The Effectiveness of Empathy and Problem-Solving Skills Training on Social Self-efficacy and Mental Security of High School Boys

   Background: Teaching empathy and problem-solving skills is effective in improving students’ self-efficacy and quality of social life. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of empathy and problem-solving skills training on social self-efficacy and psychological security of Assaluyeh second high school boys. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study on all male high school students in Assaluyeh in the academic year of 2019-2020, of whom 45 were purposefully selected and assigned to two experimental groups and controls group. One experimental group received empathy training and the other group received problem-solving training in eight 90-minute sessions. To collect data, the social self-efficacy and Maslow’s psychological security questionnaires were used. Analysis of covariance was done using SPSS-24 software. Results: Empathy and problem-solving training were effective on social self-efficacy and psychological security of high school boys (P < 0.001). Also, no significant difference was found between the effectiveness of empathy skills training and problem-solving training on social self-efficacy and psychological security (P < 0.746). Conclusion: Empathy and problem-solving training increased social self-efficacy as well as psychological security in high school boys

Factors Influencing Growth or Decline of Brand Performance in the Healthcare Industry: a case study in Shiraz hospitals

Background: In the competitive healthcare market, maintaining and developing a market share is the result of brand performance. Therefore, studying factors influencing decline or growth of brand performance is an important topic in hospital marketing strategies. Methods: The statistical population of this descriptive and applied study included individuals who received inpatient services during a 9- month period (March, 2017 to December, 2017) at one hospital in Shiraz. Cluster and convenient sampling was done and 396 ones were selected. The collected data were analyzed through Smart PLS software. Results: Hospital brand value was to a large extent influenced by brand association, perceived quality, brand trust, relationship commitment, brand loyalty, reputation and social responsibility. Hospital reputation from the patients' viewpoint with an impact of 0.875 and patients’ loyalty to hospital brand with an impact of 0.843 had the most important roles in enhancing hospital brand value. The factor of brand specific value affected hospitals brand performance with impact of 0.842. Relative Goodness of Fit (GOF) equal to 0.925 and R squares equal to 0.839 for hospital brand value and 0.725 for brand performance indicated that this model was valid for measuring hospital brand value and performance. Conclusion: Hospitals can improve their brand value and also other performance indicators through essential measures related to promotion of factors influencing the decline or growth of hospital brand performance such as service quality, association, trust, relationship commitment, loyalty, reputation and social responsibility

Military strategies of the Islamic Republic of Iran against American military threats

Purpose: The main purpose of this research is to examine the military threats of the United States and present the military strategies of the Islamic Republic of Iran against them.Method: The type of research is applied, and the necessary information is obtained from the study of documents, interviews with experts and questionnaires, and a descriptive method with a mixed approach has been used. The overall statistical population of the research is 70 people and the sample size is consistent with the statistical population and all the numbers have been determined. In order to collect and analyze data, in addition to taking samples from library studies and conducting expert interviews, using document analysis and elite analysis methods, descriptive and inferential statistics methods have also been used.Results: The number of 7 main strategies was calculated based on 73 selected research factors (19 strength factors, 9 weakness factors, 10 opportunity factors and 35 threat factors) relying on the provided partial strategies.Conclusion: The result of the vector on the axis of Cartesian coordinates indicates that the competition of the Islamic Republic of Iran is more focused on strengths than opportunities

