Psycological Impact Of COVID-19 Pandemic On Dental Student: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study

Background and purpose: The covid-19 disease is widely spreading worldwide and has adversely impacted mental health in society, especially among the medical staff. In addition to the stresses related to the outbreak of covid-19, the suspension of in-person classes, undertaking electronic online learning, and concerns about achieving clinical skills cause increasing anxiety and stress in dental students, which might be related to increased mental health problems. Thus, the present study examined dental students’ levels of stress, anxiety, and depression in Shahrekord during the covid-19 pandemic. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 110 dental students completed the questionnaires of demographic data and depression, anxiety, and stress scale (DASS-21) in 2021. The data were analyzed with SPSS. Results: In the DASS-21 questionnaire, the rate of depression was 57%, anxiety 76%, and stress 33%. The total score of the DASS-21 questionnaire was significantly different between the two genders (P<0.05), and the mean score of females was significantly higher than males. Conclusion: The prevalence of depression and anxiety in dental students, especially females, was high during the covid-19 pandemic

THE ANALYSIS OF THE DISCOURSE OF IRANIAN HUMANIST REALISM CINEMA: THE CASE OF ASGHAR FARHADI’S WORKS

Abstract. Coincided with the advent of modernity in Iran, humanism-based realism was associated with the formation of a new wave of cinema in Iran. The works of Asghar Farhadi as the third-generation of the intellectual cinema in Iran, which is the pride of world-renowned festivals, includes the components that can be called humanistic realism. Human-centeredness as the nodal point of individualism, moralism, and minus God, is an exaggerated epresentation of the contradictory problems and ethics of the middle class of society, which is at the heart of the transition from tradition to modernity, and has raised the western utopia of modernism as an ideal community. Negatively representing the religion and the religious group in society, he seeks to promote freedom, individualism, common ethics minus religion, tolerance, relativism and feminist thinking in society. Emphasizing the problems of Iranian society in a realistic space, he seeks social critique on the axis of humanism. The present article deals with disourse analysis of the works of Asghar Farhadi as the most prominent intellectual filmmaker after the Revolution.Keywords: Humanistic Realism, Salesman, Separation, Intellectual cinema, Asghar Farhadi

Prediction of Subjective Well-Being based on Mindfulness and Cognitive Flexibility in Nurses of Psychiatric Wards Using an Artificial Neural Network

AbstractIntroduction: The mental health of the nurses is of utmost importance to accomplish the ideal goals of communities in terms of reducing financial and spiritual costs. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between subjective well-being with mindfulness and cognitive flexibility in nurses of psychiatric wards of hospitals in Ahvaz city using an artificial neural network (ANN).Methods: This was a descriptive and correlational study. The statistical population of this study comprises all nurses of the psychiatric ward of hospitals in Ahvaz city, Iran, in 2022. Accordingly, 200 nurses were selected through convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills, the Subjective Well-being Scale, and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient and simultaneous regression, and ANN.Results: The results suggested a positive and significant relationship between mindfulness and subjective well-being, and between cognitive flexibility and subjective well-being (P<0.001). Furthermore, the subjective well-being of nurses had multiple relationships with mindfulness and cognitive flexibility (P<0.001). Following the results of the ANN, cognitive flexibility demonstrated the highest estimation in predicting subjective well-being.Conclusions: Mindfulness and cognitive flexibility of nurses had a significant relationship with their subjective well-being. The results suggested the necessity to emphasize the appropriate methods of mindfulness and cognitive flexibility, which can be obtained by holding proper workshops and training programs

CRITICAL DISCOURSE, LINGUISTICS AND CINEMA

Abstract. Few studies examine the relationship between critical discourse, linguistics, and cinema; applyingmicro- and macro-linguistic analysis as a method leading to defamiliarization of the natural discourse of a film. This study aims to analyze the nature of critical discourse and linguistics’ attitude toward cinema, based on which it can be concluded that in cinema, signs in form of critical discourse analysis have significant positions and are defined in relation to other signs of that individual discourse. Signs, which are considered to be central points, are defined differently by other discourses after they are recognized for the first time. Therefore, it is possible to find out the competitions occur in determining the meaning. These competitions are detected through methods of rival discourses, which fixed contents into floating signifiers. Considering the critical comparisons in rival discourses, it can be concluded that each group, based on its specific approach, tries to define the central points and breaksdown the structures of those signs in the rival discourses.Keywords: Discourse, Cinema, Central Signifier, Sign

Role of Organizational Structure in University Entrepreneurship A Case Study of Iranian Higher Education

One of the most important and new issues in the field of higher education is university entrepreneurship. Organizational structure can play an important role in this regard. The aim of this article was to study the role of organizational structure in university entrepreneurship in Iranian public universities. Research method was qualitative based on grounded theory. Data was collected through a semi structured interview which was conducted on a purposive sample of entrepreneurship experts. In total, 36 interviews were carried out in October and March 2012. They were selected through theoretical sampling, and Snow Ball and Theoretical Saturation. Analyzing method included open, axial and selective coding techniques. Results showed that university entrepreneurship requires entrepreneurial structure with entrepreneurial traits, for example, university total orientation toward entrepreneurship, agility, enriched roles, autonomy and flexibility. These are structural requirements for an entrepreneurial university. Moreover, structural mechanisms which are necessary for university entrepreneurship include managerial, legal and communication mechanisms. Keywords: university, entrepreneurship, organization structure, autonomy

Anesthetic considerations of Palmoplantar Keratoderma (PPK), a case report.

