Showing 170 results for Heidari
Volume 1, Issue 1 (2-2016)
Abstract
Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) represent one of the most frequently occurring and costly occupational issue in nursing. The nursing profession is one of the most stressful occupations today, because of the quantity and diversity of risk factors associated with the work environment. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between burnout syndrome and musculoskeletal disorders. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study a questionnaire survey was carried out among 415 nursing personnel in five educational hospitals in Hamedan, Iran. Data were collected through two unnamed questionnaires including Maslach Burnout Inventory, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: Statistical analysis showed that the most commonly painful regions among the nurses were lower back (5.53%), left foot (5.08%), and head and neck (4.43%), right foot (4.90%), right knee (3.84%) and left knee (3.74%). The lowest pain, were found to be in right and left elbows (1.99%) and (1.91%), respectively. Also emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment has significant correlation with musculoskeletal disorders (P = 0.000, r = 0.122). Conclusions: The results showed high prevalence of MDS among Iranian nurses that could be due to emotional exhaustion and depression.
Volume 1, Issue 2 (6-2016)
Abstract
Background: Chronic pain depends on many physical and psychological factors. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between anxiety and chronic pain in adult referring to health centers in Yazd, Iran.
Methods and Materials: This descriptive study conducted on 397 adults aged between 31 and 87years. The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) was used to measure depression, anxiety and stress. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain severity. Six psychologists were employed to collect data. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.
Results: Totally 397 individuals with mean age of 61.52 ± 11.52completed the study. The results showed 74% of participants (N = 295) were suffering from chronic pain. The majority of participants (N = 164, 41.3%) complained from knee pain. This study showed 68.8% of studied adult (N = 277) suffered from mild to severe anxiety. There were positive significant relationship between chronic pain and anxiety.
Conclusion: This study concluded that chronic pain may cause psychological disorders as anxiety. This study recommended that individuals suffering from chronic pain should be assessed in terms of psychological problems.
Volume 2, Issue 1 (Number 1 - 2000)
Abstract
The ovipositiomil behaviour and success of Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault), an
encyrtid endoparasitoid of mealybugs, Planococcus citri (Risso) and Pseudococcus
affinis (Mask.) were studied in the laboratory. Behavioural sequences during
oviposition starting from the searching for the host to the post-oviposition activities
were described. Once encountered, the mealybug host was examined and probed by the
ovipositor of the parasitoid. Oviposition success was influenced by the defence activity
of the host. P. citri was less able to defend itself and was more susceptible to
parasitism than P. affinis. Oviposition experience of the parasitoid played an
important role in increasing the efficacy of subsequent oviposition.
Volume 2, Issue 1 (1-2016)
Abstract
Background: Adhesion and biofilm formation are two important steps in Candida pathogenesis. The aim of the current study was to investigate the presence of bcr1 gene in Candida albicans (C. albicans) isolates from women with vaginal candidiasis and its impact on biofilm formation. Methods: We used 50 clinical isolates which confirmed C. albicans by PCR-RFLP. Then total RNA was extracted from C. albicans isolates by glass bead and lysis buffer, and cDNA was synthesized using reverse transcriptase enzyme. RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase PCR) was used to evaluate the expression of bcr1 gene. Biofilm formation was evaluated in 96-well microplate and then tetrazolium reduction was assayed. All data were analyzed using t-test by SPSS software. Results: Fifty clinical isolates out of 150 were confirmed as C. albicans by using PCR-RFLP method. All the isolates were resistant to fluconazole, 47/50(94%) isolates had bcr1 gene by using PCR, and 45(95.7%) out of 47 isolates, showed BCR1 expression by the RT-PCR. Isolates which harbored bcr1 gene was succeed to form a dense biofilm on microplate. Comparison of the results of the tetrazolium reduction assay on the two isolates that had BCR1expression and two isolates that had no BCR1 expression showed significant differences (p=0.014). Conclusion: According to our result, all of the isolates that had bcr1 gene expression according to RT-PCR, were also resistant to fluconazole in disk diffusion test and additionally, their adherence was higher compared to the control group. These results indicate that there is a positive relation between expression of bcr1 gene and biofilm formation.
