A practical solutions framework in the brownfield regeneration process

Brownfields, characterized by abandoned or underutilized industrial sites, present formidable challenges to urban environments worldwide, including environmental contamination, deteriorating infrastructure, and neglect. Despite existing theoretical frameworks and individual case studies, there remains a lack of a comprehensive and practical solution framework capable of guiding the regeneration of brownfields on a larger scale, hindering global progress in brownfield revitalization efforts. This research addresses this gap by proposing a tailored solution framework for brownfield regeneration processes, with a specific focus on the Division 77th Barracks in Mashhad, Iran, as a case study. The Division 77th Barracks of Mashhad in Iran exemplifies the complexities associated with brownfield sites, including contamination, inadequate infrastructure, and disengaged stakeholders, necessitating a context-specific approach to revitalization. The lack of a comprehensive toolkit designed for this context impedes progress and perpetuates underutilization. This study aims to develop an integrated framework by analyzing site-specific challenges, identifying successful strategies, and incorporating relevant international best practices. Utilizing interviews as the primary data collection method, this research employs MaxQDA software for a more detailed analysis of qualitative data, widely used in environmental and social sciences for statistical analysis. Through extensive stakeholder consultation and data analysis, the study will produce a practical solution framework that integrates essential elements such as planning, policy, environmental remediation, financing, community engagement, and stakeholder coordination.By bridging the gap between theory and practice, the proposed framework will provide decision-makers, urban planners, and practitioners with a robust and adaptable resource to guide brownfield regeneration processes not only for the Division 77th Barracks but also for brownfields globally. This research contributes to sustainable urban development, environmental remediation, and improved quality of life for communities

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PERSONNEL'S SATISFACTION WITH THE VIRTUAL IN-SERVICE TRAINING COURSES

Introduction: Educational systems are in search of new approaches that, in the face of global developments, have the ability to reconstruct and adapt. Therefore, this research has been done in order to study the personnel satisfaction of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences in Ahvaz with the virtual in-service training courses. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytic study has been conducted in November 2014 and in three categories of satisfaction with the content, satisfaction with the course delivery method and satisfaction with the virtual education program. A sample of n=211 was selected randomly from 1052 subjects. For data collection, a standardized questionnaire based on Likert scale was used. To analyze the data, also descriptive statistics such as frequency, mode, mean, one way ANOVA, and independent t-test were used by the statistical software SPSS version 21. Results: The highest level of satisfaction was obtained from the virtual education program with an average satisfaction of 4.17 (from the maximum score of 5) and 80.65% agreed, and the least satisfaction was obtained from the content of the courses with an average satisfaction of 3.76 and 69.43% agreed. Background variables such as work history, type of employment, degree and gender had no effect on the personnel satisfaction with participation in virtual education courses. (p>0.05). Conclusion: So considering the considerable satisfaction of employees with virtual training courses, the need for serious planning for an appropriate system deployment is necessary for full implementation of this method. Keywords: Personnel, In-service Training, Virtual Education, Iran

Investigating Evaluation Frameworks for Electronic Health Record: A Literature Review

BACKGROUND: There are various electronic health records (EHRs) evaluation frameworks with multiple dimensions and numerous sets of evaluation measures, while the coverage rate of evaluation measures in a common framework varies in different studies. AIM: This study provides a literature review of the current EHR evaluation frameworks and a model for measuring the coverage rate of evaluation measures in EHR frameworks. METHODS: The current study was a comprehensive literature review and a critical appraisal study. The study was conducted in three phases. In Phase 1, a literature review of EHR evaluation frameworks was conducted. In Phase 2, a three-level hierarchical structure was developed, which includes three aspects, 12 dimensions, and 110 evaluation measures. Subsequently, evaluation measures in the identified studies were categorized based on the hierarchical structure. In Phase 3, relative frequency (RF) of evaluation measures in different dimensions and aspects for each of the identified studies were determined and categorized as follows: Appropriate, moderate, and low coverage. RESULTS: Out of a total of 8276 retrieved articles, 62 studies were considered relevant. The RF range in the second and third level of the hierarchical structure was between 8.6%–91.94% and 0.2%–61%, respectively. “Ease of use” and “system quality” were the most frequent evaluation measure and dimension. Our results indicate that identified studies cover at least one and at most nine evaluation dimensions and current evaluation frameworks focus more on the technology aspect. Almost in all identified studies, evaluation measures related to the technology aspect were covered. However, evaluation measures related to human and organization aspects were covered in 68% and 84% of the identified studies, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, we systematically reviewed all literature presenting any type of EHR evaluation framework and analyzed and discussed their aspects and features. We believe that the findings of this study can help researchers to review and adopt the EHR evaluation frameworks for their own particular field of usage

