Virtual Access to STEM Careers: In the Field Experiments.

The Virtual Access to STEM Careers (VASC) project is an intertwined classroom and virtual reality (VR) curricular program for third through fourth graders. Elementary school students learn about and take on the roles and responsibilities of STEM occupations through authentic, problem-based tasks with physical kits and immersive VR environments. This article reports on a round of curriculum and virtual environment development and in-classroom experimentation that was guided by preliminary results gathered from our initial VASC prototyping and testing. This specific iteration focuses on curriculum for learning about sea turtles and tasks regularly completed by park rangers and marine biologists who work with these creatures and a new backend data collection component to analyze participant behavior. Our results showed that educators were able to setup and integrate VASC into their classrooms with relative ease. Elementary school students were able to learn how to interface with our system quickly and enjoyed being in the environment, making a positive link to STEM education.

A comprehensive interventional program based on the needs and concerns related to female genital cosmetic surgeries: protocol for a multistage mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Dissatisfaction with one's body and the subsequent rise in the cosmetic surgery trend pose significant public health concerns today. One unusual cosmetic surgical procedure involves enhancing the genital area. Numerous healthy women and girls have recently sought Genital Cosmetic Surgery (GCS) for beauty or improved sexual performance. There is a concern that this phenomenon may be linked to developing a new standard for vulvovaginal appearance. This stringent standard could potentially adversely affect women's mental health in the future, growing feelings of insecurity and possibly leading teenagers to consider plastic surgery. Implementing empowering and awareness-raising programs for women and girls is crucial, especially in light of the constantly evolving gender norms and the medicalization of sexuality and beauty as social constructs. It is essential that such training is integrated into comprehensive sexual education programs for adolescents. These efforts align perfectly with the SDG, recognizing that education in sexual and reproductive health, ensuring access to health, and empowering women are fundamental rights for women and girls. To accomplish these objectives, we will conduct this study to elucidate the needs and concerns related to the increasing trend of GCS. By doing so, we can concentrate on the factors motivating women to undergo GCS. This approach will enable us to develop effective interventions to empower women and girls considering GCS, thus enhancing their sexual and reproductive health. METHODS AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this multistage exploratory sequential mixed-method study will be structured into three phases: First phase: qualitative study. 1. In-depth interviews will be conducted to elucidate the needs and concerns associated with GCS with women with a history of GCS, spouses of willing participants, and women actively seeking these procedures. 2. A literature review in parallel with the qualitative phase will be conducted to gain insights into the needs and concerns of women worldwide considering GCS. Second phase: program design. 1. To formulate an intervention grounded in the primary priorities identified during the qualitative stage and informed by the literature review. 2. To prioritize the needs and concerns of women seeking GCS and to validate and endorse the intervention through input from an expert panel. Third phase: quantitative study. To assess and determine the effectiveness of the intervention designed to address the needs and concerns of women applying for GCS procedures. DISCUSSION: This study marks the first attempt to design and assess an intervention addressing the needs and concerns of cosmetic surgeries performed on the female genital and reproductive system. The hope is that this study's compilation and implementation will yield substantial evidence and documentation regarding the impact of educational interventions on women's and girls' sexual and reproductive empowerment. Given the rising prevalence of GCS among unmarried teenagers, this approach is of utmost significance. It underscores the necessity for gynecological and midwifery service providers to have comprehensive guidance on GCS. Such guidance can be an essential resource for healthcare providers in this field.

Contemporary concerns about body dissatisfaction and the growing trend of cosmetic surgery, including unusual trends of genital cosmetic surgery (GCS), are raising public health issues. This study addresses the needs and concerns related to the increasing trend of GCS among women.A multistage exploratory sequential mixed-method study will be structured into three phases, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative components: 1. A qualitative phase involving in-depth interviews and a literature review 2. A program design phase to formulate an intervention through input from an expert panel. 3. A quantitative phase to assess the intervention's effectiveness. The objectives include understanding the motivations behind GCS, developing an intervention grounded in these insights, and evaluating its impact on women's sexual and Reproductive empowerment. Given the rising prevalence of GCS among unmarried teenagers, this research holds significant importance. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive guidance on GCS for healthcare providers, aligning with empowering women and ensuring access to sexual and reproductive health education.

