Iranian Samples Research Articles

Validation of the hyperbolic temperament questionnaire in Iran

ObjectiveBecause of the importance of the cross-cultural study of hyperbolic temperament in increasing knowledge related to borderline personality disorder (BPD), the present study was conducted to test the reliability, construct, criterion, and discriminant validity of the Hyperbolic Temperament Questionnaire (HTQ) in three Iranian samples.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, the HTQ 11-item version translated into Farsi was provided to three selected samples (total N = 558, 72% female, 18 to 77 years old with an average of 30.2 and a standard deviation of 10.3). The samples included non-personality disorder samples (n = 194), samples with BPD symptoms (n = 104), and samples with other personality disorder symptoms (n = 260). Data were collected using multiple validating measurements. Factor analysis was used to verify that the HTQ is unidimensional and correlations and regression models were used to examine its associations with other constructs.ResultsFactor analysis confirmed the single-factor structure of the HTQ in two non-personality disorder and BPD samples. The internal consistency of all items and the total scale were acceptable across the samples (α = 0.87 to 0.91). Positive correlations with maladaptive constructs such as negative affectivity and interpersonal sensitivity and negative correlations with adaptive constructs supported the criterion validity of HTQ. The HTQ was specifically related to borderline symptoms, even after controlling for similar constructs such as depression.ConclusionThe 11-item version of HTQ has acceptable reliability and validity in Iranian samples. Using this short tool for rapid screening of cases with BPD before common procedures such as clinical interviews helps to save diagnostic time and costs.

Assessing the validity and reliability of the International Anxiety Questionnaire and the International Depression Questionnaire in two bereaved national samples.

The International Anxiety Questionnaire (IAQ) and International Depression Questionnaire (IDQ) are self-report measures of ICD-11 Generalized Anxiety Disorder (ICD-11 GAD) and ICD-11 Single Episode Depressive Disorder (ICD-11 DD). This study tested the psychometric properties of these scales in two samples of bereaved adults from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the combined dimensionality and measurement invariance of the IAQ and IDQ across the United Kingdom (n = 1012) and Irish (n = 1011) samples. Differential item functioning (DIF) was tested using multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) modelling while convergent validity was also assessed. CFA results supported a correlated two-factor model in both samples. The MIMIC model showed that the IDQ item "Had recurrent thoughts of death or suicide" showed DIF and the effect was small. Internal reliability of the scales were high and convergent validity was supported. The prevalence of ICD-11 GAD was 18.6% and 16.1% and ICD-11 DD was 13.8% and 10.5% in the United Kingdom and Irish samples, respectively. Findings of the study provide support for the validity, measurement invariance, and reliability of the IAQ and IDQ among two bereaved national samples.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Fear of Self Questionnaire.

The aim of the study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the 20-item Fear of Self Questionnaire (FSQ) in Iranian samples. A cross-sectional, descriptive survey design was used. Students in universities of Tehran were invited to participate. Participants were asked to complete the Persian versions of the FSQ, Vancouver Obsessional Compulsive Inventory (VOCI), Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21), Ego Strength Scale (ESS), and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RES). Face, content, and construct validity, internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), and test-retest reliability of the FSQ were assessed. Face and content validity of the FSQ were confirmed. Analysis of the principal components using the inclined rotation method showed that there were two factors with an eigenvalue >1, which explained 80.5% of the total variance. The first factor had 12 items and the second factor had 8 items. The internal consistency was 0.975, 0.981, and 0.941 for the total score and the first and second factor, respectively, whereas the test-retest reliability was 0.732, 0.729, and 0.714, respectively (all p ≤ 0.01). For convergent validity of the FSQ, correlations of the total score and the two factors of the FSQ with the scores of VOCI, RES, ESS, and DASS-21 were all significant (p ≤ 0.01). The FSQ can be used in Iranian samples for clinical practice and research.

Barriers to brain health behaviours: results from the Five Lives Brain Health Ireland Survey.

