Relationship between Students’ Critical Thinking and Self-efficacy Beliefs in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

AbstractNowadays, critical thinking and motivational factors affecting it, such as self-efficacy have been heavily regarded by higher education systems. This descriptive-correlation study aimed to investigate the relationship between students’ self-efficacy and critical thinking in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. A random sample of 216 students completed Sherer et al.’s (1982) General Self-efficacy Scale and the California Critical Thinking Skills Test- Form B (1994). Finding showed a significantly positive relationship between students’ self-efficacy and critical thinking (r= 0.21, p< 0.001). Hence, self-efficacy as motivational factor should be considered for developing learners’ critical thinking skills

The relationship between severity of epilepsy and sleep disorder in epileptic children

Background: Sleep disturbances are one of the most common behavioral problems in childhood. Sleep problems have an even greater prevalence in children with epilepsy and are one of the most common comorbid conditions in childhood epilepsy.Methods: The present study was a descriptive- correlation study with the general goal of determining the effects of epilepsy on sleep habits of epileptic children in Hamadan, Iran, in 2014. Sampling was done using convenience sampling techniques. Data was collected by using The Early Childhood Epilepsy Severity Scale (E-Chess) and Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). It was analyzed by using SPSS (20) and descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The mean score of sleep habits were 55/08 ± 6/71. Bedtime resistance (12/14 ± 2/93), parasomnias (11/02 ± 1/84) and sleep anxiety (8/29 ± 2/46) were the most frequent sleep disorders in the studied sample. Based on Pearson’s r, there were significant positive bidirectional relationships between bedtime resistance (rs = 0.129, p &lt; 0.019), parasomnias (rs = 0.298, p &lt; 0.005), sleep disordered breathing (rs = 0.295, p &lt; 0.005), CSHQ total score (rs = 0.144, p &lt; 0.022) on the one hand, and children’s epilepsy severity on the other.Conclusion: Sleep problems should not be overlooked, and a comprehensive review of the sleep habits of this group of patients should be conducted.

Antioxidant and anticholinesterase properties of Echinometra mathaei and Ophiocoma erinaceus venoms from the Persian Gulf

Introduction: The Persian Gulf is home to a diverse range of marine life, including various species of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and echinoderms. This study investigates the potential therapeutic properties of venoms from echinoderms in the Persian Gulf, specifically their ability to inhibit cholinesterases (Acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) and act as antioxidants.Methods: Four venoms from two echinoderm species, including the spine, gonad, and coelomic fluids of sea urchins, as well as brittle star venoms, were analyzed using various methods, including LD50 determination, protein analysis, antioxidant assays, GC-MS for secondary metabolite identification, and molecular docking simulations.Results and discussion: The study’s results revealed the LD50 of the samples as follows: 2.231 ± 0.09, 1.03 ± 0.05, 1.12 ± 0.13, and 6.04 ± 0.13 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the protein levels were 44.037 ± 0.002, 74.223 ± 0.025, 469.97 ± 0.02, and 104.407 ± 0.025 μg/mL, respectively. SDS-PAGE and total protein studies indicated that at least part of the venom was proteinaceous. Furthermore, the study found that the brittle star samples exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity compared to other samples, including the standard ascorbic acid, at all tested concentrations. GC-MS analysis identified 12, 23, 21, and 25 compounds in the samples, respectively. These compounds had distinct chemical and bioactive structures, including alkaloids, terpenes, and steroids.Conclusion: These venoms displayed strong cholinesterase inhibitory and antioxidant activities, likely attributed to their protein content and the presence of alkaloids, terpenes, and steroids. Notably, the alkaloid compound C7 was identified as a promising candidate for further research in Alzheimer’s disease therapy. In conclusion, echinoderms in the Persian Gulf may hold significant potential for discovering novel therapeutic agents

The Educational Problems of Clinical Field Training Based on Nursing Teachers and Last Year Nursing Students View points

