Predictors of Paan, Nass and Gutka (Oral Tobacco) Use among University Students

Background: Prevalence of cancers associated with the use of oral tobacco (OT) is rising very rapidly and prevention of use is the best option to tackle this scenario. This cross-sectional study estimated the proportion of OT use and predictors associated with its initiation and determined the knowledge, attitude. Method: A total of 354 students (15-30 years age) in five colleges were interviewed by medical students and completed a peer reviewed, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire. Chi square test and logistic regression analyses were applied to the results. Results: Thirty nine (11.0%) students were lifetime users of smokeless tobacco among which nineteen (5.4%) were occasional users, seven (2.0%) were current users and thirteen (3.6%) fulfilled the criterion for established users. Paan was the most commonly used form of smokeless tobacco followed by Nass. On univariate analysis, lifetime use of smokeless tobacco showed significant associations with the use of cigarettes, student gender (M > F), individual condition (native > guest) and kind of the College (Engineering > Psychology). Conclusion: We suggest socially and culturally acceptable educational and behavioral interventions for control of OT usage and hence to prevent its associated cancers. Copyright©2012 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved

Can Psychopathic Traits Predict Homicidal Behavior in Male Murderers?

Background: The Increase in homicide has made criminologists think about basis of this crime. It seems the most successful, prolific killers are extraordinarily ordinary. Method: This research was carried out as cross-sectional study among 136 male criminal inmates in Tehran prisons. These individuals are evaluated by using SCL-90-R. Results: Most of these individuals were within 30-37 age range with an average age of 33.6. About 87% of them had psychological traits, among which aggression, anxiety, and somatization were the most abundant (P<0.01). Conclusion: This investigation clearly shows that majority of the cases in our study suffer from some of psychological traits such as aggression, depression, paranoia etc. Although according to Islamic Criminal Law, these psychological traits do not result in a reduction in penalty responsibility, but supposing in the presence of mild psychological disorders or traits, tendency to commit more severe crimes such as homicide may increase. Copyright©2012 Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology. All rights reserved

The Effect of Positive Thinking Training on Reduction of Depression, Stress and Anxiety of Juvenile Delinquents

Background: The positive psychology always seeks to recognize and describe the pleasure and subjective well-being. The main issue of this field is to improve the well-being and recognize the positive aspects in order to reinforce them to prevent and develop the mental health. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of positive thinking training workshop on reduction of depression, stress and anxiety of juveniles at Correction and Rehabilitation Centers.Methods: The quasi-experimental method was used in this study and the depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS-21) was used. Forty one subjects participated in this research and were divided into two homogeneous groups based on their pretest scores and were randomly included in the experimental and control groups. The positive thinking training workshop was performed for 10 sessions within three weeks on experimental group and after that the posttest and after one month the follow up test were performed.Results: The results have shown that the positive thinking training courses have effects on reduction of depression and anxiety. But it had not effects on stress in the follow up study.Conclusion: Thus, this training can be used for reduction of depression and anxiety of juvenile at Correction and Rehabilitation Center

Investigation of the effective factors on rate of stemflow for tree species in Hyrcanian forests

The objective of this study was (i) to compare the amount of stemflow in deciduous broadleaved trees (with and without leaves) in accordance with different growth seasons and (ii) to compare the rate of stemflow in coniferous and broadleaved trees in according to the canopy cover area. Stemflow was measured on 20 marked trees using a stemflow collector. Rates were different for the different tree species Beech Fagus orientalis L, Ironwood Parrotia persica L., Alder Alnus subcordata L. and Hornbeam Carpinus betulus L., and were greater in autumn than winter even though trees were then in leaf. The stemflow increased with increasing canopy cover area. Even though canopy cover in conifers (Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis) was less than the broad-leaved beech, the rate of stemflow was higher, up to 7 litres per hour with relatively small canopies.Keywords: canopy, seasons, conifers, broad-leaved tree

Effectiveness of Self-Talk Technique and Positive Empathy on Deficient Attitudes, Hopelessness, and Suicidal Thoughts in Women with Breast Cancer

Background: Problems stemming from individuals' reactions to the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer have various effects on the different dimensions of individuals and families' lives such as deficient attitudes, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. The study aim was determining the effectiveness of self-talk technique and positive empathy in reducing symptoms and modifying deficient attitudes, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts in women with breast cancer in Tehran.Methods: The present study was semi-experimental with a pre-test post-test design along with a control group in Tehran from 2014 to 2015. The statistical population consisted of 20 women with breast cancer who were randomly divided into two groups: experiment group (10 individuals) and control group (10 individuals). The experiment group received 12 sessions (each session=90 minutes) with educational structures of self-talk and positive empathy techniques. Data collection tools included Wizeman and Beck's deficient Attitudes Scales, Beck's Hopelessness, and Beck's Suicidal Thoughts Measurement. Data were obtained using SPSS19 software in two sections: descriptive and inferential (variance analysis with repeated measurement and Post Hoc test LSD).Results: The interactive effect of test time and group of each dependent variable was significant. The mean difference between pre-test and post-test in measuring all three dependent variables was significant. On the other hand, the mean difference between post-test and control test was not significant in any of the dependent variables. However, the mean difference between pre-test and control test was significant in all three variables.Conclusion: Teaching self-talk and positive empathy techniques had positive effects on reducing deficient attitudes, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. In addition, results proved the sustainability of intervention effects on the size of dependent variables

Morphological adaptation of Cercis griffithii seedlings in response to progressive drought and salinity stresses

