The Role of Mediatory Factors of Hope and Forgiveness in Personality Traits Effect on Marital Satisfaction of Couples on the Verge of Divorce

The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of mediatory factors of personality traits, hope and forgiveness in marital satisfaction of couples on the verge of divorce. The methodology used in this study was correlation method and the statistical sample included married couples on the verge of divorce in Mashhad, Iran, which 180 couples from counseling centers were selected in random. For data collection purpose, four questionnaires were used, including Five Factor Model of NEO Personality Inventory Revised (60-question form), Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale (47-question form), Family Forgiveness Scale, by Pollard et al. and Schneider’s Hope scale (1991). Data analysis was performed by applying the statistical method of analysis with recursive models. Results confirmed the desired evaluation of the investigation model. They also revealed that sense of duty has a positive and significant effect and neuroticism has a negative and significant impact on the marital satisfaction. Also, hope and forgiveness have mediatory roles in this relationship. Moreover, results showed the positive and significant effect of experientialism on the marital satisfaction but hope and forgiveness, as personality traits, have no mediatory roles in this relation. therefore consequence, neuroticism and sense of duty have effect on the marital satisfaction through hope and forgiveness, as personality traits. each of three variables including personality traits, hope and forgiveness can result in increasing the marital satisfaction of married couples on the verge of divorce

The Effect of Vacuum Leak Rate on Sintering of Porous Titanium Scaffold

Titanium is a highly reactive metal and its high-temperature processing has to be done at a high-vacuum atmosphere. In this research, porous titanium scaffolds were fabricated using the space holder method for dental reconstruction purposes. Accordingly, the samples were sintered in two different vacuum furnaces at the vacuum level of 0.013 Pa, including high-vacuum leak rate (HLR) and low-vacuum leak rate (LLR). The microstructural study using the scanning electron microscope revealed that there was no significant difference in the microstructure of the samples. A compression test on the porous titanium scaffolds indicated that the HLR sample had less strength than the LLR sample. X-ray diffractometry also revealed that, besides the titanium peaks, the HLR sample included titanium oxide phases, unlike the LLR sample. Therefore, both vacuum chamber design and a vacuum leak rate of the furnace are parameters which are effective on the sintering of the porous titanium scaffold and should be considered

The effect of porosity on the mechanical properties of porous titanium scaffolds: Comparative study on experimental and analytical values

Reducing the elastic modulus and also improving biological fixation to the bone is possible by using porous scaffolds. In the present study, porous titanium scaffolds containing different porosities were fabricated using the space holder method. Pore distribution, formed phases and mechanical properties of titanium scaffolds were studied by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) and cold compression test. Then the results of compression test were compared to the Gibson-Ashby model. Both experimentally measured and analytically calculated elastic modulus of porous titanium scaffolds decreased by porosity increment. The compliance between experimentally measured and analytically calculated elastic modulus of titanium scaffolds are also increased by porosity increment

Lithium metasilicate glass-ceramic fabrication using spark plasma sintering

Background: The digital dentistry, requires materials with wo opposite properties of machining ability and also enough hardness. The main objective of this experimental study was to investigate the fabrication feasibility of the lithium metasilicate glass-ceramic in partially crystalized stated using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. Materials and Methods: In this study, SPS for the first time was used to fabricate primary lithium metasilicate glass-ceramic (LMGC) blocks. The raw materials were mixed and melted and then quenched in water and the resulted frits were grinded. The resulting powder was sintered by SPS at 660, 680, and 700°C. Results: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Vicker's microhardness assay were used to evaluate the properties of samples. Statistical comparison of the obtained data was performed by ANOVA, followed by the post hoc test of Duncan. Microstructural studies by SEM and XRD showed that all samples were composed of lithium metasilicate phase in a glassy matrix. With increasing the sintering temperature, the number and size of lithium metasilicate particles increased and higher mechanical properties have been achieved. However, the sintered sample at 700°C has less processing ability than the samples sintered at 660 and 680°C. Conclusion: The optimum sintering temperature for glass frit consolidation was determined by SPS at 680°C

The Effect of Vacuum Leak Rate on Sintering of Porous Titanium Scaffold

Titanium is a highly reactive metal and its high-temperature processing has to be done at a high-vacuum atmosphere. In this research, porous titanium scaffolds were fabricated using the space holder method for dental reconstruction purposes. Accordingly, the samples were sintered in two different vacuum furnaces at the vacuum level of 0.013 Pa, including high-vacuum leak rate (HLR) and low-vacuum leak rate (LLR). The microstructural study using the scanning electron microscope revealed that there was no significant difference in the microstructure of the samples. A compression test on the porous titanium scaffolds indicated that the HLR sample had less strength than the LLR sample. X-ray diffractometry also revealed that, besides the titanium peaks, the HLR sample included titanium oxide phases, unlike the LLR sample. Therefore, both vacuum chamber design and a vacuum leak rate of the furnace are parameters which are effective on the sintering of the porous titanium scaffold and should be considered