Palmoplantar keratoderma(PPK) refers to a group of heterogeneous disorders defined by thickening of skin on the palms and soles. Due to diversity of symptoms and involved organs, the term PPK does not describe each individual patient precisely. The syndrome is quite rare and unknown to the anesthesiologists, while serious associations such as difficult airway or cardiac disease are significant challenges during perioperative management. The literature lacks enough data on anesthetic considerations in these patients, implicating case reports as the only available sources. We revised the accessible information through description of our patient

Zinc and iron-mediated alleviation water deficiency of maize by modulating antioxidant metabolism

Microelements are inorganic compounds involved in the synthesis of enzymes and biologically active substances. To evaluate the physiological responses of maize to ZnSO4 and FeSO4 under drought stress, a field experiment was conducted on maize plants grown under different soil moistures and treated with foliar ZnSO4 and FeSO4 applications. Drought stress especially at early seed growth stage significantly reduced grain yield and Fv/Fm ratio; however, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) was enhanced under drought stress. Foliar applied ZnSO4 and FeSO4 boosted the grain yield under non irrigation at vegetative growth stage and at early seed growth stage, respectively.  Between grain yield and MDA concentration (r=­ -0.73), superoxide dismutase (r= -0.57), peroxidase (r= -0.49), H2O2 (r= -0.67) and catalase enzyme (r= -0.42) significant and negative correlation were observed. Combined application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 resulted in alleviation of maize plant drought stress by Zn and Fe-mediated improvement in photosynthetic attributes. In addition, the foliar application of ZnSO4 and FeSO4 regulated physiological processes in maize plants and alleviated the adverse effects of water stress. According to the results, ZnSO4 and FeSO4 could be used for improving maize growth under drought stress

Novel water-soluble polyurethane nanomicelles for cancer chemotherapy: physicochemical characterization and cellular activities

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Efficient delivery of anticancer chemotherapies such as paclitaxel (PTX) can improve treatment strategy in a variety of tumors such as breast and ovarian cancers. Accordingly, researches on polymeric nanomicelles continue to find suitable delivery systems. However, due to biocompatibility concerns, a few micellar nanoformulations have exquisitely been translated into clinical uses. Here, we report the synthesis of novel water-soluble nanomicelles using bioactive polyurethane (PU) polymer and efficient delivery of PTX in the human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The amphiphilic polyurethane was prepared through formation of urethane bounds between hydroxyl groups in poly (tetramethylene ether) glycol (PTMEG) and dimethylol propionic acid with isocyanate groups in toluene diisocyanate (TDI). The free isocyanate groups were blocked with phenol, while the free carboxyl groups of dimethylol propionic acid were reacted with triethylamine to attain ionic centers in the polymer backbone. These hydrophobic PTMEG blocks displayed self-assembly forming polymeric nanomicelles in water. The PTX loaded PU nanomicelles showed suitable physical stability, negative zeta potential charge (-43) and high loading efficiency (80%) with low level of critical micelle concentration (CMC). In vitro drug release profile showed a faster rate of drug liberation at pH 5.4 as compared to that of pH 7.4, implying involvement of a pH-sensitive mechanism for drug release from the nanomicelles. The kinetic of release exquisitely obeyed the Higuchi model, confirming involvement of diffusion and somewhat erosion at pH 5.4. These nanomicelles significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of the human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, leading them to apoptosis. The real time RT-PCR analysis confirmed the activation of apoptosis as result of liberation of cytochrome c in the cells treated with the PTX loaded PU nanomicelles. The comet assay analysis showed somewhat DNA fragmentation in the treated cells.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Based upon these findings, we propose that the bioactive waterborne polyurethane nanomicelles can be used as an effective nanocarrier for delivery of anticancer chemotherapies such as paclitaxel.</p

Pheochromocytoma-induced reverse tako-tsubo with rapid recovery of left ventricular function

Pheochromocytoma is a rare, catecholamine-secreting tumor of neuroendocrine cells. It has been documented to present atypically as myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, or congestive heart failure. We present the case of a patient who had transient cardiomyopathy with hypokinesia of the basal portions of the left ventricle and hyperkinesia of the apex triggered by a pheochromocytoma crisis similar to that of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, but with an inverse left ventricular contractile pattern (&#8216;inverted tako-tsubo&#8217;). (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 5: 527-531

Research Performance of Agriculture Faculty Members: A Comparative Study at West Part of Iran

Based on personal and professional characteristics, the present study compares the research performance among faculty members of agricultural colleges in west part of Iran. The statistical population of this study consisted of all faculty members in the agricultural colleges of universities of Ilam, Razi and Kurdistan at Iran, which 116 faculty members were selected as the sample using the proportionate stratified random sampling method. The main instrument in this study was questionnaire which its validity was confirmed by the panel of experts. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSSWin20 software. Results showed that the present status of research performance among faculty members of agricultural colleges in west part of Iran was weak. Results of mean comparisons showed that there was significant difference between research performance based on age, work experience, academic degree, educational group and gender variables. Findings of this study can pave the way for formulating sound programs in higher agricultural education system to promote research performance among faculty members of agricultural colleges