The Role of Character Strengths in Depression: A Structural Equation Model

The main aim of present study was to develop a model that specifies the predictive effects of some character strengths in depression. Two hundred individuals with major depression were recruited from clinical psychology centers. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires measuring dysfunctional attitudes, basic emotions, character strengths, and depression. Seven character strengths of critical thinking, emotional intelligence, gratitude, forgiveness, hope, spirituality, and zest were selected to measure the latent variable of character strengths. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. Normed chi-square, comparative fit index, incremental fit index, and other indices demonstrated an adequate fit for the model suggesting that character strengths had an indirect effect on depression through the mediation of dysfunctional attitudes, negative affect, and happiness. Character strengths had negative effects on dysfunctional attitudes and positive effects on happiness. The findings of present study have implications for practitioners and researchers to develop an integrative model for the treatment of depression

Investigation of Risk and Protective Factors in Women Attempting Suicide: A Phenomenological Approach

The aim of this study was to investigate the lived experiences of women attempting suicide regarding risk factors and protective factors. The study method was qualitative and the phenomenological approach. Sampling was purposeful and after semi-structured interviews with 15 women who attempted suicide, saturation was achieved. Seven-step Colaizzi method was used for analysis. The reliability of the findings was confirmed based on Lincoln and Guba criteria. Identified four themes and eight subthemes for risk factors: Tensions in family relationships (subthemes: Argument and conflict, emotional indifference, Lack of marital loyalty), Failed relationships (self-blame, loss), Mental suffering (Living in sorrow and despair, Sense of being a burden, Perception of inefficiency) and theme of poverty and unemployment. Four themes were also extracted regarding protective factors: emotional attachment to a family member, sense of responsibility towards children, religious beliefs, and perceived social support. The results of this study indicate the importance of family and emotional relationships as well as untreated depression as the main factors identified as effective. Outcomes and key implications of this study were mainly related to improving the treatment experiences of women surviving suicide and other high-risk populations through the development of preventive interventions commensurate with the findings

Cognitive impairments in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy

Citation for the original published paper (version of record): Tavakoli, M., Barekatain, M., Doust, H., Molavi, H., Kormi Nouri, R. et al. (2011) Cognitive impairments in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy. Sciences, 16(11): 1466Sciences, 16(11): -1472 Access to the published version may require subscription. N.B. When citing this work, cite the original published paper. Cognitive impairment associated with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) has been recognized in multiple studies. We designed this study to find a specific cognitive profile in patients with TLE who were candidates for epilepsy surgery. We also sought to find if neuropsychological assessment could differentiate left TLE, right TLE and normal subjects. Journal of Research in Medica

Age shall not weary us: Deleterious effects of self-regulation depletion are specific to younger adults

Self-regulation depletion (SRD), or ego-depletion, refers to decrements in self-regulation performance immediately following a different self-regulation-demanding activity. There are now over a hundred studies reporting SRD across a broad range of tasks and conditions. However, most studies have used young student samples. Because prefrontal brain regions thought to subserve self-regulation do not fully mature until 25 years of age, it is possible that SRD effects are confined to younger populations and are attenuated or disappear in older samples. We investigated this using the Stroop color task as an SRD induction and an autobiographical memory task as the outcome measure. We found that younger participants (<25 years) were susceptible to depletion effects, but found no support for such effects in an older group (40–65 years). This suggests that the widely-reported phenomenon of SRD has important developmental boundary conditions casting doubt on claims that it represents a general feature of human cognition

The study of impranil (DLN) polymer biodegradation by fungus Sarocladium kiliense

