-Iran. 440 pregnant women before 20 weeks of gestation with parity less than 3 and singleton pregnancy were interviewed. Daily zinc intake was measured using an Iranian version of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), gravid, parity and abortion history were obtained. Data were analyzed using χ2 Test.Results: The mean daily zinc intake was 10.8mg/d. About %75 of the studied women had daily zinc intake less than pregnancy RDA.There was no significant relationship between daily zinc intake and gravid and parity but having an abortion or more was associated with less than RDA zinc intake (p<0.049).Conclusion: Our results suggest that women with a history of abortion need a careful nutritional plan with regards to micronutrients including zinc.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujube) belongs to Rhamnaceae family. It is considered not only for medicinal usage, but also is cultivated as an ornamental plant due to its beautiful leaves and trunk. The first step in a plant breeding program is to collect native genotypes of a plant in a region and evaluate them for selection of superior genotypes. Jujube is grown naturally in some areas of Iran, as well as in Golestan province. In the present study ten ecotypes of jujube grown in this province were collected from different areas and their phonological and morphological traits as well as some fruit CHARACTERISTICS and qualitative factors such as vitamin C, pH and total soluble solids (SST) were evaluated during years 2009 to 2011. Different vegetative, morphogic and fruit traits such as flowering thme, branch angle. Length of one year old branch, number of thorn on branch, fruit weight, length and width, stone weight and length, flesh weight, flesh/stone ratio, vitamin C, TSS and fruit pH were measured based on jujube descry. The results showed a high diversity for different traits among the ecotypes. The results also showed that vegetative traits were affected considerably by geographical and climatical factors. Ecotypes prown in west of the province where humidity is high, showed CHARACTERISTICS different from those grown in eastern regions. Fruit CHARACTERISTICS were also influenced by environmental factors.

During the REPRODUCTIVE season from mid-March to June 2006 the biological importance of REPRODUCTIVE aspects of 41 individuals e.g. straight carapace length and width, weight, carapace curve length and width, plastron length, tail length, number of eggs, number of normal and abnormal egg, weight and diameter of egg were recorded. Only 49% of individuals’ biometry leads to successful nesting. Grain size analysis in the egg laying area is between 2 to 0.063 mm and in some areas with maximum successful nesting it reaches 0.25 to 0.125 mm. the average weight and straight length of hawksbill turtles were 44.45 kg and 65.22 cm in comparison with other Iranian Island and the Persian Gulf which have a similar average rate and, when compared with other parts of the world, have the minimum length and maximum weight. The length and weight distribution showed that hawksbill turtles that are coming to these shores are of a different age group. Out of 41 hawksbill turtles, the average egg diameter and weight were 30.45g; similar measurements have been shown in other parts of the Iranian Island and Persian Gulf but, in comparison with other parts of the world, it represents a minimum of total eggs that have a maximum average diameter and weight. Finally, in conclusion, the turtles of Hormoz Island and the Persian Gulf region have shown a smaller body, size and the minimum number of eggs compared with other parts of the world. But the egg size was bigger and this could influence the survival rate for hatchlings.

Background & Objectives: Breast cancer is a common malignancy in women in many parts of the world. The incidence of breast cancer in Iranian women is growing. Iranian patients are relatively younger than their western counterparts. We conducted a case-control study to determine roles of REPRODUCTIVE factors for breast cancer among women in Iran.Methods: A hospital based case-control study was conducted in 2004 at a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran. A total of 303 cases of breast cancer and 303 healthy controls were interviewed. Cases were identified through the oncology department of a university hospital and controls were recruited from other wards or out-patients clinics at the same hospital. Controls were matched to cases on age. Demographic and REPRODUCTIVE data were ascertained by personal interview using a structured questionnaire. Informed consent was obtained from cases and controls. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for breast cancer were derived using logistic regression analysis.Results: Mean ±SD age of cases and controls was 48.8±9.8 and 50.2±11.1 years, respectively (range 24-84). The final model constructed after multivariate analysis indicated that factors such as never being married, menopause, older age at first live birth, parity, use of oral contraceptives, and history of chest X-ray between adolescence and the age of 30 yrs were significantly associated with breast cancer. Variables such as higher education, early age at menarche, abortion, breast feeding and its duration did not constitute significant risk factors.Conclusions: Marital status, history of chest X-ray between adolescence and the age of 30, number of live births, and age at first live birth, menopause, and oral contraceptive use seem to increase the risk of developing breast cancer among women in Iran.