Volume 2, Issue 1 (1-2017)
Abstract
Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMD) are a common health related problem throughout the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hydrotherapy training on health, function, motion, and occupational performance of the police personnel in Iran.
In this before/after prospective study, 30 participants were selected purposefully and divided into two experimental (n = 15) and control groups randomly (n = 15). The 8-week hydrotherapy training program was just assigned for intervention. The occupational performance and physical fitness tests, Health related Quality of Life (HRQoL) questionnaire and Visual analog Scale (VAS) were measured for both groups before and after intervention. data were analyzed through SPSS 16
Volume 2, Issue 2 (6-2013)
Abstract
The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most important pests of agricultural products in Iran. In this study, susceptibility of melon aphid that collected from seven regions (Yazd, Varamin, Mohammadshahr, Esfehan, Karaj, Hashtgerd and Ramsar) was compared to pirimicarb and malathion after 24 hours in 2009. Bioassay experiments on adults were carried out by using leaf dipping method on squash (Cucurbita pepo) leaf in different concentrations of insecticides in laboratory conditions (25 ± 0.2 ºC, 60 ± 5%, 16: 8 [L: D] h). Control treatment was dipped in distilled water. Each test was replicated three times. The results showed that LC50 values of malathion for Ramsar, Karaj, Mohammadshahr, Hashtgerd, Varamin, Esfehan, and Yazd populations were 162.99, 159.19, 117.94, 79.96, 38.81, 36.32, and 20.25 ppm, respectively. Also, LC50 values of pirimicarb for Yazd, Mohammadshahr, Kararj, Hashtgerd, Ramsar, Esfehan, and Varamin populations were 1414.16, 1359.34, 1057.62, 970.33, 881.87, 806.14, and 601.98 ppm, respectively. According to results, aphids of Varamin and Yazd populations had the most susceptibility to pirimicarb and malathion, respectively. Also, aphids of Yazd and Ramsar populations had the least susceptibility to pirimicarb and malathion, respectively. Regarding the fact that Yazd and Ramsar populations had the least susceptibility to pirimicarb and malathion, respectively, there is a possibility that melon aphids in these regions are susceptible to other organophosphate and carbamate (similar mode of action) pesticides. Therefore, in the pest management program, careful chemical control measures for melon aphid in these regions is recommended.
Volume 2, Issue 2 (Issue 2 (Tome 3)- 2012)
Abstract
Due to increasing global pressure on the environment caused by human interventions, the studies on interaction of traditional building and their components with nature has been increased. These studies attempt to identify natural building design and determine how to use them in the climatic design of today's architectural design. Building performance simulation enables the examination of the effectiveness of innovative energy efficiency measures and control strategies. Daylighting is an effective approach to allow architectural design and construction practice to have a more flexible design of building facade, and to enhance a more energy-efficient and greener building development. Energy savings resulting from daylighting not only would mean low electric-lighting and reduced-peak electrical demands, but also it means reduced cooling loads and the potential for smaller heating, ventilating and air-conditioning. The absorbed solar radiation acts to raise the surface temperatures and consequently the temperature of the adjacent air layers. This has a significant effect on the generated thermal conditions, which is, in turn, reflected on the thermal behavior of the surrounding habitable spaces. In tropical areas, especially in warm humid areas, the need for shade and air ventilation are most important factors used for the provision of thermal comfort. In climatical and morphological studies of dezful historical context, great appliance of shade and ventilation can be seen. Among the hundreds of ways to do this, one of them is using khavoon (brick work) that creates shadow on the inner and outer walls and increase visual richness of the environment. This paper attempts to understand patterns of the brick khavoon in the way they were used; and to evaluate their shadows. These patterns became 3D using schetchup software and their shadow have been prepared at different hours of day and different directions. The amount of shadow has been calculated and analyzed by the image processing, IMAGEJ software. It seems that such patterns, in different orientation, increase amount of shadow (2.5 - 4.5 times). Given the size of the hourly solar radiation on the walls in each direction, the best direction of using this patterns can be identified.
