sh.amiri

Operating frequency range of a microphone array is limited by the array configuration. Spatial aliasing occurs at frequencies considered to be out of the microphone array operating range that leads to side-lobes in the array beam pattern and consequently degrades the performance of the microphone array. In this paper, a general approach for increasing the operational bandwidth of the spherical microphone array without physical changes to the microphone array is proposed. Recently, Alon and Rafaely proposed a beamforming method with aliasing cancellation and formulated it for some well-known beamformers such as maximum directivity (MD), maximum white noise gain (WNG), and minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) which have been called MDAC, MGAC, MVDR-AC beamformer respectively. In this paper, we derive MDAC method from different point of view. Then, based on our perspective, we propose a new method that is easily applicable for any beamforming algorithms. Comparing with MDAC and MGAC beamformers, performance measures for our approach show improvement in directivity index (DI) and white noise gain (WNG) by nearly 19% and 15% respectively. Aliasing and, in consequence, unwanted side lobe formation is the main factor in spherical microphone arrays operational bandwidth determination. Most of the methods previously presented to reduce aliasing demanded physical changes in the array structure which comes at a cost. In this paper we propose a new method based on Alon and Rafaely’s approach via designing a constrained optimization problem using orthogonality property of spherical harmonics, to achieve better performance.

First pregnancy, due to unknown pregnancy experiences, can cause psychological and emotional distress for mothers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal-fetal attachment training to tolerate distress and rumination of first pregnant mothers.

The research method was quasi-experimental with pretest, posttest, control group, and forty-five-day follow-up period design. The statistical population consisted of all the first pregnant mothers in Tehran in 2016. The study sample consisted of 30 first pregnant mothers with an age range between 25 and 35 years. Participants were selected through a non-random sampling method and they were randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. The intervention group received nine sessions of ninety-minute comprehensive training of maternal-fetal attachment during one month while the control group did not receive such intervention during the study process. The questionnaires used in this study included Distress Tolerance Questionnaire (Simmons and Gaher, 2005) and Ruminant Questionnaire (Nolenhoxma and Murrow, 1991). The data were analyzed by repeated measurement ANOVA.

The results of data analysis showed that training maternal-fetal attachment has significantly influenced distress tolerance (f=153.08, p<0.001) and rumination (f=256.11, p<0.001) in the first pregnant mothers.

Based on the findings of the present study, it can be concluded that training maternal-fetal attachment by using relaxation and breathing techniques to reduce anxiety and mental imaging training can increase distress tolerance and reduce rumination of first pregnant mothers. Accordingly, training maternal-fetal attachment can be applied as an effective treatment to reduce the distress tolerance and rumination of first pregnant mothers.

Today, it is common to use multimedia in foreign language teaching. There are some principles for designing multimedia that would reduce task cognitive load. These principles are based on the cognitive load theory. The methods of cognitive load measurement are divided into two categories, namely the subjective and objective measurements. NASA-TLX is an example of the subjective measurements; methods such as electroencephalography and eye-tracking are among the objective measurements. Due to the advantages of objective measurements, using these methods is common in cognitive studies. Eye-tracking technology can record different eye-movements of humans such as pupil dilation, saccades, fixations, blinks and microsaccades with a high sampling rate. These measurements are being widely used in cognitive and mental workload studies. In this paper, the cognitive load in multimedia language learning has been evaluated, using eye-tracking data analysis.

Two multimedia versions for teaching English were produced with the same narration and the length of 342s. In one version, the principles in designing multimedia were applied whereas in the other version, they were violated so that more cognitive load in comparison to the former version could be imposed. Ten subjects whose English listening comprehension was assessed with a simulation of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) participated in the experiment and were randomly divided into two equal groups of five. The two groups were homogeneous with respect to their listening proficiency. One group watched the multimedia without principles while the other group watched the multimedia with principles. Then, each individual answered 12 multiple choice questions about the concepts presented in the multimedia as a performance test. During watching the multimedia and taking the performance test, the participants’ eye movement data were recorded. Then, each person filled out the NASA-TLX Questionnaire. Based on the results of the performance test and the NASA-TLX, the difficulty level of the multimedia without principles as compared to its version with principles was evaluated. The collected data were divided into blocks of 30 seconds.

