Carnosic Acid Enriched Rosemary Extract Prevents Obesity And Metabolic Syndrome In High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

The objective of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of rosemary leaf extract (RE) and its active components on prevention of weight gain and associated metabolic disorders in high-fat-fed mice; determine the effective doses of the chief compound in RE to reduce weight gain and hyperglycemia; and try to understand the underlying anti-obesity mechanism. For this purpose, commercial RE with 45% carnosic acid (CA) was enriched with CA to 80%. Animals were given low-fat diet (LFD), high-fat diet (HFD), high fat with 0.50% RE (enriched with 45% CA, RE#1), high fat with 0.28% w/w RE (enriched with 80% CA, RE#2H), and high fat with 0.14% w/w RE (enriched with 80% CA, RE#2L) for 16-week periods. Physiological and biochemical parameters were monitored

Decisional Balance Inventory (DBI) adolescent form for smoking : psychometric properties of the Persian version

Abstract Background One effective model for studying cigarette smoking cessation is the transtheoretical model (TTM). In order to assess to what degree interventions can make variations in individuals’ behavior, several questionnaires have been developed based on the TTM. This study aims to describe the development of the Persian version of the Decisional Balance Inventory (DBI) for smoking cessation in Iran and to evaluate its psychometric properties. Design and methods The forward-backward technique was used to translate the DBI from English into Persian. After linguistic validation and a pilot test among 30 male smoking young adults, a cross-sectional study was performed, and psychometric properties of the Persian version of the DBI were assessed. Using a convenience sampling method, 120 male smokers between 16 and 24 years of age were recruited from three factories in Nowshahr, Iran. In order to assess the reliability of the DBI, internal consistency and test–retest methods were performed. Additionally, face and content validity were assessed, and the construct validity of the DBI was calculated by performing both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS. Results The mean age of the sample (n = 120) was 20.19 (SD = 2.13) years. The mean scores for the content validity index (CVI) and the content validity ratio (CVR) were .94 and .89, respectively. The results of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) showed a three-factor solution for the DBI that accounted for 55.4% of observed variance. The results achieved from the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) displayed that the data fit the model: the relative chi-square (×2/df) = 1.733 (p < .001) and the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = .07 (90% CI = .05–.105). All comparative indices of the model including GFI, AGFI, CFI, NNFI, and NFI were more than .80 (.87, .83, .91, .89, and .81, respectively). The Cronbach’s alpha ranged from .78 to .83, indicating an acceptable reliability. Furthermore, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) ranged from .72 to .89, confirming a satisfactory result. Conclusions The results from the present study indicate that the Persian version of the DBI has good psychometric properties and is suitable to measure smoking behaviors among Iranian adolescent and young adult smokers. Consequently, the instrument could be used in planning cigarette smoking cessation interventions among Iranian adolescents and young adults