Volume 2, Issue 2 (4-2016)
Abstract
Background: Helicobacter pylori is the most common cause of chronic infection in the human stomach. The infection has universe prevalence in all age groups. Probably, this bacterium is the cause of most common chronic bacterial infection in human beings and infects approximately half of the world population. H. pylori produces urease, an enzyme that degrades the urea in the stomach’s mucous to ammonia resulting in biochemical reaction that leads to increase in pH of the stomach lumen. This allows pathogenic intestinal protozoa to take the opportunity to cross through stomach’s increased pH and cause disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between H. pylori infection and prevalence of parasitic infection in patients in Ilam. Materials and Methods: Following stool samples collection during 2013 in patients with abdominal pain in Ilam, Iran. H. pylori infection was investigated based on stool antigen analysis (HPSA) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in patients who had recurrent abdominal pain. Stool specimens were examined using the direct examination and the spontaneous sedimentation method for detecting the trophozoite and cyst of parasites. Results: In this study, we found 65 patients with H. pylori infection. Out of these 65 patients, the percentage of patients with positive results for Giardia lamblia was 30.7% and for Entamoebahistolytica/dispar was 12.3%. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that H. pylori infection may provide favorable conditions for giardiasis infection; however, this presumption needs further studies with larger sample size.
Volume 2, Issue 2 (6-2017)
Abstract
Background: One approach to face with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is to perform Relaxation Behavior (RB). The aim of this study was to assess the factors predicting the behaviors of relaxation among the patients with CLBP in Yazd, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive study conducted on 182 patients with CLBP, referring to the pain clinic in Yazd, Iran from October to December 2016. A socio-demographic questionnaire and a 14-item questionnaire regarding RB based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) were used to collect the required data. Data were fed into SPSS software v.23 and AMOS software v. 23 and analyzed using linear regression analysis procedures.
Results: A total of 182 individuals with mean age of 42/18 ± 13/12 years participated in this study. The results showed that attitude towards the behavior was a good predictor of intension to do RB (p < .001). However, subjective norm was not a good predictor of intention to do relaxation behavior (p = .058). This study showed that intention was a good predictor for doing relaxation behavior (p = .042).
Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, the health care providers are recommended to change RB beliefs of the patients suffering from chronic low back pain in order to persuade them to do regular relaxation behaviors to improve their pain.
Volume 2, Issue 4 (12-2017)
Abstract
Background: Low level Physical Activity (PA) among Chronic Low Back Pain for (CLBP) has been reported in many studies. The aim of this study was to predicting factors for physical activity behavior among CLBP patients referred to pain clinic in Yazd, Iran.
Methods and Materials: This cross sectional study was conducted on 182 eligible patients with CLBP who referred to pain clinic in Yazd, Iran from October to December 2016. A socio-demographic questionnaire as well as a 14-item researcher-made questionnaire regarding physical activity predictors based on Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) were used to collect data. Data were inserted into SPSS v.23 and AMOS v. 23 and analyzed using descriptive/analytical tests including linear regression analysis.
Results: Totally 182 individuals with mean age of 42.18 ± 13.12 completed the study. The results showed behavioral beliefs and evaluation of behavioral outcome of PA were predictors of patients' attitudes towards PA (P < 0.001). Normative beliefs and motivation to comply were also predictors of subjective norm (P < 0.001). Subjective norm was predictor for intention to perform the PA behavior (P < 0.001) that in turn was predictor for PA behavior (P < 0.001). However, attitudes towards PA was not predictor for intention to do PA (P = 0.085).
Conclusion: This study showed the individuals who had positive beliefs and evaluation regarding outcomes of PA were more likely to do this behavior.
