Assessment of anticipated performance index of some deciduous plant species under dust air pollution.

Green vegetation improvement is an economical strategy to mitigate dust air pollution. The anticipated performance index (API) is considered a main criterion to select the suitable plants of urban forests. API is calculated by taking air pollution tolerance index (APTI) and socio-economic and biological aspects into account. In the present work, API of four current deciduous tree species in urban areas of Iran was evaluated. The seedlings were soil-dusted by a dust simulator in plastic chambers at levels of 0, 300, 750, and 1500 µg/m3 at intervals of 1 week for 70 days. At 750 and 1500 µg/m3 dust concentrations (DCs), greatest dust collection capacity was observed with Morus alba and the lowest one with Melia azedarach. Increasing DC declined APTI of all species. At 750 µg/m3 DC, only Morus was tolerant, but at 1500 µg/m3 DC, this species and Melia were categorized as intermediate, and Celtis caucasica and Fraxinus rotundifolia as sensitive. Morus was assessed as a good performer under two higher DC. Celtis was recognized as a moderate under 750 µg/m3 DC and poor performer under 1500 µg/m3 DC. Thus, Celtis can be considered as a biomonitor for air quality or as sink for dust in high dusty areas because of its high capacity of dust deposition. At two higher DCs, Fraxinus and Melia showed very poor and poor performance; planting these species in high dust areas is not recommended. In contrast, Morus is the most suitable tree species for urban green spaces in dusty regions, due to its high dust collection capacity and high APTI and API values.

Investigating the Relationship between Personality Traits and Self-Control and Nicotine Dependence Symptoms in Male Prisoners in Kerman, Iran.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is the most common and cheapest addictive substance and has physical, psychological, and social side effects. Personality traits and low self-control have been identified as key factors for substance and tobacco abuse. This study examined the relationship between personality traits and self-control, and symptoms of nicotine dependence in male prisoners. METHODS: This was a descriptive correlational study. The research sample consisted of 384 male prisoners in Kerman, Iran. The participants were selected using simple random sampling method. The data collection tools consisted of the NEO five factor personality inventory (NEO-FFI), self-control Inventory, and the nicotine dependence symptoms inventory. FINDINGS: The mean age of the prisoners was 35.33 ± 9.28 year. The results showed a significant negative relationship between self-control and nicotine dependence. The most important predictors of prisoners' self-control were the personality traits of conscientiousness, neuroticism, openness, and temperamental neuroticism, respectively. The most important predictors of nicotine dependence in prisons were personality traits of adaptability, temperamental neuroticism, extroversion, and openness, respectively. CONCLUSION: Personality traits and self-control have an important role in nicotine dependence; therefore, by training self-control, behaviors such as smoking and consumption of drugs can be reduced.

A Study of the Correlation between Computer Games and Adolescent Behavioral Problems.

BACKGROUND: Today, due to developing communicative technologies, computer games and other audio-visual media as social phenomena, are very attractive and have a great effect on children and adolescents. The increasing popularity of these games among children and adolescents results in the public uncertainties about plausible harmful effects of these games. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between computer games and behavioral problems on male guidance school students. METHODS: This was a descriptive-correlative study on 384 randomly chosen male guidance school students. They were asked to answer the researcher's questionnaire about computer games and Achenbach's Youth Self-Report (YSR). FINDINGS: The Results of this study indicated that there was about 95% direct significant correlation between the amount of playing games among adolescents and anxiety/depression, withdrawn/depression, rule-breaking behaviors, aggression, and social problems. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between the amount of computer game usage and physical complaints, thinking problems, and attention problems. In addition, there was a significant correlation between the students' place of living and their parents' job, and using computer games. CONCLUSION: Computer games lead to anxiety, depression, withdrawal, rule-breaking behavior, aggression, and social problems in adolescents.