Link between mindfulness and personality-related factors including empathy, theory of mind, openness, pro-social behaviour and suggestibility

This research investigated a potential linkage between mindfulness and personality characteristics such as openness to experience, empathy (empathic concern and theory of mind), prosocial behavior and suggestibility. A sample of 275 volunteers was recruited. A series of the research questionnaires and scales was employed to measure mindfulness, empathic concern, theory of mind (or perspective taking), prosocial behavior (or altruism) and suggestibility. Based on the quartile scores, participants were divided into two low (first quartile) and high (forth quartile) on mindfulness. Using a two-way MANOVA, the results showed that participants high on mindfulness exhibited increased theory of mind, prosocial behaviour and openness, in addition to decreased suggestibility. Neither main nor interaction effects were found for gender factor. Theoretical models in the field of social cognition will be discussed to explain how enhancement in cognitive functions due to mindfulness practice might alter personality characteristics and, in turn, influence socio-political behaviour

Living the lives of others: how actors experience playing characters on stage and how the characters affect them

This PhD thesis is composed of two studies conducted using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and focusing on detailed accounts of personal, lived experiences that demonstrate both convergence and divergence. The main study was carried out first to gain insights into the lived experiences of theatre actors. In this study, interviews were held with ten professional male theatre actors. The aim was to explore what it is like to be an actor and provide information about experiences related playing characters and the psychological impact of acting, as well as obtain further insights into the inter-individual differences between the experiences of theatre actors. The first theme to be discovered was that acting was experienced as a calling, with theatre actors describing how becoming an actor was not so much a decision as a realisation that it was their vocation. The second theme related to actors’ attitudes towards identification with characters, whereby their identity tended to be affected by the roles they played, but some actors had more control over this than others. A third theme was the positive impact of being on stage, with the subthemes revealing that acting was experienced as liberating and it had a transformative nature. Furthermore, performance boosted confidence and was perceived as a collective experience. Meanwhile, a fourth theme revealed that actors also experienced challenges and costs, with the subthemes being a sense of being rejected; a sense of loss at the end of a run; the possibility of substance and alcohol abuse; and the financial insecurity of the profession. The study identified potential refinements to the theoretical models, especially through the finding that profession-specific elements are necessary in theories about vocation. The most important practical implication was the need for better support concerning the psychological impacts of being an actor. The second study was conducted among acting trainers, which confirmed these findings in the first theme: how acting trainers experienced the training career and the second theme was how trainers perceived the career of acting, with the trainers recognising that role-blurring could be a problem for actors. Nevertheless, they thought acting simultaneously provided positive experiences that could help actors to gain self-knowledge, develop more empathy and provide experiences that enable personal growth. The trainers also acknowledged the challenges facing actors, in terms of both the intense emotional experiences and the insecure subsequent position due to the minimal job opportunities and income volatility. While the trainers found the training career highly pleasurable as it helped students to become professional actors, they also felt training to be a demanding and sensitive role since they had to rely mainly on their experience and had limited explicit pedagogical foundations that would allow them to help their students address the issues they faced. The author argues that interventions are needed to provide a better offering in this respect and stimulate changes to the harsh circumstances

PRIORITIZATION AND VALUATION FACTORS AFFECTING ON BRAND EQUITY BASED ON THE GILL MODEL: A CASE STUDY ON BUYERS OF LG HOME PRODUCTS IN KERMANSHAH CITY, IRAN

ABSTRACT Brand equity (BE) is measured in different international brands by international institutions each year. However, this valuation important for companies to see the customer, because their survival and success depends on their customers. In current study, effective factors on brand equity (price, advertisement, promotions and family) were investigated, using their effects on aspects of brand equity (brand image, awareness of it, loyalty to it and its perceived qua lity). In fact model of Gill et al (2007) was used to study effective factors on brand equity from a consumers' point of view. In this model for the first time family variable is studied along with others. Statistical population was LG home-product consumers in whole Kermanshah city. Since the number of members in this population was infinite, a sample size of 384 persons was derived from Morgan's table; these were selected by cluster sampling. Statistical significance of Pearson's correlation coefficients were tested at alpha= 0.01. The results indicated that the loyalty factor was the most effective variable factors affecting brand equity (r= 0.729). Regarding model of Gill et al. the largest positive correlation was found between the positive information about the brand in the family and its perceived quality (r= 0.642). This means that the family is an effective source of power on behavior and perception of the consumer

rans Plantation of origans of Brain Deads in Islamic law (1379)

The soul does its duties by brain which are foresight and manipulation, therefore at the time of death, the soul leaves the body. There is difference between death of organs and the whole body, because some organs are still alive after death. This fact is the cause of transplantation from dead bodies, particulary Brain dead persons.Since the organs transplantation has the important role in saving the patients, it is necessary to make informed the public about it. In addition of Recognition certain occurrence of brain death, patient’s will or the assent of dead’s relatives is necessary requirment for transplantation, so organs transplant is not legally possible in the lack of these conditions, even though the death about to happen. However some jurisconsults have different idea and believe that mutilation is possible without testament or the assent of dead’s relatives. In accordance with the arthors’ opinion, moslem’s life is very important, so it is necessary to provide the possibility of transplantation in the lack of those requirments. In the other word, It could be said that those conditions are only necessary when life of organ depends upon transplantation. This essay attemps to illustrate the foundations of transplantation in addition to mention to the different opinions

Methadone‐induced hypoglycemia: A case report

Abstract Hypoglycemia is rare in patients without diabetes mellitus. Methadone is a synthetic μ‐opioid receptor agonist used for cancer or non‐cancer pain and the treatment of opioid dependence. Here, we report a case of a 31‐year‐old man who presented with recurrent hypoglycemic events that resolved on discontinuation of methadone. Thus, if hypoglycemia occurs while a patient takes methadone, the amount should be reduced or replaced with another opioid before a full investigation for inappropriate hyperinsulinism is initiated

Energy expenditure related biomarkers following bariatric surgery: a prospective six-month cohort study

Abstract Background Mitochondria dysfunction is one of the major causes of insulin resistance, and other countless complications of obesity. PGC-1α, and UCP-2 play key roles in energy expenditure regulation in the mitochondrial thermogenesis. However, the effects of bariatric surgery on the level of PGC-1α and UCP-2 and their relationships are unclear. Objective This study aimed to investigate the effect of bariatric surgery on key pathways in energy, and to assess the potential predictive role of body composition and metabolic parameters in this regard. Settings Hazrat-e Rasool General Hospital, Center of Excellence of International Federation for Surgery of Obesity. Methods This prospective cohort study was carried out on 45 patients with morbid obesity who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. The patients have evaluated three-time points at baseline, three, and six months after the surgery. Body composition components, the levels of PGC-1α, UCP-2, and metabolic parameters were measured three times during this study. Results Significant changes in TWL%, EBMIL%, and metabolic lab tests were observed at three- and six months post-surgery (P < 0.001). The PGC-1α and UCP-2 had a significant increase three and then six-month post-operation compared with the baseline (P < 0.001). Moreover, multivariate linear regression analysis identified that the changing trend of PGC-1α was associated with insulin, uric Acid, HOMA-IR, fat mass and trunk fat mass. UCP-2 was associated with TSH, AST, fat mass and FFM. Conclusions Bariatric surgery has been shown to have a positive effect on UCP-2 and PGC-1α levels, as well as body composition and metabolic parameters. As a result, it is believed that bariatric surgery could improve thermogenesis and energy expenditure by enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis and function. However, further studies are needed to fully understand the precise mechanisms and possible causal relationship