Magnesium/Nano-hydroxyapatite Composite for Bone Reconstruction : The Effect of Processing Method

Nano-ceramic particles can serve as reinforcing agents for metallic materials to improve their mechanical properties. However, it is important to ensure chemical compatibility between the matrix and particles. In the present study, magnesium composites with and without nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) particles were fabricated for bone reconstruction applications. Two different techniques were used, Conventional Sintering (CS) of powder compacts and Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) of pre-compacted powder. Results showed that a 10 wt% addition of nHA particles to magnesium, followed by SPS improved the compression strength by 27%. CS did not lead to any significant improvement compared to SPS processing. X-ray diffraction data after CS revealed the formation of unfavorable phases due to chemical reactions between nHA particles and the magnesium matrix, while these phases were absent after SPS processing. The mechanical properties of the specimens fabricated by CS were much inferior to those processed using SPS. The shorter processing time associated with SPS leaded to reduced interaction between nHA particles and the Mg-matrix, compared to CS

Optimum temperature and chlorine ion concentration for hydrogen peroxide treatment of titanium dental implant material

Hydrogen peroxide treatment is a cost-effective and simple method to improve the bioactivity of titanium implants. In this study, the effects of chloride ion concentration and temperature of hydrogen peroxide on the surface treatment of titanium were investigated using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), and tests in order to determine wettability and apatite forming ability. The results showed that at the lower temperatures of treatment (60°C), hydrogen peroxide corroded the formed titania layer and the post-heat treatment resulted in rutile formation on the surface of titanium. At higher temperatures of treatment (100°C), a uniform and crack-free anatase layer was formed on the surface of titanium, leading to the improvement of superhydrophilicity and the apatite forming ability of titanium. However, these properties were affected by increasing the chloride concentration of hydrogen peroxide. At appropriate conditions, titanium dental implant surfaces could be treated effectively using hydrogen peroxide, such that the time of treatment could be reduced to 5h

Effectiveness of online sexual education based on the extended PLISSIT model on sexual function and sexual satisfaction in women undergoing breast cancer treatment

BACKGROUND: Despite therapeutic interventions having increased the survival rate of women with breast cancer, sexual dysfunction occurs in cancer survivors due to treatment. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of online sexual education, based on the Ex-PLISSIT model on sexual function and satisfaction, on women undergoing breast cancer treatment.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study was a quasi-experimental and interventional control study. It was conducted with a pretest–posttest design between April and July 2022 in Isfahan, Iran. The participants were divided into an intervention (n = 40) and a control group (n = 40). The intervention group received sexual education based on the Ex-PLISSIT model that consisted of four levels of intervention, namely, permission (P), limited information (LI), specific suggestions (SS), and intensive therapy (IT), presented in four sessions. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and Larson's Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire were used to measure the sexual function and sexual satisfaction of the participants. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. P values below 0.05 were considered statistically significant.RESULTS: The results showed that the mean of sexual satisfaction and function scores in the intervention group significantly increased after intervention. Moreover, the results showed a statistically significant difference in the mean of sexual satisfaction scores between the intervention and control groups after intervention (P = 0.020). Although there was a difference between the mean of sexual function scores in the intervention and control groups after the intervention, the t-test showed no statistically significant difference (P = 0.176).CONCLUSIONS: According to the results of the study, sexual education based on the Ex-PLISSIT model could effectively enhance sexual satisfaction of women undergoing breast cancer treatment. It seems that this model can help health care providers evaluate the sexual needs of the patients and provide appropriate suggestions in order to decrease sexual problems

Effects of Lactobacillus reuteri-derived biosurfactant on the gene expression profile of essential adhesion genes (gtfB, gtfC and ftf) of Streptococcus mutans

Background: Streptococci are the main causative agents in plaque formation and mutans streptococci are the principle etiological agent of dental plaque and caries. The process of biofilm formation is a step-wise process, starting with adhesion of planktonic cells to the surfaces. It is now a well known fact that expression of glucosyltransferases (gtfs) and fructosyltransferase (ftf) genes play a critical role in the initial adhesion of Streptococcus mutans to the tooth surface, which results in the formation of dental plaques and consequently caries and other periodontal diseases. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we have determined the effect of biosurfactants purified from Lactobacillus reuteri (DSM20016) culture on gene expression profile of gftB/C and fft of S. mutans (ATCC35668) using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: The application of biosurfactant caused considerable down-regulation of the expression of all three genes under study. The reduction in gene expression was statistically very significant (P > 0.0001 for all three genes). Conclusions: Inhibition of these genes by the extracted L. reuteri biosurfactant shows the emergence of a powerful alternative to the presently practicing alternatives. In view of the importance of these gene products for S. mutans attachment to the tooth surface, which is the initial important step in biofilm production and dental caries, we believe that the biosurfactant prepared in this study could be considered as a step ahead in dental caries prevention