The Effect of Yoga on Maternal Anxiety in Women with Excessive Gestational Weight Gain: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Excessive gestational weight gain (EGWG) and anxiety are comorbid conditions that increase the risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of yoga on the anxiety of women with EGWG. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial was performed on EGWG pregnant women referring to comprehensive health centers in Qom city, Iran, between October 2021 and August 2022. Eighty-eight participants were assigned to the intervention (N = 44) and control (N = 44) groups. The experimental group participated in six sessions of 90-min yoga classes, and the control group only received routine care. Two questionnaires including a demographic information questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22. RESULTS: The results of this study showed a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of trait anxiety (25.84 ± 3.45 vs. 57.38 ± 8.07; p < 0.05) and state anxiety (27.93 ± 3.72 vs. 60.13 ± 8.13; p < 0.05) after intervention. On the other hand, the trait and state anxiety rates were stable in the experimental group before and after intervention, while they increased to the severe form of anxiety in the control group (effect size = -21.84 ± 10.66 vs. -19.43 ± 8.44). CONCLUSION: The result of this study showed that yoga has a positive effect on the anxiety of pregnant women with EGWG and can be used as a preventive or complementary solution to control the anxiety of these mothers.Exzessive Gewichtszunahme in der Schwangerschaft (EGWG) und Angst sind Komorbiditäten, die das Risiko für einen ungünstigen Verlauf für Mutter und Kind erhöhen. Diese Studie wurde durchgeführt, um die Auswirkung von Yoga auf Angst bei Frauen mit exzessiver Gewichtszunahme in der Schwangerschaft zu untersuchen.Diese randomisierte, kontrollierte Studie wurde bei Schwangeren mit EGWG durchgeführt, die sich zwischen Oktober 2021 und August 2022 an Zentren für ganzheitliche Gesundheit in der Stadt Ghom im Iran vorstellten. 88 Teilnehmerinnen wurden einer Interventions- (N = 44) und einer Kontrollgruppe (N = 44) zugeteilt. Die experimentelle Gruppe nahm an einem Yogakurs von sechsmal 90 minuten Dauer teil, die Kontrollgruppe erhielt lediglich die Standardversorgung. Die Datenerhebung erfolgte mit zwei Fragebögen: einem Fragebogen zu demografischen Angaben und dem State-Trait-Angstinventar (STAI). Die Auswertung der Daten erfolgte mit SPSS-Software, Version 22.Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigten einen statistisch signifikanten Unterschied zwischen beiden Gruppen im Hinblick auf Eigenschaftsangst (25.84 ± 3.45 vs. 57.38 ± 8.07; p < 0.05) und Zustandsangst (27.93 ± 3.72 vs. 60.13 ± 8.13; p < 0.05) nach der Intervention. Auf der anderen Seite waren die Raten von Eigenschafts- und Zustandsangst in der experimentellen Gruppe vor und nach der Intervention stabil, während sie in der Kontrollgruppe zur schweren Form von Angst anstiegen (Effektstärke = −21.84 ± 10.66 vs. −19.43 ± 8.44).Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie zeigen, dass Yoga sich bei Schwangeren mit EGWG positive auf Angst auswirkt und als präventive oder komplementäre Lösung zur Beherrschung von Angst bei diesen Müttern eingesetzt werden kann.

The effect of an mHealth application based on continuous support and education on fear of childbirth, self-efficacy, and birth mode in primiparous women: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The Fear of Childbirth (FOC) is associated with several adverse health outcomes for children and women. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive mobile health application named Tele-midwifery with an emphasis on continuous care and education, on FOC, self-efficacy, and childbirth mode in primiparous women. METHODS: Seventy primiparous women attending the prenatal clinic of Baharlou Hospital in Tehran, Iran, were randomly assigned to two parallel intervention and control groups with 35 participants each. Women in the intervention group received Tele-midwifery for eight weeks, whereas women in the control group only received routine care. The Wijma delivery expectancy/experience questionnaire and the Childbirth Self-Efficacy Inventory were used to measure the FOC and self-efficacy at baseline and eight weeks after the intervention. The FOC and birth mode were also measured after birth. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in FOC among women in the intervention group compared to control groups after eight weeks of intervention (- 20.9 [95% Confidence Interval,-24.01 to-17.83], p < 0.001), and after birth (- 30.8, [95% CI-33.8 to-27.97], p < 0.001). After eight weeks, the mean self-efficacy score in the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.001). Compared to the control group, the intervention group had a lower C-Section (CS) rate (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Tele-midwifery intervention reduced FOC, increased women's self-efficacy in childbirth, and decreased the number of CS in a group of first-time mothers. Healthcare providers can use the mHealth approach to support pregnant women with FOC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registration number: IRCT20200122046227N1, Registered on 27 January 2020.

