Shiraz City Research Articles

Effect of educational intervention based on theory of planned behaviour on promoting preventive behaviours of oral cancer in rural women

BackgroundOral cancer has created an alarming situation around the world, and being the 16th most common cancer worldwide, it has become a global concern. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of educational intervention based on a theory of planned behavior (TPB) on promoting preventive behaviors of oral cancer in rural women.MethodsThis quasi-experimental study was conducted on 120 female hookah users referring to rural health centers in Fasa and Shiraz city, Fars province, Iran. The subjects were divided into experimental and control groups by simple random sampling. The educational intervention for the experimental group consisted of 8 training sessions of 50 min. Both groups completed a questionnaire including demographic characteristics and constructs of TPB before and four months after the educational intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software through independent t-test, chi-square, and paired t-test (p = 0.05).ResultsThe mean age of the experimental and control group subjects were 41.12 ± 8.86 and 40.63 ± 9.62 years, respectively (p = 0.185). The mean age of onset of hookah use in the experimental and control group was 24.16 ± 9.50 and 23.35 ± 9.44 years, respectively (p = 0.182). Also, before the educational intervention, there was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in terms of knowledge (p < 0.189), attitude (p < 0.122), perceived behavioral control (p < 0.142), subjective norms (p < 0.236), behavioral intention (p < 0.126), oral cancer prevention behaviors (p < 0.108) and nicotine dependence (p < 0.218); however, four months after the educational intervention, there was a significant increase in the experimental group in all variables except nicotine dependence (p < 0.005).ConclusionDue to the alarming situation of oral cancer and the prevalence of hookah use among women, educational programs based on TPB could effectively prevent hookah use and oral cancer.

Detection of genes encoding enterotoxins (SEA-D) in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from workers' nasal samples and creamy pastries of Shiraz confectioneries.

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for the majority of food poisoning all around the world. Nasal carriers of S. aureus and foodstuffs need for handling are important sources and vehicles to transmit this pathogen to ready-to-eat foods. According to hygienic standards, confectioners should not be contaminated with S. aureus. This study aimed to detect nasal carriers and creamy pastries contaminated with enterotoxigenic S. aureus in confectioneries of Shiraz, Iran. From the confectioneries of Shiraz city, 27 places in the north, south, center, west, and east areas were selected randomly then 100 creamy pastries samples and 117 nasal swabs were collected. Bacteriological and biochemical tests were performed to isolate S. aureus. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was used to identify the virulence and enterotoxins genes of the S. aureus isolates. Agar disk diffusion was performed to find out the antibiotic resistance of the isolates. Results revealed that 16.24 and 33 percent of workers and creamy pastries were contaminated with S. aureus respectively. Also, 100%, 37%, 58%, and 6% of nasal samples harbored femA, mecA, sea, and sec genes respectively. According to the results 97%, 70%, 54.5%, and 6% of creamy pastries isolates harbored femA, mecA, sea, and sec genes respectively. No isolate carried seb and sed genes. The results also showed that 41.5% of nasals and 5.5% of creamy pastry isolates harbored both sea and sec genes. The sea was the most common enterotoxin gene observed in nasal and creamy pastries. The results of the antimicrobial resistance test showed that 68.42% of nasal and 48.48% of creamy pastry isolates were resistant to cefocxitn (FOX) respectively. Both nasal (89%) and creamy pastry (82%) isolates presented the highest resistance to penicillin (P) and the most sensitivity to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (SXT) (94%). Most of the isolates were sensitive to erythromycin (E), aztreonam (AZM), tetracycline (TE), trimethoprim (TMP), and ciprofloxacin (CP). Isolates of S. aureus harboring multi-enterotoxin genes were resistant to more antibiotics than others. The presence of enterotoxigenic S. aureus in the workers' nasal samples and creamy pastries of Shiraz confectioneries was high which is a potential public health hazard.

