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Objective This research aims to identify school principals' practices in integrating technology. Methods: The methodological approach employed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Qualitative or mixed studies that examined school principals' practices in integrating technology into school teaching and learning conducted between 1999 and February 2023, were eligible. Data was searched through Science Direct, Springer, ProQuest, Emerald, Web of Science, Eric, and Google Scholar search engines. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize the findings. Results: Out of 6441 results from primary and supplementary searches, 19 eligible studies were chosen within five framework domains: Establishing and conveying the vision (creating a shared vision of technology integration, sharing vision continuously, and modeling technology use); Facilitating a high-quality learning experience for students (making databased decisions, promoting technological pedagogy, and digital citizenship education); Building professional capacity (creating professional development opportunities, encouraging a professional learning community, embracing job-embedded learning, and encouraging differentiated learning); Creating a supportive organization for learning (providing appropriate resources, promoting a collaborative culture, leading change, supporting risk-taking, and fostering a positive attitude towards technology); And connecting with external partners (cultivating communication networks within society, and involving parents in education). Conclusions: The results revealed notable distinctions in school principals' practices between blended learning and traditional education. Some practices of principals, such as curriculum planning, have become less prevalent. Nonetheless, there is a heightened emphasis on practices like engaging parents in education. Additionally, school principals facilitate students' learning by directly engaging in their tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this paper, we prove the Hyers-Ulam stability and the superstability for cubic functional equation by using the fixed point alternative theorem. As a consequence, we show that the cubic multipliers are superstable under some conditions. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 39B82; 39B52.

Higher education is one of the sections playing an important role in the community development. Considering globalization era, changes in universities missions and moving towards modern qualification methods which are mostly goal-directed may no more present an accurate evaluation of the universities performance; hence, applying new methods of performance evaluation that takes the effect of environmental factors into consideration can lead to community development and universities effectiveness. To do so, present study has examined and defined the contingency effect of environmental factors on universities performance evaluation to present an appropriate paradigm for universities performance evaluation. This is why present study presented a sample of 322 members including the scientific board, directors and specialists of Fars and Esfahan Universities. Research data for the main variables were collected by a 63-question questionnaire including five main dimensions and 63 indexes and environmental contingency factor coefficient was acquired through specialists polling. Research findings indicate that the human, research, administrative-logistic and instructive factors have a positive and significant relation with performance evaluation. However, this relation increases and decreases by the interference of environmental factor. Getting to cultural factor, results showed that as a culture dimension its observance has relation with performance evaluation, however the relation is negative. Therefore considering the culture observance would play no role in effectiveness of the performance evaluation. However, this relation may increase or decrease under influence of the environment. This article tries to present a comprehensive paradigm for evaluating universities performance and has a special interest in contingency factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common cause of congenital infection, with increased morbidity and mortality at birth. The risk of intrauterine infection largely depends on the time of maternal infection during pregnancy. Currently, no national screening test for CMV infection is available during pregnancy in Iran. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of CMV infection in pregnant women in the east region of Iran. Methods: In this descriptive study, conducted from February to April 2011, 240 serum samples were collected from pregnant women in the third trimester to measure CMV-specific immunoglobulin G (CMV-IgG) and CMV- specific immunoglobulin M (CMV-IgM) markers using ELISA test. IgG avidity test was used for all patients whom were positive CMV-IgM and positive CMV-IgG to distinguish primary and recurrent CMV infection. All positive CMV-IgM of pregnant women were monitored until birth. Results: The majority of women (72.1%) were positive CMV-IgG in pregnancy. The rate of positive CMV-IgM, primary and recurrent infection was 2.5%, 0.83%, and 1.67% respectively. There was significant relation between history of abortion (P=0.013) and residential place (P=0.017) with IgG seropositive rate. Two subjects with positive CMV-IgM were faced with preterm labor and low birth weight. Conclusion: The findings of our study indicated high prevalence rate of CMV seropositivity in this part of eastern region of Iran. A national screening of CMV-IgM serological is suggested for pregnant women who are at risk of CMV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase solitons are localized structures characterized by phase jumps of 2π or multiples arising in forced ring lasers. Here, we show numerically that they can be created by superimposing to the constant driving field a suitable control beam matched in frequency with a different cavity mode for a time of the order of ten cavity round trip times. If the two beams are separated in frequency by n free spectral ranges of the cavity, a train of solitons like a perfect soliton crystal consisting of n equispaced phase solitons is generated. This may represent a simple way to produce frequency combs with flexible frequency spacing and high power per line.

Background: Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a descriptive term applied to patients with nonspecific anterior knee pain, and is the most common knee problem. The pain in most patellofemoral disorders is generalized to the anterior part of the knee. One important concept in patellofemoral joint function is the quadriceps angle (Q-angle). Theoretically, a higher Q-angle increases the lateral pull of the quadriceps femoris muscle on the patella and potentiates patellofemoral disorders. This study was undertaken to evaluate the relationship between the anterior knee pain and Q-angle., Methods: This prospective study was performed on two groups; the case group consisted of 100 outpatients (44 men, and 56 women) aged between 15 and 35 years, with anterior knee pain. The control group consisted of 100 outpatients (50 men, and 50 women) with the same age distribution, who presented with different problems in the upper extremities and no knee problems. The Q-angle of each knee was measured in all participants, using a universal goniometer., Results: The mean Q-angle for men, women, and all participants in the case group was 15.2, 20.1, and 18.0 degrees, respectively. In the normal control group the angles were 12.1, 16.7, and 14.9 degrees, respectively. All these differences were statistically significant (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: These results substantiate the fact that patients with anterior knee pain have larger Q-angles than healthy individuals.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in several pathologic processes such as malignancy in which they facilitate invasion and metastasis and can be targets for anticancer therapies. Here, in this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity effect of Cousinia shulabadensis Attar & Ghahraman extract as well as its impact on MMPs activity using a model of cell line (Fibrosarcoma-Wehi164). To assess anti-invasiveness potentials, a modified zymoanalysis method was used to measure MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities in the conditioned-media. The concentration necessary to produce 50% cell death was >80 microg/ml for ethanol extract of Cousinia shulabadensis, while a 23 microg/ml concentration of the diclofenac sodium produced the same effect. The invasion of WEHI 164 cells was considerably inhibited at concentrations > 20 microg/ml by total plant extract. The total extract of the plant did not show high toxicity at all tested concentrations, but demonstrated significant inhibition of MMP activity in dose-response fashion.