Assessing Readiness to Lose Weight among Obese Women Attending the Nutrition Clinic

Background: Assessing individual’s readiness to change and targeting the intervention to the level of readiness may improve successful weight loss rates. This study aimed to assess readiness for weight loss in obese women using the trans theoretical model. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 90 volunteer apparently healthy obese women, in Ardabil, Iran. Participants completed the translated and validated University of Rhode Island Change Assessment questionnaire in their first visit. Subjects were categorized into one of the stages of change based on the highest of four z-transformed scale scores. The readiness to change score was calculated. Results: More than half of the participants were in early stages of weight loss and 24.5% were in the action stage. The readiness score in the precontemplation stage was significantly lower than the other stages, but no significant difference was observed among the contemplation, action and maintenance stages. The significant correlation was observed between the stages of change and waist-to-hip ratio (r=0.33, P<0.05). Conclusion: Obese women attending the nutrition clinic are in different stages to change for weight loss. Understanding person specific stages of change orientates the dietitian to use the most appropriate counseling strategies. Hence the stages and readiness to change should be considered before implementing any intervention in clinical settings for optimal outcomes

Three-Dimensional Mapping of Habitats Using Remote-Sensing Data and Machine-Learning Algorithms

Progress toward habitat protection goals can effectively be performed using satellite imagery and machine-learning (ML) models at various spatial and temporal scales. In this regard, habitat types and landscape structures can be discriminated against using remote-sensing (RS) datasets. However, most existing research in three-dimensional (3D) habitat mapping primarily relies on same/cross-sensor features like features derived from multibeam Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR), hydrographic LiDAR, and aerial images, often overlooking the potential benefits of considering multi-sensor data integration. To address this gap, this study introduced a novel approach to creating 3D habitat maps by using high-resolution multispectral images and a LiDAR-derived Digital Surface Model (DSM) coupled with an object-based Random Forest (RF) algorithm. LiDAR-derived products were also used to improve the accuracy of the habitat classification, especially for the habitat classes with similar spectral characteristics but different heights. Two study areas in the United Kingdom (UK) were chosen to explore the accuracy of the developed models. The overall accuracies for the two mentioned study areas were high (91% and 82%), which is indicative of the high potential of the developed RS method for 3D habitat mapping. Overall, it was observed that a combination of high-resolution multispectral imagery and LiDAR data could help the separation of different habitat types and provide reliable 3D information

Potential Negative Impacts of Social Inequality on Visual Health: the Possible Pathophysiology Mechanisms

Letter/ No abstrac

Consequences of Using Smartphone Technology in University Students: Experiencing Challenges

Introduction: The dramatic increase in prevalence of cell phone use, especially among adolescents and young people, is a growing concern among many experts about the harmful effects of cell phones. The present study aimed to explore the consequences and challenges of the application of this technology from the perspective of university students. Method: In this qualitative study, participants were 32 students of nursing, midwifery, and paramedicine in East Guilan, Iran, who were selected purposefully and with maximum variation. Data were collected using 11 semi-structured interviews and 3 focus group discussions. All interviews were continued till data saturation was occurred. Data analysis was done using conventional content analysis approach. Results: Three themes and 11 subthemes were extracted from the qualitative analysis. The themes were as “physical-psychological stresses” with 4 subthemes of physical problems, disturbed comfort, information security concerns, and progressive dependence, “decreased performance” with 3 subthemes of decline in academic performance, depleted energy, and wasting time, and “drowning in the virtual world” with 4 subthemes of away from the real world, unhealthy relationship, blind imitation, and luxury-oriented, and lying. “In the virtual turbulence” was designated as the main theme. Conclusion: Based on the students' experiences, appropriate cultural planning is necessary with approaches such as mass media education, early childhood education, and education before entering the technologies with the aim of properly usage of these technologies. Keywords: Smartphone, Technology, Students, Qualitative researc

The effect of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Iranian propolis on Candida Albicans isolated from the mouth of patients with colorectal malignancy undergone chemotherapy: An in-vitro study

Background: Candidiasis is one of the most common fungal infections in immunosuppressed patients. The condition is usually treated with local and systemic antifungal agents. Given the antifungal properties of propolis, it appears this natural resin material can be effective in treating this infection. The aim of the present in vitro study was to compare the effect of Iranian propolis with those of routine antifungal agents on Candida species isolated from the oral candida lesions of patients with cancer, who had undergone chemotherapy, and a standard strain of Candida albicans. Methods: A total of 23 samples were collected from the oral cavities of patients with colorectal cancer, who had undergone chemotherapy with 5-fu. The fungal species were determined based on the results of culture in C. albicans chromagar medium, formation of the germ tube and formation of vesicles. The MIC of aqueous extract propolis (AEP) and ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP) and amphotericin B (AMP-B), fluconazole (FL) and nystatin (NYS) were compared. Results: A total of 23 oral C. albicans samples were isolated. The MICs of FL and AMP- B were similar and less than those of EEP, AEP and NYS (P&#60;0.001). In addition, the MIC of AEP was higher than EEP (P&#60;0.001). The MIC of AMP- B on the strains isolated from the patients was more than that of the standard strain (P=0.012). Conclusion: The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Iranian propolis exhibited antifungal activity, with a greater effect of the EEP compared to the AEP. &#160

Potential Negative Impacts of Social Inequality on Visual Health: the Possible Pathophysiology Mechanisms

Letter/ No abstrac