Designing and calibrating an agent‐based platform to evaluate the effect of climate variables on residential water demand

AbstractMany Iranian metropolises, including Shiraz, are situated in arid and semi‐arid regions, lacking sufficient renewable water resources. In recent years, climate changes, including drought and rising temperatures, have led to changes in water supply and demand. Given the necessity and importance of urban water supply, this study investigates the impact of different climate scenarios on residential water demand. Many studies, in their models, do not consider the social interactions between household water consumers and the change in their consumption behaviour, which serves as a fundamental drawback. Thus, the present research attempts to propose an agent‐based framework by modelling social interactions via the diffusion process to investigate water consumption behaviour efficiently. The model is calibrated and applied to Shiraz City in Iran, according to the data from 2006 to 2019, and it is used to simulate each scenario for the following years until 2032. The findings show that temperature has a positive and significant effect on residential water consumption; yet, rainfall negatively affects water consumption. The simulation results of these scenarios for temperature increase or decrease and rainfall changes are estimated. In addition, the developed agent‐based platform can be easily calibrated and adjusted based on the data of any other city to simulate water demand estimation under different climatic and even economic scenarios. Urban water managers can benefit from such estimates to plan future infrastructure development and proactive management of seasonal water resources under the growing pressure of potential climate change because construing the sensitivity of seasonal water consumption to climate conditions is essential to respond to variations in demand.

Investigation of Differences in Early Maladaptive Schemas and Defense Mechanisms in Individuals with Gender Identity Disorder Compared to Normal Individuals

This study aimed to investigate the differences in early maladaptive schemas and defense mechanisms between individuals with gender identity disorder and normal individuals. The research design was causal-comparative. The study population comprised all individuals with gender identity disorder (female to male and male to female) and normal individuals in Shiraz city in the year 2023. Out of the population, 30 individuals with gender identity disorder who attended forensic medicine, psychiatric clinics, and gender change centers in Shiraz, and 30 normal individuals were selected through convenience sampling and studied. Young's Schema Questionnaire (YSQ) and the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ) were used for data collection. After data collection and extraction, the participants' scores were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis of variance with the SPSS-24 statistical software. The findings indicated significant differences in early maladaptive schemas (rejection and disconnection, impaired autonomy and performance, other-directedness, overvigilance and inhibition, and impaired limits) between individuals with gender identity disorder and normal individuals (p &lt; .01). The results also showed significant differences in neurotic defense style and immature defense style between individuals with gender identity disorder and normal individuals (p &lt; .01); and a significant difference was found in the mature defense style between the two groups (p &lt; .05). Therefore, by identifying immature defense mechanisms and early maladaptive schemas and measuring their severity in individuals with gender identity disorder, psychological interventions (psychodynamic and psychoanalytic therapy) alongside other medical actions can be employed to reduce the severity of these mechanisms and schemas.

The Sero-Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses in Municipal Waste Collectors in Southwest of Iran.

The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serological markers among waste collectors in the municipality of Shiraz city, southwest of Iran, 2018. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 385 waste collectors from all 10 districts of Shiraz city, southwest of Iran were enrolled. A questionnaire was used to gather occupational and demographic information as well as awareness about viral hepatitis. Their blood samples were collected, and the sera were investigated for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBs antibody, and anti-HCV antibody using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the participants were men with a mean age of 41 ± 8 years. Out of 385 participants, 6 (1.5%) subjects were positive for HBsAg, indicative of HBV infection. Moreover, 38 (9.9%) had a protective level of anti-HBs antibodies, while more than 90% had a low level of anti-HBs antibodies. All participants were negative for HCV antibodies. According to these findings, evaluation of HBsAg and anti-HBs levels is recommended in the healthy program of waste collector workers (WCWs). However, this occupation might not be a risk factor for the acquisition of HBV and especially HCV infections.

Comparison of the Quality of Life and Depression in the Elderly with and without a History of COVID-19 Infection in Shiraz, Iran.

COVID-19 causes many physical and mental complications. The elderly, as one of the vulnerable groups, were more exposed to the problems caused by this pandemic. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of life and depression in the elderly with and without a history of COVID-19 infection. This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted on 404 elderly people (202 from the affected group and 202 from the nonaffected group) aged over 60 years old in Shiraz city. The elderly participants were selected based on simple random sampling from the elderly list. In order to collect information, the quality of life questionnaire of the World Health Organization and Beck's depression questionnaire were used. Data analysis was done through SPSS software version 22 using statistical tests of chi-square, t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation coefficient. An alpha level under 0.05 was considered the significant level. The average score of depression in the elderly with a history of COVID-19 (14.66 ± 13.17) was significantly higher than that of the elderly without a history of COVID-19 (9.71 ± 10.12) (p < 0.001). The average score of the quality of life in the elderly with a history of COVID-19 (80.15 ± 14.85) was significantly lower than that of the elderly without a history of COVID-19 (85.25 ± 14.09) (p < 0.001). Elderly people with a history of COVID-19 had more depression and lower quality of life compared to people without a history of COVID-19. It is suggested that planners and health policymakers should pay special attention to the use of effective psychological interventions in order to reduce the problems of the elderly.