The Effect of Auriculotherapy on an Overweight Pregnant Women's Weight-Gaining Pattern: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Background: A concomitant increase in pregnancy complications has accompanied the growing global trend of excessive weight gain during pregnancy. This study evaluates the effect of ear acupressure (auriculotherapy) on the weight-gaining pattern of overweight women during pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This study was a single-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted between January and September 2022. This study took place in health centers of Qom University of Medical Sciences in Iran. One-hundred thirty overweight pregnant women were selected by a purposeful sampling method and then divided into two groups by block randomization method. In the intervention group, two seeds were placed in the left ear on the metabolism and stomach points, while two seeds were placed in the right ear on the mouth and appetite points. Participants in the intervention group must press the seeds six times a day, 20 minutes before a meal for five weeks. For the placebo group, the Vaccaria seedless label was placed at the same points as the intervention group. A digital scale with an accuracy of 0.1 kg was used to weigh the pregnant women during each visit. Descriptive statistics, independent T-test, chi-square, and repeated measure ANOVA (analysis of variance) test were used to check the research objectives. Results: There was a statistically significant difference between the auriculotherapy and placebo groups immediately after completing the study (1120.68 ± 425.83 vs. 2704.09 ± 344.96 (g); P = 0.018), respectively. Also, there was a substantial difference in the weight gain of women two weeks (793.10 ± 278.38 vs. 1090.32 ± 330.31 (g); P < 0.001) and four weeks after the intervention (729.31 ± 241.52 vs. 964.51 ± 348.35 (g); P < 0.001) between the auriculotherapy and placebo groups. Discussion. The results of the present study indicated the effectiveness of auriculotherapy in controlling the weight gain of overweight pregnant women. This treatment could be used as a safe method, with easy access, and low cost in low-risk pregnancies. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with IRCT20200104046002N1.

Pregnancy rate, maternal and neonatal outcomes among breast cancer survivors: A systematic review.

AIM: This study investigated the pregnancy rate, maternal and neonatal outcomes, and breast cancer (BC) recurrence status after pregnancy among BC survivors. DESIGN: A systematic review. METHODS: Electronic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science [WOS], Scopus, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Scientific Information Database were systematically searched. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Observational studies reported the pregnancy rate, maternal and neonatal outcomes among reproductive-aged BC survivors, and the recurrence status of BC after pregnancy were eligible to include in this study. RESULTS: Of the 29 included studies, 13 studies were prospective cohorts or prospective multicenter or population-based cohorts, 14 studies were retrospective cohort or retrospective population-based cohort studies, and two studies were cross-sectional retrospective surveys or population-based descriptive studies. This systematic review showed that the pregnancy rate was estimated at 3.1%-48.5% among BC survivors who attempted to conceive. The most prevalent maternal outcomes of pregnancy were miscarriage (1.8%-33.3%) and induced abortion (5.0%-44%) as well as preterm birth (PTB) or very PTB (1.2%-21.1%), and twin birth (1.1%-38.8%) were the most prevalent neonatal outcomes occurring among BC survivors, respectively. In addition, most of the included studies indicated that pregnancy had no adverse effect on the status of BC recurrence among survivors. Surviving women can be encouraged and receive a carefully multidisciplinary approach regarding healthy pregnancy. No Patient or Public Contribution.

Virtual Reality, Fear of Pain and Labor Pain Intensity: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Labor and delivery are physiological conditions that occur due to the contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus. Labor pain is one of the most severe pains that anyone can experience, and its control is one of the most important goals of health care. Methods: This study was performed on 130 healthy pregnant women who had gestational ages of 37 to 40 weeks and were randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups using the closed envelope technique. Then a virtual reality (VR) headset containing a game was provided to the study subjects in the intervention group. The Harman Fear of childbirth questionnaire and visual analog scale (VAS) were completed at different times across labor according to the study protocol. The minimum time for using the headset was 20 minutes until the end of the first stage of labor. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test, independent t-test, and repeated measures test via SPSS software version 20. Results: The results showed a significant difference in pain score between the study groups. Despite expecting increasing pain intensity with labor progression, participants in the VR group reported less pain intensity and fear of labor pain compared to control subjects (F = 8.18, P < 0.05, between four and ten cervical dilatations). Conclusions: Virtual reality interventions can be regarded as a new non-pharmaceutical strategy to control labor pain and fear of normal vaginal delivery in pregnant women.