Modifiable risk factors for dementia remain prevalent in Ireland. A detailed examination of barriers to risk reduction behaviours in an Irish context has heretofore been lacking. Many existing studies examining barriers to brain health behaviours fail to examine how they might vary across different modifiable risk factors. This study undertook a detailed assessment of barriers to individual risk reduction behaviours. As existing research suggests that barriers may vary across sociodemographic factors, we sought to investigate the distribution of barriers across age, gender, educational status, and household income. The Five Lives Brain Health Ireland Survey is a cross-sectional survey that was distributed online amongst a non-patient population. The survey captured the following: (1) Sociodemographic factors; (2) Barriers to brain health behaviours; (3) Exposure to, and knowledge of, modifiable risk factors for dementia, namely diet, social interaction, exercise, hypertension, sleep, current low mood/depression, current smoking, alcohol consumption, cognitive stimulation, hearing impairment, diabetes, air pollution, and head injury; (4) Participants' perceptions regarding potential for dementia prevention, and risk reduction. Lack of motivation was the most prevalent barrier to consuming a healthy diet (64%, n = 213), physical activity (77.7%, n = 167), smoking cessation (68%, n = 85), and moderation of alcohol intake (56.3%, n = 67). Practical factors were the most prevalent barriers to addressing low mood (56.5%, n = 87), air pollution (30.1%, n = 58), hearing impairment (63.8%, n = 44), diabetes (11.1%, n = 5), and head injury (80%, n = 8). Emotional factors were the most prevalent barriers to engaging in mentally stimulating activity (56.9%, n = 66), social activity (54.9%, n = 302), and good sleep (70.1%, n = 129). Lack of knowledge was the most prevalent barrier to hypertension control (14.4%, n = 29). Distribution of barriers varied across age, gender, educational status, and household income. This study investigated barriers to lifestyle change to improve brain health in an Irish sample of adults aged 50 and above. Detailed subtyping of barriers, as well as examination of differences according to age, gender, education, and income were undertaken. The heterogeneity of barriers to brain health behaviours revealed in this study highlights the necessity to tailor public health interventions to their target population, taking into account the gender, age, educational status, and income of recipients.

Method validation for simultaneous determination of macrolides, quinolones, and sulfonamides antibiotics in Iranian yogurt samples by SPE clean-up and UHPLC-MS/MS

The transmission of antibiotic residues through the food chain to humans is one of the main concerns of human health due to the emergence of various adverse effects, such as antibiotic resistance. The primary source of antibiotic residues in foods driven from animals is the misuse of antimicrobial drugs in animals. This study aimed to use a selective multi-residues method using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry on solid-phase extraction for simultaneous detection and analysis of 25 antibiotics from three different antibiotic groups of quinolones, sulfonamides, and macrolides as well as griseofulvin and trimethoprim in Iranian yogurt samples. The limit of quantification and limit of detection were obtained at 10.0 and 3.3 ng g−1, respectively. The average recovery was in the range of 96–116% for almost all analytes. The inter-day and intra-day precision showed relative standard deviation values lower than 20%. The validated method was applied to determine 25 target analytes of 34 pasteurized and traditional Iranian low-fat yogurt samples, and the results showed no antibiotic contamination.

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance across gender of the Compulsive Online Shopping Scale (COSS) among Iranians

The present study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Compulsive Online Shopping Scale (COSS) in an Iranian population. The total sample of 802 participants (257 females; Mean age = 22.27, SD = 2.83) were selected via convenience sampling from Tehran, Iran. Confirmatory Factor Analysis supported the 7-factor structure of the COSS as proposed in the original study. The measurement invariance found in this study suggests that the COSS provides sufficiently unbiased use among males and females. The current findings also support the concurrent validity of the Persian COSS, which exhibited positive and significant associations with loneliness, impulsivity, obsession, internalized symptoms, and Internet use. Furthermore, results confirm the convergent validity of the Persian COSS and showcased acceptable internal consistency for all factors, and the total score. The findings of the present study indicate that compulsive online shopping could be assessed adequately in Iranian samples using the COSS.

Validation of a Farsi version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (F-EDE-Q) in adolescents and university students from Iran

BackgroundAlthough the Farsi version of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (F-EDE-Q) is frequently utilized to assess disordered eating in Iran, its factor structure, reliability, and validity have not been investigated in Iranian samples, which is the aim of the current investigation.MethodUsing convenience sampling, this study recruited 1112 adolescents and 637 university students to complete disordered eating and mental health-focused questionnaires, including the F-EDE-Q.ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses of the 22 attitudinal items in the F-EDE-Q indicated that a brief seven-item, three-factor model (i.e., Dietary Restraint, Shape/Weight Overvaluation, Body Dissatisfaction with Shape and Weight) was the only factor structure that fit the data well for either sample. This brief version of the F-EDE-Q was invariant across gender, body weight, and age. Adolescent and university participants with higher weight reported higher average scores on each of the three subscales. Subscale scores showed good internal consistency reliability in the two samples. Further, supporting convergent validity, subscales were significantly associated with measures of body image-related preoccupation and bulimia symptoms, as well as measures of other theoretically related constructs including depressive symptoms and self-esteem.ConclusionFindings suggest that this brief, validated measure will enable researchers and clinical providers to appropriately assess disordered eating symptoms in adolescent and young adult Farsi-speaking populations.