Volume 3, Issue 1 (No.1 (Tome 5)- 2015)
Abstract
The present article is an attempt for a comparative reading of Marsiaee Baraye Zhale va Ghatelash By "Abutorab Khosravi", an Iranian contemporary author, and Daroonmaye Khaen va Ghahraman by Jorge Luis Borges, Argentinean author, poet and contemporary scholar, based on the revolutionary theories of Post-modernism, which is one of the most significant theories of the contemporary era. This research, by using comparative method based on the theories of Post-modernism and analyzing the evidence, attempts to prove the hypothesis that the commonality between Daroonmaye Khaen va Ghahraman and Marsiaee Baraye Zhale va Ghatelash that in some cases have got imitating nature is not accidental. This reflects the influence of Daroonmaye Khaen va Ghahraman in creating Marsiaee Baraye Zhale va Ghatelash. Using Post-modern approach, similar plot, same narrative style, and common symbols are some of the features that Marsiaee Baraye Zhale va Ghatelash shares in common with Daroonmaye Khaen va Ghahraman. The main purpose of this essay is investigation and analysis of these common features in order to demonstrate the similarities of these two texts.
Volume 3, Issue 4 (winter 2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Today, the expansion of urbanization is associated with the disappearance of human activities in the space between buildings. The purpose of this research is to understand the dimensions of the connection between buildings and the city and how it is captured by the dispositive, and finally to find a way to emancipate in the form of an immanent connection.
Method: The research is done by a qualitative method. The research paradigm is emancipation, the strategy is discourse analysis and the tactics are data collection, coding, analysis, display, explanation, and profanation.
Result : The findings indicate that the building and the city connection factors are related to each other through a hidden network in the form of three scales: the large scale includes semantic factors, the medium scale social factors, and the small scale include formal and functional-behavioral aspects. Therefore, social institutions on a medium scale, will be captured by the dispositive after constituting as they have a specific form and function, and will lose their relationship with the large scale and exist officially in the form of a formal institution, which ultimately leads increasing control and power, and further disintegration.
Conclusion: To achieve an immanent connection between the building and the city, the official institution should be disabled to reconnect the semantic scale for redefining the social institution. Also, it should be profane from whatever dispositive has been placed on the concept of institution. This is realized by the presence of non-institution in the space between the buildings
Volume 4, Issue 1 (Spring 2020)
Abstract
Research subject:
Zinc is one of the most dangerous organic components in industrial wastewaters, which pollutes the environment as a result of human activities and various industrial operations. In the present study, the adsorbent prepared from Gracilaria Corticata algae was used for the first time to recover and remove heavy metal zinc and equilibrium study of the process were done.
Research approach:
In the current work, the effect of important parameters such as initial pH of solution, adsorbent dosage and contact time were investigated on the adsorption efficiency of the process. Additionally, Langmuir and Freundlich two-parameter adsorption isotherm models were used to model the equilibrium of zinc adsorption.
Main results:
The results showed that according to the calculated correlation coefficient, Freundlich isotherm was better than the Langmuir in fitting the experimental data. The highest point-to-point correlation coefficient for adsorbent percentage was achieved at 3 g/ml adsorbent dosage with contact time of min 360 and pH=7 and the lowest one was at 4 g/ml adsorbent dose with contact time of min PH=360 and 7. However, the highest adsorption rate was observed for the adsorbent dosage of 4 g/ml with contact time of 420 min at pH=9 and the lowest adsorption percentage was achieved at the adsorbent dosage of 2 g/ml with contact time of 300 min and pH=5. The maximum and minimum adsorption percentages were 76.88 mg/g and 49.25 mg/g, respectively
Volume 4, Issue 2 (No.2 (Tome 14), (Articles in Persian) 2013)
Abstract
The present paper is an attempt to investigate the concept of intertexuality in Sharyar Mandanipour's Sharghe Banafshe, which is attained with the analytic reading of the text along with the concepts that this work shares in common with the other texts, demonstrating the fact that these similarities have been deliberate, intending to achieve a mystical purpose. The contemporary thinkers are on the belief that each text incorporates in itself the sources taken from various cultures and is replete with the signs leading to the process of text creation. They further believe that no text is created in isolation and that we cannot interpret and read it without considering its connection to other texts around. Accordingly, in Shahryar Mandanipour's Sharghe Banafshe, the traces of other texts are present. In fact, in this work, the author utilizes the signs by which one can find intertextuality in the text. The followings are some of the features that Mandanipour's Sharghe Banafshe has in common with the other works of art: the same plot, common mysticism, belief in being within nothingness, and the path of annihilation. Investigation and analysis of these similarities existent in this work with the other works is the achievement of this essay.