Pregnancy Health Among Breast Cancer Survivors: Development and Validation of an Educational Package in Iran.

Reproductive-aged breast cancer (BC) survivors are concerned about their fertility potential after BC treatment. No specific and comprehensive educational and clinical package examines pregnancy health in BC survivors. This study aimed to develop and validate a pregnancy health educational package for BC survivors who intend to experience pregnancy after completing cancer treatment. The present study is a mixed methods study conducted in three phases. The researchers, in phase 1, performed a qualitative content analysis study to explore the perceived needs and experiences of pregnancy among Iranian BC survivors. Then in the second phase, the authors conducted a systematic literature review to search all available packages, guidelines, documents, and published papers on pregnancy or fertility status among BC survivors worldwide. In the third phase, the intervention type was selected according to the opinions of the expert's team during two sessions of online meetings using the Delphi technique. The package quality was assessed by an expert team using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation Instrument II (AGREE II) tool. The pregnancy health package for BC survivors was developed in seven separate chapters based on the qualitative study and literature review findings. The results of the validity or quality assessment of the package according to the six domains of the AGREE II tool were reported as follows: the score for the scope and purpose domain was 95.55%, the stakeholder involvement domain was 89.16%, the score for the rigor of development domain was 92.97%, clarity of presentation domain was 94.44%, the score of applicability domain was 87.06%, and the score of editorial independence domain was calculated 93.75%. The pregnancy health package was designed with high quality and validity and, as an excellent cost-effective resource, is proposed to BC survivors to increase their awareness regarding their fertility issues before attempting to conceive.

Principal Factors Affecting Couples' Childbearing Policies: A Roadmap for Policymaking.

Background: The concept of negative population growth, population aging, and the need to implement child-encouraging policies is an important concern in many countries. As this issue is completely cultural and country-based, this study is designed to assess and prioritize the perception of newly married couples to the policies that may have a crucial role in the childbearing intention around the world. Materials and Methods: Through a descriptive cross-sectional study, 300 couples were selected by a simple random sampling method. Multilevel binary logistic regression was used for investigating the relationships among dimensions of family policies, socio-demographic variables, and childbearing intention. Results: Childbearing perception positively correlated with education and permanent job in both genders, maternal age range of 25-35, the higher length of marriage, having more children, and living in a government settlement. The most important family policies that couples preferred were contextual requirements (mean rank of 4.50%). Positive childbearing perception negatively correlated with higher age categories in women, the number of children, rental housing status, no insurance access, higher educational attainment, and low employment ranks in both men and women. Conclusions: This study cleared that family policies affect the childbearing intention of young couples. Polices involved contextual requirements, supporting couples to integrate work and home, health promotion plans, child-centered social support, and promoting the level of social and cultural relations.

The Effectiveness of Implementing Family-Centered Empowerment Model on Irrational Thoughts of Iranian Infertile Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Introduction: Infertility is one of the main problems of the family and is one of the factors that determine the identity and personality of Iranian infertile women. Family-centered empowerment model is a step toward increasing the self-efficacy of patients and enabling them to take responsibility of their illness. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of applying family-centered empowerment model on irrational thoughts of Iranian infertile women. Methods: This study was a randomized clinical trial conducted on 80 infertile women and their husbands that were randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. Irrational Parenthood Cognitions questionnaire was given to the intervention and control groups to complete before and 3 months after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 13.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: The mean (SD) of irrational thoughts' scores in the control group before and after the study were 33.92 (5.98) and 33.20 (6.83) respectively, and in the intervention group were 34.55 (5.61) and 19.97 (3.52), respectively. The result of independent t-test showed a significant reduction in irrational thoughts of women in the intervention group after the family-centered empowerment model intervention. Conclusion: The family-centered empowerment model after three months of continuous implementation was able to effectively reduce the irrational thoughts about having children in infertile women.

Effects of Small Talk With a Crowd of Virtual Humans on Users' Emotional and Behavioral Responses.