Criminological Study of Domestic Violence in Iran

AbstractViolence against women is a common phenomenon and its widespread dimensions cause many personal and social losses to husband and wife, family and society. This research was conducted using the library method which aims to investigate violence against women in Iranian society with a criminological approach. Many women have traditionally been subjected to violence or do not realize that it is an act of violence, because the law does not criminalize it and has the support of adat and religion to legitimize it. This study discusses the types of domestic violence and examples that occur against women and most of them may not even be considered violence. In addition, criminal regulations and laws are also ineffective, and they even exacerbate violence against women. The results suggest that legal weaknesses need to be addressed and eliminated, and that governments should be encouraged to comply with laws and change laws that are not appropriate. At the lower level, violence against women must be resolved socially by helping to grow women's NGOs, and thereby increasing women's awareness of their rights to violence.Keywords: domestic violence, criminology, domestic violence. AbstrakKekerasan terhadap perempuan adalah fenomena umum dan dimensinya meluas menyebabkan banyak kerugian pribadi dan sosial bagi suami istri, keluarga, dan masyarakat. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan metode perpustakaan yang bertujuan untuk menyelidiki kekerasan terhadap perempuan di masyarakat Iran dengan pendekatan kriminologis. Banyak perempuan secara tradisional mendapat perlakua kekerasan atau tidak menyadari bahwa itu adalah tindak kekerasan, karena hukum tidak mengkriminalkannya dan mendapat dukungan adat dan agama untuk melegitimasinya. Dalam studi ini dibahas jenis kekerasan dalam rumah tangga dan contoh-contohnya yang terjadi terhadap perempuan dan sebagian besar bahkan mungkin tidak dianggap sebagai kekerasan. Selain itu, aturan-aturan dan hukum pidana juga tidak efektif, bahkan memperburuk kekerasan terhadap perempuan. Hasil penelitian menyatakan bahwa kelemahan hukum perlu ditangani dan dihilangkan, dan bahwa pemerintah harus didorong untuk mematuhi hukum dan mengubah hukum yang tidak sesuai. Di tingkat bawah, kekerasan terhadap perempuan harus diatasi secara sosial dengan membantu menumbuhkan LSM perempuan, dan dengan demikian dapat meningkatkan kesadaran perempuan tentang hak-hak mereka atas kekerasan.Kata kunci: KDRT, Kriminologi, Iran АннотацияНасилие в отношении женщин - обычное явление, и его широко распространенные масштабы причиняют множество личных и социальных потерь мужу и жене, семье и обществу. Это исследование было проведено с использованием библиотечного метода, целью которого является криминологическое исследование насилия в отношении женщин в иранском обществе. Многие женщины традиционно подвергались насилию или не осознают, что это акт насилия, потому что закон не криминализирует его и пользуется поддержкой адата и религии, чтобы узаконить его. В этом исследовании обсуждаются типы домашнего насилия и примеры, которые происходят в отношении женщин, и большинство из них можно даже не рассматривать как насилие. Кроме того, уголовные нормы и законы также неэффективны и даже усугубляют насилие в отношении женщин. Результаты показывают, что необходимо устранить и устранить слабые места в законодательстве, а также побудить правительства соблюдать законы и изменять законы, которые не подходят. На более низком уровне насилие в отношении женщин должно быть разрешено в социальном плане, помогая расти женским НПО и тем самым повышая осведомленность женщин об их правах на насилие.Ключевые Слова: домашнее насилие, криминология, Ира

Hollow fiber supported liquid membrane microextraction of Cu2+ followed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy determination

AbstractHollow fiber supported liquid membrane microextraction, a relatively new sample preparation technique, has attracted much interest in the field of environmental analysis. In the current study, a novel method based on hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for the measurement of copper ion in aqueous samples is described. Hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction conditions such as the type of extraction solvent, pH, the stirring rate, and the amounts of chelating agents, sample volume, and the extraction time were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, the linear range was found to be 0.01–15μgml−1 for copper ion, and the limit of detection to be 0.004μgml−1. Tap water and surface water samples collected from Mashhad, Iran and Dorongar river; Khorasan, Iran, respectively, were successfully analyzed using the proposed method. The recoveries from the spiked water samples were 72.4% and 105%, respectively; and the relative standard deviation (RSD) at the 2μgml−1 level was 6%

A Hidden Markov Model Based Detecting Solution for Detecting the Situation of Balance During Unsupported Standing Using the Electromyography of Ankle Muscles

Quiet Standing; Hidden Markov Model; Electromyography; Dynamic Balance.: In this study, three detecting approaches have been proposed and evaluated for online detection of balance situations during quiet standing. The applied methods were based on electromyography of the gastrocnemius muscles adopting the hidden Markov models.Methods: The levels of postural stability during quiet standing were regarded as the hidden states of the Markov models while the zones in which the center of pressure lies within determines the level of stability. The Markov models were trained by using the well-known Baum-Welch algorithm. The performance of a single hidden Markov model, the multiple hidden Markov model, and the multiple hidden Markov model alongside an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), were compared as three different detecting methods.Results: The obtained results show the better and more promising performance of the method designed based on a combination of the hidden Markov models and optimized neuro-fuzzy system.Conclusion: According to the results, using the combined detecting method yielded promising results

