Comparing the effectiveness of booklet and focus group education of teachers on their knowledge, attitude and performance towards students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a randomized clinical trial

زمینه و هدف: بیش فعالی و نقص توجه (ADHD) شایعترین اختلال روانی کودکان است که منجر به پرتحرکی، نقص توجه و افت تحصیلی دانش آموزان می شود. این مطالعه با هدف مقایسه تأثیر دو روش آموزش غیرحضوری و حضوری بر آگاهی، نگرش و عملکرد معلمان در مورد این اختلال انجام گرفت. روش بررسی: در این کارآزمایی بالینی 60 نفر از معلمان چهار مدرسه ابتدایی دخترانه شهرکرد در سال 92-91 به طور تصادفی انتخاب و به دو گروه 30 نفره آموزش از طریق جلسات Focus Group و آموزش از طریق بوکلت تقسیم گردیدند. گروه اول به دو گروه 15 نفره تقسیم و در چهار جلسه یک ساعته شرکت کردند و گروه دوم جزوه آموزشی با همان محتوا دریافت کردند. پرسشنامه های ارزیابی آگاهی، نگرش به دارو درمانی و عملکرد آن ها در مورد بیش فعالی و نقص توجه قبل و یک ماه بعد از آموزش تکمیل گردید. یافته ها: در هر دو گروه آگاهی شرکت کنندگان بعد از آموزش به طور معنی دار افزایش یافته بود؛ ولی نگرش آن ها به دارو درمانی تغییر قابل توجهی نداشت. بین میانگین نمره آگاهی و نگرش در دو گروه تفاوت آماری معنی داری وجود نداشت؛ ولی در گروه Focus Group نسبت به گروه بوکلت معلمان عملکرد بهتری پیدا کرده بودند، به نحوی که توانسته بودند، تعداد زیادتری از دانش آموزان مشکوک به بیش فعالی را تشخیص و ارجاع دهند. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به نتایج مطالعه که نشان داد آموزش از طریق جلسات Focus Group بهتر از آموزش از طریق بوکلت بر عملکرد معلمان تأثیر دارد، و به دلیل اینکه اختلال ADHD می تواند منجر به مشکلات روانی- اجتماعی در دانش آموزان شود؛ بنابراین توصیه می شود برای شناسایی و ارجاع سریع دانش آموزان مبتلا به اختلال ADHD از آموزش معلمان به روش Focus Group استفاده شود

Classical Analogue of the Ionic Hubbard Model

In our earlier work [M. Hafez, {\em et al.}, Phys. Lett. A {\bf 373} (2009) 4479] we employed the flow equation method to obtain a classic effective model from a quantum mechanical parent Hamiltonian called, the ionic Hubbard model (IHM). The classical ionic Hubbard model (CIHM) obtained in this way contains solely Fermionic occupation numbers of two species corresponding to particles with \up and \down spin, respectively. In this paper, we employ the transfer matrix method to analytically solve the CIHM at finite temperature in one dimension. In the limit of zero temperature, we find two insulating phases at large and small Coulomb interaction strength, $U$, mediated with a gap-less metallic phase, resulting in two continuous metal-insulator transitions. Our results are further supported with Monte Carlo simulations.Comment: 12 figure

Emergence of hexatic and long-range herringbone order in two-dimensional smectic liquid crystals : A Monte Carlo study

Using a high resolution Monte Carlo simulation technique based on multi-histogram method and cluster-algorithm, we have investigated critical properties of a coupled XY model, consists of a six-fold symmetric hexatic and a three-fold symmetric herringbone field, in two dimensions. The simulation results demonstrate a series of novel continues transitions, in which both long-range hexatic and herringbone orderings are established simultaneously. It is found that the specific-heat anomaly exponents for some regions in coupling constants space are in excellent agreement with the experimentally measured exponents extracted from heat-capacity data near the smecticA-hexaticB transition of two-layer free standing film

Anderson Transition in Disordered Graphene

We use the regularized kernel polynomial method (RKPM) to numerically study the effect disorder on a single layer of graphene. This accurate numerical method enables us to study very large lattices with millions of sites, and hence is almost free of finite size errors. Within this approach, both weak and strong disorder regimes are handled on the same footing. We study the tight-binding model with on-site disorder, on the honeycomb lattice. We find that in the weak disorder regime, the Dirac fermions remain extended and their velocities decrease as the disorder strength is increased. However, if the disorder is strong enough, there will be a {\em mobility edge} separating {\em localized states around the Fermi point}, from the remaining extended states. This is in contrast to the scaling theory of localization which predicts that all states are localized in two-dimensions (2D).Comment: 4 page

Pharmacogenetic Study on the Effect of Rivastigmine on PS2 and APOE Genes in Iranian Alzheimer Patients