In this contribution, we empirically investigated the effect of small talk on the users' non-verbal behaviors and emotions when users interacted with a crowd of virtual humans (VHs) with positive behavioral dispositions. Users were tasked with collecting items in a virtual marketplace via natural speech-based dialogue with a crowd of virtual pedestrians and vendors. The users were able to engage in natural speech-based conversation in a predefined corpus of small talk content that covered various commonplace small talk topics such as conversations about the weather, general concerns, and entertainment based on similar real-life situations. For instance, the VHs with the small talk ability would ask the users some simple questions to make small talk or remind the users of their belongings. We conducted a between-subjects empirical evaluation to investigate whether the user behaviors and emotions were different between a small talk condition and a non-small talk condition, and examined gender effects of the participants. We collected objective and subjective measures of the users to analyze users' emotions and social interaction behaviors, when in conversation with VHs that either possessed small-talk capability or not, besides task or goal oriented dialogue capabilities. Our result revealed that the VHs with small talk capability could alter the emotions and non-verbal behaviors of the users. Furthermore, the non-verbal behaviors between female and male participants differed greatly in the presence or absence of small talk.

The effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Psidium guajava L. on experimentally induced oral mucosal wound in rat.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the biological effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Psidium guajava L leaves and phenytoin as a standard agent on the induced oral mucosal wound. METHODS: Hundred seventy Sprague Dawley rats were grouped in 5 clusters randomly. Oral mucosal wounds were induced in all rats except for the control group. Phenytoin and guajava leaf extract were used as a mouthwash. Twelve rats from the 5 groups were euthanized on day 7th and 10th, and 10 rats from each group were sacrificed on the 14th day. Interleukin-6 and total antioxidant capacity were determined in the serum. The tissues were evaluated for pathological and stereological assessments. Phytochemical analyses were performed on the hydroalcoholic extract of Psidium guajava L to determine the antioxidant potency. RESULTS: Total phenolic content test and DPPH analysis demonstrated the high potential of antioxidant capacity of Psidium guajava L. Decreasing IL-6 and increasing TAC were seen in the guajava hydroalcoholic extract and phenytoin groups. The difference of IL-6 between the wound treated guajava group and the wounded group was significant. The wound treated guajava group and wound treated phenytoin group on the 14th day increased the number of fibroblast cells and volume density of sub-mucosae effectively to the same thickness to be considered as a healed sub-mucosae layer. The volume density of the epithelium changes showed statistically significant different responses based on gender. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, hydroalcoholic extract of Psidium guajava L leaves might exert theraputic effects on oral mucositis.

Synergistic apoptotic effect of Mcl-1 inhibition and doxorubicin on B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.

BACKGROUND: Myeloid cell leukemia-1 (MCL-1) is a component of the Bcl-2 anti-apoptotic family that plays a key role in cell proliferation and differentiation. Despite tremendous improvements toward identification of the role of MCL-1 in leukemia progression, the functional significance and molecular mechanism behind the effect of MCL-1 overexpression on the proliferation of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL) has not been clarified. In addition, less well appreciated is the effect of MCL-1 inhibition on the potentiation of doxorubicin-induced apoptosis in BCP-ALL cell lines. In the present study, we aimed to shed light on the anti-cancer properties of S63845, a potent Mcl-1 inhibitor, in BCP-ALL cell lines either alone or in combination with a chemotherapeutic drug. METHODS AND RESULTS: Mononuclear cells from patients with Pre-B ALL and BCP-ALL cell lines were treated with S63845 in presence or absence of doxorubicin, induction of apoptosis was evaluated using Annexin-V/PI staining kit. mRNA and protein expression levels were assessed by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. Our results declared that inhibition of Mcl-1 impairs cell growth and induces apoptosis in pre-B ALL cells through activation of caspase-3 and up-regulation of a repertoire of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family. Additionally, S63845 acts synergically with doxorubicin to induce apoptosis in BCP-ALL cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: Our data declared that MCL-1 inhibition alone or in combination with a chemotherapeutic agent is considered an appealing strategy for the induction of apoptosis in BCP-ALL cells.

Non-physiological and Physiological Delivery Method: Comparison of Maternal Attachment Behaviors and Anxiety.

