Investigation of the Role of Training Health Volunteers in Promoting Pap Smear Test Use among Iranian Women Based on the Protection Motivation Theory

Ghahremani, Leila,Harami, Zahra Khiyali,Kaveh, Mohammad Hossein,Keshavarzi, Sareh Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.3

Background: Cervical cancer is known as one of the most prevalent types of cancers and a major public health problem in developing countries which can be detected by Pap test, prevented, and treated. Despite the effective role of Pap test in decreasing the incidence and mortality due to cervical cancer, it is still one the most common causes of cancer-related deaths among women, especially in developing countries. Thus, this study aimed to examine the effect of educational interventions implemented by health volunteers based on protection motivation theory (PMT) on promoting Pap test use among women. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 60 health volunteers and 420 women. The study participants were divided into an intervention and a control group. Data were collected using a valid self-reported questionnaire including demographic variables and PMT constructs which was completed by both groups before and 2 months after the intervention. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software, version 19 and were analyzed using Chi-square test, independent T-test, and descriptive statistical methods. P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The findings of this study showed that the mean scores of PMT constructs (i.e. perceived vulnerability, perceived severity, fear, response-costs, self-efficacy, and intention) increased in the intervention group after the intervention (P<0.001). However, no significant difference was found between the two groups regarding response efficacy after the intervention (P=0.06). The rate of Pap test use also increased by about 62.9% among the study women. Conclusions: This study showed a significant positive relationship between PMT-based training and Pap test use. The results also revealed the successful contribution of health volunteers to training cervical cancer screening. Thus, training interventions based on PMT are suggested to be designed and implemented and health volunteers are recommended to be employed for educational purposes and promoting the community's, especially women's, health.

Self-Care Education Programs Based on a Trans-Theoretical Model in Women Referring to Health Centers: Breast Self-Examination Behavior in Iran

Ghahremani, Leila,Mousavi, Zakiyeh,Kaveh, Mohammad Hossein,Ghaem, Haleh Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.12

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and a major public health problem in developing countries. However, early detection and treatment may be achieved by breast self-examination (BSE). Despite the importance of BSE in reducing the incidence of breast cancer and esultant deaths, the disease continues to be the most common cause of cancer death among women in Iran.This study aimed to determine the effects of self-care education on performance of BSE among women referring to health centers in our country. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental interventional study with pretest/posttest control group design was conducted on 168 women referred to health centers. The data were collected using a validated researcher-made questionnaire including demographic variables and trans-theoretical model constructs as well as a checklist assessing BSE behavior. The instruments were administered to groups with and without self-care education before, a week after, and 10 weeks after the intervention. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (version 19) and analyzed using independent sample t-tests, paired sample t-test, repeated measures ANOVA, Chi-square, and Friedman tests (p<0.05). Results: The results showed an increase in the intervention group's mean scores of trans-theoretical model constructs (stages of change, self-efficacy, decisional balance, and processes of change) and BSE behavior compared to the control group (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study confirmed the effectiveness of aneducational intervention based ona trans-theoretical model in performing BSE. Therefore, designing educational interventions based on this model is recommended to improve women's health and reduce deaths due to breast cancer.

Alteration in the Local and Global Functional Connectivity of Resting State Networks in Parkinson’s Disease

Maryam Ghahremani,유재준,정선주,유광선,예종철,정용 대한파킨슨병및이상운동질환학회 2018 Journal Of Movement Disorders Vol.11 No.1

Objective Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that mainly leads to the impairment of patients’ motor function, as well as of cognition, as it progresses. This study tried to investigate the impact of PD on the resting state functional connectivity of the default mode network (DMN), as well as of the entire brain. Methods Sixty patients with PD were included and compared to 60 matched normal control (NC) subjects. For the local connectivity analysis, the resting state fMRI data were analyzed by seed-based correlation analyses, and then a novel persistent homology analysis was implemented to examine the connectivity from a global perspective. Results The functional connectivity of the DMN was decreased in the PD group compared to the NC, with a stronger difference in the medial prefrontal cortex. Moreover, the results of the persistent homology analysis indicated that the PD group had a more locally connected and less globally connected network compared to the NC. Conclusion Our findings suggest that the DMN is altered in PD, and persistent homology analysis, as a useful measure of the topological characteristics of the networks from a broader perspective, was able to identify changes in the large-scale functional organization of the patients’ brain.

FRANCHISEE’S IDEA SHARING WITHIN FRANCHISE SYSTEM: EXPLAINING DIFFERENCES IN SERVICE INDUSTRIES

Mehdi Ghahremani,Tony C. Garrett 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2023 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2023 No.07

Based on expectancy theory, this study examines the extent to which franchisees share innovative ideas within the franchise system as a function of their expectation that the ideas are adopted (success expectancy), and their belief that such effort benefits their own personal interests (valence) under different service industries. In addition, satisfaction is considered as an additional motivator that may promote the sharing of ideas. We argue how can the decision maker (franchisor) be aware and take advantage of unknown innovative ideas the franchisees may have.

