The relationship between mindfulness and metacognitive beliefs with emotional intelligence

  Background: Emotional intelligence is a set of teachable abilities and skills that prepare people for the sustainability and success in life. The purpose of the present study was to predict the emotional intelligence based on metacognitive beliefs and mindfulness beliefs in the students.  Methods: A total of 341 students were selected from Islamic Azad University, West Islamabad branch, using random cluster sampling from different university majors at the faculty of Social Sciences. They responded to Bar-Anne's Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, the short form of the Wells Meta-Cognition Questionnaire, and Baer et al. Mindfulness Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression.     Results: Among the participants 200 (67.5%) were girl students. the age of the participants ranged between18 and 52 years old. Also 254, (78%) had Bachelor’s degree and 87 (21.97%) had Master’s degree. Moreover, 105 (77.33%) were married. The mean (SD) of mindfulness were 107.3 (5.12), meta-cognitive beliefs 47.8 (5.01), and emotional intelligence 85.9 (13.43), respectively. The results of regression analysis showed that metacognitive beliefs were independent predictor of students' emotional intelligence (P<0.001, F=34.59). Metacognitive beliefs predicted a total of 21% of students' emotional intelligence.  Conclusion: Considering the findings of the present study, it can be stated that more attention should be paid to metacognitive beliefs as an independents predictor of emotional intelligence

Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of extract contains and without Glycyrrhizic acid of Glycyrrhiza glabra rhizome in male mice

Background and aims: Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) is a very sweet and soothing herb with anti-inflammatory property and hormonal effects, and in the high importance to the pharmaceutical and food industries. The aim of this study was to investigate the Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of extract containing and without Glycyrrhizic acid of licorice rhizome on small laboratory mice. Methods: In this experimental study, 126 male NMRI mice randomly divided into 18 groups (n=7). Xylene and Formalin Tests used for demonstrating anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects. The normal saline control group and the positive control group in the inflammation test were injected dexamethasone, and morphine was injected in the pain test. Experimental groups received extract with and without Glycyrrhizic acid of licorice rhizome at doses of 20, 40, 60, 90 and 120 mg/kg. Statistical analysis was performed using Graph pad Prism software, one and two way ANOVA and Tukey’s post-hoc tests (P<0.05). Results: The results of inflammation test showed that all doses of extract with glycyrrhizin contain anti-inflammatory effect in inhibiting the xelen-induced inflammation compared with the control group. Results of formalin test showed that the extract with glycyrrhizin has more analgesic effect than without glycyrrhizin extract. Analgesic effects of two extracts in both acute and chronic pain were observed which the pain score dropped significantly in chronic pain. Conclusion: Findings of this study showed that licorice root extract has analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects so that major part of these effects is probably related to Glycyrrhizic acid

The Effect of Alcoholic Extract of Humulus Lupulus During Pregnancy and Lactation on Sexual Maturation and Some Reproductive Indices in Male Rats

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Humulus lupulus is known for its estrogenic properties as a raw material in the beverage industry. Exposure to exogenous estrogenic compounds during embryonic and neonatal periods are now of public health concern, since it may cause reproductive impairment. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate treatment with humulus lupulus during early stages of life on the onset of puberty and some reproductive indices in male rats. METHODS: In this experimental study, 20 pregnant mice were divided into five groups of four, including control (without treatment), control (saline) and three groups treated with alcoholic extract of humulus lupulus at 50, 100, 150 mg/kg/bw concentrations. They were treated daily from the seventh day of pregnancy to seven days after birth by gavage. Then, the effect of alcoholic extract of humulus lupulus on the onset of puberty, testicular weight and epididymis, sperm count, viability, and motility, testosterone concentration and the fertility of male children were evaluated. FINDINGS: The onset of puberty in the 150 mg/kg humulus lupulus group (43.6±0.83) occurred later than the control (39.8±0.49) (p<0.01). Testicular and epididymis weight decreased in 100 and 150 humulus lupulus groups (p<0.01). The sperm count, viability, and motility and testosterone concentrations in the 100 and 150 mg/kg humulus lupulus group were significantly lower than the control group (p<0.01). In addition, the percentage of fertility in the 150 mg / kg humulus lupulus group (76.4±2.84) was lower than the control group (89.43±3.31) (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that exposure of male rats to humulus lupulus in early stages of life causes late puberty and has negative effects on reproductive performance

