The Effect of a Yoga Program on "Health-Related Quality of Life" of Children in Residential Care Centers

Abstract Introduction: Children living in residential care centers are a vulnerable population and have a lower Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL). This study explored a yoga exercise program on HRQOL in children living in residential care centers. Methods: In this quasi-experimental, one group before-after study with time series design, all children aged 8 to 13 years, who qualified for the inclusion criteria and were living in governmental residential care centers of Isfarayen were selected, using the census method. The participants took part in yoga classes for 8 weeks. The HRQOL was assessed using Kids Screen Health-related Quality of Life Questionnaire (KS-HRQOLQ). The gleaned data were analyzed with SPSS21 using repeated measurements analysis. Results: Changes in the total score of HRQOL obtained in five measurements were not statistically significant (P = 0.270). Variations in the score of HRQOL in the dimensions of "mental well-being", "the relations with parents and self-autonomy", "social support and peers", and "school environment" were not significant before to one month after completion of interventions (P = 0.29, P = 0.67, P = 0.16, P = 0.50, respectively). For the physical well-being dimension, the changes were significant frombefore to immediately after completion of interventions (P = 0.013). Changes were not significant in the presence of personal and demographic variables (P = 0.45, P > 0.05). Conclusions: This study indicated that yoga increases life quality only in the physical well-being dimension. Given that life quality reflects the wishes, expectations, and hopes of children and teenagers in relation to their present and future life and this feeling is time-related, culture-dependent, and context-oriented, it appears that life conditions of children in the current study and chronic continuous tension present in residential care centers probably made the effects of yoga different

Social Reactions Affecting the Severity of Stuttering among Adults who Stutter: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Stuttering is a disorder associated with many social and social consequences for those who stutter. Regarding the decisive role of social reactions in exacerbating or reducing many psychological problems such as stuttering and the culture-related nature of social behaviors, this study was conducted to assess social reactions affecting the severity of stuttering among Iranian adults who stutter. Method: This qualitative study was conducted using conventional content analysis. Sampling was conducted using purposive sampling and continued until data saturation. Finally, 26 stutterers were evaluated through non-structured interviews. Data were simultaneously analyzed with data collection according to the steps suggested by Graneheim and Lundman. Results: After data analysis, two main categories including “moderating social reactions” and “exacerbating social reactions”, and from these categories, one theme “social reactions affecting the severity of stuttering”, were extracted. Conclusion: According to the results, adults who stutter, had unpleasant experiences with inadequate level of public’s awareness about stuttering or media ads and some other people’s reactions, which some of them are similar to results obtained in other cultures. The results of this study can be useful in designing educational protocols for increasing the awareness of the society about stuttering, and consequently, play a key role in the treatment process among these individuals

Anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects of nanoemulsion of Origanum majorana essential oil

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to develop a natural nanoemulsion with antibacterial and anticancer properties. Materials and Methods: The chemical composition of the Origanum majorana essential oil was investigated using GC–MS analysis. Besides, the successful loading of the essential oil in the nanoemulsion was confirmed using ATR-FTIR analysis. Moreover, nanoemulsion’s anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities were investigated. Results: Terpinen-4-o1 (46.90%) was identified as the major compound in the essential oil. The nanoemulsion with a 149 ± 5 nm droplet size and zeta potential of -11 ± 1 mV was prepared. The cytotoxic effect of the nanoemulsion against A-375 human melanoma cells (IC50 = 139 µg/mL) showed significantly more potency than A-549 human lung cancer cells (IC50 = 318 µg/mL). Interestingly, growth of Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and E. coli (Gram-negative) bacteria after treatment with 4800 µg/mL of nanoemulsion were obtained at 12 ± 2 and 6 ± 1%, respectively. However, the IC50 value of nanoemulsion against E. coli (580 µg/mL) was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from S. aureus (611 µg/mL). Conclusion: A straightforward preparation method, high stability, and multi-biological effects are the main advantages of the prepared nanoemulsion. Therefore it could be considered for further investigation in vivo studies or complementary medicine