Based on the NASA-TLX, the group who watched multimedia without principles experienced more cognitive load in comparison to the group who watched multimedia with principles, which approved our assumption about the higher load of the multimedia without principles. However, no significant difference was found in the results of the performance test between the two groups. According to statistical analyses, the pupil diameter, saccade length, saccade velocity, blink latency, and microsaccade amplitude in the multimedia blocks of both groups were significantly different. Nevertheless, no significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of the fixation time, the fixation rate, and the microsaccade rate.

Based on the findings of this study, pupil dilation, saccade length, saccade velocity, blink latency, and microsaccade amplitude have a significant relationship with the amount of the load imposed by the instructional multimedia which corresponds to the literature review of the study. Based on the results of this study, along with the subjective methods, eye movement data can also be considered as an appropriate tool for assessing the cognitive load imposed by multimedia learning and qualifying the multimedia instructional content. A significant difference was also found between the two groups in the study in terms of their blinking rate.  More investigation and different experiments are needed for examining other eye movement criteria that have been investigated in this study, including fixation time, fixation rate, and microsaccade rate so that a more definitive conclusion would be reached regarding a significant relationship between these parameters and the mental load imposed by the multimedia English teaching.     

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, progressive disease of the joints that presents with articular and systemic symptoms. The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with body mass index.

This descriptive-analytical study was performed in 195 patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Tohid Hospital, Sanandaj, Iran. The data collection tool was a questionnaire including demographic and clinical characteristics. The SF-36 instrument was used to evaluate the quality of life.

In the study, 40% of men and 58% of women had a disease severity higher than 2.6 according to the Disease Activity Score 28. There was a significant difference in all dimensions of quality of life including physical function, energy / fatigue and general health between men and women (P <0.05). All dimensions of quality of life were inversely correlated with BMI. There was a significant relationship between the disease severity and each of the dimensions of pain, general health and general changes (P <0.05).

Quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis is correlated with body mass index and severity of rheumatoid arthritis; therefore, it seems that health policy makers or clinical practitioners need to pay more attention to these two factors to increase the patients’ quality of life.

This paper aims to study parents’ and teachers’ perception of the parent participation phenomenon in education. A mixed-methods sequential explanatory design was applied. Participants included 200 teachers and 210 parents who were selected viamulti-stage cluster sampling from different socio-economic regions of Kermanshah City. In order to collect data, initially some semi-structured interviews were held. Subsequently, based on highlighted components from interviews, a questionnaire was designed for gathering quantitative data. The validity and reliability measures of the questionnaire were confirmed via exploratory factor analysis and Cronbach’s Alpha. Factors representing quality and mechanisms of participation, types of interaction and psychological and social impacts of participation were derived from the interviews. The findings revealed that almost all of the parents had not been purposefully involved in the educational performance of their children and there was no evidence of parental cooperation as a group was surfaced. The findings indicated that although the parents to a large extent were aware of the importance of their involvement in their children’s education in practice they failed to engage in this activity for several reasons. The parents stated that they were rarely in touch with teachers and were not fully aware of their children’s learning difficulties. In addition the extent of parents’ voluntary participation in the education process of their children was not satisfactory and they rarely helped and guided their children with their homework. Furthermore, despite teachers, parents want that their children to be encouraged to do their school work. Also, unlike the children's fathers, their mothers were more interested in accepting responsibility for the education of their children. However, there is some kind of disagreement between teachers and parents on how to participate in educational affairs. Thus, teachers were unwilling to allow parents to be involved in the educational process. Finally, the findings revealed that in addition to the teachers and parents support as effective factors regarding the students’ habits of study and effort, the student's opinions should be taken into account and considered seriously.

