Psychometric properties of the Iranian version of the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3) / Propriedades psicométricas da versão iraniana da Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3 (ASI-3)

Abstract Introduction: Anxiety sensitivity plays a prominent role in the etiology of anxiety disorders. This construct has attracted widespread interest from experts and researchers. The Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3) is the most common scale for measuring anxiety sensitivity. Objective: To analyze the psychometric properties and factor structure of the ASI-3 in Iranian student samples. Methods: 220 students (135 women, 85 men) from Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences were selected by the convenience sampling method to evaluate the psychometric properties and analyze the factor structure of the ASI-3. The subjects were also asked to complete the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Whiteley Index, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Neuroticism scales. LISREL and SPSS were used to analyze the data. Cronbach's alpha and correlation coefficients were calculated and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted. Results: The results of the confirmatory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure with physical, cognitive, and social components (comparative fit index = 0.94; normed fit index = 0.91; root mean square error of approximation = 0.09). The ASI-3 had positive and significant correlations with health anxiety (0.59), intolerance of uncertainty (0.29), and neuroticism (0.51). Furthermore, the ASI-3 had a negative and significant correlation with the AAQII (-0.58). Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the whole scale and for the physical, cognitive, and social concerns factors were 0.90, 0.74, 0.79, and 0.78, respectively. The invariance of the index was significant compared to the original English version. Conclusion: In general, the results support the adequacy of the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the ASI-3. Theoretical and applied implications will be discussed.

Resumo Introdução: A sensibilidade à ansiedade desempenha um papel proeminente na etiologia dos transtornos de ansiedade. Esse construto tem atraído grande interesse entre especialistas e pesquisadores. O Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-3; em português, Escala de Sensibilidade à Ansiedade) é a medida mais utilizada para medir sensibilidade à ansiedade. Objetivo: Analisar as propriedades psicométricas e a estrutura fatorial do ASI-3 em estudantes iranianos. Métodos: Para avaliar as propriedades psicométricas e analisar a estrutura fatorial do ASI-3, 220 estudantes (135 mulheres, 85 homens) da Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Irã, foram selecionados via amostragem por conveniência. Eles foram solicitados a completar os seguintes instrumentos: Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II (AAQ-II), Whiteley Index, Intolerance of Uncertainty e Neuroticism. Os programas LISREL e SPSS foram utilizados para analisar os dados. Alfa de Cronbach e coeficientes de correlação foram calculados, e foi realizada análise fatorial confirmatória. Resultados: Os resultados da análise fatorial confirmatória revelaram uma estrutura de três fatores, incluindo componentes físicos, cognitivos e sociais [comparative fit index (CFI) = 0,94; normed fit index (NFI) = 0,91; root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0,09]. O ASI-3 demonstrou correlações positivas e significativas com ansiedade em relação à saúde (0,59), intolerância à incerteza (0,29) e neuroticismo (0,51). Além disso, o ASI-3 teve uma correlação negativa e significativa com o AAQII (-0,58). Os coeficientes alfa de Cronbach para toda a escala e para os fatores preocupação física, cognitiva e social foram 0,90, 0,74, 0,79 e 0,78, respectivamente. A invariância do índice foi significativa em relação à versão original. Conclusão: Em geral, os resultados sugerem que as propriedades psicométricas da versão persa do ASI-3 são adequadas. Implicações teóricas e práticas serão discutidas.

Commissioning of portal dosimetry using a novel method for flattening filter-free photon beam in a nontrue beam linear accelerator

Aim: The aim of this study is to commission and validate the portal dosimetry (PD) system using an indirect method for flattening filter free (FFF) photon beam of the upgraded c-series linear accelerator. Background: Varian Medical System clinacs with amorphous-silicon portal imager panel (aSi-1000) do not have PD for FFF beams. Recently, our c-series linear accelerator was upgraded to deliver 6MV FFF (6MVFFF) photon beam with the highest dose rate of 1400 monitor unit (MU)/min. The study, therefore, focuses on the commissioning and validation of PD for the 6MVFFF beam. Materials and Methods: An indirect method was implemented to predict the portal dose for FFF beam in Eclipse as the treatment planning system does not have direct prediction algorithm for FFF beam (version. 11). Dosimetrical characteristics of aSi-electronic portal imaging device (EPID) were evaluated for 6MVFFF beam and validation of PD for 6MVFFF beam was performed for open fields along with pretreatment quality assurance of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) techniques for 30 patients planned with 6MVFFF beam. Results: ASi-EPID saturates between 100 and 130 cm source to detector distance (SDD) for 6MVFFF beam and resolved at more than 140 cm SDD. The squared correlation coefficient (R2) for MU linearity was found to be 1 (R2 = 1), and instantaneous dose response linearity at different SDD's was found to be 0.999 (R2 = 0.999) for the 6MVFFF beam. Maximum gamma area index (GAI) for 3% dose difference and 3 mm distance-to-agreement criteria for IMRT, VMAT, and SRS/stereotactic radiotherapy plans was 97.9% ± 0.3%, 96.3% ± 0.5%, and 98.2% ± 0.2%, respectively. Conclusion: The results reveal that this novel method can be used to commission portal dosimetry for 6MVFFF beam as it is a convenient, faster, and accurate method

The Effects of Genotype, Soil Water Deficit and Their Interaction on Agronomic, Physiologic and Yield Traits of Zea mays L.

