study on the role of selective attention, vigilance and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness for predicting pain severity in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pains

When there is a pain requiring focused clinical attention and is associated with emotional and functional disorders, it is called pain disorder. The present study aims to study the role of selective attention, vigilance and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness for predicting pain severity in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pains. The study population included 180 patients with chronic musculoskeletal entered the study by accessible method sampling from 2 hospitals in Tehran [Iran]: Imam Khomeini and Atyeh. They completed Selective Attention Test, questionnaires for Vigilance and Ambivalence over emotional expressiveness and Pain severity Scale. Step-by-step multivariate regression analysis showed that ambivalence can significantly predict emotional expressiveness in patients with selective attention and vigilance were not significant. In musculoskeletal chronic pain, ambivalence can be considered as an emotional determinant influencing pain severity

[Investigating the Efficiency of Biological Filters for Ammonia Removal]

Ammonia removal from air to prevent severe damage to the environment and living organisms is very important. Biofiltration is an efficient, easy, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly process for degradation of ammonia from waste air. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of biological filtration using a compost and scallop bed for ammonia removal. According to the ammonia removal method a column with 14cm inner diameter and 45cm height made from transparent Plexiglas was used. The column was filled up to 25 cm with compost and scallop [with a scallop: compost ratio of 1:4]. In this study, performance of the biofilter was studied under 10 different flow rates [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 lit/min] and 5 different concentrations [0-20, 20-40, 40-60, 60-80 and 80-100 ppm] at a temperature of 25 degrees Celsius. The results of this study showed that efficiency is decreased when the flow rate or concentration is increased because the microbial population is reduced. The efficiency was reduced by 84.6-98.2 percent. Maximum efficiency occurred at a 0.19g/[m[3].h] loading rate. Efficiency was in 0-20 concentration intervals at a flow rate of 1 lit/min and at an Empty Bed Residence Time [EBRT] of 240 seconds. The results show that a biofilter with a compost and scallop bed is efficient for ammonia removal from air. Results can be optimized in the design and operation of biological systems to be used in the industrial control of ammonia gas.

[Leaf flavonoids of Chrozophora neck [Euphorbiceae] members in Markazi province using chromatographical methods]

Flavonoids are as one set of the polyphenolic compounds among secondary metabolites in different organs of plants that are used in plant chemotaxonomy and pharmacognosy. They have basic role in pollination and life cycle of anthmophyllus plants and also their spreading abroad and survival. The aim of this study was to compare the leaf flavonoids profiles of Chrozophora Neck populations in Markazi Province, Iran. Phytochemical studies on 25 collected Chrozophora populations of 2 species [C. hierosolymitana and C. tinctoria: Euphorbiaceae family] from different parts of Markazi Province area were done using 2-dimentional paper chromatography [2-DPC] and thin layer chromatography [TLC]. Voucher specimens of each population were prepared for reference as herbarium vouchers. Results showed all of populations contain flavonoid sulphates, flavone C and C-/O-glycosides and aglycon. Also all of studied populations have apigenin and quercetin while rutin was just found in 4 populations of C. tinctoria species that is recorded first time for Markazi Province. All of studied populations have flavonoid compounds that have variation in their flavonoid type and number

Effect of educational intervention on general health and depression in temporary employees

Mental health disorders and depression are pervasive and costly problems for workplaces. The aim of this study was to examine the general health and depression in temporary employees and the effect of educational intervention on general health and depression in temporary employees in Isfahan steel company. A quasi-experimental design was used to examine the effect of intervention among temporary employees of Isfahan steel company. All temporary employees of blast furnaces were studied by census method. Data were collected by questionnaires including GHQ-28, BDI-II before and after a brief three-session CB educational intervention and were analyzed by SPSS12. According to the GHQ-28 scores; 16.9% were suspected to psychological disorders; 3.4% also recorded severe depression. Mean depression scores decreased significantly after the intervention [CI: 3.21-6.94]. General health scores also decreased significantly after the intervention [CI: .97-5.03]. Brief cognitive behavior educational intervention can be considered as a preliminary education for employees to develop skills to cope with depression, and included in a more extensive education to attain longer-term results

[Efficacy of face to face and internet-applied methods of cognitive-behavioral group counseling based on Ellis's theory in increasing marital satisfaction]