Validity and Version of the Vision-related Quality of Life Questionnaire

Background and Objectives: The vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) questionnaire has already been developed. However, some items of these instruments are not suitable for Iranian samples. This study aims to develop the Persian version of this questionaire to evaluate the functional vision of visually impaired Iranian people. Methods: The VRQoL questionnaire was evaluated and 43 items were chosen as an initial questionnaire. Ten visually impaired people were interviewed to express their idea about the position and manner of expressing questions in the questionnaire. Some items were excluded and the remained items were given to 30 patients as well as some visual impairment specialists. Their opinions about the face validity of the questionnaire were used. The content validity of this instrument called the Iranian low vision questionnaire (ILVQ) was evaluated using Lawshe’s content validity ratio. To construct validity, factor analysis was used. Internal reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. Results: The reduction of psychometric items showed that three items should be eliminated and a 32-item questionnaire was produced as an Iranian low vision questionnaire (ILVQ). This local instrument has performance-based (13 items) and self-reported (19 items) sections with a five-point response scale. The psychometric evaluation showed an internal reliability of 96% by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and an overall reliability and repeatability of 0.96 (P<0.001) by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The test-retest reliability was obtained at 0.94 (P<0.001) to indicate the external reliability and stability of the instrument. Conclusion: This instrument has high validity and reliability, which is a standard tool to assess the quality of life (QoL) among Iranian visually impaired people. Existing questionnaires around the world should be modified to add or remove some items due to advanced technologies.

Anti-Bacterial Activity of Four Distinct Propolis Extracts against P. larvae and M. plutonius; Etiological Agent of American and European Foulbrood Disease of Honeybees.

Four different propolis samples obtained from different regions of Iran were evaluated for their antibacterial effects against the bacterial agents responsible for two important honeybee diseases. Paenibacillus larvae (P. larvae) and Melissococcus plutonius (M. plutonius), as the etiological agents of American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) diseases, were subjected to propolis ethanolic extracts in the agar well diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of the antibacterial effects of the samples against the two indicator organisms were determined by the microdilution technique using different concentrations of the propolis extracts. Finally, the synergistic antibacterial actions of the mixed propolis samples were determined, and their MIC and MBC values were recorded. A two-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate correlations among the diameters of the inhibition zones, the bacterial agents, and the propolis extracts. Based on our results, three of the propolis samples showed significant antibacterial effects against P. larvae and M. plutonius during the agar well diffusion assay. Furthermore, the antibacterial capacity of the propolis samples, when mixed in equal proportions, was significantly enhanced, as indicated by the obtained MIC and MBC values. Approximately, 0.02 mg/mL of mixed propolis samples was required for inhibiting the growth of both pathogens. A direct correlation was observed between propolis concentrations and their antibacterial activity. The results of the study are conclusive of the significant antibacterial actions of Iranian propolis samples against the etiological agents of the mentioned honeybee diseases, suggesting their probable use as a safe biological agent to control AFB and EFB diseases.

The psychometrics of the Persian version of the perfectionistic self-presentation scale-junior form.

The perfectionistic self-presentation scale (PSPS)-junior form is a self-report questionnaire used to measure perfectionistic self-presentation in children and adolescents. It consists of 18 items and 3 subscales, including perfectionistic self-promotion, non-display of imperfection, and nondisclosure of imperfection. The present study aimed to determine the psychometrics of the Persian version of the PSPS. A descriptive study was conducted on 345 samples (269 girls) who responded to the questionnaire. The findings confirmed the internal consistency and composite reliability (CR) of this scale (CR=0.744). Further, the Persian PSPS has acceptable face and content validities. Construct and convergent validities were also measured and confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. The correlational analysis of the research variables showed that the PSPS is positively correlated with the Child-Adolescent Perfectionism Scale (0.566) and the children's and adolescents' dysfunctional attitudes scale (0.420). Overall, the results indicated that the Persian version of the PSPS has acceptable psychometrics and can yield accurate results in Iranian samples.