Introduction. Different problems could lead to reducing the efficiency of field training for nursing students. Identifying and solving these problems is necessary to reinforce some effective educational methods. The aim of this study was to determine the problems in clinical field training for nursing students from the viewpoints of nursing teachers and nursing students in Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. Methods. In this descriptive study 22 nursing instructors and 36 last year nursing students were selected by census method. The data gathering tool was a valid and reliable researcher made questionnaire. The data was analyzed by SPSS software using frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation and t-test. Results. The majority of nursing students and teachers (over 50%), evaluated this programme as relatively weak to weak, in attaining "holistic view and community-oriented nursing", and acquiring "skills in nursing process and patient education". They stated some problems in clinical training such as "inadequate access to educational and welfare facilities", "lack of health care team cooperation", and "scattered training in clinical wards". They believed that some changes are necessary in field training. There was no significant difference between the mean scores of nursing students' and instructors' view points. Conclusion. Although field training is appropriate for promoting skills and students' independency for providing community-oriented services in different fields of nursing and the total view towards this program is positive, there are numerous problems in the process of field training that have to be addressed by nursing educational leaders

Investigating Effect of Olfactory Stimulation by Vanilla on the Rate of Apnea Attacks in Neonates with Apnea of Prematurity: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background Apnea of prematurity (AOP) is a developmental disorder that affects the premature newborns frequently. One of the new non-drug methods for controlling apnea attacks is olfactory stimulation. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of olfactory stimulation by vanilla on the rate of apnea attacks in neonates with AOP. Materials and Methods: This study is a single-blind randomized clinical trial study. The study samples included a total of 40 premature neonates with AOP who were admitted to the neonatal Intensive care unit (NICU) of Shahid Sadoughi hospital in Yazd, Iran, in 2016 and were assigned randomly in experimental (n=20), and control (n=20) groups. The experimental group was exposed to cotton impregnated with 2ml of vanillin extractfor 24 hours. The number of apnea attacks, heart rate, and arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) level were measured before, during and after intervention for three consecutive days. Data analysis was performed using statistical analysis in SPSS version 22.0 software. Results: The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of mean number of apnea attacks (p>0.05). However, there was a significant difference between in the experimental group on the first day (2.84 ± 1.25), and second day (1.63 ± 1.01) in terms of the mean number of attacks. Also, there was a significant difference between the mean heart rate and SaO2 level in both the experimental and control groups (

Investigating the Effect of Organizational Health on Work Engagement among Nurses in Yazd Social Security Hospital

Introduction: If the patients are not satisfied with the hospital, this results in switching behavior of patients. In this situation, among different hospitals, the patients choose the hospital with higher level of service quality. So, the main aim of this paper is investigating the effect of hospital's service quality on switching behavior of inpatients in Shahid Sadoughi Hospital of Yazd. Methods: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional and applied which was done in 2016. The statistical population of this research was the inpatients of Shahid Sadoughi Hospital of Yazd. A sample comprising of 196 members was selected using simple random sampling method. The statistical instruments consisted of two questionnaires for measuring hospital's service quality and switching behavior of patients. Reliability of the scales was confirmed by Cronbach&rsquo;s Alfa and validity of the scales was confirmed by content validity. Data were analyzed using SPSS 19 software. For analyzing data, Pearson correlation and Regression tests were employed. Results: In this research, the mean of hospital's service quality variable was 3.508&plusmn;1.025 and the mean of switching behavior variable was 2.186&plusmn; 0.997. The result of Pearson correlation test showed that there is a negative and significant relationship (r = - 0.746 and p-value = 0.000) between hospital's service quality and switching behavior. Among the six dimensions of service quality, the courtesy dimension had the highest correlation coefficient. Also, the result of Regression test showed that hospital's service quality has negative and significant influence on switching behavior. Conclusion: Since hospital's service quality had negative and significant influence on switching behavior, we can say that the higher the service quality of hospital, the lower the switching behavior of patients. According to high level of Pearson correlation the courtesy dimension with service quality, it is understood that the level of politeness and respect of employees, is very important for the patients.&nbsp;&nbsp

Tetranychus urticae changes its oviposition pattern in the presence of the predatory mites, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Typhlodromus bagdasarjani