Background/Aims: Alzheimer disease (AD) is a complex and genetically heterogeneous disorder, and certain genes such as PS2 and APOE4 contribute to the development of AD. Due to its heterogeneity, AD-predisposing genes could vary in different populations. Moreover, not all AD patients will respond to the same therapy. We specifically investigated the effect ofrivastigmine (Exelon) on PS2 and APOE genes in Iranian AD patients. Methods: A total of 100 AD patients, 67 patients with sporadic AD (SAD) and 33 patients with familial AD (FAD), receiving rivastigmine therapy and 100 healthy controls were studied.PCR-RFLP was used for genotyping of PS2 and APOE. Results: We found a positive association between the PS2 –A allele and SAD patients (pc = 0.01), and the PS2 +A/–A genotype was significantly more frequent in SAD than FAD patients (pc = 0.009). The APOE4 allele was associated with total AD, SAD and FAD (pc = 0.000002). Patients with the PS2 +A/–A genotype and bigenic genotypes of +A/–A·Ε3/Ε3 and +A/–A·Ε3/Ε4 were the best responders to Exelon therapy, and those with the PS2 +A/+A and APOE Ε3/Ε4 genotypes were the worst responders. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the PS2 and APOE4 alleles and genotypes affect both AD risk and response to rivastigmine therapy

Localization of elastic waves in heterogeneous media with off-diagonal disorder and long-range correlations

Using the Martin-Siggia-Rose method, we study propagation of acoustic waves in strongly heterogeneous media which are characterized by a broad distribution of the elastic constants. Gaussian-white distributed elastic constants, as well as those with long-range correlations with non-decaying power-law correlation functions, are considered. The study is motivated in part by a recent discovery that the elastic moduli of rock at large length scales may be characterized by long-range power-law correlation functions. Depending on the disorder, the renormalization group (RG) flows exhibit a transition to localized regime in {\it any} dimension. We have numerically checked the RG results using the transfer-matrix method and direct numerical simulations for one- and two-dimensional systems, respectively.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let

UAV-LiCAM SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT: CALIBRATION AND GEO-REFERENCING

In the last decade, applications of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), as remote-sensing platforms, have extensively been investigated for fine-scale mapping, modeling and monitoring of the environment. In few recent years, integration of 3D laser scanners and cameras onboard UAVs has also received considerable attention as these two sensors provide complementary spatial/spectral information of the environment. Since lidar performs range and bearing measurements in its body-frame, precise GNSS/INS data are required to directly geo-reference the lidar measurements in an object-fixed coordinate system. However, such data comes at the price of tactical-grade inertial navigation sensors enabled with dual-frequency RTK-GNSS receivers, which also necessitates having access to a base station and proper post-processing software. Therefore, such UAV systems equipped with lidar and camera (UAV-LiCam Systems) are too expensive to be accessible to a wide range of users. Hence, new solutions must be developed to eliminate the need for costly navigation sensors. In this paper, a two-fold solution is proposed based on an in-house developed, low-cost system: 1) a multi-sensor self-calibration approach for calibrating the Li-Cam system based on planar and cylindrical multi-directional features; 2) an integrated sensor orientation method for georeferencing based on unscented particle filtering which compensates for time-variant IMU errors and eliminates the need for GNSS measurements

Modeling and Simulation of DC Electric Railway System with Regenerative Braking: A Case Study of Isfahan Metro Line 1

Background and Objectives: Modeling and simulation of electric railway networks is an important issue due to their non-linear and variant nature. This problem becomes more serious with the enormous growth in public transportation tracks and the number of moving trains. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to present a simple and applicable simulation method for DC electric railway systems. Methods: A train movement simulator in a DC electric railway line is developed using Matlab software. A case study based on the practical parameters of Isfahan Metro Line 1 is performed. The simulator includes the train mechanical movement model and power supply system model. Regenerative braking and driving control modes with coasting control are applied in the simulation. Results: The simulation results of the power network are presented for a single train traveling in both up and down directions. Results manifest the correctness and simplicity of the suggested method which facilitates the investigation of the DC electric railway networks. Conclusion: According to the results, the train current is consistent with the electric power demand of the train. But the pantograph voltage has an opposite relationship with its electric power demand. In braking times, the excess power of the train is injected into the electrical network, and thus, overvoltage and undervoltage occur in the overhead contact line and the substation busbar. Therefore, at the maximum braking power of the train, the pantograph voltage reaches its maximum. The highest amount of fluctuation is related to the substation that is closest to the train. As the train moves away from the traction substations, the voltage fluctuations decrease and vice versa

Protection of hippocampal CA1 neurons against ischemia/Reperfusion injury by exercise preconditioning via modulation of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and prevention of Caspase-3 Activation

Introduction: Ischemia leads to loss of neurons by apoptosis in specific brain regions, especially in the hippocampus. The purpose of this study was investigating the effects of exercise preconditioning on expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 proteins in hippocampal CA1 neurons after induction of cerebral ischemia. Methods: Male rats weighing 260-300 g were randomly allocated into three groups (sham, exercise, and ischemia). The rats in exercise group were trained to run on atreadmill 5 days a week for 4 weeks. Ischemia was induced by the occlusion of both common carotid arteries (CCAs) for 20 min. Levels of expression of Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 proteins in CA1 area of hippocampus were determined by immunohistochemical staining . Results: The number of active caspase-3-positive neurons in CA1 area were significantly increased in ischemia group, compared to sham-operated group (P<0.001), and exercise preconditioning significantly reduced the ischemia/reperfusion-induced caspase-3 activation, compared to the ischemia group (P<0.05). Also, results indicated a significant increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in ischemia group, compared to sham-operated group (P<0.001). Discussion: This study indicated that exercise has a neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia when used as preconditioning stimuli