Effect of educational intervention on perceived susceptibility self-efficacy and DMFT of pregnant women

Background: The World Health Organization identifies oral health as a necessity for public health through the entirety of life. This issue has been considerably addressed due to susceptibility to tooth decay during pregnancy and maternal and fetal health. Objectives: Investigate the effect of educational intervention on perceived susceptibility, self-efficacy, and DMFT of pregnant women. Patients and Methods: A quasi-experimental survey (pretest, posttest, and control group) was implemented in 88 primiparous women in the first trimester of pregnancy who attended private clinics in Delfan city, Iran. It was conducted using random sampling and then assigned to intervention and control groups. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included demographic characteristics, a DMFT checklist, and some health belief model (HBM) constructs. After collecting baseline information, an educational intervention consisting of 4 training sessions for the intervention group was scheduled. In the sessions, lecture, focus-group discussion, video, and role-playing were used as the main educational strategies. Four months after the intervention, a post-test questionnaire and DMFT checklist were conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS (ver20) software and Chi-square, independent t-test, and repeated measure ANOVA at the significant level of α 0.05), during the intervention, or after intervention. Repeated measure ANOVA explained that the aforementioned score was different in the three cases (pretest, 2 months after intervention, and 4 months after intervention) after intervention (P< 0.05). Paired t-test also showed that the DMFT mean increased 4 months after intervention in the control group (P < 0.001). It was not, however, augmented in the intervention group (P = 0.92). Conclusions: Results showed that education on some of the HBM constructs resulted in increased knowledge of oral health, perceived susceptibility, and self-efficacy of pregnant women. It is also possible to prevent increased DMFT during pregnancy. © 2016, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

Optimization of Xanthan Gum Production from Grape Juice Concentrate Using Plackett-Burman Design and Response Surface Methodology

Low grade grape juice concentrate was used as carbon source for xanthan production. Significant factors affecting xanthan concentration, productivity and viscosity were investigated using Plackett-Burman Design. Based on the obtained results, carbon and nitrogen concentrations, inoculum size and agitation rate, were assumed as significant factors. Broth culture viscosity and xanthan concentration were optimized using Response Surface Methodology with four independent variables: carbon source (30, 40, 50 g l-1), ammonium sulfate as nitrogen source (0.5, 1.25, 2 g l-1), agitation (150, 200, 250 rpm) and inoculum size (5, 10, 15% v v-1). Optimum level for each factor was obtained by desirability function approach. The average of xanthan gum production and its viscosity under optimized conditions were recorded as 14.35 g l-1 and 1268 cP, respectively. The average yield of production and productivity of xanthan within 72 h under optimized conditions were 35% and 0.19 g l-1 h-1, respectively. The current study showed the potential of low-grade grape juice concentrate as an economic carbon source for xanthan gum production

The Relationship between the Use of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) and Computer Knowledge and Facilities: A Mixed-Method Study

The emergence of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) has drastically changed the mode of teaching in many educational contexts. CALL can not only facilitate meaningful language learning but it can also accelerate it while giving students’ learning more depth and breath. Different types of learning in general and distance learning in particular, which is now prevalent in the present Corona pandemic, is not feasible without computer-based training. A mixed-method research design was adopted in one semester. The study measurement consisted of two sections: a quantitative section in which a survey questionnaire was utilized and a qualitative one in which, on the whole, 30 sessions of semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants to understand instructors’ opinion about merits of using CALL in teaching English. Using non-parametric test of Spearman correlation and the independent samples t-test, it was illuminated that having computer facilities impels instructors to make the most of CALL in educational settings. Moreover, high speed, facilitating learning, facilitating training, and attractiveness have been extracted as the most significant merits of CALL use as revealed from semi-structured interviews. It is suggested that educational settings be fully equipped with computer facilities as they pave the way for the facilitative application of CALL

Serial pathways from primate prefrontal cortex to autonomic areas may influence emotional expression

BACKGROUND: Experiencing emotions engages high-order orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal areas, and expressing emotions involves low-level autonomic structures and peripheral organs. How is information from the cortex transmitted to the periphery? We used two parallel approaches to map simultaneously multiple pathways to determine if hypothalamic autonomic centres are a key link for orbitofrontal areas and medial prefrontal areas, which have been associated with emotional processes, as well as low-level spinal and brainstem autonomic structures. The latter innervate peripheral autonomic organs, whose activity is markedly increased during emotional arousal. RESULTS: We first determined if pathways linking the orbitofrontal cortex with the hypothalamus overlapped with projection neurons directed to the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord, with the aid of neural tracers injected in these disparate structures. We found that axons from orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortices converged in the hypothalamus with neurons projecting to brainstem and spinal autonomic centers, linking the highest with the lowest levels of the neuraxis. Using a parallel approach, we injected bidirectional tracers in the lateral hypothalamic area, an autonomic center, to label simultaneously cortical pathways leading to the hypothalamus, as well as hypothalamic axons projecting to low-level brainstem and spinal autonomic centers. We found densely distributed projection neurons in medial prefrontal and orbitofrontal cortices leading to the hypothalamus, as well as hypothalamic axonal terminations in several brainstem structures and the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord, which innervate peripheral autonomic organs. We then provided direct evidence that axons from medial prefrontal cortex synapse with hypothalamic neurons, terminating as large boutons, comparable in size to the highly efficient thalamocortical system. The interlinked orbitofrontal, medial prefrontal areas and hypothalamic autonomic centers were also connected with the amygdala. CONCLUSIONS: Descending pathways from orbitofrontal and medial prefrontal cortices, which are also linked with the amygdala, provide the means for speedy influence of the prefrontal cortex on the autonomic system, in processes underlying appreciation and expression of emotions

Studies on the Interaction of Isocyanides with Imines: Reaction Scope and Mechanistic Variations

The interaction of imines with isocyanides has been studied. The main product results from a sequential process involving the attack of two units of isocyanide, under Lewis acid catalysis, upon the carbon-nitrogen double bond of the imine to form the 4-membered ring system. The scope of the reaction regarding the imine and isocyanide ranges has been determined, and also some mechanistic variations and structural features have been described

Hinder för rapportering av felaktig läkemedelsadministrering- ur ett sjuksköterskeperspektiv - en litteraturstudie

Avsikten med litteraturstudien var att beskriva hinder för rapportering av felaktig läkemedelsadministrering ur ett sjuksköterskeperspektiv. Genom sökning efter vetenskapliga artiklar i två databaser, PubMed och Cinahl, inkluderades slutligen elva artiklar i studien. Artiklarnas ursprung var främst Nordamerika och Asien. Hinder för rapportering kan delas in i både individuella- och organisatoriska faktorer. Det visade sig att det främsta hindret för rapportering var rädsla för disciplinära påföljder eller att bli sedd som inkompetent av sina kollegor. Ett annat hinder som rankades högt var stress och tidsbrist vilket ledde till att avvikelserapporteringen blev lidande. Det verkar även finnas en kulturell skillnad mellan vilka hinder som upplevs starkast. Rädsla rankades ofta högre i de asiatiska studierna medan tidsbrist och stress rankades högre i de studier utförda i Nordamerika. När sjuksköterskor låter bli att rapportera sina läkemedelsmisstag leder detta i sin tur till att arbetet med kvalitet- och patientsäkerhetsarbete blir missgynnat och i slutändan en fara för vårdtagaren. Att förbättra rapporteringsprocessen är därför ett viktigt steg mot att förbättra vårdkvaliteten och patientsäkerheten