The study protocol for the randomized controlled trial of the effects of a theory-based intervention on resilience, social capital, psychological wellbeing, and health-promoting lifestyle in healthcare workers

BackgroundThe workplace has been identified as a key determinant of health status. There is evidence of innumerable health problems among employees, particularly healthcare workers. Against this background, a holistic-systemic approach together with a good theoretical framework is required to reflect on this issue, and to support the design of effective interventions to promote the health and wellbeing of the given population. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention in improving resilience, social capital, psychological wellbeing, and health-promoting lifestyle in healthcare workers, utilizing the Social Cognitive Theory integrated into the PRECEDE-PROCEED model.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial will be performed on a large sample of the employees working in two healthcare centers in the city of Shiraz, Iran. The study will proceed with the healthcare workers of one city being given the educational intervention and the healthcare workers of the other city serving as a control group. Using a census method, all healthcare workers in the two cities will be informed of the trial and its purpose, and then invitations to join the study will be issued. The minimum sample size required has been calculated as 66 individuals in each healthcare centers. Recruitment to the trial will by systematic random sampling of eligible employees who submit an expression of interest in joining the trial, and subsequently give informed consent. Data will be collected through a self-administered survey instrument at three stages: at baseline, and both immediately and three months after the intervention. The experimental group members should participate in at least eight of the ten weekly educational sessions of the intervention and complete the surveys in the three stages. There is no educational intervention for the control group, and they simply experience some routine programs, and complete the surveys at the same three timepoints.DiscussionThe findings will provide evidence for the possible effectiveness of a theory-based educational intervention to improve resilience, social capital, psychological wellbeing, and health-promoting lifestyle among healthcare workers. If the educational intervention is found to be effective, then its protocol will be exploited in other organizations to boost resilience.Trial registration IRCT20220509054790N1.

Effects of thermodynamic properties of rice and ambient conditions on moisture migration during storage at naturally ventilated warehouses

The current study dealt with characterizing the effect of external variables on the moisture migration phenomenon in two naturally ventilated rice warehouses. Secondly, the thermodynamic properties of rice during the rehydration cycle were illustrated as numerical models to predict their behavior. Thai rice was stored at Shiraz city and Abadeh town for a total of 9 months in two identical warehouses. The effect of outside temperature and relative humidity on ambient conditions inside the warehouses as well as rice moisture content was evaluated. The dehydration rate of rice stored at Shiraz facility was higher than those stored at Abadeh warehouse by an average of 166% resulting in lower rice moister content. The 60-day latency in reaching minimum rice bulk moisture content at Abadeh warehouse was due to its cooler climate and less intense boundary area temperature gradient. The type II sigmoid-shaped sorption isotherm (fitted with the GAB model) indicated moisture content elevation above 11% sharply increased with the water activity beyond 0.7. The isosteric heat of sorption was linearly correlated with the entropy of sorption indicating adsorption was governed by compensation theory, was enthalpy driven and non-spontaneous. The most suitable conditions to store rice were determined by relating the grain’s moisture content and its thermodynamic properties during the sorption process. Therefore, storage of rice for prolonged durations was possible by maintaining the ambient temperature and relative humidity between 20.0 °C and 28.5 °C and 15.0% to 25%, respectively.