Determining factors in the retention of physicians in rural and underdeveloped areas : a systematic review

Background: Imbalance in distribution of Health Care Workers (HCWs) in a country is a global challenge. Almost all of the rural and underdeveloped areas are struggling with the shortage of HCWs, especially physicians. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors governing the retention of physicians in rural and underdeveloped areas. Methods: International databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Proquest, and Embase were searched using Mesh terms in order to find peer-reviewed journal articles addressing physicians’ retention factors in rural and underdeveloped areas. The records were screened, and any duplicate results were removed. The quality of the studies was assessed according to the Critical Appraisal Skills Program developed for different types of studies. Then, through content analysis, the related factors were identified from finally selected papers, coded, and categorized. Results: The initial search resulted in 2312 relevant articles. On the basis of specific selection criteria, 35 full-text articles were finally reviewed.. The major affecting factors in physicians’ retention in rural and underdeveloped regions were classified into the following six categories: 1) financial; 2) career and professional; 3) working conditions; 4) personal; 5) cultural; and 6) living conditions factors. Conclusion: There is a complex interplay of factors governing physicians’ retention in rural and underdeveloped areas. If health organizations are concerned with physicians’ retention in deprived areas, they should take into account these main factors. Moreover, they should develop policies and strategies to attract and retain physicians in rural and underdeveloped areas

Achieving an integrated approach to reduce urban vulnerability against earthquake

The linkage between spatial planning and disaster management has been ignored in the urban area of Iran longtime. By extending of urbanization and industrialization in Iran, cities are faced problems such as expansion on hazard prone areas. The central issues of this study are to explore the relationship between risk reduction and urban development in both theory and practice, and to emphasize the need for better cooperation between spatial planning and disaster management in rapidly urbanizing regions. The main goal of the study is to examine and develop a spatial planning methodology that is led to promoting the urban resilience. Several research questions concerning the integration of disaster management and spatial planning, and information for planning support, have been examined. Extensive literature review, quantitative and qualitative analysis based on the primary and secondary data collection have been applied to answer these questions. In the Iranian context, urban planning and disaster management are both undergoing a complex transformation process in concepts, contents, working approaches and institutionalization. The city of Mashhad is the case study. Mashhad urban development process shows that the goals of disaster management in disaster prone areas have not been adequately reflected in the spatial planning system. A multi-disciplinary approach to deal with the conflicts of disaster risk reduction process and land use impacts in the urbanizing areas has not yet been fully developed. The trend of urban development in Mashhad shows that the size of the urban expansion spatially informal settlements will be larger in the coming decades and the pressure on high risk and disaster prone areas. Several new problems which may emerge on an even larger scale will make the situation more serious and complicated especially when an integrated solution of disaster risk reduction has not been fully realized. Therefore it is urgent to have integrated planning options from the strategic level to the local action level. This is the key point of the conceptual model for integrated plan-making process for urban planning system presented in this study

El estudio de impacto del papel de la eficacia del sistema de rotación de puestos en el entusiasmo laboral