Study of Reliability & Validity of Communicative Responses to Jealousy in Ahwaz City Women

The Purpose of this study is to verify reliability &amp;validation of communicative responses to jealousy &amp; relationship among sexual satisfaction, couples intimacy and communicative responses to jealousy in Ahwaz city’s women. Sample of this research was participated 527 couples selected with clustering sampling method. Research tool was communicative responses to jealousy, Enrich short form of sexual satisfaction &amp; couple’s intimacy scale. Confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient &amp; regression are used for analysis of research data. Results showed that A &amp; B form of communicative responses to jealousy had appropriate validity (A form: RSMEA= 0.1, GFI= 0.99, AGFI=0/98 &amp;²/df= 1.39; B form: RSMEA= 0.15, GFI= 0.94, AGFI=0/87 &amp;²/df= 1.28)

Study of Reliability & Validity of Communicative Responses to Jealousy in Ahwaz City Women

The Purpose of this study is to verify reliability &amp;validation of communicative responses to jealousy &amp; relationship among sexual satisfaction, couples intimacy and communicative responses to jealousy in Ahwaz city’s women. Sample of this research was participated 527 couples selected with clustering sampling method. Research tool was communicative responses to jealousy, Enrich short form of sexual satisfaction &amp; couple’s intimacy scale. Confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient &amp; regression are used for analysis of research data. Results showed that A &amp; B form of communicative responses to jealousy had appropriate validity (A form: RSMEA= 0.1, GFI= 0.99, AGFI=0/98 &amp;²/df= 1.39; B form: RSMEA= 0.15, GFI= 0.94, AGFI=0/87 &amp;²/df= 1.28)

Price setting behaviour in the South African retail sector

The pricing practices that firms that follow are important from a microeconomic as well as a macroeconomic perspective, indicating the nature and level of competition. These practices also prove to affect the effectiveness of monetary policy. This study engineered a survey approach to better understand the pricing behaviour of firms in the South African retail sector.The survey approach to understanding pricing setting has grown in popularity in recent times, allowing for deeper insights into the mindsets of actual pricing professionals than information offered by micro data studies. Most previous studies have focused on developed countries, while this study deals with a sector of high industry concentration in a developing country with a relatively unstable foreign exchange rate.The results of the study demonstrate that South African retail firms compete primarily with their pricing and quality, and that there is evidence of barometric price leadership. The dominant framework used by firms to set their prices is mark-up pricing.Both price reviews and price changes in South African retail firms were found to be time dependent, and the causes of price changes were asymmetrical depending on the direction of the change. The main driver of price increases was an increase in input costs, while the main driver of price decreases was a reduction in domestic competitor prices.Prices within the South African retail sector were found to be sticky, with the strongest specific cause of firms delaying price adjustments being the maintenance of threshold prices. When considering the reasons for stickiness more broadly as themes, customer relationships are the strongest driver of stickiness, followed by the avoidance of coordination failure.Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012.Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS)unrestricte

Elevating Women in the Workplace: The Dual Influence of Spiritual Intelligence and Ethical Environments on Job Satisfaction

In today's rapidly evolving workplace, the dynamics of job satisfaction and its determinants have become a focal point of organizational studies. This research offers a comprehensive examination of the nexus between spiritual intelligence and job satisfaction among female employees, with particular emphasis on the moderating role of ethical work environments. Beginning with an exploration of the multifaceted nature of human needs, the study delves deep into the psychological underpinnings that drive job satisfaction. It elucidates how various tangible and intangible motivators, such as salary benefits and recognition, play pivotal roles in shaping employee attitudes and behaviors. Moreover, the research spotlights the unique challenges and experiences of female employees, advocating for a more inclusive understanding of their needs. An extensive review of the literature and empirical analysis culminates in the pivotal finding that integrating spiritual intelligence and ethical considerations within organizational practices can significantly enhance job satisfaction. Such a holistic approach, the paper posits, not only bolsters the well-being and contentment of female employees but also augments overall organizational productivity, retention rates, and morale