Usefulness of the SF-36 Health Survey questionnaire in screening for health-related quality of life among parents of children with cancer: Latent profile analysis

Background: Poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of parents of children with cancer as their main caregivers can adversely affect child’s HRQOL. Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) is a widely used instrument to measure HRQOL. However, there are no clearly defined cut-off points for screening for parents with poor HRQOL. This study aimed to find appropriate cut-off points for the SF-36 questionnaire in a sample of parents of children with cancer using latent profile analysis to add another possibility to use it. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 110 couples (110 mothers and 110 fathers) of children diagnosed with cancer selected by simple random sampling method from the patients' files were included. The study was conducted at two settings, pediatric hematology ward and pediatric hematology clinic of a university hospital in 2016-2017. Latent Profile analysis method was used to determine appropriate cut-off points for the SF-36 questionnaire. Data was analyzed by Mplus and R3.3.0 software. Results:  Based on the results, scores ≤44, 45-63 and ≥64 for mental health, and scores ≤43, 44-59 and ≥60 for physical health classes indicate weak, medium, and good, respectively. These cut-off points showed acceptable accuracy in classification of individuals. For the total quality of life, correct classification rates were 88%, 65% and 53% for each class respectively. For mental health (physical health), they were 79 (63), 50 (62) and 52 (63) for each class respectively.    Conclusion: The cut-off points for the classes identified here can be useful in screening parents of children with cancer in clinical setting to provide clinical interventions to protect vulnerable parents from negative outcomes

Nicotine Dependence Severity and Revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory: Assessing the Mediating Role of Risky Decision Making Using Path Analysis

Background: Gray’s revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (r-RST) is a neuropsychologicalexplanation of personality that has been broadly used in substance use disorders. Although theBehavioral Approach System (BAS) is strongly related to nicotine dependence, findings inBehavioral Inhibition System (BIS) are controversial and there is little information about therole of the Fight/Flight/Freeze System (FFFS) in nicotine dependence. The purpose of thepresent study was to evaluate the mediating role of Risky Decision Making (RDM) in thisrelationship to clarify the controversy and fill the gap.Methods: The final sample of this correlation study comprised of 347 university students (age,Mean±SD 23.2±6.7) who completed two self-report measures, including the Fagerstrom TestFor Nicotine Dependence (FTND), Jackson-5 questionnaire of r-RST, and a computerizedIowa Gambling Task (IGT) to measure RDM. Pearson correlation and a path analysisframework were used to determine the simple, direct, and indirect effects of r-RST systems onnicotine dependence severity through RDM.Results: Using Amos, path analyses demonstrated significant direct and indirect effects ofBAS and FFFS/BIS on tobacco use. Also, the relationship between BAS/FFFS/BIS andtobacco use was shown to be mediated by RDM.Conclusion: It was demonstrated that the relationship among BAS /FFFS/BIS and tobaccouse can be partly explained using maladaptive RDM strategies, suggesting that decreasingreliance on decision-making in risky situations, while increasing the use of decision-makingskills educations in risky situations, and increasing the use of alternative sensation and funseeking by smoking and emotion regulation and mindfulness-based therapie

Correlating low energy impact damage with changes in modal parameters: a preliminary study on composite beams

This paper is an experimental study of the effects of multi-site damage on the vibration response of a composite beam damaged by low energy impact. The variation of the modal parameters with different levels of impact energy and density of impact is studied. Specimens are impacted symmetrically in order to induce a global rate of damage. A damage detection tool Damage Index is introduced in order to verify the estimation of damping ratios. Design of Experiments is used to establish the sensitivity of both energy of impact and density of damage. The DOE analysis results (using natural frequency only) indicate that impact energy for 2nd, 3rd and 4th bending modes is the most significant factor contributing to the changes in the modal parameters for this kind of symmetrical dynamic test

The Effect of Zinc Nutrition on Two Olive (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars Components and Alleviate Oxidative Damage in Salinity Conditions

The role of zinc (Zn) in enhancing defense capacity of several plants against salinity has been demonstrated but there is limited information on the impact of Zn nutrition on alleviating salinity-induced oxidative damage in olive. One-year-old seedlings of two varieties of olive (Olea europaea L. cvs. Frontoio and Conservolea) supplied with three Zn levels (0, 1 and 5 mM in the form of ZnSO4.7H2O) were exposed to four salinity levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 mM NaCl). The increase in plasma membrane permeability and elevated leakage of potassium (K) and Zn from the olive roots were considered as indices of oxidative damage caused by salinity on root cells. In contrast, root membrane permeability and leakage of Zn and K ions in plants supplied with Zn was less than those non-supplied with Zn. Addition of Zn resulted in higher activity of CAT and APX. Higher salt-tolerance of Frontoio cultivar was associated with higher concentration of sulfhydryl (-SH) groups and lower membrane permeability of its roots in comparison with Conservolea cultivar. Based on the results obtained, addition of Zn improved plant enzymatic defense system and partly alleviated oxidative injuries induced by salinity on the olive

Application of Bait Treated with the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin for the Control of Microcerotermes diversus Silv.

Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Isoptera, Termitidae) is considered to be the most destructive termite in Khuzestan province (Iran), and its control by conventional methods is often difficult. Biological control using entomopathogenic fungi could be an alternative management strategy. Performance of a bait matrix treated with the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.) Sorokin, Strain Saravan (DEMI 001), against M. diversus was evaluated in this paper. The highest rate of mortality occurred at concentrations of 3.7 × 107 and 3.5 × 108 (conidia per mL). There was no significant difference between treatments, in the rate of feeding on the bait. The fungal pathogen was not repellent to the target termite over the conidial concentrations used. The current results suggest potential of such bait system in controlling termite. However the effectiveness of M. anisopliae as a component of integrated pest management for M. diversus still needs to be proven under field conditions

Evaluation of cellulose substrates treated with Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin as a biological control agent against the termite Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae)

This article is the first report on the promising effect of an entomopathogenic fungus, <em>Metarhizium anisopliae</em> (Metschnikoff) Sorokin to control populations of <em>Microcerotermes diversus </em>Silvestri. Biological control is an alternative to the long-term usage of chemical pesticides.<em> M. anisopliae</em>, the causal agent of green muscardine disease of insects, is an important fungus in biological control of insect pests. Bait systems can eliminate entire colonies of subterranean termites. Baiting reduces adverse environmental impacts caused by organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides in the control of termites and creates sustainable protection of buildings against their invasion. Treated-sawdust bait was applied by two methods: a) combination of treated sawdust and untreated filter paper, and b) combination of treated sawdust and untreated sawdust. When combinations of treated sawdust and untreated sawdust were used, LC50 and LC90 were 8.4&times;106 and 3.9&times;107 (spore/ml), respectively. With the use of improved bait formula and more virulent strains, we hope to achieve better control of termite colonies and enable pathogens to become a useful element in the Integrated Pest Management system

Horizontal Transmission of the Entomopathogen Fungus Metarhizium anisopliae in Microcerotermes diversus Groups

An experiment was carried out in order to investigate fungal conidia transmission of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin from vector (donor) to healthy Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Iso.: Termitidae) and determine the best donor/concentration ratio for transmission. After preliminary trials, concentrations of 3.1 × 104, 3.9 × 105, 3.2 × 106 and 3.5 × 108 conidia mL−1 were selected for testing. The experiment was performed at three donor : Recipient ratios of 10, 30 and 50%. The highest mortality of recipient workers was observed after 14 days at the concentration of 3.5 × 108 conidia mL−1 and donor ratio of 50%. The mortality of recipient workers was less than 20% at all concentrations at a donor ratio of 10%. Our observations indicate social behavior of M. diversus, such as grooming, can be effective in promoting epizootic outbreaks in a colony. While the current results suggest good potential for efficacy, the use of M. anisopliae as a component of integrated pest management of M. diversus still needs to be proven under field conditions

The Relationship Between General Health Status and Quality of Life of Parents and Quality of Life of Children with Cancer

Introduction: When the child has cancer, the family is faced with the challenge and this makes the parents spend a lot of energy caring for their children. In many cases it seems that the pressures of caring for sick children increases so much that affects the general health and quality of life of parents and causes malicious changes that affect children's quality of life in the end. This study aimed to determine the relationship between public health and quality of life of parents and quality of life of children with cancer at Besat Hospital, in 2016, respectively. Methods: This was a correlation study, in which 108 mothers and fathers of children diagnosed with cancer with ages between 8-18 years old, referring to hematology department of Besat Clinic and hospital were selected by convenience sampling method. Data was gathered using general health questionnaires. The data was analyzed using SPSS20 and independent t-test and logistic regression analysis. Results: The highest average scores in the aspects of quality of life for fathers were, physical functioning (74/67± 20/77), role impairment due to physical health (61/20 ± 28/25) and fatigue (48/50 ±16 /30) and for mothers were the pain scale (50/97± 23) and impairment role for emotional health (61/42±31/94).There was  just a significant relationship (P=0/045) between anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances, safety and quality of life of mothers of children. There was a significant relationship between the quality of life of mothers in terms of fatigue (P=0/011) and emotional well-being (P =0/038) and fathers in children's pain and quality of life (P =0/015). Conclusion: Parents of children with cancer have problems in general health and quality of life. Health and social policies are required in order to plan properly to solve problems and improve the quality of life of parents and children

Psychometric properties of the communication skills attitude scale (CSAS) measure in a sample of Iranian medical students

Introduction: Communication skill (CS) has been regarded as one of the fundamental competencies for medical and other health care professionals. Student’s attitude toward learning CS is a key factor in designing educational interventions. The original CSAS, as positive and negative subscales, was developed in the UK; however, there is no scale to measure these attitudes in Iran. The aim of this study was to assess the psychometric characteristic of the Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS), in an Iranian context and to understand if it is a valid tool to assess attitude toward learning communication skills among health care professionals. Methods: Psychometric characteristics of the CSAS were assessed by using a cross-sectional design. In the current study, 410 medical students were selected using stratified sampling framework. The face validity of the scale was estimated through students and experts’ opinion. Content validity of CSAS was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively. Reliability was examined through two methods including Chronbach’s alpha coefficient and Intra class Correlation of Coefficient (ICC). Construct validity of CSAS was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and explanatory factor analysis (PCA) followed by varimax rotation. Convergent and discriminant validity of the scale was measured through Spearman correlation. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 19 and EQS, 6.1. Results: The internal consistency and reproducibility of the total CSAS score were 0.84 (Cronbach’s alpha) and 0.81, which demonstrates an acceptable reliability of the questionnaire. The item-level content validity index (I-CVI) and the scale-level content validity index (S-CVI/ Ave) demonstrated appropriate results: 0.97 and 0.94, respectively. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on the 25 items of the CSAS revealed 4-factor structure that all together explained %55 of the variance. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis indicated an acceptable goodness-offit between the model and the observed data. [χ2/df=2.36, Comparative Fit Index (CFI)=0.95, the GFI=0.96, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA)=0.05]. Conclusion: The Persian version of CSAS is a multidimensional, valid and reliable tool for assessing attitudes towards communication skill among medical students