Introduction: Attachment is a stable connection or emotional knot between two individuals as one of the parties tries to maintain this connection. Delivery time as a turning point between two stages of attachment is very important. Methods: In a descriptive-analytical study based on specific inclusion criteria, 262 pregnant women were selected in the age range of 15-45 years old and the gestational age of 37 to 42 weeks who were candidates for physiological or non-physiological delivery. After obtaining written consent forms, the demographic information questionnaire was given to the participants. One hour after delivery, the attachment questionnaire was completed by the researcher in the postpartum ward. Also, the Spielberg anxiety inventory was completed up to 1 hour after delivery. Independent sample t test was used to compare the results between the two groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 21. Results: The participants in the physiological delivery group showed more positive attachment behaviors in comparison with the other group. In all three dimensions of attachment (emotional, contiguous, and caring behavior), physiological delivery showed higher scores than the other group. Also in non-physiological delivery group, the participants had experienced higher levels of anxiety and the differences between the groups were not significant. Conclusion: Results of the current study indicated that mothers engaged in physiological delivery had higher scores in mother to child attachment behaviors. It means they are more successful than the non-physiological delivery group in getting attached to their babies.

Childbearing Intention and its Associated Factors among Adolescent Girls: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Childbearing is an important phenomenon among adolescents. Studies that have evaluated teenagers' reproductive patterns have found that many adolescents are ambivalent regarding sexual activity and childbearing. In order to assess the patterns of adolescents' reproductive health and pregnancy to conduct interventions, every country needs to collect specific data about childbearing intentions. This study was conducted to determine the factors that may affect the childbearing intentions of adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This article was a narrative review. Articles derived from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from January of 2000 to February 2015 were assessed. Moreover, gray literature, such as conference abstracts, theses, and the result of technical reports were also used. RESULTS: In total, 15 studies were included in the review. The findings of this study showed that childbearing motives are affected by several factors. According to the results of the qualitative studies, some of the most important effective factors were women's decision-making power and financial issues. In this regard, the quantitative studies noted that the cultural and economic factors were more effective than other factors in determining the childbearing motives of adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Fertility expectations are affected by several factors and are compatible with a variety of conditions. Moreover, access to precise information on the effects of each factor (positive or negative) is necessary and useful for demographers, policymakers, and other planners in any community.

Examining the effects of altered avatars on perception-action in virtual reality.

In virtual reality (VR), avatars are graphical representations of people. Previous research highlights benefits of having a self-avatar when perceiving-acting while embedded in a virtual environment. We studied the effect that an altered avatar had on the perception of one's action capabilities. In Experiment 1, some participants acted with a normal, or faithful, avatar whereas another group of participants used an avatar with an extended arm, all in virtual reality. Experiment 2 utilized the same methodology and procedure as Experiment 1, except that only a calibration phase occurred in VR, whereas other phases were completed in the real world. All participants performed reaches to various distances presented visually. Results showed that calibration to altered dimensions of avatars is possible after receiving feedback while acting with the altered avatar. Calibration occurred more quickly when feedback was used to transition from a normal avatar to an altered avatar than when transitioning from the altered avatar back to the normal avatar without feedback. The implications of these findings for training in virtual reality simulations and for transfer to the real world are discussed, along with the implications for the concept of an embodied action schema. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

School girls and childbearing motives: A randomized clinical trial through hidden curriculum.

BACKGROUND: Childbearing motives are considered as the primary stimulus of fertility and the importance of making fertility decisions in humans. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of a new form of interactional program on the childbearing motives of students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: According to a well-defined, single-blind randomized controlled trial, we selected eight government schools in Tehran. Students in the age range of 7-12 yr and 16-18 yr (130 students in each school with a total number of 260) were selected for a series of intervention from storytelling to free discussion on a special subject through the concept of hidden curriculum. We evaluate the outcome with pretest-posttest based on the Miller childbearing motives questionnaire. One month after the last intervention, final evaluation took place. RESULTS: The findings showed that after an intervention conducted in the best way, all positive scores were promoted while the negative ones declined. One the other hand, no matter what really the participant's groups were, their total intention score got better. In this way, the total positive scores were significantly increased in the intervention groups (p = 0.000) Also, the students in high school significantly improved in positive scores and the negative score decreased in them. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the fundamental childbearing motives even with small interventions can be improved. Our intervention could improve the positive childbearing motives among school girls. In this regard, the role of some confounding factor such as the role of some confounding factors such as religious beliefs in family, maternal education is most important.