Relationship Between Attachment Behaviors and Marital Trust Among Nurses With the Mediating Role of Covert Aggression

Background: Marital trust as a fiduciary relationship is very important for ensuring the continuity of married life, and identifying its factors are critical. Female nurses are prone to marital problems due to involvement in stressful jobs with different work shifts and long working hours. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of covert aggression in relationships between attachment behaviors and marital trust in female nurses. Methods: This correlational study was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) from March to June 2021. The statistical population consisted of all married female nurses (aged 25-55 years) working in hospitals in Shiraz City, Iran. Of whom, 310 were selected as the sample through two-stage cluster random sampling. The research instruments included the Trust in Close Relationships scale, the brief accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement (BARE) scale, and the couples relational aggression and victimization scale (CRAViS). The proposed model was evaluated by SEM, and indirect relationships were examined using the Bootstrap method in AMOS-24. The significance level was considered to be 0.05. Results: The results showed that both indirect paths of dimensions of attachment behaviors and a marital trust, mediated by covert aggression (destruction of social image and emotional withdrawal), were statistically significant (P&lt;0.05). In addition, the results demonstrated a significant and direct relationship between dimensions of attachment behaviors and marital trust (P&lt;0.01). Conclusion: The study results show the acceptable goodness of fit of the proposed model. Therefore, policymakers, family consultants, and psychiatric nurses are recommended to pay special attention to the effects of attachment behaviors and covert aggression on the marital trust of female nurses.

Relationship Between Self-efficacy of Mothers and Health-promoting Behaviors of Their Adolescent Girls in Shiraz, Iran

Background &amp; Aims Adolescence is a period in which people are at risk of engaging in many health-threatening behaviors such as increased food intake, decreased physical activity, and increased developmental vulnerability which can be a threat to their future health. Counseling and changing their unhealthy behaviors can improve various aspects of their health, including mental and physical health. This study aims to determine the relationship between mothers' self-efficacy and health-promoting behaviors of their adolescent girls in Shiraz, Iran. Materials &amp; Methods In this study, participants were 384 high school female students (second term) and their mothers in Shiraz city in 2018. Mothers completed Sherer’s General Self-efficacy Scale and their girls completed Walker's Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII) questionnaire. Pearson or Spearman correlation test and t-test were used for statistical analysis in SPSS software, version 22. Results The mean HPLPII score of girls was 169.29±15.97. The mothers' mean self-efficacy score was 46.66±5.77. The results of Pearson's correlation test showed the direct and significant correlation of mothers' self-efficacy scores with health-promoting behaviors of girls and its domains (r=0.556, P&lt;0.05). Conclusion There is a direct significant relationship between mothers' self-efficacy and health-promoting behaviors of their daughters. Considering the importance of health-promoting behaviors and the effect of self-efficacy and living conditions on these behaviors, it is needed to develop strategies to improve people's lifestyle and healthy behaviors. Policy makers in the health system are recommended to promote self-efficacy of mothers by using cultural and educational programs.

Association between urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and F2a-isoprostane in male football players and healthy non-athlete controls with dietary inflammatory and antioxidant indices.

The relationship between the inflammatory and antioxidant potential of an athlete's diet and their oxidative biomarkers is an important area of investigation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the excretion of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and F2alpha-isoprostane (F2a-IP) in the urine of male football players and healthy non-athlete controls. This study also aimed to examine the associations among the dietary inflammatory index (DII), the dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC), and the dietary phytochemical index (PI) with 8-OHdG and F2a-IP. In this descriptive-analytical study, 45 male football players and 45 healthy non-athletes, who were individually matched based on age and body mass index (BMI), were recruited from Shiraz City, Iran. Fasted urine samples were analyzed for 8-OHdG and F2a-IP levels. Anthropometric measurements were performed, and body composition was assessed using a body composition analyzer. A valid food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to calculate DII, DTAC, and PI scores. Data analysis was conducted using a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model. We found that 8-OHdG (β = -6.96), F2a-IP (β = -82.58), and DII (β = -2.06) were significantly lower, while DTAC (β = 2.37) and PI (β = 0.084) were significantly higher in the football player group compared with the non-athlete group (P < 0.001 for all variables). In all participants, dietary indices were significantly associated with oxidative biomarkers. DII was positively associated with 8-OHdG (β = 2.25; P < 0.001) and F2a-IP (β = 38.34; P < 0.001). Furthermore, negative associations between DTAC (β = -1.42; P < 0.001) and PI (β = -35.37; P < 0.001) with 8-OHdG were found. Moreover, DTAC (β = -17.34; P < 0.001) and PI (β = -428.11; P = 0.003) were negatively associated with F2a-IP. The results of this study highlighted the importance of a healthy diet in reducing oxidative stress among football athletes. The levels of urinary biomarkers for DNA and lipid oxidation were found to be lower in football players compared to non-athletes. This suggests that following an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich diet may help reduce oxidative stress in these individuals.