The experiment for evaluate the effect of drought and salinity stresses on the morphological behaviours of Afghan redbud seedlings was done in Torogh nursery in Iran country. This study was conducted in a completely randomized design; without stress (tap common water in the nursery- EC 0.8 dS m-1), drought stress (four days a time irrigation) and salt treatment (EC 12.03 dS m-1). During the summer, morphological traits were measured and calculated. Result showed that height seedling after 60th until 70th day significant at the (p<0.05) level and significantly at (p<0.01) levels at the end of growth period under the drought and salinity conditions. Leaf area at the end of growth, leaf area growth and leaf area reduced significantly at (p<0.01) in comparison with control treatment. The result indicated that effect of time × drought interaction for height, diameter, number of leaves and leaf area was not significant. The result indicated that effect of time × salinity interaction for height, diameter and number of leaves was not significant but for leaf area had significant difference at (p<0.05) level. We used four days a time by irrigation and saline water in nursery less than EC 12.03 dS m-1 for economy well water in arid and semi-arid region.Keywords: Afghan redbud, Stress, Growth, Regression model, Repeated Measure

Model-Independent Test for Gravity using Intensity Mapping and Galaxy Clustering

We propose a novel method to measure the $E_G$ statistic from clustering alone. The $E_G$ statistic provides an elegant way of testing the consistency of General Relativity by comparing the geometry of the Universe, probed through gravitational lensing, with the motion of galaxies in that geometry. Current $E_G$ estimators combine galaxy clustering with gravitational lensing, measured either from cosmic shear or from CMB lensing. In this paper, we construct a novel estimator for $E_G$, using only clustering information obtained from two tracers of the large-scale structure: intensity mapping and galaxy clustering. In this estimator, both the velocity of galaxies and gravitational lensing are measured through their impact on clustering. We show that with this estimator, we can suppress the contaminations that affect other $E_G$ estimators and consequently test the validity of General Relativity robustly. We forecast that with the coming generation of surveys like HIRAX and Euclid, we will measure $E_G$ with a precision of up to 7% (3.9% for the more futuristic SKA2).Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures; v3: version matching published on

Combined Use of Sensitivity Analysis and Hybrid Wavelet-PSO- ANFIS to Improve Dynamic Performance of DFIG-Based Wind Generation

In the past few decades, increasing growth of wind power plants causes different problems for the power quality in the grid. Normal and transient impacts of these units on the power grid clearly indicate the need to improve the quality of the electricity generated by them in the design of such systems. Improving the efficiency of the large-scale wind system is dependent on the control parameters. The main contribution of this study is to propose a sensitivity analysis approach integrated with a novel hybrid approach combining wavelet transform, particle swarm optimization and an Adaptive-Network-based Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) known as Wavelet-ANFIS-PSO to acquire the optimal control of Doubly-Fed Induction Generators (DFIG) based wind generation. In order to mitigate the optimization complexity, sensitivity analysis is offered to identify the Unified Dominate Control Parameters (UDCP) rather than optimization of all parameters. The robustness of the proposed approach in finding optimal parameters, and consequently achieve a high dynamic performance is confirmed on two area power system under different operating conditions

The acceptable noise level benefit from directionality for listeners with severe hearing loss

Objectives. Directional microphone technology can enhance the speech intelligibility and listening comfort of listeners with hearing impairment. The main aim of this study is to investigate and compare the benefit derived by listeners with severe hearing loss from directional microphone technology with that derived by listeners with moderate hearing loss. Methods. The acceptable noise levels (ANLs) of two groups of listeners with moderate or severe hearing impairment (17 subjects in each group) were measured under unaided, omnidirectional-baseline-aided, and directional-aided conditions. Results. Although the absolute ANL of the listeners in the severe hearing loss group was significantly higher than that of the listeners in the moderate hearing loss group, their derived benefit was equivalent to that derived by the listeners in the moderate hearing loss group. ANL and hearing loss degree were significantly related. Specifically, the ANL increased with the severity of hearing loss. Conclusion. Directional microphone technology can provide the benefits of listening comfort to listeners with severe hearing loss. © 2018 by Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Certain Actions from the Functional Movement Screen Do Not Provide an Indication of Dynamic Stability

Dynamic stability is an essential physical component for team sport athletes. Certain Functional Movement Screen (FMS) exercises (deep squat; left- and right-leg hurdle step; left- and right-leg in-line lunge [ILL]; left- and right-leg active straight-leg raise; and trunk stability push-up [TSPU]) have been suggested as providing an indication of dynamic stability. No research has investigated relationships between these screens and an established test of dynamic stability such as the modified Star Excursion Balance Test (mSEBT), which measures lower-limb reach distance in posteromedial, medial, and anteromedial directions, in team sport athletes. Forty-one male and female team sport athletes completed the screens and the mSEBT. Participants were split into high-, intermediate-, and low-performing groups according to the mean of the excursions when both the left and right legs were used for the mSEBT stance. Any between-group differences in the screens and mSEBT were determined via a one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc adjustment (p \u3c 0.05). Data was pooled for a correlation analysis (p \u3c 0.05). There were no between-group differences in any of the screens, and only two positive correlations between the screens and the mSEBT (TSPU and right stance leg posteromedial excursion, r = 0.37; left-leg ILL and left stance leg posteromedial excursion, r = 0.46). The mSEBT clearly indicated participants with different dynamic stability capabilities. In contrast to the mSEBT, the selected FMS exercises investigated in this study have a limited capacity to identify dynamic stability in team sport athletes