The presence of genotypic differences in performances under soil water deficit would help plant breeders in initiating successful breeding programs to improve drought tolerance. The objectives of the present study were: (i) to assess the effects of genotype, water stress and their interaction on maize agronomic, physiologic and yield traits and (ii) to identify drought tolerant genotypes for use in future breeding programs. Fifteen commercial hybrids and seven breeding populations were evaluated in the field for two seasons under water stress at flowering (WSF) and grain filling (WSG) compared to well watering (WW). A split plot design with three replications was used. Data analysed across seasons revealed a significant reduction in grain yield/plant (28.69 and 20.26%), grain yield/ha (35.53 and 25.51%), chlorophyll concentration index (30.18 and 44.07%) and 100-kernel weight (6.75 and 12.36%) due to water stress under WSF and WSG, respectively, a significant reduction in ears/plant (11.58%), kernels/row (14.23%), kernels/plant (24.85%) due to water stress under WSF and in upper stem diameter (18.46%) due to water stress under WSG, but a significant increase in days to silking (3.50%), anthesis silking interval (21.17%) and barren stalks (26.18%) due to water stress under WSF. Rank of genotypes differed from one irrigation regime to another for most studied traits. The highest yielding genotypes were Eg-77, P-3444, SC-128 and HT-2066 under WSF and P-3444, SC-128, TWC-324 and SC-166 under WSG, in a descending order. These genotypes could be offered to maize breeding programs for developing drought tolerant inbred and hybrids.

Effects of Smoking on Arterial Stiffness in Male Adolescents in Lusaka, Zambia.

Background: Tobacco smoke is harmful to health. In the acute phase it causes changes in the cardiovascular system that result in increase in blood pressure (BP). An increase in arterial stiffness due to arteriolar endothelial dysfunction has been cited among the causes. Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) and Arterial Stiffness Index (ASI) are used as measures of arterial stiffness in the adult population. Aim: To determine the acute effects of tobacco smoke on arterial stiffness in black male adolescents in Lusaka, Zambia. Study Design: This was an observational study done at the University of Zambia School of Medicine Cardiovascular Research Laboratory in the month of December 2014. Methodology: Twenty-two (22) black, male-adolescent (age range 19-25 years), active-smokers, consented to participate in the study. The Complior Analyse Unit (V1.9 Beta Version 2013; ALAMMedical, France) protocol was used to obtain the carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) and carotid-femoral ASI (cfASI) starting 15 minutes before smoking, on immediate cessation of smoking and thereafter every 15 minutes up to an hour after smoking. ASI was a surrogate measure of the loss of elasticity in the arteries. Results: The mean baseline cfPWV was 7.9±1.94 m/s and cfASI was 26.1±6.0 m/s. Smoking two tobacco cigarettes (2.8 mg Nicotine) in 15 minutes caused an increase in mean cfPWV and cfASI from their baseline values to cfPWV of 8.5±1.87 m/s and cfASI of 28.6±6.19 m/s respectively. These values reverted to baseline within 15 minutes post-smoking cessation. There was further reduction in both cfPWV and cfASI to more stable values at 45th and 60th minutes which were statistically significantly lower than the peak values recorded. Conclusion: The mean baseline cfPWV and cfASI in these late adolescents were comparatively higher than those recorded in non-smoking black adolescents and smoking white men and women (see Lemogoum, 2006). These recordings were also much higher than the values recorded 60 minutes after cessation of smoking. Compared to these values, we conclude that tobacco smoke may be the cause of the significant acute increase in cfPWV and cfASI in African male adolescents presumably signifying an increase in arterial stiffness probably due to endothelial dysfunction in elastic arteries. These alterations in vascular compliance may predispose these individuals to developing hypertension and other cardiovascular complications. There is need for further investigation of this phenomenon.