Effect of Cognitive-emotional Rehabilitation on Cognitive Function and Memory of Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury

Background and Aims Today, traumatic brain injury and defects in cognitive functions and memory are the most frequent problems after brain injury. This study aims to examine the effectiveness of emotional and cognitive rehabilitation on cognitive performance and memory in patients with traumatized brain injury. Methods This study is an applied study in terms of purpose and experimental in terms of collecting information method. Considering purposive sampling and random selection of samples, we used the randomized block experiment with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. We used the emotional cognitive rehabilitation protocol based on Gross model (2002) and Nejati cognitive rehabilitation to train emotional and cognitive rehabilitation (2017). The study's statistical population included all brain-injured patients with cognitive defects and memory problems referred to Neurology Clinic, Shahid Motahari Hospital, and Razmehr Psychiatric Clinic, Shiraz City, Iran, from June 22, 2019, to January 20, 2020. This study consisted of 3 groups (2 experimental and 1 control group) at three levels (mild, moderate, and severe patients). The study participants were 45 patients selected after a brief mental examination with a mini-mental state examination test. Results Cognitive rehabilitation significantly (P&lt;0.001) increased the brain-injured patients' cognitive performance. Also, emotional and cognitive rehabilitation significantly (P&lt;0.001) affected the brain-injured patients' cognitive performance. Finally, cognitive rehabilitation significantly (P&lt;0.001) increased the brain-injured patients' memory performance. Conclusion It seems that through delivering necessary training and education regarding effective interpersonal skills, computer drills, practices at home, and so on, emotional and cognitive rehabilitation helps the brain injured people to properly manage emotions, effectively establish interpersonal communication, and lighten the load of negative emotions, and consequently memory gets improved will less stress. In fact, emotional and cognitive rehabilitation is a complete collection of training for regulating emotions and enhancing and growing memory. Thus, emotional and cognitive rehabilitation's significant effect on memory enhancement is logical and acceptable. In conclusion, this protocol effectively improves brain-injured people's cognitive performance.

Effectiveness of Otago Exercise Program on Successful Aging within Older Women with Migrant Children Referring to Public Health Centers in Shiraz City, Iran.

Background: Successful aging (SA) is considered an indicator of satisfaction of older people. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) on SA among older women. Materials and Methods: quasi-experimental research with a control group was conducted in 2021 on 120 older women in Shiraz city, south Iran. Eligible samples were selected by a three-stage cluster sampling method and were classified into two equal intervention and control groups. Eight training sessions (exercises) were conducted for the intervention group using the OEP. SA questionnaire was completed at the beginning and 2 months after the intervention. The data were analyzed using the IBM-SPSS version 26, and the effect sizes were extracted. Results: The mean age of samples in the intervention and control groups was 69.71 + 59.59 and 68.83 + 5.08 years, respectively. Although there was no significant difference in the mean scores of SA between the two groups at the beginning of the study, 2 months after the intervention implementation, the mean scores of SA increased significantly in the intervention group (t = 8.57, p ≤ .001). Conclusion: It seems that OEP is an effective strategy for supporting SA in older people.

The Effectiveness of Positive Psychology Education on Psychological Distress of Adolescents

Aim: The main goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of positive psychology education on psychological distress of adolescents in shiraz city. Methods: The research method of this study was a quasi-experimental pre-test-post-test type with a control group. The statistical population of this research was consisted of all male students of Arts and cultural Foundations of Shiraz city, in the year 2022. The statistical sample of this research included 30 boys' students of Cultural and Art Foundation of Vasta in Shiraz City, who were selected by purposive sampling method and randomly placed in two experimental and control groups. The experimental group underwent twelve sessions of 90-minute positive psychology training sessions introduced by Seligman and Rashid (2006), but the control group did not receive any training. The research instruments were the Scale the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale questionnaire (Lovibond and Lovibond, 1995). SPSS-26 was used for statistical analysis of data. Results: The results of multivariate covariance analysis showed that the training of positive psychological abilities has been able to be significantly effective on the psychological helplessness of adolescents in Shiraz. Also, the results of this research showed that the training of positive psychological abilities had a significant effect on the components of psychological helplessness. Conclusions: Therefore, teaching positive psychological abilities can be an effective approach to reduce adolescents' psychological vulnerability and helplessness.