Measuring implicit motivations: a qualitative approach

Purpose The present study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the picture story exercise (PSE), a tool for measuring implicit motivations in Iran. Design/methodology/approach The research method is descriptive correlation and was conducted in two studies. In the first study 24 psychology master’s students were selected by convenience sampling method and tested them to check retest and inter-coder reliability. The second study investigated the correlation between self-reports and the PSE test on a sample of managers. Its statistical population comprised all the managers of a refinery company, 50 people were selected by convenience sampling method. To check the concurrent validity of the PSE test, the participants of the second study, completing the PSE, also completed the needs questionnaire of Steers and Porter (1979). Findings The findings showed that the PSE test in the Iranian sample had high retest reliability (0.62 on mean) and inter-coder reliability (0.87 on mean), and, following previous research, it does not show a significant relationship with self-reported motives. Practical implications PSE can be used in future research as a tool that has demonstrated its reliability and validity in the Iranian sample. Originality/value Measurement of implicit motives is a practical factor for predicting people’s behavior, the necessity of using tools that can accurately evaluate implicit motives is strongly felt. Taking into account the fact that so far, in Iranian samples, implicit motivations have not been measured, therefore, the current research is trying to answer this question, whether one of the most important and prominent tools that were made for this purpose and used in various studies can also be used in Iranian samples.

Application of hollow fiber-protected liquid-phase microextraction combined with GC-MS in determining Endrin, Chlordane, and Dieldrin in rice samples.

This paper introduces a novel and minimized sample preparation technique based on hollow fiber-protected liquid-phase microextraction that can be used in joint with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) detection to extract three organochlorine pesticides-Endrin, Chlordane, and Dieldrin-from rice samples. To that end, a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and a proper ionic liquid (IL) were ultrasonically dispersed and injected into the lumen of hollow fiber as the extraction phase for preconcentrating and extracting the target analytes from the rice samples. The effects of the type of nanoparticles, ILs, and desorption solvent on the efficiency of extracting the analytes were investigated based on the one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach. In addition, other parameters influencing the extraction procedure were optimized using an experimental design that decreased the number of experiments, reagent consumption, and costs. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection and quantification in determining mentioned pesticides varied between 0.019-0.029 and 0.064-0.098ng mL-1, respectively. The calibration graphs to measure Endrin, Chlordane, and Dieldrin were linear over the concentration range of 0.064-13.2, 0.098-16.7, and 0.092-11.4ng mL-1, respectively. The relative standard deviations for inter-day and intra-day analysis were below 7.06 and 4.75% for the triplicate determination of three organochlorine pesticides. Besides, the relative recoveries and standard deviations of Endrin, Chlordane, and Dieldrin for analyzing several Iranian rice samples were between 86.0-92.9% and 4.5-5.8%, respectively. The results were compared with other similar works in literature, proving that the proposed method is efficient and useful for routine monitoring of organochlorine compounds in food samples.

The role of Anatolia between Asia and Europe: A case study of oak gall wasp species, Cynips quercus (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae)

In this study, we used DNA sequence data of a western Palearctic oak gall wasp species, Cynips quercus, showing distribution from Europe to Iran to answer the following questions: i) Do the eastern C. quercus populations have higher genetic diversity than the European populations?, ii) Are the eastern populations source for the European populations?, iii) What is the possible date of divergence between the Asian and European populations? For these purposes, we analysed 88 cytochrome b sequences representing Iran, Türkiye, Hungary, and Spain. Our analyses revealed that the highest genetic diversity was in Türkiye followed by Iran, Hungary, and Spain, respectively. Iranian samples were most divergent from the Spain and Hungary sequences. Pairwise comparisons showed that the highest gene flow was between Türkiye and Hungary, and between Türkiye and Iran, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the Turkish haplotypes with the Iranian sequences, and Spain was grouped with Hungary. Network analysis revealed that the western Turkish samples were separated from eastern sequences, and all of the eastern Turkish sequences were clustered with the Iranian samples meanwhile a western Turkish lineage provided a source to Hungary and then to Spain. Times of divergence analysis estimated that the Turkish lineage split from the Iranian lineage around 4,67 million years ago, and Hungarian and Spanish lineages diverged from each other about 3 million years ago. Correspondingly, our analyses suggested that Anatolia played a key role as a bridge between the Asian and European populations of C. quercus.