Kisspeptin: Key Regulator of Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Gonadal Axis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) neurons of hypothalamus are final output of brain for regulation of puberty onset and hypothalamic pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis functions in mammals. However, the mechanisms responsible for release of GnRH neurons are unknown. A number of various factors including neurotransmitters, neuropeptides or different signals have been identified to be involved in the regulation of the secretion of GnRH neurons. Neuronal set of kisspeptin have been recognized recently as critical upstream regulators of GnRH neurons. Given the importance of this issue, in this study a review of various studies and sources about biosynthesis, neuroanatomy, signaling, function and dysfunction of kisspeptin was performed. METHODS: In this review study, new evidence in relation to role of kisspeptin neuropeptide in the reproductive system were investigated by using various databases including pubmed, sciencedirect, nature, springer, wiley, scopus and key words such as kisspeptin, gonads, hypothalamus, GnRH and reproduction were used. FINDINGS: From 145 gained articles, 63 articles were reviewed. Kisspeptin neuropeptide signaling in hypothalamus is required for initiation of puberty and mammalian reproductive function. Kisspeptin neurons stimulate GnRH release and act as central integrator of external and internal signals. Neurones kisspeptin are sensitive to sex steroids, metabolic cues estrogen like compounds. CONCLUSION: Kisspeptin neurons play a vital role in the maturation and function of the HPG axis, including the sexual differentiation of the brain, the timing of puberty, the regulation of gonadotropin secretion and the control of fertility by hormonal and environmental cues

Investigating the Correlation between Cognitive and Metacognitive Strategies and Students’ Academic Well-being Mediated by Academic Engagement

Background: Puberty is known to be a stressful period for students, and managing its associated crises helps guarantee students’ mental health and sense of well-being in adulthood. This study aimed to investigate the mediating role of academic engagement in the correlation between cognitive and metacognitive strategies and academic well-being in high school students.Methods: The method used in this research was descriptive and correlational. The statistical population included all the female high-school students in Kermanshah, Iran, in 2021, out of whom a sample of 350 students was selected. The Standard Schoolrelated Well-being Questionnaire, the Learning Strategies Questionnaire, and the Academic Engagement Scale were utilized herein. The data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics (structural equation modeling).Results: The results revealed that cognitive (r=0.34, P=0.001) and metacognitive (r=0.36, P=0.001) strategies were significantly and positively correlated with academic well-being. Furthermore, cognitive (r=0.33, P=0.001) and metacognitive (r=0.42, P=0.001) strategies were significantly and positively correlated with academic engagement. These strategies also had an indirect and significant association with academic well-being mediated by academic engagement (P=0.001).Conclusions: The results demonstrated the desirable fit of the model. It could be therefore recommended that cognitive and metacognitive strategies be instructed to students in order to promote their academic well-being by increasing their academic engagement

Size Reduction and Harmonics Suppression in Microwave Power Dividers: A Comprehensive Review

In this paper, several types of microstrip power divider are studied and compared in terms of harmonics suppression and size reductions. The importance of this research lies in the fact that power dividers are critical components in various communication systems, and their performance directly affects the overall system efficiency. The conventional structure of the power divider has an acceptable performance at operating frequency in terms of excellent output ports isolation, low insertion loss, and high return loss, but occupies large size and passes unwanted signals at higher frequencies along with desired signal without any suppression. Harmonics are popular distortion and has different distortion impacts in many different facilities. Recently, several techniques are introduced to overcome these drawbacks. Applied open stubs, applied resonators, lumped reactive components such as capacitors and inductors, coupled lines, defected ground structure (DGS), and electronic band gaps are common methods, which are widely used to overcome these drawbacks. Finally, the study results show that the resonator-based power dividers and coupled-line-based power dividers have good performances in terms of size reduction and harmonic suppression but increase insertion loss parameter. Furthermore, the lumped reactive component-based power dividers and applied&nbsp;DGS and electromagnetic bandgap cells suppress unwanted&nbsp;harmonics, but they need extra process to fabrication, which is&nbsp;undesirable. Moreover, the open-stub-based power dividers have&nbsp;moderate performance with simple structure, but size reduction&nbsp;and harmonics suppression are not so superior in this method

Fungal contamination of indoor public swimming pools and their dominant physical and chemical properties