Aging, Anxiety and Inequality: The Relation between Anxiety about Aging and Gender Inequality among Women in Shiraz City (Iran)

Introduction: Taking into account the growth of increase in the elderly population in Iran and the world, and the emergence of the phenomenon of feminization of aging, the present study has been conducted, with aim of examining the relationship between anxiety about aging and the perceived and experienced gender inequality among the women of Shiraz city (Iran).&#x0D; &#x0D; Methods: This cross-sectional study has been carried on 30 to 70 years old women in the city of Shiraz. The requied sample size is estimated to be 405 individuals, and the participants selected through a stratified random sampling. Data collection has taken place by a questionnaire which some of the questions of that were made by the authors and some are borrowed from anxiety about aging scale.The collected data were analyzed with SPSS 21 using pearson corellation tests.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: Experienced inequality has a significant positive correlation with anxiety about aging (total) (r = 0.226; p &lt; 0.01). The relation between perceived inequality has also been positive and significant with anxiety about aging (total) (r = 132; p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, there is a significant relationship between gender inequality (perceived and experienced) and anxiety about aging in different aspects, including social and economic fears, psychological fears, fear of losing the feminine position, fear of losing health, and fear of physical changes and changes in appearance.&#x0D; &#x0D; Conclusion: The anxiety about aging increases among women who experience and percive gender inequality. According to the accelerating process of population aging and the importance of paying attention to the social, psychological, and physical health of elderly women, it is necessary to take more considerations into account. In this regard, planning for decreasing the gender gap and inequality can be effective to some extent. Seemingly, the intersection of “the phenomenon of feminization of poverty,” due to gender inequality, with the phenomenon of “feminization of aging” in the future brings to the fore the necessity of paying attention to “anxiety about aging.”

Predicting Marital Burnout Based on the Severity of Early Maladaptive Schemas and Criteria for Mate Selection in Female Teachers

Objective: The study aims to investigate the relationship between caregiving burden, social support, and psychological distress among mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). It specifically examines the mediating role of social support in the linkage between caregiving burden and psychological distress. Methods and Materials: The study employed a descriptive correlational method. The target population comprised all female teachers in Shiraz city in 2021. A purposive sample of 200 teachers was selected. Data were collected using the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ), Rafahi and colleagues’ Mate Selection Criteria Questionnaire (2008), and the Pines Marital Burnout Scale (1996). The collected data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficients and multivariate regression in SPSS-24 software. Findings: The results indicated that mate selection criteria with a beta coefficient of -0.13, positive perfectionism with a beta coefficient of 0.31, and negative perfectionism with a beta coefficient of -0.19 significantly predicted marital burnout. Additionally, schemas in the domains of rejection and disconnection (beta = 0.59), impaired autonomy and performance (beta = 0.26), impaired limits (beta = 0.19), and other-directedness (beta = 0.20) were significant predictors of marital burnout in female teachers. Conclusion: The study concludes that both early maladaptive schemas and mate selection criteria are significant predictors of marital burnout among female teachers. The findings suggest that interventions targeting these schemas and criteria can be beneficial in addressing marital burnout.

Empowerment Through Education Phenomenological Study of Women Who Returned to School Later in Life

Objective: The empowerment of women through education is a critical area of study, especially for those returning to school later in life. This research aims to explore the lived experiences of women in Shiraz City, Fars Province, Iran, who have chosen to return to education, focusing on their motivations, challenges, coping strategies, and the impacts on their personal and professional lives. Methods and Materials: This qualitative study employs a phenomenological approach to deeply understand the experiences of the participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 women who returned to education later in life. The interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software to identify key themes and patterns. The participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure rich and relevant experiences were captured. Findings: The study revealed that the primary motivations for returning to education included personal growth, economic benefits, family influence, social interaction, and overcoming past regrets. Participants faced significant challenges such as balancing responsibilities, financial constraints, societal expectations, academic difficulties, emotional struggles, and institutional barriers. Coping strategies included time management, financial management, support networks, stress relief methods, academic support, and personal motivation. The impact of returning to education was profound, leading to increased self-esteem, professional growth, improved family dynamics, social engagement, empowerment, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Conclusion: The findings underscore the transformative potential of education for women returning to school later in life. While these women face numerous challenges, their experiences highlight the importance of supportive structures and policies to facilitate their educational journeys. Addressing financial, social, and institutional barriers can enhance their educational outcomes and broader societal contributions. Future research should focus on larger, more diverse samples and explore the role of digital learning platforms in supporting women's education.

