Can self-efficacy and self-confidence explain Iranian female students' academic achievement?

Official statistics from several resources in Iran indicate that female enrollment and achievement in Iranian universities has recently exceeded that of male students. Despite the fact that a religious government has been ruling the country for three decades, and despite many regulations against women, Iranian women have managed to overcome social, cultural, and political barriers. They have also been able to pass a highly competitive entry exam to enter the university at higher performance rates than male students. In this study it was proposed that this increasing enrollment and graduation rate might be attributed to their gender-based self-confidence and their self-efficacy. The results showed that female students scored higher on collective, gender-based self-confidence but their personal feeling about their gender was more negative and their general self-efficacy was not different from the self-efficacy of male students.     

A threat enfleshed: Muslim college students situate their identities amidst portrayals of Muslim violence and terror

This article explores the raced representations of the “Muslim Other” and how these representations engaged the lived realities and found footing in how Muslim youth understood their identities. Utilizing qualitative life history interviews with 24 Muslim undergraduates, I examine student talk addressing the construction of the Muslim in public discourse.     

Use of technology-assisted techniques of mind mapping and concept mapping in science education: a constructivist study

The study aims to investigate the effects of using mind maps and concept maps on students' learning of concepts in science courses. A total of 51 students participated in this study which used a quasi-experimental research design with pre-test/post-test control groups. The constructivist-inspired study was carried out in the sixth-grade science course unit of ‘Light and Sound’ in a primary school with two experimental groups and one control group. The intervention was held in the experimental group 1 by using technology-assisted technique of mind mapping, in the experimental group 2 by using technology-assisted technique of concept mapping, and in the control group by means of traditional classroom instruction. After the intervention in the experimental groups, concept tests and open-ended questions related to the unit were used as post-tests. According to the data obtained from concept tests, it was found out that all groups' understanding of concepts was equivalent. Significantly, students in the experimental group 2 reported positive opinions, stating that learning through concept maps was useful and engaging.     

Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Gerotranscendence scale in community-dwelling older adults

ABSTRACT

The psychosocial theory of Gerotranscendence, is proposing an alternative and positive view of aging and states that human development is a lifelong process. Applying the concept of Gerotranscendence into the older adults’ lives may have the potential to provide a more positive view of aging and a better care for a growing population. First; and to do this, we need to use a proper, valid and reliable measure. The purpose of this cross-sectional and methodological study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the short-form Gerotranscendence scale (GS-S) in community-dwelling Iranian older adults. First the scale was translated to Persian, and culturally adapted. Then pre-testing and cognitive interviewing implemented in a sample consisted of 10; and stability of the scale in a sample of 30 older adults, respectively. Confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency of the scale were done with 250 older adults. The three-factor structure was confirmed. The model showed a good fit, and all the indices were satisfactory (RMSEA = 0.063; NNFI = 0.093; CFI = 0.095; IFI = 0.096; GFI = 0.095; and χ2/df = 2). Cronbach’s alpha of the scale was 0.72 and coefficient omega was 0.82. Test-retest reliability (ICC) was 0.88, P < .001; and standard error of measurement was 1.16 (CI = %95). Minimal detectable change (MDC) was 3.2 and minimal important change (MIC) was 1.4. This study supports the use of the GS-S as a measure of life span development among the Iranian older adults.     

Oxygen free radical modified DNA: Implications in the etiopathogenesis of Systemic lupus erythematosus

The present study was designed to probe the possible role of singlet oxygen and superoxide anion radical modified DNA in the etiopathogenesis of Systemic lupus erythematosus. These species were generated by the exposure of riboflavin to 365 nm UV light. Modified DNA showed single strand breaks, hyperchromicity at 260nm and decrease in Tm. The modified DNA induced high titer antibodies in experimental animals. The antibodies showed reactivity with various nucleic acid polymers, a property commonly associated with Systemic lupus erythematosus anti-DNA autoantibodies. Systemic lupus erythematosus sera showed preferential binding of modified DNA over native DNA in direct binding and competitive binding solid phase immunoassays and band shift assays. The results suggest for the possible involvement of the singlet- superoxide modified DNA as a potential trigger for anti- DNA autoantibody production in SLE and thus in the etiopathogenesis of the disease.     

Optimal configuration and energy management scheme of an isolated micro-grid using Cuckoo search optimization algorithm

This paper proposes an optimization scheme for optimal configuration and energy management of the micro-grid (MG), using the Cuckoo search optimization algorithm (CSOA). The selected MG supplies a load profile located between 30.119 latitude and 31.605 longitude. The energy produced by the MG generation sources, according to meteorological data of the proposed location, is calculated using MATLAB. The objective/fitness function is modeled and designed for minimizing the total investment cost (TIC) including capital, investment, operation and maintenance costs. A novel weighted goal attainment function (WGAF) has been proposed to reduce CO₂ emissions and their associated costs. Moreover, WGAF also applies higher taxes on the amount of emissions that exceed governmental approved limits. To investigate the effects of WGAF on the TIC ($/year), annual cost of energy ($/kWh), and CO₂ emissions, various weighted coefficients are analyzed. The simulation results have shown that the designed optimization scheme can robustly and efficiently produce the optimal MG configuration that is both eco-friendly and generates economic benefits.