Analysis of Factors Influencing Women's Perception of Fertility during COVID-19 Pandemic

The present study was conducted to investigate the factors affecting women's perception of fertility during the Covid-19 pandemic. The research method is qualitative and has a descriptive phenomenological approach. The statistical population of the study is 30-year-old mothers with one child and at least a bachelor's degree during the period from June 21, 2020 to November 5, 2020 in Tehran. 20 mothers were selected by purposive sampling according to the criterion type. The data of this study were analyzed based on the mothers' lived experiences and by conducting a semi-structured interview about the women's perceptions of fertility during the Covid-19 period. For the validity and formality of the interview questions, the professors of the Department of Psychology and experts in the field of qualitative research were consulted. Then all data were analyzed using Colaizzi's seven-step method and MAXODA version 12 software. The results of the present study are provided in 8 main themes, disease risks with 3 subthemes, stress with 6 subthemes, desire for pregnancy with 3 subthemes, economic conditions with 3 subthemes, psychological security with 4 subthemes, improvement of family relations with 8 subthemes, research and study with 2 subthemes, and foresight is obtained with 5 subthemes. As a result, due to the increasing public awareness of the importance of pregnancy, most women prefer to plan their pregnancy. Therefore, addressing the factors related to women's perception of fertility in the high-risk period of Covid-19 may lead to comprehensive maternal awareness and safe pregnancy

Searching for Dumbledore: A reflection upon the outcomes of a tailored emotional literacy programme on three key stage 2 children

Some children may be only able to express feelings of anxiety, frustration, stress or sadness through angry behaviours, which may prove challenging for schools (Barnes et al, 2016; Shechtman and Tutian, 2016). This is problematic when considered in relation to research evidence highlighting the negative impact such behaviours may have upon social relationships and academic outcomes (Sloan et al., 2017). The aims of this study were to explore whether a tailored emotional literacy programme can be used effectively to extend children’s emotional lexicon and strategies for the self-management of behaviours. Three children with social-emotional difficulties were taught in twelve weekly sessions. The findings from this study suggests positive benefits regarding the use of a programme, tailored to meet a child’s specific needs, rather than implementing a programme without any adaptations, which may be an effectual tool in supporting children to change established patterns of negative behaviours

Psychotherapy approaches of Iranian psychiatrists and psychologists

Introduction: Since past decades by transmission from first and second psychotherapy waves, specialists and psychotherapists are taken special consideration into psychotherapy effectiveness. This research aimed to evaluate psychotherapy approaches of Iranian psychiatrists and psychologists (2014 to 2016). Materials and Methods: Sample consists of 300 psychiatrist, and psychologist with Ph.D. and master degree. Data gathering carried on by paper and pencil questionnaire in Shiraz and Tehran cities and also by web base questionnaire in all cities of Iran. Researcher made questionnaire consisted of demographic questions such as gender, age, history of work and faculty member and etc. Questionnaire also contains a question with 12 options asking about psychotherapist approaches. The data analyzed through descriptive tests, chi-square and SPSS software. Results: Psychotherapy approaches found with skew distribution among psychotherapists. Results show that just some psychotherapy approaches are practical and psychiatrists or psychologists just prefer some specific approaches. Cognitive-behavioral approach has highest rate of use and preference in all academic degrees. Conclusion: The importance and requisiteness of psychotherapies and effective psychological interventions in Persian culture lead us to conduct this research in Iranian psychotherapist. The results showed the use rates of psychotherapy approaches among Iranian psychiatrists and psychologists

The effect of Zataria multiflora and carvacrol on wheezing, FEV1 and plasma levels of nitrite in asthmatic patients

Objective: The preventive effect of Zataria multiflora in animal models of asthma has been reported. In the present study, its effect on wheezing, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and plasma nitrite (NO2-) in asthmatic patients was studied. Materials and Methods: In this study, forty asthmatic patients including 15 males and 25 females (aged 45.8±6.21 years) were randomly allocated in four groups including placebo group (P), and three treatment groups which received two doses of Z. multiflora (groups Z low and Z high that received 5 and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively) and carvacrol (group C treated with 1.2 mg/kg/day). All patients were treated for two months in a double-blind manner. At three time points (before starting the treatment (pretreatment), and one and two month after treatment), wheezing during day and exercise, forced expiratory volume in 1 second and NO2- were measured. Results: Day wheeze and exercise wheeze were significantly reduced in treated groups with carvacrol and both doses of Z. multiflora compared to pretreatment (p1% was significantly increased in treated groups with carvacrol and both doses of Z. multiflora (p2- was also significantly decreased in Z high and carvacrol groups after two months of treatment (p Conclusion: Z. multiflora and its constituent, carvacrol, improved FEV1% while reduced wheezing and plasma level of NO2- in asthmatic patients. Therefore, a possible therapeutic potential for this plant and its constituent, carvacrol could be suggested to be used against asthma

Effects of Workplace Parent Management Training on Marital and Job Satisfaction among Iranian Working Parents

