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Aim and Background: Substance abuse disorder or addiction is complex behavioral problems arising from many interacting factors, including social, cultural, environmental, psychological and biological. Therefore, the aim of this study was prediction of addiction potential using developmental assets in adolescents. Methods and Materials: This study was a descriptive-correlational research. To achieve this purpose, 500 students (250 boys, 250 girls) of 10 and 11 grades in Arak were selected by stage cluster sampling. The participants completed Iranian Addiction Preparedness Scale (IAPS) and Developmental Assets Profile (DAP). Data were analyzed by SPSS software, using Pearson correlation and regression analysis. Findings: The results showed that there is a significant relationship between developmental assets and its dimensions with addiction potential and its components in adolescents (p

Aims: This study aimed at presenting a model for addiction potential based on developmental assets mediating by alexithymia in adolescents living in Arak, Iran. Materials and Methods: Five hundred members were selected as samples (n = 500) among female and male second-grade high school students at the tenth and eleventh academic grades in Arak using cluster random sampling. To collect data, Iranian Addiction Potential Scale, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Developmental Assets Profile were used. The data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling and LISREL Software. Results: Model fit indices had suitable model fit with data. Internal developmental assets with path coefficient of B = −0.48 were more effective in reducing addiction potential compared with external developmental assets with path coefficient of B = −0.27. Positive identity, empowerment, and social competency were the most effective components of developmental assets in reducing addiction potential. Internal assets could explain addiction potential in adolescence more than external assets. Conclusion: Direct effect of developmental assets on addiction potential was confirmed and its indirect effect with mediation of alexithymia was significant. Moreover, results showed that only internal developmental asset had an effect on addiction potential in adolescents mediating by alexithymia, so the effect of external developmental asset on addiction potential in adolescents based on the mediation of alexithymia was rejected.

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral group therapy on quality of life of patients with cardiovascalar diseases. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was done based on a pretest -posttest design with control group. Statistical population included all of the patients with cardiovascular diseases referred to Amir-Kabir educational and medical center of Arak, and sample included 30 persons who selected by screening and simple random sampling and assigned into two control and experimental groups. Research instrument included Mcnew quality of life scales which participants answered it during two pre-test and post-test steps; also, experimental group participated in 9 cognitive-behavioral therapy meetings. Results: There was a significant difference between mean quality of life and its components in both experimental and control groups. Conclusion: Results analysis showed that group-based cognition- behavior theray has an influence on life quality (emotional, physical and social domains)(p>0.05).

It is crucial to produce plant growth biostimulants from waste and renewable resources. A study was carried during 2020 at the Soil and Water Research Institute, Karaj, Iran to evaluate the effect of decomposed chicken feather as a biostimulant on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth. A total of 29 soil samples from 15 Iranian regions were used to isolate and identify the bacteria and 31 strains that were able to produce keratinase and capable of feather degrading were isolated. Then, 8 isolates that were able to degrade the feather during 7 days were selected as the superior strains. Based on the results Bacillus siamensis c11, Bacillus methylotrophicus gh1 and Bacillus methylotrophicus a2 were identified as the new strains that can produce keratinase enzyme. Then, the effect of foliar spraying of the solutions produced from feather degradation by the new strains (c11, gh1, and a2) on the growth of lettuce was investigated. The results showed that the solution produced by methylotrophicus gh1 strain significantly increased the fresh and dry weight of the shoot and root (respectively, 25.9, 36.9, 34.1 and 51.9% increase compared to the control). It is concluded that the microbial solution of these three microbes as a consortium could be quite a new addition on one hand, could also reduce the human allergy as a via- medium of waste disposal.

Background: Obesity is a major health problem in many countries such as Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and their associated risk factors in Bandare-Kong, Hormozgan, Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional survey included 3921 participants of the Bandare-Kong Cohort Study (BKNCD). Their baseline data were used for analysis. General obesity was defined as the body mass index (BMI)≥30 kg/m2 and overweight as 25≤BMI