Introduction: Considering to the existence of both parasitic and fungal pathogens in the indoor public swimming pools and non-utilization of suitable filtration and disinfection systems in these places, this research aimed to determine the relationship between the indoor public swimming pools and possible pollution with parasitic and fungal agents, as well as physical and chemical characteristics of these pools and compare the results with national standards. Methods: In this study, 11 active indoor swimming pools of Zahedan city were sampled, using plastic pumps techniques, at the middle of winter to the late summer season. A total of 88 water samples (eight water samples from each pool) were examined to determine the residual chlorine, contamination with parasitic and fungal agents, using culture media and slide culture techniques. Results were analyzed with SPSS software (V16) and, Microsoft Excel (V2010). Results: The findings revealed parasitic fungal contamination with Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus, etc. and the physicochemical factors comply with the minimum standards had which indicates the need for continuous monitoring and control of water filtration and disinfection of water is swimming. Conclusion: The results show reasonable derangement of physicochemical and microbial factors of the evaluated pools. Efforts shall be made by the concerned authorities to provide health education to users, quality water at the pools and to maintain the safety and quality of the water through proper and adequate chlorination

Estimation of Burden of Cystic Echinococcosis in Iran Using Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) in 2018

Background: Human hydatidosis as a public concern has increased in a number of countries that have reduced control programs for the disease due to lack of resources or policies. We aimed to estimate Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) for human hydatidosis in Iran in 2018. Methods: Data were collected from the Center of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health &Medical Education, Tehran, Iran in 2018. To calculate DALYs, years of life lost due to premature death (YLL) with years of life with disability (YLD) were calculated according to the formula as DALY = YLL + YLD. The standard life expectancy lost method (SEYLL) was used to calculate the years lost due to premature death. Results: DALYs for human hydatidosis was calculated as 1210.12 years (YLD equals to 177.12 and YLL equals to 1033) in Iran for the year 2018. It was estimated to be 700.2 years for men and 509.8 years for women. DALYs in men were significantly different from women (P= 0.001) so DALYs were more in men than women were. YLD was calculated at 78.228 years in men and 98.892 years in women and in both men and women at 177.12 years. YLD was significantly different in women compared to men (P=0.001), so YLD in women was more than in men. Conclusion: We reached considerable indices for hydatidosis in our study. Therefore, disease prevention and control programs in Iran seem necessary by the policy makers. Keywords: Hydatidosis; Burden; Disability-adjusted life years; Human; Ira

COVID‑19 associated rhino‑orbito‑cerebral mucormycosis, risk factors and outcome predictors; a multicentric study

Background Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, an increase in mucormycosis cases has been observed in many countries, including Iran. However, the role of covid-19 and associated risk factors have not been thoroughly investigated. Objective This study is designed to identify epidemiologic characteristics, risk factors, and outcome predictors of Covid-19-Associated Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis (C-ROCM). Methods Data of pathology proven Covid Associated ROCM cases were retrospectively obtained from 7 tertiary care centers throughout Iran from February 20, 2021, to July 22, 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using binary logistic regression to assess the effects of various factors on the outcome. Results A total of 132 patients with C-ROCM were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 61.6 ± 13.9 (60.6% male). In 12 patients (9.1%), both eyes were involved. Diabetes was the mostcommon comorbidity (94.7%). The mortality rate was 9.1%, higher in males (12.5%) than females (3.8%). Severe vision impairment was seen in 58 patients (43.9%). Main factors that had a negative impact on the outcome in the univariate analysis include older age (P < 0.001), higher steroid dosage (P < 0.001), higher HbA1c level (P < 0.001), Covid-19 severity (P < 0.001), and brain involvement (P < 0.001). However, in the multivariate analysis, the effects of age (P = 0.062), steroid dosage (P = 0.226), and Covid- 19 intensity (P = 0.084) decreased, and the difference was no longer statistically significant. CRAO was a predictor of mortality in the univariate analysis (P = 0.008, OR = 4.50), but in the multivariate analysis, this effect decreased and was no longer significant (P = 0.125). Conclusion The risk of C-ROCM and its complications may increase in patients with more severe Covid-19, steroid over-prescription, ICU admission due to Covid-19, and poor glycemic control during and after Covid-19 treatment

Numerical Solution of Fuzzy Differential Equations of 2nd-Order by Runge-Kutta Method

. In this paper, solving fuzzy ordinary differential equations of the n th order by Runge-Kutta method have been done, and the convergence of the proposed method is proved. This method is illustrated by some numerical examples