Energy Consumption and Total Factor Productivity Dynamics in the Industrial Sector

In this paper, the relationship between energy consumption and total factor productivity (TFP) in the industrial sector in Iran has been investigated using threshold-type nonlinear relationships. The results of estimating a two-threshold model in a sample including data related to 110 industrial branches during the years 2002-2019 show that the effect of energy consumption on the TFP in the industry sector is state-dependent on the energy consumption state or regime and the energy consumption variable coefficients in all regimes has a negative and significant effect on the TFP. If the energy consumption in Iran's industrial sector exceeds a certain threshold, the negative effect of energy consumption on the TFP will intensify. Also, the effect of energy consumption on the TFP in the industry sector is a state dependent on the TFP state or regime, so in low TFP regimes or states, the effect of energy consumption on the TFP of industries is considerable, but in high TFP regimes, industries with higher TFP have a much lower negative impact of energy consumption on their TFP

Risk factors associated with long covid syndrome: A retrospective study

Background: Recently, people have recognized the post-acute phase symptoms of the COVID-19. We investigated the long-term symptoms associated with COVID-19, (Long COVID Syndrome), and the risk factors associated with it. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. All the consecutive adult patients referred to the healthcare facilities anywhere in Fars province from 19 February 2020 until 20 November 2020 were included. All the patients had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. In a phone call to the patients, at least three months after their discharge from the hospital, we obtained their current information. The IBM SPSS Statistics (version 25.0) was used. Pearson Chi square, Fisher’s exact test, t test, and binary logistic regression analysis model were employed. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: In total, 4,681 patients were studied, 2915 of whom (62.3%) reported symptoms. The most common symptoms of long COVID syndrome were fatigue, exercise intolerance, walking intolerance, muscle pain, and shortness of breath. Women were more likely to experience long-term COVID syndrome than men (Odds Ratio: 1,268; 95% Confidence Interval: 1,122-1,432; P=0.0001), which was significant. Presentation with respiratory problems at the onset of illness was also significantly associated with long COVID syndrome (Odds Ratio: 1.425; 95% Confidence Interval: 1.177-1.724; P=0.0001). A shorter length of hospital stay was inversely associated with long COVID syndrome (Odds Ratio: 0.953; 95% Confidence Interval: 0.941-0.965; P=0.0001). Conclusion: Long COVID syndrome is a frequent and disabling condition and has significant associations with sex (female), respiratory symptoms at the onset, and the severity of the illness

Democracy, education and economics

This paper examines the connections between democracy and education, particularly as it concerns economics. We adopt a pluralist proceduralist view of democracy, and argue that this requires a view of individuals as active decision-makers able to deliberate and reflect on their different ideas and opinions -- a view not available to mainstream economics with its preference-based view of the individual. The paper examines the nature of learning and its implications for teaching, and then applies this to economics education. An important aspect of this is students' exploration of their values. We argue this approach requires a pluralist educational philosophy.education, democracy, economics, pluralism, individual, agency, instrumentalist, proceduralism, cognitive science, teaching, learning, economics education,

Democracy, Education and Economics

This paper examines the connections between democracy and education, particularly as it concerns economics. We adopt a pluralist proceduralist view of democracy, and argue that this requires a view of individuals as active decision-makers able to deliberate and reflect on their different ideas and opinions – a view not available to mainstream economics with its preference-based view of the individual. The paper examines the nature of learning and its implications for teaching, and then applies this to economics education. An important aspect of this is students\u27 exploration of their values. We argue this approach requires a pluralist educational philosophy

The Role of Perceived Teacher's Support and Motivational Orientation in Prediction of Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies in Learning English

This study aims to determine the role of perceived teacher support and motivational orientation in predicting metacognitive awareness of reading strategies in learning the English language. The sample included 425 male and female students, studying in the elementary schools in the city of Birjand, eastern Iran, in the 2014-2015 academic year. Three different types of questionnaires were distributed among these students. The questionnaires were, respectively, about the students’ perception of teacher support (Zaki, 2007), motivational orientation for English learning (Sheikholeslami, 2005), and metacognitive awareness of the study methods (Mokhtari & Richard, 2002). Multiple regression analysis was applied to analyze the obtained data. It was found that there was a direct and significant correlation between teacher support variable, and intrinsic motivation, overall reading strategies, problem-solving strategies, reading support strategies, and metacognitive awareness. Additionally, there was an inverse and significant correlation with the non-motivation variable. Furthermore, no significant correlation was observed between the teacher support variable and the extrinsic motivation variable. A direct and significant relationship was, however, spotted between intrinsic motivation, and extrinsic motivation, overall reading strategies, problem-solving strategies, reading support strategies,and metacognitive awareness; and an inverse and significant relationship was noticed between the intrinsic motivation and non-motivation variables. Moreover, there existed a direct and significant relationship between extrinsic motivation, and overall reading strategies, problem-solving strategies, reading support strategies, metacognitive awareness and it had an inverse and significant relationship with non-motivation variable. The findings demonstrated that the components of perceived teacher support and motivational orientation (extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, and nonmotivation) provide the possibility of predicting metacognitive awareness of students