Volume 4, Issue 3 (Summer 2022 2022)
Abstract
Division of territorial and demographic area of country into electoral districts is the first step to facilitate elections and provide a suitable background for a fair proportion between the number of lawmakers and the population of the country. Drawing electoral districts must be in such a way that guarantees the justice and equality among citizens and leads to the formation of democratic parliament that represents different groups of the people. The present study has assessed trend of approval of the bill to reform the table of electoral districts of the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the number of lawmakers in 2000. This research is applied in terms of purpose and is descriptive in terms of nature and general method. The findings show that demographic indicators, adaption to administrative divisions, extent, place competition, deprivation, locating in border areas, and finally economical and industrial situation were the most important effective indicators in increasing lawmakers and reforming electoral districts in 20 cases. Lack of definition of indicators for criteria of Article 64 of the Constitution (human, political, geographical and alike) and failure to calculate their weight and share in redistricting due to the lack of a redistricting part in ministry of interior have led to spatial injustice in increasing the number of lawmakers, separating and annexation some electoral districts in government bill.
Volume 4, Issue 3 (Summer 2022 2022)
Abstract
Elections are the most effective and practical tool and means for exercising the thoughts and beliefs of the people and recognizing social options and priorities in democratic societies, during which the voting and participation of the elected candidates and the voters play an essential role. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, a favorable circumstance and profitable condition has been provided for public freedom and a widespread and great political participation of citizens, groups and parties in order to determine the political destiny and fate through elections. Elections are mentioned a fundamental mechanism for gathering and recognizing social choices and preferences, hence its rule and legitimacy is determined by the people. The method which used in this research is a descriptive- analytic according to the nature and aims of the subject and also in accordance with the testing of hypotheses and data collection. The statistical population is the households living in Islamabad and Dalahou districts with a population above 176864 people and 51177 households. The research findings show that there is a significant relationship between the sense of socio-economic status and the use of candidates' advertising techniques; In other words, the more suitable the socio- economic situation of the candidates, the higher the techniques will be in terms of quantity and quality
Volume 4, Issue 4 (12-2016)
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to: a) investigate the prevalence of women’s marriage above the age of 35 years, b) determine the magnitude of age gap between women and men who want to marry, and c) assess the clients’ information sources in premarital counseling centers about marriage.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study, we collected the data of all marriages registered in one year period in two premarital consulting centers in Tabriz City. Also the prevalence of women’s marriage above the age of 35 was calculated. All subjects registered in one month were asked about their information sources about marriage and the age gap between woman and man.
Findings: In total, the median age of marriage for women was 21 years and for men was 26 years. In 5% (no. 980) of all marriages, the age of bride was above 35 years. On average, women were 5 years older than men. The main information source of the couples about marriage was their families followed by mass media like Radio & TV.
Conclusion: A substantial proportion of women’s marriages occur after the age of 35 and this issue necessitates the actions to improve the knowledge of young people about the ideal age for marriage in order to reduce the couples’ problems and decrease the probability of congenital diseases in their children.