This study was aimed to compare the efficacy of face to face and internet-applied methods of Cognitive-Behavioral Group Counseling [CBGC] based on Ellis's theory in increasing marital satisfaction. In a controlled experimental pre-post test study, a total number of 36 couples with low marital satisfaction referred to a university counseling center were randomly selected. They were then randomly assigned to one control and two experimental groups. The two different methods of CBGC were applied for the two experimental groups. Data was analyzed using the one-way Analysis Of Variance [ANOVA] and the post-hoc Sheffeh's test through the SPSS-12 software. A significant higher increase was seen in marital satisfaction in both intervention groups compared with the control one [P < 0.05]. Face to face group counseling was more effective than internet-applied method in improving some components of marital satisfaction such as financial management, leisure time management and personality issues [P < 0.05]. For solving marital problems, internet-applied group counseling can be regarded as a good substitute for the face to face method in special conditions

[Outcomes of the performance appraisal and its relation with nurses job motivation]

The main aim of performance appraisal is aid to staff development and increasing job motivation. Outcomes of performance appraisal consider as a determining indicators of the amount of success in achieving the mentioned aims. The aim of this study is to determine the employed nurses' views regarding the performance appraisal's outcomes and its relation with job motivation in medical-surgical wards of affiliated hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. This investigation is a descriptive correlational study. The sample size was 120 of employed nurses in medical-surgical units in Tehran University of Medical Science that was selected by cluster sampling. The data was collected by questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for analysis. Perception of the most samples was almost positive [65%] about performance appraisal's outcomes. They believed that the rate of the job motivation in surveyed units was low. There was a statistical significance relationship between performance improvement as one of the outcomes of the performance appraisal and job motivation [p<0.05]. Aiding to nurses performance improvement with using of performance appraisal was the only factor that was correlate with the job motivation in comparison with the other expectances of performance appraisal

Bioemulsan production by Iranian oil reservoirs microorganisms

The biosurfactants are believed to be surface active components that are shed into the surrounding medium during the growth of the microorganisms. The oil degrading microorganism Acinetobacter calcoaceticus RAG-1 produces a poly-anionic biosurfactant, hetero-polysaccharide bioemulsifier termed as emulsan which forms and stabilizes oil-water emulsions with a variety of hydrophobic substrates. In the present paper results of the possibility of biosurfactant [Emulsan] production by microorganisms isolated from Iranian oil reservoirs is presented. Fourthy three gram negative and gram positive, non fermentative, rod bacilli and coccobacilli shaped baceria were isolated from the oil wells of Bibi Hakimeh, Siri, Maroon, Ilam, East Paydar and West Paydar. Out of the isolated strains, 39 bacterial strains showed beta haemolytic activity, further screening revealed the emulsifying activity and surface tension. 11 out of 43 tested emulsifiers were identified as possible biosurfactant producers and two isolates produced large surface tension reduction, indicating the high probability of biosurfactant production. Further investigation revealed that, two gram negative, oxidase negative, aerobic and coccoid rods isolates were the best producers and hence designated as IL-1, PAY-4. Whole culture broth of isolates reduced surface tension from 68 mN /m to 30 and 29.1mN/m, respectively, and were stable during exposure to high salinity [10%NaCl] and elevated temperatures[120°C for 15 min]

Problem solving strategies and marital adjustment in infertile and fertile couples

Various studies show that most of couples with fertility problems are distressed deeply. Infertility has broad psychological effects such as feeling distress, conflict, despair and - on individuals. Objective of this study is to examine the problem solving strategies and martial adjustment in infertile couples and to compare with fertile couples. 71 infertile couples referring for treatment, to an infertility treatment center in Tehran and Isfahan and 28 normal fertile couples, referring for check up of their first pregnancy, to a treatment center in Isfahan, participated in this study. None of the participants had a child. Each of the partners answered separately the Marital Adjustment Test [MAT] and the Problem Solving Strategies Inventory and a questionnaire containing some demographic information. The analysis of the result showed that there were no difference between fertile and infertile couples in problem solving strategies and marital adjustment. The comparison between the couples indicated that the infertile woman showed a lower internal control toward their ability in solving problems. Categorizing couples into two adjusted and distressed groups regarding the MAT scores, indicated that the problem solving strategies are more negative in distressed couples. Examining correlation of different variables indicated that in infertile couples, problem-solving strategies of the individual and his/her spouse significantly predicts the couple's level of adjustment. Results show that marital adjustment of fertile and infertile couples have no significant differences. Conflict and gloom found, is probably due to various approaches which different groups take toward infertility. In another word, not all the infertile persons face the infertility similarly