Sexual dysfunction and divorce in Iran: A systematic review.

Introduction: One of the causes of dissatisfaction between couples is sexual dysfunction that sometimes leads to divorce. The present systematic study was conducted to evaluate the factors affecting sexual dysfunction and divorce in Iran. Method: A comprehensive search, including keywords of sexual dysfunction, emotional divorce, breakaway, separation, conflict, and Iran, was conducted on the databases of Scopus, MEDLINE/PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Magiran, IranMedex, and SID. Out of the total number of reviewed articles, 16 articles met the inclusion criteria. No time limit was considered for our research and all published articles up to November 2021 were reviewed. Results: Based on the results of the present study, in all of the reviewed articles, sexual problems and dissatisfaction were among the effective factors in the occurrence or request of a formal divorce or an emotional divorce. The data also demonstrated that weakness in arousal and sexual desire, weakness in sexual function, sexual disorders, orgasm problems, and pain were among the problems of people on the verge of divorce. Conclusion: Due to the importance of this issue, recognizing the effective and influential factors of divorce is one of the priorities of mental health. Dissatisfaction with sexual relations in both or one of the spouses is found to be one of the most important factors involved in divorce. If there are problems such as sexual dysfunction between the couples, they may still live together due to cultural and social conditions; however, they may experience emotional divorce. Therefore, there is an urgent need for effective counseling and treatment programs in this regard.

An octonion-based nonlinear echo state network for speech emotion recognition in Metaverse.

While the Metaverse is becoming a popular trend and drawing much attention from academia, society, and businesses, processing cores used in its infrastructures need to be improved, particularly in terms of signal processing and pattern recognition. Accordingly, the speech emotion recognition (SER) method plays a crucial role in creating the Metaverse platforms more usable​ and enjoyable for its users. However, existing SER methods continue to be plagued by two significant problems in the online environment. The shortage of adequate engagement and customization between avatars and users is recognized as the first issue and the second problem is related to the complexity of SER problems in the Metaverse as we face people and their digital twins or avatars. This is why developing efficient machine learning (ML) techniques specified for hypercomplex signal processing is essential to enhance the impressiveness and tangibility of the Metaverse platforms. As a solution, echo state networks (ESNs), which are an ML powerful tool for SER, can be an appropriate technique to enhance the Metaverse's foundations in this area. Nevertheless, ESNs have some technical issues restricting them from a precise and reliable analysis, especially in the aspect of high-dimensional data. The most significant limitation of these networks is the high memory consumption caused by their reservoir structure in face of high-dimensional signals. To solve all problems associated with ESNs and their application in the Metaverse, we have come up with a novel structure for ESNs empowered by octonion algebra called NO2GESNet. Octonion numbers have eight dimensions, compactly display high-dimensional data, and improve the network precision and performance in comparison to conventional ESNs. The proposed network also solves the weaknesses of the ESNs in the presentation of the higher-order statistics to the output layer by equipping it with a multidimensional bilinear filter. Three comprehensive scenarios to use the proposed network in the Metaverse have been designed and analyzed, not only do they show the accuracy and performance of the proposed approach, but also the ways how SER can be employed in the Metaverse platforms.

The effectiveness of the Permission, Limited Information, Specific suggestions, Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model based sexual counseling on the sexual function of women with Multiple Sclerosis who are sexually active.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of sexual counseling based on the Permission, Limited Information, Specific Suggestion, Intensive Therapy (PLISSIT) model on the Sexual Dysfunction (SD) of married sexually active women who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This is the first sexual intervention applied by a midwife as a health professional on MS patients in Iran where the cultural and religious limitations are important challenging issues. STUDY DESIGN: This randomized clinical trial was carried out in Iranian Community of Support for MS Patients in Tehran, Iran. The participating women who had a definite diagnosis of MS and SD, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores <7, and aged 18-55 years were randomly assigned to experimental (EG, n=43) and control group (CG, n=45). Participants in the EG group received 4 weekly sexual counseling sessions based on the PLISSIT model (90-120min per session). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sexual function was assessed three times (before the intervention, and 2 months and 3 months after the intervention) using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Repeated Measures ANOVA were employed to analyze the data. RESULTS: The mean total FSFI score of the women in EG improved at 2 and 3 months after the intervention when it was compared with the FSFI score before the intervention (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in the total FSFI score when the data of 3 evaluations was compared in CG. A significant increase in the mean score of 6 subgroups was seen in EG (p<0.05) but not in CG. CONCLUSION: According to this study, utilizing the PLISSIT model as a framework for sexual counseling can improve sexual function in women who are sexually active and suffer from SD due to MS.