Psychological interventions for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A systematic review

Various studies have investigated the role that psychological factors play in the etiology of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. The current research was aimed at reviewing the psychological interventions that are implemented to treat the aforementioned conditions. Vocabulary from the Medical Subject Headings database was used as basis for identifying search keywords, which were then employed to search for relevant articles in PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, Scopus, the Scientific Information Database, IranMedex, Magiran, and IranDoc. A total of 174,270 articles published in the period between 1985 and 2017 were obtained. After the elimination of repetitive and unrelated articles, six clinical trials were evaluated using the Oxford quality scoring system or Jadad scale. Psychological interventions for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy fall into four categories, namely, behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, hypnosis, and progressive muscle relaxation. On the basis of the Jadad scale, all the reviewed studies were evaluated as being of poor methodological quality. Further studies are needed to obtain strong evidence on the effectiveness of psychological interventions for the treatment of women suffering from nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Keywords: Behavioral therapy, Pregnancy, Nausea and vomiting, Hypnosis, Psychotherap

Tony Lawson on Critical Realism: What's Teaching Got to Do with It?

In this article we explore the implications of Tony Lawson's critical realism for teaching. Rather than offering a critique of Lawson's perspective, we use his ideas as they appear to relate to our experience as educators in our respective disciplines. In this sense we hope to suggest a way of integrating disciplinary scholarship and reflection on teaching. Therefore, we emphasize the aspects of Lawson's work which are most meaningful to us, namely his attempt to develop a combination of epistemological relativism and ontological realism and his emphasis on the relationship between social structure and human agency.Lawson, transcendental realism, critical realism, social structure, human agency, teaching,

Pheno-Morphological and Essential Oil Composition Responses to UVA Radiation and Protectants: A Case Study in Three Thymus Species

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation mainly includes UVA (320–400 nm). UVA intensity varies depending on the season and geographic location, while it is projected to rise owing to climate change. Since it elicits secondary metabolism, additional knowledge on the UVA dependence of phytochemical production is required for both farmers and processors, particularly under natural settings. In this field study, the pheno-morphological traits and essential oil composition responses to UVA intensity were addressed in three Thymus species [T. daenensis (endemic to Iran), T. fedtschenkoi (semi-endemic), T. vulgaris (common thyme)]. During growth, three UVA levels (ambient, enriched, excluded) were realized in combination with spraying protectants [water (control), melatonin, glutathione, iron-zinc nanofertilizer]. In T. daenensis, enriched UVA caused early flowering. The height of T. daenensis was the longest under enriched UVA, and the shortest under excluded UVA. In control plants, enriched and excluded UVA stimulated the accumulation of oxygenated metabolites in T. daenensis and T. fedtschenkoi. Altogether, under enriched UVA some phenolic compounds (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, γ-terpinene) increased in the essential oil of all three species, but others decreased. In all taxa, glutathione caused a significant essential oil content reduction. Iron-zinc nanofertilizer increased essential oil accumulation in T. daenensis and T. vulgaris. Treatments also induced an alteration of the essential oil composition. In conclusion, cultivation regime effects on the essential oil quality (composition) and quantity were strongly species dependent. T. deanensis underwent the most consistent enhancement under UVA, making the species more adaptable to climate change, whereas T. fedtschenkoi the least

Pheno-Morphological and Essential Oil Composition Responses to UVA Radiation and Protectants: A Case Study in Three <i>Thymus</i> Species

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation mainly includes UVA (320–400 nm). UVA intensity varies depending on the season and geographic location, while it is projected to rise owing to climate change. Since it elicits secondary metabolism, additional knowledge on the UVA dependence of phytochemical production is required for both farmers and processors, particularly under natural settings. In this field study, the pheno-morphological traits and essential oil composition responses to UVA intensity were addressed in three Thymus species [T. daenensis (endemic to Iran), T. fedtschenkoi (semi-endemic), T. vulgaris (common thyme)]. During growth, three UVA levels (ambient, enriched, excluded) were realized in combination with spraying protectants [water (control), melatonin, glutathione, iron-zinc nanofertilizer]. In T. daenensis, enriched UVA caused early flowering. The height of T. daenensis was the longest under enriched UVA, and the shortest under excluded UVA. In control plants, enriched and excluded UVA stimulated the accumulation of oxygenated metabolites in T. daenensis and T. fedtschenkoi. Altogether, under enriched UVA some phenolic compounds (e.g., thymol, carvacrol, γ-terpinene) increased in the essential oil of all three species, but others decreased. In all taxa, glutathione caused a significant essential oil content reduction. Iron-zinc nanofertilizer increased essential oil accumulation in T. daenensis and T. vulgaris. Treatments also induced an alteration of the essential oil composition. In conclusion, cultivation regime effects on the essential oil quality (composition) and quantity were strongly species dependent. T. deanensis underwent the most consistent enhancement under UVA, making the species more adaptable to climate change, whereas T. fedtschenkoi the least