The Role of Exercise in the Alleviation of Neuropathic Pain Following Traumatic Spinal Cord Injuries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficacy of exercise in neuropathic pain following traumatic spinal cord injuries. METHODS: The search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science by the end of 2022. Two independent researchers included the articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A standardized mean difference was calculated for each data and they were pooled to calculate an overall effect size. To assess the heterogeneity between studies, I2 and chi-square tests were utilized. In the case of heterogeneity, meta-regression was performed to identify the potential source. RESULTS: Fifteen preclinical studies were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated that exercise significantly improves mechanical allodynia (standardized mean difference [SMD], -1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], -2.16 to -1.02; p \u3c 0.001; I2 = 90.37%), thermal hyperalgesia (SMD, 1.95; 95% CI, 0.96-2.94; p \u3c 0.001), and cold allodynia (SMD, -2.92; 95% CI, -4.4 to -1.43; p \u3c 0.001). The improvement in mechanical allodynia is significantly more in animals with a compression model of SCI (meta-regression coefficient, -1.33; 95% CI, -1.84 to -0.57; p \u3c 0.001) and in mild SCI (p \u3c 0.001). Additionally, the improvement was more prominent if the training was started 7 to 8 days postinjury (coefficient, -2.54; 95% CI, -3.85 to -1.23; p \u3c 0.001) and was continued every day (coefficient, -1.99; 95% CI, -3.07 to -0.9; p \u3c 0.001). Likewise, voluntary exercise demonstrated a significantly more effect size (coefficient, -1.45; 95% CI, -2.67 to -0.23; p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Exercise is effective in the amelioration of neuropathic pain. This effect in mechanical allodynia is more prominent if voluntary, continuous training is initiated in the subacute phase of mild SCI

A novel multilevel network slacks-based measure with an application in electric utility companies

In this paper, we developed an alternative Network Slacks-Based Data Envelopment Analysis Measure (NSBM) wherein the overall efficiency is expressed as a weighted average of the efficiencies of the individual processes. The advantage of this new model is that both overall efficiency and multi-divisional efficiencies have been calculated with a unified framework. The major merits of the proposed model are its ability to provide appropriate measure of efficiency, obtaining weight of processes from model, simultaneous assessment of intermediate variables considering them as both input and output. Finally, an application in electric power companies shows the practicality of the proposed model

Two GCC boxes and AP2/ERF-domain transcription factor ORA59 in jasmonate/ethylene-mediated activation of the PDF1.2 promoter in Arabidopsis

Plant defense against microbial pathogens depends on the action of several endogenously produced hormones, including jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ET). In defense against necrotrophic pathogens, the JA and ET signaling pathways synergize to activate a specific set of defense genes including PLANT DEFENSIN1.2 (PDF1.2). The APETALA2/Ethylene Response Factor (AP2/ERF)-domain transcription factor ORA59 acts as the integrator of the JA and ET signaling pathways and is the key regulator of JA- and ET-responsive PDF1.2 expression. The present study was aimed at the identification of elements in the PDF1.2 promoter conferring the synergistic response to JA/ET and interacting with ORA59. We show that the PDF1.2 promoter was activated synergistically by JA and the ET-releasing agent ethephon due to the activity of two GCC boxes. ORA59 bound in vitro to these GCC boxes and trans-activated the PDF1.2 promoter in transient assays via these two boxes. Using the chromatin immunoprecipitation technique we were able to show that ORA59 bound the PDF1.2 promoter in vivo. Finally, we show that a tetramer of a single GCC box conferred JA/ethephon-responsive expression, demonstrating that the JA and ET signaling pathways converge to a single type of GCC box. Therefore ORA59 and two functionally equivalent GCC box binding sites form the module that enables the PDF1.2 gene to respond synergistically to simultaneous activation of the JA and ET signaling pathways

4-Aminobutyrate (GABA): a metabolite and signal with practical significance

We discuss the origin of 4-aminobutyrate (GABA) from glutamate and polyamines, and its subsequent catabolism to succinic semialdehyde and either succinate or 4-hydroxybutyrate. Promiscuous activities of GABA transaminase, glyoxylate/succinic semialdehyde reductases, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 10As appear to be important determinants of cross-talk among metabolic pathways during stress. Imposition of abiotic stress, as well as genetic or chemical disruption of glutamate decarboxylase, GABA transaminase and tricarboxylic acid cycle reactions, results in non-cyclic carbon flux in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, demonstrating that stress-induced GABA metabolism is strongly linked with respiration. Metabolic generation of 4-hydroxybutyrate is probably linked to the stimulation of succinic semialdehyde reductase activity by an increasing NADPH/NADP+ ratio. We discuss the potential signaling role of GABA in various processes, including pollen tube guidance, interaction with fungal, bacterial and invertebrate pests, and stomatal functioning, and argue that further research on short-term responses to stress is required to determine whether or not GABA functions by binding to or regulating activity of GABA receptor molecules. Finally, we describe how emerging information about the metabolic and signaling roles of GABA is being used to improve plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses, and benefit human health.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Cannabis Synthetic Seeds: An Alternative Approach for Commercial Scale of Clonal Propagation and Germplasm Conservation