Investigating and ranking the factors affecting the failure of entrepreneurship development in the tourism industry : Case study of Shiraz City, Iran

The aim of this study is to investigate and prioritize the factors that contribute to the failure of entrepreneurship development in the tourism industry in Shiraz, using the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The first step involved reviewing the scientific literature and consulting with experts to identify 20 factors that affect entrepreneurship development in the tourism industry, which were then grouped into five main factors. A hierarchical decision tree was created to guide the research process. The opinions of 22 experts and specialists were obtained through a paired comparison questionnaire designed specifically for the AHP method. Factors were then weighted and ranked using the AHP technique and Choice Expert software. The findings indicate that the primary factors contributing to the lack of progress in entrepreneurial development within the tourism industry of Shiraz City can be categorized as follows: services-related factors hold the highest significance, personal and psychological factors follow closely in second place, social and cultural factors, economic policies, government laws, and financial and economic factors hold the subsequent importance levels, Furthermore, the sub-factors within each main category were assessed and ranked, leading to the formulation of practical recommendations based on these priorities.

An Account of University Professors’ Perceptions of Educational Knowledge and Pedagogical Skills in an Individual and Online Learning Education System: A Comparative Study

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to many changes in people’s lifestyles and governments’ policies worldwide. In the education area, there has been an increase in the use of online learning due to the necessity of social distancing and an interruption in the transmission of information. The present study aimed to determine differences between online and in-person education systems regarding teachers’ perceptions of educational knowledge and pedagogical skills during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 1,500 teachers were selected from universities with in-person classes and 1,400 instructors were chosen from online universities in the cities of Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Yazd, Tabriz, Ahvaz, Zanjan, and Arak, Iran, in 2022. Notably, the teachers were active in the fields of general and business English. Overall, a questionnaire including 30 items was applied, and each item scored teachers’ educational knowledge and pedagogical skills based on their perceptions using a 5-point Likert scale. Data analysis was performed using MANOVA. According to the results, there was a significant difference between online and in-person education systems regarding general English teachers’ perceptions of their educational knowledge and pedagogical skills. Similar results were obtained for business English teachers. In fact, general and business English teachers of in-person universities had a higher perception of their educational knowledge and pedagogical skills compared with teachers of online universities.

Analysis of the Spatio-temporal variations of thermal patterns of Shiraz city by satellite images and GIS processing

In recent years, climate change has caused an increase in the air temperature and consequently the temperature of the earth's surface. The temperature of the earth's surface has had various effects on urban life and has caused the formation of thermal islands in cities. Thermal islands are one of the important criteria in regional planning. The city of Shiraz is considered to be a large population center in the southwest of Iran on the one hand and one of the important tourism centers of Iran on the other hand, so the purpose of this research is to monitor the spatial form of thermal islands in this city. The satellite images of Shiraz city were first collected and extracted in the hot periods of the year from 1985-to 2020 using the data of Landsat’s 4 and 5 (TM), 7 (ETM+), and 8 (OLI/TIRS). After required preprocessing, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), and the urban heat dispersion index were determined by the Urban Thermal Field Variance Index (UTFVI). The regions with UHI, the variation of the temperature in the city, and the relationship between the LST and surface vegetation were evaluated based on the results of image processing to determine the UHIs of Shiraz. The temporal variations of the temperature pattern of Shiraz city indicated that about 12.76 km2 was added to the area of the fourth temperature class from 1985 to 2020. Results of NDVI evaluation in the studied period showed a decline in the vegetation from 22.28 km2 in 1985 to 17.54 km2 in 2020 due to alteration of the land use which can explain the formation and increase of the UHIs in the mentioned regions. At the beginning of the investigated period (1985), the temperature of the earth's surface was 17°Celsius and reached 21°Celsius at the end of the period (2020). The monitoring of the spatial form of the surface temperature of the earth shows that heat islands are moving from the outskirts of the city towards the city center. UTFVI also revealed that the awful regions (very hot temperatures) are mainly concentrated in the west and north-west to the south west of Shiraz (including some parts of districts 9 and 10), south east of district 7, and north of district 1.