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Cultivated Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus)

Hojat Ghahremani-majd,Farshad Dashti 한국원예학회 2015 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.56 No.3

Mushrooms contain a variety of secondary metabolites, including various phenolic compounds and ergothioneine, which have been shown to act as excellent antioxidants. The present study reports a comparison of the antioxidant properties, total phenolic, ergothioneine and mineral contents of the most-consumed strains of Agaricus bisporus (white or brown colors). The samples were fruiting body, mycelia produced at farm (old mycelium) and in vitro (young mycelium). The antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH, FRAP and ABTS assays. The analysis of phenolic compounds was performed by Folin-Ciocalteau method. The mushroom strain with the highest ergothioneine, phenolic compounds and antioxidant potential was the strain A-SPA15 (brown color). Generally, fruiting body samples revealed higher ergothioneine, phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties than mycelia obtained from farm and in vitro culture. There were variations in the mineral content of A. bisporus harvested from the fruiting body, old mycelium, and young mycelium. Furthermore, the lowest heavy-metal concentrations (Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr) were detected in mycelium samples in each strain. Results demonstrated that mushrooms contained high amounts of copper, zinc, iron and manganese could be used in well-balanced diets. This study contributes to the data relative to A. bisporus consumed as fresh mushrooms and the possibility of in vitro production as a source of bioactive compounds.

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Iranian Mooseer (Allium hirtifolium Boiss) Populations

Hojat Ghahremani-majd,Farshad Dashti,Dara Dastan,Hasan Mumivand,Javad Hadian,Mahmood Esna-Ashari 한국원예학회 2012 Horticulture, Environment, and Biotechnology Vol.53 No.2

Mooseer or Persian shallot is a bulbous perennial herb belonging to the Alliaceae family. Antioxidant activities of 12 mooseer populations were determined using three assays including DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS. Antioxidant activities differed among all populations with the Sahneh and Nahavand population as the highest and the lowest, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of mooseer extracts were tested against six bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae and two fungi including Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae by disc diffusion method by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration values with all samples indicating moderate to high antimicrobial activity. For antimicrobial activity, Esfahan population showed the highest inhibitory effect on bacteria and fungi. According to the results of the study, mooseer has potential as a valuable dietary supplement.

CONTRACTS, INCENTIVE STRATEGIES, AND EX POST GOVERNANCES UNDER DIFFERENT STAGES OF RELATIONSHIPS

Mehdi Ghahremani,Tony C. Garrett 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2021 Global Fashion Management Conference Vol.2021 No.11

Microstructure and mechanical properties of spark plasma sintered aluminabased composites reinforced with WC

D. Ghahremani,I. Mobasherpour,M. RAZAVI,H. Eslami Shahed,H. Rajaei 한양대학교 세라믹연구소 2016 Journal of Ceramic Processing Research Vol.17 No.11

Alumina-based composites reinforced with WC were fabricated by powder processing techniques and consolidated by sparkplasma sintering. Microstructure, strength, hardness and fracture toughness of the Al2O3-WC composites were studied. TheAl2O3-WC composite containing 5-20 wt% WC reached over 95% theoretical density at 1650 oC and nearly full density at1700 oC. The strength, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of Al2O3-(10 wt. %)WC composite sintered at 1700 oC reacheda maximum value of 463 MPa, 2208 HV, and 4.15 MPa.m1/2 respectively.

An experimental study of the performance of low-molecular weight polymer for enhanced heavy oil recovery in a heterogeneous media

Hossein Ghahremani,Sina Mobaraki,Seyyed Shahram Khalilinezhad,Khosrow Jarrahian 한국자원공학회 2018 Geosystem engineering Vol.21 No.2

The goal of enhanced oil recovery is to improve sweep efficiency in the reservoir by the injection of artificial materials in order to reduce the trapped oil saturation. In this study, the application of an anionic polyacrylamide polymer was investigated for heavy oil recovery based on the results of rheological measurements and oil recovery experiments. The properties of the polymer solution were interpreted by the use of well-known rheological models and oil recovery experiments were performed using a heterogeneous two-dimensional glass micromodel saturated with heavy oil of 270 cP. To provide a better understanding of the microscopic efficiency of the process, analysis of continuously provided pictures during the experiments by the use of image processing technique was performed. Rheological results combined with microscopic observations revealed that the non-Newtonian behavior of the solution enhances the sweep efficiency of the both pore throats and pore bodies. Macroscopic observations showed the ultimate oil recovery of 56% and dramatic improvement in breakthrough time during polymer flood in comparison to water flood. In addition, the microscopic pictures disclosed that the pulling effect and stripping mechanisms are responsible mechanisms for the high microscopic sweep efficiency during polymer flooding.

A NOTE ON STATIC MANIFOLDS AND ALMOST RICCI SOLITONS

Ahmadzadeh, Reihaneh,Ghahremani-Gol, Hajar Korean Mathematical Society 2022 대한수학회논문집 Vol.37 No.2

In this short paper, we investigate the existence of non-trivial almost Ricci solitones on static manifolds. As a result we show any compact nontrivial static manifold is isometric to a Euclidean sphere.