Indoor cannabis (Cannabis sativa) cultivation has been rapidly increasing in many countries after legalization. Besides conventional propagation through cuttings, synthetic seed production provides a competent system for mass propagation, germplasm conservation and international exchange of genetic materials. The present study developed a reliable protocol for cannabis synthetic seed production using encapsulation of nodal segments derived from in vitro or in vivo sources. Synthetic seeds were produced in 3% sodium alginate and 75 mM calcium chloride in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium and stored under various environmental conditions for up to 150 days. The plantlets regrowth efficiency was monitored on culture media up to 30 days after the storage period. Regrowth rates of 70% and 90% were observed in synthetic seeds from in vitro and in vivo-derived sources, respectively, when stored in 6 °C under 50 μmol s−1 m−2 light for 150 days. Furthermore, addition of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) to the encapsulation matrix not only postponed precocious germination of synthetic seeds at 22 °C, but also improved the regrowth rate of in vivo-derived synthetic seeds to 100% when they were stored in 6 °C under light. Exposure to light during storage significantly increased shoot length of regrown synseeds when compared to those stored in darkness. This difference in shoot growth disappeared when synseeds were treated with 25 µM ASA. All regenerated plantlets were rooted and acclimatized in sterile rockwool plugs without morphological changes

Paving the path toward strategic agility

Purpose For organizations competing in volatile environments, strategic agility is the key for sustaining in the market. It is essential for such organizations to identify the main agility indicators that contribute to their strategic core. The purpose of this paper is to propose and test a systematic methodology that identifies key agility indicators through prioritization and establishing the intra- and inter-relationships among them. Design/methodology/approach The methodology consists of four phases. Phase I forms a pool of agility key performance indicators (KPIs). Phase II categorizes and ranks the KPIs based on their importance and the gap that exists between their current and desired level. Using interpretive structural modeling, phase III establishes the intra-relationships among the KPIs as well as agility attributes, agility enablers and improvement paths, collectively referred to as agility indicators. Finally, phase IV analyzes the inter-relationships among agility indicators using three consecutive houses of quality. Findings To demonstrate the capability of the proposed methodology, it was applied to a dairy food company operating in a competitive environment. The application could address the shortcomings of previous agility methodologies and helped the company to assign resources to the right agility indicators with the highest influence on strategic agility. Research limitations/implications The methodology was applied to a single organization only. The application does not include long-term post-implementation observations and measurement of strategic agility. Practical implications Practitioners can benefit from the methodology to identify the right agility indicators of their organization and assign organizational resources for the improvement of such indicators. The methodology ensures selecting indicators that contribute to organization’s strategic agility, although ostensibly seem unrelated. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature of strategic and organizational agility by proposing a systematic methodology that considers both intra- and inter-relationships among agility indicators. The methodology also makes a decent contribution in addressing organizational ambidexterity by analyzing mutually exclusive indicators pertaining to current and future opportunities for the organization

Probabilistic simulation of advection-reaction-dispersion equation using random lattice Boltzmann method

Abstract Mass transfer is subject to numerous sources of uncertainties due to scarcity of observational data. In this research, a numerical procedure was developed for the probabilistic study of a two-dimensional advection-dispersion problem, while considering chemical reactions. Innovatively, the lattice Boltzmann method was coupled with the concept of random field theory for the probabilistic simulations. The effects of various coefficients of variations (COV) and a number of autocorrelation distances were considered for the stochastic parameters, including dispersion coefficient, pore velocity, and the reaction term. The results indicated that the introduced probabilistic framework can be employed to effectively describe the effects of uncertainties in parameters related to the advection-dispersion equation. Moreover, it was deduced that the mass travel time and the time-concentration curves were influenced significantly by the variations of COV and autocorrelation distance for pore velocity. Interestingly, the mass transfer in the transverse direction increased (through the dispersion phenomenon) with a rise in the values of COV for longitudinal pore velocity. However, different values of COV and autocorrelation distances for the dispersion coefficient and the reaction term caused small alterations in the mass travel time and time-concentration curve