Association of S100B Serum Levels with Metabolic Syndrome and its Components.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to compare serum levels of S100B between patients with metabolic syndrome and healthy subjects and to investigate the association of S100B with components of the metabolic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 44 patients with metabolic syndrome and 44 healthy subjects participated. The participants' body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Serum levels of low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, insulin, S100B protein were determined by enzymatic and ELISA methods. RESULTS: The participants with metabolic syndrome had significantly higher levels of S100B than those in the control group (p < 0.0001). Serum levels of S100B protein were positively correlated with abdominal obesity (rho = 0.26; p = 0.01) and serum levels of triglyceride (rho = 0.26; p = 0.01). Moreover, serum levels of S100B were higher in subjects with abdominal obesity (p = 0.02), with higher serum triglyceride levels (p = 0.03) and with hypertension (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings indicate that there may be a link between S100B protein with abdominal obesity and serum levels of triglycerides. This warrants further research to elucidate whether increased S100B levels in patients with metabolic syndrome are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders.

Introdução: O nosso objetivo foi comparar os níveis séricos de S100B entre pacientes com síndrome metabólica e indivíduos saudáveis e investigar a associação de S100B com os componentes da síndrome metabólica. Material e Métodos: Neste estudo participaram 44 pacientes com síndrome metabólica e 44 indivíduos saudáveis. Foram medidos o índice de massa corporal, o perímetro abdominal, pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica dos participantes. Os níveis séricos de colesterol de lipoproteínas de baixa e alta densidade, colesterol total, triglicerídos, glicemia em jejum, insulina, proteína S100B foram determinados por métodos enzimáticos e ELISA. Resultados: Os participantes com síndrome metabólica apresentaram níveis significativamente mais altos de S100B do que os do grupo de controlo (p < 0,0001). Os níveis séricos de proteína S100B foram positivamente correlacionados com obesidade abdominal (rho = 0,26; p = 0,01) e níveis séricos de triglicéridos (rho = 0,26; p = 0,01). Além disso, os níveis séricos de S100B foram mais elevados em indivíduos com obesidade abdominal (p = 0,02), com níveis mais elevados de triglicéridos no soro (p = 0,03) e com hipertensão (p = 0,01). Conclusão: Os resultados indicam que pode haver uma ligação entre a proteína S100B com obesidade e níveis séricos de triglicéridos. Isso implica a necessidade de mais estudos para elucidar se o aumento dos níveis de S100B em pacientes com síndrome metabólica está envolvido na patogénese de doenças cardiovasculares.

Calibration to tool use during visually-guided reaching.

In studying human perception and performance researchers must understand how the body schema is modified to accurately represent one's capabilities when tools are used, as humans use tools that alter their capabilities frequently. The present work tested the idea that calibration is responsible for modifying an embodied action schema during tool use. We investigated calibration in the context of manual activity in near space through a behavioral measure. Participants made blind reaches to various visual distances in pre- and post-test phases using a short tool that did not extend their reach. During an intervening calibration phase they received visual feedback about the accuracy of their reaches, with half of the participants reaching with a tool that extended their reach by 30cm. Results indicated both groups showed calibration appropriate to the type of tool that they used during the calibration phase, and this calibration carried over to reaches made in the post-test. These results inform discussions on the proposed embodied action schema and have applications to virtual reality, specifically the development of self-avatars.

Down-regulation of S100A1 protein in patients with metabolic syndrome and its association with zinc-α2-glycoprotein.

Objectives It has been proposed that zinc-α2-glycoprotein and S100A1 are possibly linked to the development of lipogenesis and obesity. We aimed to measure serum levels of S100A1 and zinc-α2-glycoprotein in patients with metabolic syndrome and investigate any associations of these two novel peptides with each other or components of metabolic syndrome. Methods Forty-four patients with metabolic syndrome and the equivalent number of healthy controls participated in this study. The participants' body mass index, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured. Serum levels of low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood sugar, insulin, zinc-α2-glycoprotein and S100A1 protein were determined. Results Higher levels of anthropometric and lipid indices, metabolic factors and also SBP and DBP were observed in the metabolic syndrome group. Serum S100A1 levels were significantly lower in the metabolic syndrome group than the control group ( P = 0.008). There was a strong positive correlation between serum zinc-α2-glycoprotein and S100A1 levels ( r = 0.80, P < 0.0001). Serum levels of both S100A1 ( P = 0.03) and zinc-α2-glycoprotein ( P = 0.02) were potentially higher in subjects with hypertension than those with normal blood pressure, though these were found as part of multiple testing. Conclusion The results indicate that changes in the circulating level of S100A1 protein occur in metabolic syndrome patients. The strong correlation between serum zinc-α2-glycoprotein and S100A1 might suggest that production or release of these two proteins could be related mechanistically.