Volume 5, Issue 1 (No.1 (Tome 17), (Articles in Persian) 2014)
Abstract
In languages, which have free word-order property, different constituents of a sentence might be permuted due to scrambling. Miyagawa (2001) argues that in Azari Turkish, scrambling gets non-subject constituents to move to TP specifier while the subject remains in-situ in the specifier of vP. In the present study, resorting to the agreement operation in the probe-goal model of minimalism program and presenting examples, we attempt to propose that contrary to Miyagawa's argumentations, the constituent in vP specifier has to move to TP specifier to meet the double role agreement requirement (T[-interpretable] feature checking and receiving nominative case). In Azari-Turkish, because of scrambling, non-subject constituents like object in the process of agreement during syntactic derivation moves to the position preceding TP, which is labeled as focus position simply because TP specifier has already been filled by the subject. Then in Azari-Turkish, scrambling has to be assumed as topicalization, which makes non-subject constituents move to the focus position preceding TP specifier.
Volume 5, Issue 1 (3-2015)
Abstract
A broad definition of social life describes activities that require the presents of other individuals in a public sector; such as children playing; running into your neighbors; all kinds of local activities and most commonly passive interactions in which citizens see each other and listen to what they say. Social activities don’t just happen by themselves, as other people need be in the same place, meet each other, pass by or just happen to be in sight of one’s presence in a physical state. Environmental improvements significantly increase the selective interaction rates and accordingly the amount of social activities between people. Public space quality improvements, affects the daily/social interactions of the citizens, and this effect can be witnessed in pedestrian routs or home zone more than anywhere else. Most of our urban routs, from main roads to the local streets and alleys have turned into geometricallyaligned carriageways, all designed under one general structure (two sidewalks on each side and the roadway in the middle); without noticing that every urban space requires to meet a series of expectations being delivered through its urban functionality. Currently urban shapes only reflect the structural arrangements for vehicular accessibility, thus diminishing other aspects of human needs. Therefore social life has become territorial and resident activity has opted to leave the streets and other public spaces and focus more on the inside of homes and private courtyards. The significance of this issue as a historical process lies down within consideration of social life in streets and public spaces, and how their configuration reflects the values and excellence of our society. It seems as if it would be needed to avoid through traffic and crossing traffic to achieve traffic calming measures in residential streets. Also design practices for destination routs should be configured in a way so that access to collector roads becomes as short as possible. In addition, not only current residential streets have become a transportation route for un-local vehicles, but have also become a parking lot for on-street parking due to low parking capacities throughout the city. Thus streets and alleys turn into parking courts resulting in significant loss of space due to vehicle sizes. This space however must be in service for the social requirements of residence, such as children’s playground and rest spots. Traffic management and pedestrian interaction is an important case, studied is various resources. Therefore looking at the backgrounds, an analytic model should be introduced to demonstrate the standards and paradigms that impact the relation between traffic and social life. This model states the effect of four major components being: road hierarchies, parking, traffic management and pedestrian interaction, on the relation between social life in residential layouts and the vehicular traffic. The hierarchal parameter is to define the amount of through traffic and the parking parameter defines the number of vehicles estimated on plot by arranging end and on-site parking space. According to this model, each aspect in traffic management and pedestrian interaction is also assessed by two parameters. The parameters that help evaluate traffic management are Speed and Traffic volume. The pedestrian interaction aspect is evaluable by walk way and narrowing the optical width for drivers. The purpose of this research is to analyze the impact of open-space traffic in residential layouts on social activity levels in those areas. Since records show that the design quality of residential layouts and the satisfaction of the residence is linked to the conditions of the open spaces between the blocks in residential layouts, in this research vehicular traffic has been described as one of the effective factors on environmental standards, which can affect life quality and residence satisfaction. Thus, the main question being “How does traffic affect the social lives of the residence?” In this study the effects of vehicular traffic on the quality and level of social activities in two similar neighborhoods in the same district of Mehregan in Qazvin were evaluate using a survey research method, in which the data is collected through survey questionnaires and analyzed by the Chi-square parametric test. Using this analytic model, the social life should be ratable through aspects such as