Fuzzy and research paradigms relationship: a mutual contribution

Fuzzy sets were introduced by Zadeh in 1965 to represent manipulate data and information possessing non-statistical uncertainties. It was specifically designed to mathematically represent uncertainty and vagueness and to provide formalized tools for dealing with the imprecision intrinsic to many problems. However, the story of fuzzy logic started much earlier. Fuzzy system is an alternative to traditional notions of set membership and logic that has its origins in ancient Greek philosophy. Research paradigms are rooted in philosophy paradigm, determine the direction of researches; how the researches reach to the reality, how they answer the questions of the seeking mind … four main research paradigms distinguished so far are: Positivism, Constructivism, Critical theory and Post structuralism. These paradigms create not only the mind set of the researcher (what the reality is and how it can be accessed), but also help him/her use the research methodologies, research methods, and apply the research findings. Here in this research we are to investigate how the different research paradigms can help fuzzy to grow and in the other hand how fuzzy can be used in a research paradigms. After reviewing the background of fuzzy and its definition, we provide a useful background about the research paradigms, then in conclusion we will show how research paradigms and fuzzy are related mutually

Malaria elimination in Iran, importance and challenges

Background: The aim of study is to assess the importance and challenges of Malaria elimination (ME) in Iran's health system. Material: Opinion of experts from Ministry of Health and Medical Education and the chancellors of medical universities affected by malaria were gathered using Focus Group Discussions and in­depth interviews. We asked them about the importance and main challenges of ME in Iran. Results: Main factors on importance of ME were: it's a struggle to reach to equity in the poorest regions of county, prevention of emerging disease in susceptible regions, lowering the cost of control and its effects on the region's socioeconomic condition. Main challenges were Iran's long border with malaria­endemic countries Pakistan and Afghanistan and illegal immigrants, underdevelopment in rural areas, system's insensitivity and diagnosis problem due to reduction of cases. Conclusion: Quantitative and holistic researches are needed for assessing the consequences of ME

Numerical Investigation of the Seismic Behavior of Unanchored Steel Tanks with an emphasis on the Uplift Phenomenon

Ground steel storage tanks are widely used in different industries. Regarding the significance of these structures, ensuring the proper performance of such structures in earthquakes needs evaluating their seismic performance. The present study examines the seismic behavior of an unanchored fluid storage system via ABAQUS after validation using an experimental model. Next, the uplift of the bottom sheet is studied using the accelerogram records of the 1940 El Centro and 1994 Northridge earthquakes. The overturning moment time history of the fluid storage system and the maximum overturning moments were obtained to identify their behavior. The results indicated that not bracing storage tanks leads to the uplift phenomenon. Finally, the maximum axial stress of the storage tank shell was compared with the values recommended in the design codes to control the buckling

Factor structure and invariance of the pain catastrophizing scale in patients with chronic pain and their spouses

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the equivalency and factor structure of the patients and significant others' version of pain catastrophizing scales in patients with chronic pain and their spouses who are not in pain. METHOD: Participants were 142 married couples in which 1 spouse reported chronic musculoskeletal pain. Confirmatory factor analyses were used to compare 4 models of pain catastrophizing, and to examine the invariance of the factor structure of the PCS-Patient version and the PCS-Significant other version in patients with chronic pain and their spouses. RESULTS: The results indicated that the 2-factor oblique model provided an adequate fit to the data of both patients with chronic pain and their spouses who are not in pain. Moreover, it was found that when gender was controlled, the hypothesized factor structures of the PCS-patient version and the PCS-Significant other version were invariant. Indeed, it was revealed that the PCS-Patient version and the PCS-Significant other version measure the same factors in couples in which 1 of them have a chronic pain condition. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study showed that the 2-factor oblique model is the best fit in both samples (i.e., patients with chronic pain and their spouses). Therefore, it can be suggested that these versions can be used among patients and their spouses and the findings regarding them can be compared. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved)

Efectividad de un entrenamiento familiar y de la habilidades de la vida en el cuidado de pacientes crónicos con enfermedad mental en una población iraní.

This research is semi-empirical study which is done to examining the effectiveness of family trainings and life skills on Caring Chronic Mental Disorders in Mashhad (Iran). 300 participants has been chosen in randomly from the families of chronic mental disorders who has been admitted in round the clock centers in Mashhad and who had been in waiting list and these participants has been divided to two groups of experiment and control randomly and we introduce family trainings and life skills to experiment group. There was no training to control group. These two groups were tested period to the beginning of trainings and post training with instruments such as California Social Adjustment Questionnaire; Families� Attitude and Awareness about Life Skills and Family Trainings; Rosenberg Self-Esteem; General Health Questionnaire;and Symptom Checklist-90-Revised. Results indicated that training had no effect on the attitude of families toward taking care of mental disorder, but family member¡s attitude toward mental disorder has been changed. This training has been influential on changing family member¡s attitude toward life skills, social adjustment, self esteem, mental health increase and reducing mental disorders

Introducing teacher action research to language teachers: a new movement in language pedagogy

The main premise of this paper is to highlight the significance of teacher action research in language pedagogy as a tool for English teachers to ameliorate their teaching process. This study seeks to investigate two distinct objectives. First it aims to introduce three types of professional actions in teacher action research (TAR) to a group of English language teachers during pre-service and in-service TAR course program and learn its contributions to their professional development. Secondly, it aims at assessing and evaluating teachers' self-reported changes in knowledge and attitudes towards TAR through a retrospective pre-test. As for the second aim of the study, the researchers also seek to discover possible relationship(s) between variables such as teachers' level of education, their teaching experience, knowledge and attitudes towards TAR (both after and before being familiar with its concept and practice)

The effect of traditional games in fundamental motor skill development in 7-­9 year old boys

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of traditional games on fundamental motor skills in seven to nine year-old boys. Methods: Forty subjects of seven to nine year-old boys selected randomly by a personal information questionnaire. After pretest by Test of Gross Motor Development, edition 2 (TGMD-2), gross motor skill, locomotor and object control motor skills, subjects were divided by random matching into two groups. The first group performed traditional games and the second group performed daily activities. Then children in first group played traditional game at 24 sessions. After 12 and 24 sessions, traditional game and daily activity groups participated in the mid and post tests. Data were analyzed by Variance Analyze of Repeated Measures. Findings: The results showed that traditional games with mean difference in fundamental motor skill development (17.12, P<0.001), and also with mean difference in locomotor (2.23, P=0.002), and mean difference in object control skill development (2.27, P=0.002) significantly are more effective than daily activities. Conclusion: Traditional game program is appropriate for a fundamental motor skill development