Status of Statistical Methods in Articles of Knowledge and Information Science

Objective: Statistical methods play an important role in achieving results and conducting analyses. The current study aims to analyze the status of statistical methods in articles of knowledge and information science. While reviewing the statistical methods used in articles, it also investigates the frequency of methodological issues. Methods: The nature of the research is a descriptive survey. The research population comprises articles published in 13 active journals in knowledge and information science in Iran until 2022. Using Cochran’s formula, 141 articles were randomly selected for this study. The research methodology was investigated in three areas: statistical methods, sampling methods, and validity and reliability. Additionally, the variables influencing the characteristics of the articles and their statistical errors were examined. Data analysis was performed using Excel and SPSS 26 software, employing descriptive statistics methods. Results: The statistical methods have been used a total of 599 times, with the most frequent application being related to descriptive statistics. Among parametric and non-parametric inferential statistical methods, the T-test, chi-square, and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test are the most commonly employed in parametric and non-parametric inferential statistical methods, respectively. In the section on predictive methods and post hoc tests, the correlation coefficient and Tukey’s test stand out as the most frequent choices. Notably, the research results reveal that the most common statistical error observed in the articles is the use of parametric tests without verifying the normality of the data. Conclusions: The findings of the research show that although the authors of the articles use descriptive statistics effectively in their work, they pay less attention to inferential statistical methods. An essential consideration when employing parametric methods is ensuring that the underlying assumptions of the tests are met, as violating these assumptions can invalidate research results

Biofilm formation, antimicrobial susceptibility, serogroups and virulence genes of uropathogenic E. coli isolated from clinical samples in Iran

Abstract Background Uropathogenic Escherichia coli O- Serogroups with their virulence factors are the most prevalent causes of UTIs. The present research performed to track common uropathogenic E.coli serogroups, antibiotic resistance pattern of strains and prevalence of virulence genes in isolations having the ability to constitute biofilm. Methods In this research 130 E.coli isolation from patients having UTI symptoms were collected and antimicrobial resistance pattern was performed by Kirby-Bauer method. Polymerase chain reaction was done using primer pairs to identify common serogroups of uropathogenic E.coli and studying virulence genes in isolations creating biofilm. Results Among 130 E.coli isolates, 80 (61.53 %) were able to make biofilm that 15 isolates (18.75 %) indicated strong reaction, 20 (25 %) of medium and 45 (56.25 %) of weak biofilm reaction. Among isolations creating biofilm, the highest resistance reported to Ampicillin (87.5 %) and the lowest to Nitrofurantoin (3.75 %). The frequency of fimH, pap, sfa and afa genes in isolations having the ability to create strong biofilm reported 93.33 %, 86.66 %, 86.66 % and 66.66 %, respectively. Conclusions The findings indicated the importance of virulence genes in serogroups producing uropathogenic E.coli biofilm. It is recommended that strains producing biofilm before antibiotic use should be studied

Evolving Spiking Neural Networks of artificial creatures using Genetic Algorithm

This paper presents a Genetic Algorithm (GA) based evolution framework in which Spiking Neural Network (SNN) of single or a colony of artificial creatures are evolved for higher chance of survival in a virtual environment. The artificial creatures are composed of randomly connected Izhikevich spiking reservoir neural networks. Inspired by biological neurons, the neuronal connections are considered with different axonal conduction delays. Simulation results prove that the evolutionary algorithm has the capability to find or synthesis artificial creatures which can survive in the environment successfully and also simulations verify that colony approach has a better performance in comparison with a single complex creature

Desiging a model of assessing the effects of competitive strategy and technological innovation on export performance based on competitive environment (Case study: Ceramic tile industry in Iran)

The purpose of this study is assessing the effects of competitive strategy and technological innovation on export performance based on competitive environment in non metal mineral industry of Iran. In this paper, available approaches in the scope of determinants of EP are identified consist of contingency view, relational and resource based view. In this study, we examine relationship between technological innovation, competitive strategy and export performance. The purpose of this paper is how technological innovation and competitive strategy are caused directly a high level of performance. Conceptual model in this research integrate three main components of strategic management. It means that technological innovation, competitive strategy and performance. We distribute 123 questionares and 91 of them were been analysied. In this research, we investigate that focus strategy based model. As a result, technological innovation has the most effect on export performance (59%)

Comparing the effects of cycled and constant lighting on weight gain and length of stay in neonatal intensive care unit among premature neonates: A two-Group randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: Environmental lighting can potentially affect weight gain and the length of stay in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) among premature neonates. Yet, there are controversies about the best way of lighting in these units. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cycled lighting (CL) and constant lighting on weight gain and the length of stay in NICU among premature neonates. Methods: This two-group randomized controlled trial was conducted on 78 premature neonates hospitalized in NICU of Mofid Children's Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Neonates in the intervention group were treated, for 15 days, with CL. Neonates in the control group were exposed to constant lighting of the unit. Neonates in both groups were weighed every morning at 07:30 and their length of stay in the unit was recorded in days. Data analysis was done through Chi-square test, independent-samples t-test, and Mann-Whitney U-test and the two-way analysis of variance. The random-effects spline model was employed to compare the groups in terms of the trend of weight variations over time. Results: Neonates' weight in both groups decreased during the first 7 days of hospitalization and then started to increase from the 8th day. The groups did not significantly differ from each other respecting neonates' weight in the first 8th days (P = 0.857), while weight mean in days 9-15 in the intervention group was significantly greater than the control group by at least 25.25 g in the 9th day and 159.95 g in the 15th day (P P = 0.005) and adjusted (P = 0.001). However, no significant between-group differences were observed in terms of the length of stay (18.18 ± 10.21, 18.29 ± 12 days) in NICU with gender being unadjusted (P = 0.939) and adjusted (P = 0.990). Conclusions: CL is effective in improving premature neonates' weight gain but ineffective in shortening their stay in NICU