road hierarchies, parking, traffic management and pedestrian interaction. Each one of these four aspects has been explained through other paradigms. The survey method was used to examine the outcome hypothesis from this analytic model. The samples were selected out of Mehregan urban county in Qazvin. Containing 9neighborhoods, this county was designed and built neighborhood-friendly. Since this complex was designed, built and operated during a close period of time, and planned equally under both social and urban parameters, therefore had the potential to avoid the effect of unwanted variables in the study. Two sites in two different neighborhoods were selected for study, both being statistically very close in terms of number of residence and size. To evaluate each of these subject aspects, multiple questions were set in a filtering style, so that the outcomes of each aspect would quantify the perception of social life in that aspect. In the frequency table, the social life levels have been described as “not at all, low, average, high and very high”. Face validity was applied to weighting the factors, meanwhile multiple distribution of factors due to various reasons, were managed to be avoided. Therefore even and simple distribution of elements has been considered. Results show that meeting social life under the aspect of traffic management in both of the selected samples has a meaningful difference with each other. Those residence who had more activities, had considered the traffic calming and traffic volume of their residency more than other respondents. In the first neighborhood unit, vehicular travel speeds were lower due to various utilized traffic management tools while pedestrian features were considered at higher priority. However the define of social life would be meaningless in both narrowing the vehicular readability and supplying surroundings parking. Results also show that the more through traffic is reduced on site by achieving road hierarchies, the more social activities grow. In the selected neighboring units, the impact of designing local parking lot in both residential complexes seemed to have no significant difference on people’s social life. Since parking for residence in both locations was provided outside, the respondents evaluated the site structure of their residency in terms of the effectiveness of narrowed driving optical width and provision of local parking, as “average”. Therefore the impact of these aspects on social life cannot be measured. What can be concluded overall is that the road hierarchy and traffic management emphasizes on creating potentials for efficient and effective activity in the site. According to results, the level of environmental response in traffic management, in both selected locations demonstrated a meaningful difference. Since residence of the first neighboring unit, had evaluated the traffic calming and traffic volume of their residency better than the other respondents, having considered pedestrian features at higher priority, it could be said that reducing traffic volume and speed by the implementation of traffic management tools and also turning all of negative spaces to pedestrian spaces in the layout, affects and promotes social life. It can be stated overall that traffic management reflects a great impact on social life. However being said that narrowing the optical driving width makes no significant difference in improving social life, thus no comment could be provided on its effects.
Volume 5, Issue 2 (6-2015)
Abstract
In the last decades of the 20th century, primarily economic crises -caused by security challenges in supplying energy – and many years later, understanding environmental damages due to improper use of energy, sounded the alarms for scientists, planners and governments. Since the building sector owns a large share in total energy use, it has always been in the focal point of attentions. Consequently, national regulation established to reduce energy consumption and environmental concerns and climate aligned construction became the source of inspiration in architecture and the term ‘sustainable architecture’ was coined. Energy conscious architecture encompasses different aspects and a variety of strategies, ranging from conservation in energy use to applying renewable resources of energy. Regardless of the level of technology in a building, the sun can play an effective role in the energy generation/consumption balance. The cities are growing vertically and the façades have found an undeniable importance for solar energy harvesting in buildings. Integrating solar energy devices with building elements such as walls or roofs, increases the homogeneity of the architecture and improves the overall efficiency of building regarding its life-cycle. Literature Review: The exterior shell of buildings, due to their role in energy gain/loss, has always been the subject of researches with different approaches. Mahdavinejad focused on the influence of roof’s shape on energy balance of a building. He proved that a 60-30 sloped roof, with larger surface facing the sun, shows the best performance, while a dome is the worst in the aspect of thermal behavior. Taban et al. investigated the role of brick ornaments in traditional architecture of historical parts of Dezful, Iran. The results showed that the embossed and engraved patterns made by brick work, increases the shadow cover and plays a role in keeping the wall cool. This research, focuses on the building shell as a solar collecting element. There are many reasons to employ the building envelope to collect solar energy. Limited