Impranil DLN is a class of plastics belonging to the polyurethane family with high application in textile industries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of native strain to degrade impranil DLN. In this study, yeast strains were isolated from different areas and purified in minimal medium containing 1% impranil. Isolate NS-10 was selected as the superior strain capable of degrading impranil and identified through PCR and ITS gene. Esterase, urease and protease assays were carried out for the superior strain. Finally, the biodegradation of impranil was investigated. In total, 40 yeast strains were isolated and isolate NS-10 was selected as a superior strain based on impranil removal assay. NS-10 strain was identified as Sarocladium kiliense with 100% homology. Enzymatic assays showed that the S.kiliense could produce esterase, urease and protease. In addition, it could produce significant clear zones on impranil plates. Degradation rate for impranil was 100% for 10 g/l within 14 days. Finally, S.kiliense was taken to medium containing pure polyurethane film and the capacity of degradation was investigated by the scanning electron microscopy. Our results indicated that S.kiliense is capable of degrading impranil. These results could contribute to a better insight into the mechanism of plastic biodegradation

A new approach for vulnerability assessment of coastal aquifers using combined index

A new approach, developed for coastal aquifers, consists of determination of saltwater-freshwater interface as well as obtaining map of groundwater vulnerability, for which a number of methods have been provided, including index method and numerical modelling. In the previous studies, the common vulnerability methods such as DRASTIC have not took the coastal regions into account, or that method of GALDIT, proposed for coastal regions, assumed the saltwater intrusion fixed. The vulnerability of coastal aquifer is determined in two distinct regions (coastal and non-coastal areas) using two distinct methods (Index and Numerical modelling) and finally they are combined together. The results of this study in coastal aquifer in north of Iran suggest that due to overexploitation, the intrusion of saltwater from coastline into centre of aquifer is as deep as 720 m, inducing very high vulnerability in coastal regions. The correlation of DRASTICSea method with qualitative parameter is obtained 68%

Cognitive factors as mediators of the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms: the mediating roles of cognitive overgeneralisation, rumination, and social problem-solving

Background: Childhood trauma has negative immediate and long-term impacts on depression. Questions remain, however, regarding the cognitive factors influencing this relationship. This study aimed to investigate the role of three cognitive factors – cognitive overgeneralisation, rumination and social problem-solving – as mediating factors in the relationship between childhood trauma and symptoms of depression. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Iran from March to July 2023. Participants (N = 227; Mean age 32.44 ± 8.95 years) with depression completed measures of childhood trauma, depression, self-overgeneralisation, cognitive errors, memory specificity, rumination and social problem-solving. The conceptual model was assessed using structural equation modelling. Results: Structural equation modelling indicated that childhood trauma had a positive direct effect on depression symptoms. Childhood trauma had a positive indirect effect on depression symptoms through both self-overgeneralisation and rumination and a negative indirect effect on depression through effective social problem-solving strategies. Conclusions: The findings suggest increased exposure to childhood trauma may be associated with elevated depression and self-overgeneralisation, rumination, and effective social problem-solving strategies may play an important role in this relationship. These findings hold potential implications for those working with patients with depression and a history of childhood trauma. Since the relationship between childhood trauma and depression is not straightforward, the study addresses a significant gap in the understanding of the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms by focusing on cognitive factors as potential mediators among depressed patients.Childhood trauma not only has a direct positive effect on depression symptoms but also indirectly influences depression through self-overgeneralisation and rumination, which contribute to elevated depression, while effective social problem-solving strategies act as a protective factor, leading to decreased depression symptoms.The significance of above cognitive overgeneralisation factors in shaping the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms suggests that therapeutic interventions targeting these cognitive factors might be hold promise in improving mental health outcomes for this vulnerable population. Since the relationship between childhood trauma and depression is not straightforward, the study addresses a significant gap in the understanding of the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms by focusing on cognitive factors as potential mediators among depressed patients. Childhood trauma not only has a direct positive effect on depression symptoms but also indirectly influences depression through self-overgeneralisation and rumination, which contribute to elevated depression, while effective social problem-solving strategies act as a protective factor, leading to decreased depression symptoms. The significance of above cognitive overgeneralisation factors in shaping the relationship between childhood trauma and depression symptoms suggests that therapeutic interventions targeting these cognitive factors might be hold promise in improving mental health outcomes for this vulnerable population.</p