BackgroundShifting the focus of parent management training (PMT) to parents and discussing implications for maximizing the outcomes of PMT for the entire family is new and promising.ObjectiveWe aimed to examine the efficacy of work place PMT on job and marital satisfaction among staff members of an academic center.MethodsWe held 8 PMT sessions (1.5 h each) for 20 staff members who were parents to children in the age range of 2–12 years. Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) and Occupational Descriptive Index [Health and Safety Executive (HSE)] were used for baseline and post-intervention data gathering. DAS higher scores indicate higher marital adjustment satisfaction and higher HSE scores indicate higher occupational stress. To analyze changes in HSE and DAS scores over time, paired t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used, respectively.ResultsAll DAS subscales show significant increased from baseline to the final session except for affectional expression which was not significant. We found no significant changes in total or subscale HSE scores among participants.ConclusionFindings of this study underscore the role of psycho-education usage in work environment and provide evidence about the importance of designing interventions concerning working parents. Implications of PMT are discussed in the text

Carum copticum L.: A Herbal Medicine with Various Pharmacological Effects

Carum copticum L. commonly known as “Ajwain” is cultivated in many regions of the world including Iran and India, states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. Traditionally, C. copticum has been used in the past for various therapeutic effects including bloating, fatigue, diarrhea, abdominal tumors, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, and loss of appetite. It has other health benefits such as antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and hypolipidemic effects. This plant contains different important components such as carbohydrates, glucosides, saponins and phenolic compounds (carvacrol), volatile oils (thymol), terpiene, paracymene and beta-pinene, protein, fat, fiber, and minerals including calcium, phosphorus, iron, and nicotinic acid (niacin). In the previous studies, several pharmacological effects were shown for C. copticum. Therefore, in this paper, the pharmacological effects of the plant were reviewed

The Effect of Zataria multiflora on Th1/Th2 and Th17/T Regulatory in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with no definite treatment and more research is needed to overcome this condition. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the extract of Zataria multiflora (Z. multiflora) as a medicinal plant on cytokine genes expression in an experimental mouse model of asthma. Adult mice were randomly divided into the following groups: control (C), untreated asthma (A), asthmatic groups treated with dexamethasone (D) and Z. multiflora extract (200, 400, and 800 μg/mL; Z1, Z2, and Z3, respectively), (for groups C, A, and D n = 5 and for groups Z1, Z2, and Z3 n = 6). For induction of the mouse model of asthma, animals were sensitized with intraperitoneal injection and inhalation of ovalbumin (OVA). The number of T helper (Th) subtype cells (using flow cytometry) and the levels of IFN-γ, FOXP3, IL-4, TGF-β, IL-17 gene expression (by real time PCR) were assessed in mice splenocytes. The observed changes in spleen cells of group A compared to group C were increased number of Th2 and Th17 cells, enhancement of gene expression of IL-4, IL-17, and TGF-β (p < 0.001 for all cases), reduction of Th1 cells and Th1/Th2 ratio (p < 0.001 for both cases) and decrease in gene expression of IFN-γ, FOXP3 and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (p < 0.01 for IFN-γ and p < 0.001 for other cases). The observed changes in spleen cells of treated compared to untreated A group were enhancement of Treg cells and Th1/Th2 ratio (p < 0.001 for both cases), increase in IFN-γ (p < 0.05) and FOXP3 (p < 0.001) gene expression and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio (p < 0.01) as well as reduction of Th2 and Th17 cells (p < 0.01 to p < 0.001), decrease gene expression of IL-4, IL-17, and TGF-β (p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). The findings showed that the extract of Z. multiflora decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines in asthma (IL-4 and IL-17 and TGF-β) but increased anti-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ) gene expression and the number of Treg (FOXP3) in splenocytes of asthmatic mice which may indicate the specific therapeutic effect of the plant extract in allergy, autoimmunity, and infectious diseases via potentiating Th1 and suppressing Th2 and Th17 cells

Identifying damage location and severity in a template platform located in Persian Gulf using the Improved modal strain energy

Foroozan platform is one of the most important Iranian offshore facilities lies along the border of Iran and Saudi Arabia. As time passes by, the possibility of presence of some damage in the structural members of this platform increases. As a consequence of these damages, the operation of the platform may be disrupted and if the damage grows, especially in sensitive areas such as deck, joints or splash zone that are prone to failure, cause more damage in the future. This highlights the necessity of structural health monitoring of this platform. One of the most common structural health monitoring techniques is the modal strain energy-based damage index which is known as Stubbs index. In recent years, modifications have been made to original version of this index, one of which is to consider the natural frequencies in determining the location of damage. In this paper, using the improved modal strain energy method and considering the natural frequencies in determining the location of damage, the location and severity of damage in the Foroozan platform have been identified. One of the differences between this study and similar studies is the large number of elements of this real platform. The results showed that the improved method has a higher accuracy in locating the damage than the original method (Stubbs index). Also, single and multiple damages, with low and high intensity, were predicted with appropriate accuracy by this method