The present study aims to investigate the efficacy of attachment-based therapy, diet therapy and compound therapy (attachment-based & diet therapy) in the treatment of binge eating disorder among the female students of primary school in Ahvaz. This is an experimental study with pre-test, post-test, follow up and a control group. The target samples were 68 female individuals of primary school that have the highest scores in attachment, binge eating disorder and obesity. The evaluation implements include Randolph attachment disorder questionnaire, Children’s Binge Eating Disorder Scale and BMI. Four groups have been made including the attachment-based therapy group, diet therapy group, compound therapy group and a control group. The mothers of the attachment-based therapy group have participated in 10 learning attachment-based therapy sessions. The mothers of the diet therapy group received a food diet instruction according to their children's age. The mothers of the compound group received both of those programs and the mothers of the control group have none of those. After the implementation of the therapies, a post test has been done. After 45 days a follow up test has also been done. The result of covariate analysis shows that implementation of the therapies has reduced some signs of binge eating disorder and obesity symptoms among the tested groups. In the post-test, the diet therapy is proved to be more effective in decreasing binge eating disorder and obesity in the girls in comparison to the other groups but in the flow up, the attachment based therapy is proved to be more effective in decreasing binge eating disorder and obesity in the girls in comparison to the other groups. Therefore, attachment therapy can be exploited as the chosen method along with diet therapy views to reduce binge eating disorder in obese children.

The purpose of present study was to standardize and study of psychometric properties of Latency Attachment Scale340 students age 7 to 12 year were randomly selected as samples of the study from city of Isfahan. The parents answered the items of latency Attachment Scale. Using kronbach alpha, the reliability of each desirable factors obtained. (83,. 8,. 77, and. 58 respectively). The validity of the questionnaire was verified using discriminant validity and face validity. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 4 distinct factors in the structure of the scale. The 90th percentile points were selected for the factors: 56, 72, 73, and 49 respectively. It was concluded that the results of validity and reliability analysis of Latency Attachment Scale shows that this instrument is reliable and valid and is capable to be used to investigate attachment disorder.

Standards observation in imaging centers cause to patient dose reduction in patients and improving image quality. Identification standards and determine the gap own facilities with standard centers is a necessity for standardization. In this article, Standards level in imaging centers have been studied in Ilam province. Dose was measured in the controlled, monitored and uncontrolled region for each center. Czech list contains 210 items were prepared by using standard values in the world and Iran. Separately, Czech list were completed for each center. Level standard calculated at sections: building and construction, Preparation and usage of equipment, Protection of staff and patients, Patient rights and staff salaries for all hospitals and presented as percentage of standard. Level of patient information has been checked about radiation effects by using the questionnaire. Level of dose were standard in controlled monitored and uncontrolled region all of centers. Generally the level standards in Ilam imaging centers were obtained at sections: Building and construction 64.9 ℅, Preparation and usage of equipment 69.4℅, Protective staff and patients 80.03℅, Rights of patients 81.7℅ and staff rights almost 100%. Patient imaging centers were aware of effects of radiation on cell were 28%. In this study, the level of standard and distance to the full the level of standardization Were determined for all centers.The level of gap with completely standardization of imaging centers in the province is building and construction section35.1℅, preparing and application of equipment 30.6℅, Protection of staff and patients 19.97℅, Patient rights 18.3%. As well as patient imaging centers not informed about the effects of radiation on cells were 72%.

This study is designed to investigate the effect of cognitive- behavioral family therapy on reduction of children's behavioral problems in divorcing families. 24 couples were randomly selected from among the couples who were refferd to behzisti office for counseling ,were assigned randomly in 2 groups control group and experimental group. The children 2 groups were evaluated by pre and post test view child symptom inventory and then children's behavioral problems was measured. experimental group were received 8 session of the cognitive- behavioral family therapy (each sessions 90 minute). The results showed significant effect of cognitive-behavioral family therapy on reduction of children's behavioral problems .

Successful implantation during assissted reproductive technique cycles depend on many factors including embryonic and uterine variables. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference between embryonic and endometrial ultrasonographic parameters in patients who had undergone In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic (ICSI) in successful and failed cycles. In this descriptive study 108 patients aged<38 with basal serum FSH level<12 and no more than two failed attempts of ART cycles, whose uterin were confirmed by ultrasound to be morphologically normal, were studied. Ultrasound evaluation was performed by a single expert on the day of embryo transfer. Ultrasonographic parameters of endometrium and embryonic variables were analyzed based on the occurrence of pregnancy. 33.3% of patients conceived. No significant difference was found between pregnant and non-pregnant group regarding demographic, hormonal and cycle characteristics and ultrasonographic parameters. On the contrary, embryonic factors differed significantly between the two groups. While embryonic factors significantly influence successful implantation, there is no relationship between ultrasonographic parameters of endometrium on the day of embryo and implantation.