Abuso sexual infantil (ASI): comprensiones y representaciones clínicas desde las prácticas de salud mental / Sexual child abuse: understanding and representing clinical practices within mental health practices

Este artículo presenta una investigación, realizada en dos etapas, que estudia al Abuso Sexual Infantil (ASI) como fenómeno clínico, enmarcada en sus expresiones representacionales, conceptuales y culturales. Interroga a profesionales de instituciones que trabajan con abuso, trazando un itinerario analítico comprensivo de abordajes tanto clínicos, como de políticas de intervención desarrolladas. Metodológicamente realizamos un estudio observacional, analítico y longitudinal ambispectivo, con diseño cualitativo, aplicado en dos cohortes de tiempo (2005-2006 y 2011-2012), para profundizar el conocimiento de comprensiones y estrategias clínicas que profesional e institucionalmente han abordado al ASI. Sus resultados destacan: sobrejudicialización y sobrepatologización del ASI, necesidad de profundizar el trabajo interdisciplinario, dificultades del abordaje individual de reparación y prevención, desasosiego y malestar subjetivo de los profesionales, presencia social y mantención de situaciones de abuso con patrones de género predominantemente autoritarios, y devastador daño psíquico de víctimas directas e indirectas.

This study investigates Sexual Child Abuse (SCA) in its clinical context, including its representational, conceptual, and cultural expressions. Working with professionals of institutions, following an analytic yet understanding method, this study traces their approaches at the clinical level as well as intervention policies. Methodologically, the investigation is observational, analytic, and longitudinal, and qualitative design study, including two temporal cohorts (2005-2006 and 2011-2012). These methods were chosen to acquire better knowledge regarding the strategies used in clinics. Relevant results include: excessive tendencies to treat the matter as a juridical case and as pathology; the need for interdisciplinary work; the difficulty of repairing and preventing; the presence of discontent and unease in professionals related to their work; social relations in the presence of SCA of an authoritarian type; and the devastating psychic damage, both direct and indirect, in its victims.

Studies on genetic diversity for grain yield and physiological parameters in maize (Zea mays L.).

The D2 statistics is useful tool to assess genetic diversity among genotypes. It also provides qualitative measures of association between geographical and genetic diversity based on generalized distances. In the present study data on forty nine genotypes were subjected to D2 analysis, which revealed the presence of substantial amount of genetic variability among them. The pattern of distribution of genotypes into various clusters was random, suggesting that geographical and genetic diversity were not related. The experimental material was partitioned into eight clusters. Flag leaf area per plant contributed maximum towards genetic diversity followed by days to 50 per cent tasseling.

Temporal changes of land use in Asi river delta (Hatay, Southern Turkey).

Increasing non-ecological land use necessitates more efficient using and utilization of land by man. Therefore, in recent years studies on sustainable land use have gained momentum. In this study, temporal change in land use, mainly between years 1940 and 2010, in Asi river delta on Southern Turkey was covered. To this end, in addition to literature, topographical maps and satellite images from year 1940 and after were used. Also, data were collected through field studies and interviews. Collected data were evaluated from geographical viewpoint using Geographical information system (GIS) and Remote sensing (RS) methods. Unplanned settlement in delta has reached levels high enough to threaten agricultural fields. Especially, great tendency shown by Samandag city and the villages around it towards expanding into delta is an indicator of this threat. In addition, uncontrolled sand mining and touristic facilities on the coastline are also indicators of wrong land use. In future, direction of settlement to slopes around the delta rather than lowlands will be a much more ecological approach.

Effect of Asi-antidiarrheal capsule on gastrointestinal goblet cell of thyroid hormone-induced diarrheic rats / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To study the effect of Asi-antidiarrheal capsule on gastrointestinal goblet cell of thyroid hormone-induced diarrhea.Methods Total of 120 SD male rats aged about 8 weeks were randomly divided into 2 groups:control group(10 rats)and thyroid hormone-induced diarrheic group(110 rats).Rats in control group were lavaged with normal saline 1 ml/d.Thyroid tablets were partly desolved into normal saline forming a 40 mg/ml suspension.Rats in thyroid hormone-induced diarrheic group were given the thyroid suspension 1 ml/d to make thyroid hormone-induced diarrheic model.Serum FT3 and FT4 were tested.Fourty thyroid hormone-induced diarrheic rats were screened out according to serum FT3 and FT4 levels,body weight and wet stool.The fourty rats were randomly divided into 5 groups,8 rats in each group:positive control group,berberine group,low-dose,mediandose and high-dose groups.Normal saline of 1 ml/d was admnistered to diarrhea control group,1.94 g·kg-1·d-1 Berberine capsule was given to positive control group,and 0.63,1.26,2.52 g·kg-1·d-1 Asi-antidiarrheal capsule to low-dose,mediandose and high-dose groups,respectively.After sever days treatment,rats are executed.Duodenum,jejunum,ileum and colon were dissected,respectively.Histology observation and cell counting were carried out under light micmscopo on HE coloration.Cell counting unit was defined as:cell/high power field of vision (cells/hpf).Results In jejunum,the number of goblet cells in berberine group,mediandose group and high-dose group[(15.32±2.53),(20.24±1.24),(14.98±1.10)cells/hpf,respectively],were all lower than that of the diarrhea control group[(25.73±4.55)cells/hpf,all P<0.05]with an exception of low-dose group[(23.98±2.28)cells/hpf].The numbers of goblet cells in berberine control group,low-dose group,mediandose group and highdose group[(18.29±1.33),(20.61±2.12),(19.38±2.01),(16.34±1.55)cells/hpf,respectively]were all less than that of the control group[(23.36±3.10)cells/hpf,all P<0.05].The numbers of goblet cells of diarrhea control group and high-dose group were obviously lower than that of the low-dose group(all P<0.05)in jejunum and colon.The numbers of goblet cells of Duodenum and ileum were not significantly different between groups(F=2.81,2.67,all P>0.05).The numbers of goblet cells in the diarrhea control group increased markedly observed under microscope,but decreased following therapeutic treatment.Conclusions The numbers of goblet cells from jejunum and colon in thyroid hormone-induced diarrheic rats are increased significantly.Asi-antidiarrheal capsule can remarkably decrease the number of goblet cells in jejunum and colon,and reduce mucus secretion.