Effect of Prefabricated Insole with Shock Absorb Canal and Custom-Molded Insole on Pain and Function in Subjects with Plantar Fasciitis: A Pilot Study: Effect of insoles on pain and function in plantar fasciitis

Introduction: The purpose of this study was comparison of the effect of custom-molded insole and prefabricated insole with shock absorb canal on pain and function in subjects with plantar fasciitis. Methods and Materials: In this pilot study, fourteen patients with plantar fasciitis were non-randomly assigned to two groups of 7 people. A group received the custom-molded insoles and another group received the prefabricated insoles with shock absorb canal. Before the use of the insoles in each group, the patients ' pain and function were recorded. The pain score was measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS). For evaluating the function, patients were asked to complete the foot and ankle ability measurement questionnaire (FAAM).Then, patients in both groups used insoles for 6 weeks. After a 6-week use of the insoles, the pain and function were recorded for the second time. Wilcoxon test was used for the effect of insoles in each group (comparison before and after the intervention) and Mann-Whitney test for comparison between two groups. Results: In comparison within each group, the findings showed that the use of both insoles after 6 weeks led to a significant decrease in pain score and a significant increase in the score of daily activities as well as sports activities compared with before use of insoles (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in pain and function scores between the two groups after using the insoles (P>0.05). Conclusion: According to the findings, there was no significant difference between the custom-molded insole and the prefabricated insole in improving pain and function of patients with plantar fasciitis. However, both types of insoles reduced pain and improved the function, with more acceptable to the prefabricated insole

The Relation Between the Life Meaningfulness and the Level of Perceived Social Support Among Elderly People Living in Nursing Homes in Isfahan

Objectives: The present study aimed to examine the life meaningfulness among the elderly people living in nursing homes of Isfahan, Iran based on their perceived social support from 3 sources of family, friends, and significant others. Methods & Materials: In this research, a total of 120 older people (68 men and 52 women) were selected from the nursing homes of Isfahan through convenience sampling method, and their data were analyzed using Zimet et al. perceived social support and the life meaningfulness questionnaires (1988). Results: The results of stepwise and multiple regression analyses showed that 28.2% of individual differences regarding the life meaningfulness in the elderly people were related to the personal differences in their perceived social support (from family, friends, and significant others), in which the family and other significant persons had the most prominent effect on explaining the changes and in predicting the meaningfulness of life among the elderly. This correlation was statistically significant (P=0.001). Based on analysis of variance, the explained regression model is also significant and linear because the value of F test for determining the effect of independent variables on life meaningfulness of the older people equals 15.353, which is significant (P=0.001). The significance of regression coefficients shows that the family significantly predicts the life meaningfulness of the elderly people. This means that 19.8% of variance is common between family and life meaningfulness of older people. This figure increases to 27.1% by adding significant others to the equation. Conclusion: The results showed that the older people who receive stronger social support also have significantly stronger feelings of meaning in their lives. In other words, the feeling of meaning in the life is significantly related to perceived strong social support. In a way, an important part of individual differences in meaningfulness of the older people’s lives is related to their different perceived social support. Therefore, today with regard to social changes and busy life of children and accordingly their low relation with old parents, it is anticipated that the low perceived support from the family of the older people (which is the most important predicting factor of life meaningfulness among other factors of perceived social support) will affect the meaningfulness of their lives. Considering what older people told in their interviews with regard to the role of the family on promoting the quality of life among them and reaching a joyful experience of life meaningfulness, it is expected that by increasing the quality and quantity of relationship of the family members with older people, their needed support could be provided. This activity requires family members to sufficiently know and understand the physical and mental condition of the older people. Considering the effectiveness of perceived social support of older people on their life meaningfulness, this study generally showed that a higher attention to components of perceived social support is felt among this vulnerable group of older people