Clinical covariates of self-harm and suicidality in a community sample of Irish Travellers

IntroductionIrish Travellers are an indigenous minority group in Ireland. Health inequalities have been widely reported within the Traveller community, with a shorter life expectancy of 11 years less than the general population. Travellers also have higher mortality rates of 3.5 times higher than the general population in Ireland. Suicide is a serious problem in the Traveller community with a suicide rate of 11% among Travellers: 6 times higher in women and 7 times higher in men compared with their counterparts in the general population.ObjectivesThere is a paucity of research into the clinical characteristics of self-harm and suicidality among Irish Travellers despite the elevated suicide rates in this community. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gap in the mental health of Irish Travellers, focusing on the clinical factors associated with self-harm and suicidality in a community sample of Irish Travellers.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study. Study participants completed self-report and interview-based validated questionnaires that screen for anxiety (General Anxiety Disorder assessment: GAD-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire: PHQ-9), and suicidality (Suicide Behaviours Questionnaire-Revised: SBQ-R and Adult Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire: ASIQ). Ethical approval was granted through the Clinical Research Ethics Committee, University College Dublin.ResultsDespite an active recruitment campaign, participation rate from Irish Travellers in this study was low, with only five participants completing this study. Three were male. The mean age of the study participants was 39±14.7 years. All had pre-existing mental health diagnoses, most commonly anxiety disorder. All had at least one previous episode of self-harm and 80% had a positive family history of self-harming behaviour. No participants reported a history of alcohol or substance misuse. Over half of the participants reported severe anxiety and depressive symptoms with median GAD-7 score of 19 and PHQ-9 score of 21 respectively. All participants demonstrated significant risk of suicidal behaviour based on their SBQ-R and ASIQ scores.ConclusionsDespite elevated rates of suicidality and mental illness in this ethnic minority group, Irish Travellers demonstrated lower participation in mental health research, including this study. These recruitment challenges suggest that factors such as stigma, shame and lack of trust may be contributory. These factors may also act as barriers to them accessing mental healthcare when they develop mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression, associated with increased risk of self-harm and suicidal behaviours. There is a need for better engagement strategies with Travellers to promote awareness into their needs and reduce mental health problems in this population.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

A standardized assessment of geographic variation in size at maturity of European lobster (Homarus gammarus L.) in the North East Atlantic

Abstract Assessing size at maturity for European lobster Homarus gammarus across the North East Atlantic remains a fundamental knowledge gap for this commercially valuable fishery. This study for the first time collates existing data on physiological maturity of female European lobster H. gammarus across the North East Atlantic, including new data from Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man. Physiological estimates of size at maturity were undertaken using 1309 lobsters from 11 locations using a standardized methodology. Carapace length (CL) at which 50% of the sampled population had reached physiological maturity (CL50) varied between populations, ranging from 82 to 92.5 mm. CL50 estimates reported here are broadly similar for historic population samples in England, but estimates for Irish samples were lower than previous results. The development of a H. gammarus specific staging guide and methodology in this study enables the future comparison of potential fluctuations in female size at maturity.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Adult Sources of Self-esteem Inventory Among Iranian Students

Objective: This study aims to determine the validity and reliability of the Persian version of the adult sources of self-esteem inventory as a cross-cultural scale for assessing self-esteem. Methods: A sample of 500 students (350 females, 150 males) were selected from Kharazmi University in Iran and they completed the Persian version of the adult sources of Elovson and Fleming’s self-esteem inventory and Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale. Results: The Cronbach α of 0.90 indicated the satisfactory reliability of the inventory. Also, the results of the explanatory factor analysis proposed 3 factors, namely the outer self, personal self, and relational self. Additionally, the confirmatory factor analysis confirmed this structure. Conclusion: The findings showed that the Persian version of the adult sources of self-esteem inventory is a suitable tool to assess sources of self-esteem and can be used in research and intervention fields in Iranian samples.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the COVID-19 Phobia Scale