Effect of a Pholiota adiposa Extract on Fat Mass in Hyperlipidemic Mice

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a Pholiota adiposa extract on fat mass in hyperlipidemic mice fed on a high-fat diet. The water extracts from P. adiposa (ASI 24018) were not affected in the total triglyceride contents and epididymal fat mass in mice fed on a high-fat diet, but the retroperitoneal fat mass decreased significantly. This result suggests that the P. adiposa extract may be a potential candidate for use as a functional food that can act as a prophylactic against hyperlipidemia. However, the P. adiposa extract showed no effect in the total triglyceride contents and epididymal fat mass.

In vitro Antibacterial Effect by Asi-antidiarrheal Capsule:An Experimental Study / 中华医院感染学杂志

OBJECTIVE To investigate the in vitro antibacterial effect of Asi-antidiarrheal capsule a Chinese herbal compound on hyperthyroid diarrhea.METHODS It was determined by drug dilution method in test tube to determine Asi-antidiarrhea capsule.The compound positive control drug was diphenoxylate co.We made in vitro antibacterial test with 8 kinds of bacteria respectively.RESULTS Asi-antidiarrhea capsule had powerfully bacteriostatic action on Shigella dysenteriae,Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae(MIC31.25 mg/L).But diphenoxylate co contrally was less effective on S.aureus,Str.pneumoniae,Str.pyogenes and Sh.dysenteriae(MIC 0.25 mg/L).CONCLUSIONS Asi-antidiarrhea capsule can be used to hyperthyroid diarrhea.Meanwhile,it has powerfully antibacterial effect.It provides evidence of pharmacodynamics for healing infectious diarrhea in the future.

El sufrimiento del adulto abusado sexualmente en la infancia. Una aproximación clínica

La clínica con los adultos abusados sexualmente en la infancia, pudiera ser una de las líneas de investigación de mayor importancia en los estudios sobre Abuso Sexual Infantil (ASI). Su abordaje es relevante no sólo en el tratamiento del paciente adulto que sufre, sino que hecha luz sobre el conocimiento de las consecuencias a largo plazo del ASI. Estos temas son abordados empírica y teóricamente en este trabajo ilustrado a través de tres casos clínicos.

A clínica com adultos abusados sexualmente na infância poderia ser uma das linhas de pesquisa da maior importância nos estudos sobre Abuso Sexual Infantil (ASI). Sua abordagem é relevante não só no tratamento do paciente adulto que sofre, senão também pelo conhecimento das conseqüências a longo prazo do ASI. Esses temas são abordados empírica e teoricamente no trabalho, ilustrando com três casos clínicos.

La clinique d’adultes abusés sexuellement pendant l’enfance pourrait être l’un des axes d’investigation le plus important dans les études sur l’Abus Sexuel Infantil (ASI). Son abord est pertinent non seulement du point de vue du traitement du patient adulte qui souffre, mais aussi dans la mesure où il éclaircit la connaissance des conséquences du ASI à long terme. Ces thèmes sont abordés empiriquement et théoriquement dans ce travail illustré par trois cas cliniques.

The clinic study of sex-abused adults could be one of the most important keys in SIA investigations. Its confrontation is relevant not only in the treatment of adults that are suffering, but for the knowledge of long term abuse consequences. These themes are dealt by a theoretical and empirical approach and illustrated trough the discussion of clinical cases.