space in buildings, high price of land, and offsetting the costs of façade construction, are just some of the benefits achieved by integrating solar energy systems with building elements. Methodology: This research focuses on different aspects of the proposed idea and evaluates the system by means of software simulation method. The collector system was modeled, simulated and optimized by TRANSOL® solar analysis program, which is based on dynamic simulation of TRNSYS® engine and uses its validated models. Also, to determine the solar coverage index, a sample room in an office building in Tehran was supposed. Thermal demand was calculated using EnergyPlus® 8.0, while its south façade supposed to be covered with the façade integrated collectors. Results and Discussions: Due to the large angle between the sun’s radiation direction and the normal vector of façades in summer, especially in cities with lower latitudes such as Tehran, a major part of radiation is reflected from the façade surface. Resultantly, if any conventional solar energy collecting solution to be installed on the façade, the efficiency drops extremely and the system may lose its economic justification. To solve this problem, this research recommends that the cover surface of the collector should be oriented toward the sun direction; and to maintain the reasonable thickness of the building shell, this can be achieved by a corrugated geometry. We suggested tubular evacuated solar collectors positioned horizontally todecrease the reflection and increase the annual efficiency of façade integrated collectors. Unlike the vertical array, the horizontal positioning passively tracks the altitude of the sun. Additionally, the proposed configuration benefits from a higher insulation level –vacuum- which results in higher solar energy yield and higher fluid temperature ranges. The higher fluid temperature, results in higher coefficient of performance (COP) of cooling systems driven by thermal resources, such as absorption, adsorption or desiccant chillers. Accordingly, the solar cooling becomes more economical and the solar façade can continue to be used even in summers, at its maximum capacity. For convenience in maintenance and replacement, the heat pipe technology was chosen to transfer heat from the absorber surface of evacuated tubular collector to the circulating fluid of solar collector system. Heat pipe as a container made from copper, contains a drop of a liquid -called working fluid. The liquid -mostly distilled water, gains heat from the lower end of the pipe, and evaporates. The evaporated liquid travels to the other end, and leases its latent heat content to the body of the pipe, and transforms to the liquid form again. For a horizontally positioned heat pipe, a wick structure is needed to return the drop to the evaporation part. This cycle provides a great heat transfer capability. A heat pipe conducts heat to the heat transfer fluid through a dry connection between condenser and manifold, so there is no need for circulating the fluid in the façade collectors; so that, the collector can be installed, repaired or replaced without any sealing requirements. A heat pipe based collector eliminates the vulnerabilities of active solar façade against physical damage risks, extensive fluid pressure drop, leakage and obstruction. The results proved that a horizontally positioned tubular evacuated collector yields much better efficiency all over the year, especially in summer, respectively equal to %62 and %65, while a conventional façade mounted flat solar collector may not show an annual efficiency of higher than %30 and a summer time efficiency of higher than %21. To segregate the effect of vacuum insulation from the impact of geometrical form of the tubular evacuated collector -for the proposed positioning and configuration, a third situation was defined, in which, the flat collector was assumed to have insulation level equal to that of the tubular evacuated collector. The comparison showed that the geometrical form (circular section profile) plays the most important role in increased efficiency during summers, because the sun rays is always perpendicular to the mentioned profile section. On the other hand, the vacuum insulation is mostly effective in winters, in which the temperature difference between the collator and the environment is extremely high, while the lower altitude of the sun rays make smaller angles with the collector surface. Conclusion: Using horizontal evacuated tubular collectors allows penetration of sunlight to the adjacent spaces, provides relative transparency and at the same time, in summers functions like a shading device to maintain thermal and optical comfort of the occupants and decrease cooling load of the building. The study showed that the system may virtually cover the whole demands during the year. Precise sizing is a requisite measure to prevent from problems that may occur due to excessive heat generation, which in turn may cause damages to the system. However, heat pipe principle benefits from an inherent thermal fuse mechanism according to its narrow range of operation temperature. Overall, the research showed that the suggested façade integrated collector can efficiently gather solar radiation and supply a major part of thermal energy demanded for heating and thermally driven cooling. Additionally, the system has other functionalities regarding ease of repair, replacement and low operation risks and costs and long life of service.
Keywords: solar façade, tubular evacuated collector, horizontal tubular collector, heat pipe, façade integration.