Background and Objectives: It is predicted that the negative effects of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic will continue. These negative effects are not limited to psychological problems. Serious physiological and economic problems have also been observed. It is important to develop and standardize appropriate tools to assess its different effects. This study aims to investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S) in Iranian samples. Methods: In this study, participants were people aged 18-60 years in Iran from March to May 2022, who were selected by a convenience sampling method. In order to evaluate the convergent and discriminant validity, the second version of the acceptance and action questionnaire, the brief version of the difficulty in emotion regulation scale, and the fear of COVID‐19 scale were used. The factor structure of the questionnaire was examined by confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was examined using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and the test-retest method. The data were analyzed in SPSS version 25 and LISREL version 8.8. Results: The results of confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the four-factor structure the Persian C19P-S. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the whole scale was 0.90; for the subscales of psychological, psychological, economic and social factors, it was 0.87, 0.88, 0.89, and 0.91, respectively. In addition, the test-retest reliability with a four-week interval for the whole scale was 0.86; for the subscales of psychological, psychological, economic and social factors, it was 0.83, 0.79, 0.82, and 0.88, respectively. The correlation coefficients indicated the favorable convergent and discriminant validity of the Persian C19P-S (P<0.001). Conclusion: The Persian C19P-S is a reliable and valid scale for measuring coronaphobia in Iranian samp

Comparative Analysis and Identification of Spike Mutations in Iranian COVID-19 Samples from the First Three Waves of Disease.

The spike surface glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 is the essential protein in virus attachment to the target cell and cell entrance. As this protein contains immunodominant epitopes and is the main target for immune recognition, it is the critical target for vaccine and therapeutics development. In the current research, we analyzed the variability and mutations of the spike glycoprotein isolated from 72 COVID-19-positive patients from Iran's first three waves of disease. The RNA was extracted from nasopharyngeal samples of confirmed COVID-19 cases and served as a template for cDNA synthesis and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction products of each sample were assembled and sequenced. After analysis of 72 sequences, we obtained 46 single nucleotide polymorphisms, including 23 that produce amino acid changes. Our analysis showed that the most frequent mutation was the D614G (in the samples of the second and third waves). Our findings suggest that developing effective vaccines requires identifying the predominant variants of SARS-CoV-2 in each community.

Dimensional Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Existential Loneliness Questionnaire (ELQ)

The recent pandemic of Coronavirus and its associated excess mortality have made the man more prone to feelings of isolation and being alone existentially. Therefore, it is necessary to identify, assess, and reduce such negative feelings. The present study aims to provide a Persian adaptation of the existential loneliness questionnaire (ELQ) and to examine its dimensional structure and psychometric characteristics. The ELQ items were translated into Persian using forward-backward translation method. Participant recruitment is conducted via social media platform and data is collected via online survey. Content validity was evaluated by the expert’s judgement, followed by factor analysis, validity, and reliability tests. Two samples of university students were collected. Sample 1 consisted of 305 students aged 18-53 years, completed the Persian adaptation of the ELQ and several other instruments: De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS), Existential Anxiety Questionnaire (EAQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13), Meaning in Life Questionnaire (MLQ), and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Sample 2 consisted of 262 students aged 18-50 years, completed only the Persian ELQ to conduct Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) tests. According to Parallel Analysis (PA) and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) results, a unidimensional structure was found for the Persian ELQ, and the results of the CFA test supported this finding. The Multi-group CFA test supported the measurement invariance of the questionnaire across two samples. Evidence of high internal consistency (α =.91) and adequate test-retest reliability (r= .73) was found as well. The correlational analyses revealed a strong construct validity based on the ELQ score’s significant association with other criterion measures. According to the findings of the study, the Persian version of the ELQ is a reliable, valid, and psychometrically suitable instrument for use in Iranian samples of university students.

Analysis of volatile organic compounds in Irish rapeseed oils

In recent years, consumer demand for health benefitting, pleasant-tasting rapeseed oil has increased, and so has production. Ireland's climate and agricultural background can support the production of high-quality rapeseed oil. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) can give rise to highly distinctive flavours in rapeseed oils, produced during crop growth and generated during processing. This study performed VOC and sensory evaluation to determine if correlations exist. Samples of Irish rapeseed oils from 6 different producers were analysed. Compounds detected in the oil samples consisted of acids, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, benzenes, esters, ether, terpenes, and sulphurs. While variations in whole volatile profiles were not considered significant, individual compounds and volatile classes were for hexanal, pentanal, ketones, acids, and sulphurs compounds. Correlations were observed between the VOCs detected and the sensory profile, which indicated the VOC content may influence an oil's sensory profile.