Oviposition behaviors in herbivorous mites are affected by several factors i.e. food availability for juveniles and reduced predation risks. We used the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae) to find out whether the previous presence of specialist/ generalist phytoseiid predator individuals, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot/ Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein & Arutunjan (here, direct effect) or their previous odour perception by prey (here, indirect effect) would affect T. urticae oviposition strategies. Tetranychus urticae female individuals were placed on a leaf disc in a plastic container with predators either on the same disc (direct presence of predator) or on the second disc (receiving odours related to a predator) in the same container. Getting experienced, the prey individuals transferred to the oviposition container to their oviposition pattern parameters get recorded. The ovipositing T. urticae were monitored in two experimental situations: 1. Receiving odours related to the predator- prey interaction from the second leaf disc in the same oviposition container during their oviposition period, and 2. Receiving no odour. Our results showed that when T. urticae females perceived the predator presence in their first container (with either predator species, both direct and indirect effect), they reduced their total egg distances, oviposition rates and oviposition periods significantly regardless of receiving odours related to prey-predator interactions during experiment. Receiving odours during oviposition, T. urticae females decreased their pairwise egg distances in at least 4 and at most 6 pairs of eggs, while when odours were absent during oviposition, the distances decreased in at least 2 and at most 3 pairs of eggs. The direct presence of P. persimilis reduced the prey oviposition period significantly more than that when T. bagdasarjani was present. The spider mites oviposition rate reduction was obviousely more than that in the presence of T. bagdasarjani. The different effects of predator species on T. urticae egg distances were discussed.Na zachowania związane ze składaniem jaj roztoczy roślinożernych wpływa kilka czynników między innymi dostępność pokarmu dla młodych osobników i zmniejszone ryzyko drapieżnictwa. Użyliśmy przędziorka Tetranychus urticae Koch (Tetranychidae), aby dowiedzieć się, czy obecność drapieżnika określonego typu (wyspecjalizowany w drapieżnictwie na Tetranychus urticae przedstawiciel drapieżnych dobroczynkowatych, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot i niewyspecjalizowany Typhlodromus bagdasarjani Wainstein & Arutunjan) wpływają na strategie składania jaj T. urticae. Następnie powtórzyliśmy eksperyment używając zapachu poprzednich ofiar tych drapieżników. Samice Tetranychus urticae umieszczono na krążku z liści w plastikowym pojemniku z drapieżnikami na tym samym krążku (bezpośrednia obec-ność drapieżnika) lub na drugim krążku (odbierającym zapachy związane z drapieżnikiem) w tym samym pojemniku. Po doświadczeniu, ofiary przenoszono do pojemnika, w którym samice składały jaja. Parametry związane ze składaniem jaj T. urticae monitorowano w dwóch grupach doświadczalnych: grupa eksperymentalna otrzymywała zapach związany z interakcją drapieżnik-ofiara, natomiast grupa kontrolna nie otrzymywała zapachu. Nasze wyniki wyka-zały, że gdy samice T. urticae dostrzegły obecność drapieżnika lub jego zapach (w przypadku obu gatunków drapieżników), znacznie zmniejszyły liczbę składanych jaj i odległości między składanymi jajami, a ponadto skracały okres składania jaj, niezależnie od aplikowania za-pachów związanych z interakcją między drapieżnikiem i ofiarą. Jednak aplikacja zapachu podczas składania jaj powodowała zmniejszenie odległości między składanymi jajami w od 4 do 6 par kolejno składanych jaj. W grupie kontrolnej, odległości zmniejszyły się w od 2 lub 3 parach kolejno składanych jaj. Bezpośrednia obecność P. persimilis skróciła okres składania jaj przez ofiarę znacznie bardziej niż obecność T. bagdasarjani. Zmniejszenie szybkości składania jaj przez przędziorki było wyraźnie większe niż w obecności T. bagdasarjani

Relationship between Moral Sensitivity and Moral Intelligence in Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units

Background and purpose: Nurses working in intensive care units (ICUs) are sometimes faced with ethical decision making which requires ethical sensitivity and moral intelligence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between moral sensitivity and moral intelligence in nurses working in intensive care units. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted in 112 nurses working in adult ICUs who were selected by census sampling in Amol, Iran 2019. The Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire and Moral Intelligence Questionnaire were administered and data were analyzed applying descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: No significant relationship was found between moral intelligence and moral sensitivity (r= 0.14, P= 0.15). But, there was a significant positive relationship between moral intelligence and the dimension of knowing how to communicate with the patient as one of the areas of moral sensitivity (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to current study, high levels of moral intelligence would help nurses in having better relationships with patients. Therefore, developing appropriate programs are suggested to improve ethical sensitivity in nurses