En el mundo actual, el capital humano es considerado como el activo más alto y valioso de una organización, lo que afecta las ganancias y pérdidas de cualquier empresa. Las organizaciones que existen en estas sociedades deben poder utilizar los recursos humanos de manera eficaz. La rotación de puestos es una de las medidas de gestión en el campo de la gestión de recursos humanos. Puede crear una organización creativa, ideal y segura que garantice el compromiso, la transferencia de conocimientos, la adquisición de habilidades, la innovación, la creatividad, la experiencia, la satisfacción laboral, el entusiasmo, la reducción del agotamiento y el crecimiento del capital humano. El objetivo de este estudio es investigar el efecto del sistema de rotación laboral sobre la motivación laboral (estudiado en la región de dos operaciones de transferencia de gas). El presente estudio es una correlación desde el campo y en términos de propósito y naturaleza de aplicación y en términos de método de encuesta descriptiva y en términos de tiempo transversal. La población estadística del estudio es de 850 personas (gerentes, expertos y empleados) de la región de dos operaciones de transmisión de gas. Usando la fórmula de Cochran, el tamaño de la muestra para comunidades limitadas es de 285 personas. La población estadística del estudio consta de grupos heterogéneos (fuerzas formales e informales, gerentes y empleados) utilizando el método de muestreo aleatorio estratificado. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó un cuestionario elaborado por un investigador con 20 ítems y un cuestionario estándar de motivación laboral con 17 ítems. El cuestionario se divide en base a una escala Likert de cinco puntos. Se calculó confiabilidad y validez y se obtuvo el valor de 0.881, lo que indica la adecuada confiabilidad de los cuestionarios. Para investigar la relación y las hipótesis de investigación, se probaron el coeficiente de correlación y regresión de Pearson, el software SPSS y el software LISREL. Los resultados muestran que las dimensiones de la rotación laboral como el desarrollo del capital humano y los cambios en el capital humano están relacionadas con el entusiasmo laboral. El coeficiente de correlación de Pearson es 0,842 y 0,368, respectivamente, lo que indica una buena correlación. Además, el desarrollo y los cambios del capital humano tienen un efecto significativo en la motivación laboral y el valor beta estándar fue 0.343 y 0.281, respectivamente, y todas las hipótesis de investigación han sido confirmada

E-Health Implementation Challenges and HIS Evaluation in Accordance with EMRAM in Iran

The implementation of electronic health (e-Health) in healthcare organizations consistently encounters numerous challenges. These barriers hinder the widespread adoption of this promising technology within healthcare settings. This study addresses the challenges of implementing e-Health across various hospitals and also aims to evaluate the maturity of hospital information systems (HIS) in Iranian hospitals based on the electronic medical record adoption model (EMRAM). Through two rounds of literature review and case studies, a comprehensive understanding of these previously unexplored issues has been developed. The findings identify 13 social and technical challenges, including the lack of standard applications, high costs associated with e-Health and training, legal issues, security concerns, inconsistencies and diversities in perceived e-Health benefits and barriers, lack of proficiency, and difficulties healthcare professionals face in integrating e-Health into their daily tasks. There are also negative perceptions among physicians and patients regarding the use of e-Health software, the lengthy implementation times for HIS systems, technical difficulties due to platform diversity, resistance to change, and the limited use of pilot projects, particularly in Iran. Moreover, the maturity of hospital cases in Iran is at 3 stages, in contrast to the 7 stages of EMRAM. These results underscore the need to develop an effective strategy to address the challenges identified in this research. Additionally, a specific program should be implemented for developers to enhance the maturity of HISs and advance them to higher stages of EMRAM

Modelling the Role of University-Industry Collaboration in the Iranian National System of Innovation: Generating Transition Policy Scenarios

In a knowledge-based economy the collaboration between university, industry and government is vital for growth and innovation (Etzkowitz, 2008). A conceptual model of the relevant macro and micro environment was developed using the theoretical constructs from the literature on systems of innovation theories including, National Systems of Innovation, Porter’s ‘Cluster’ or ‘Diamond’ model, and the ‘Triple-Helix Model’ of university–industry-government interactions. The role of culture and trust in different systems of innovation theories was examined, and the role these elements play in UIC activities was found to be particularly important, though vague on the processes. A generic model of university-industry-government interrelations was developed to aid a systemic understanding of the mechanisms (primary barriers and drivers) for productive collaboration. This systems model was used in the formation of policy instruments designed to improve university-industry collaboration (UIC), and thereby the means of regional economic development. These policy experiments are applied to the case of Iran. However, since the future of Iran in this context is highly uncertain due to cultural, political and economic factors there are few assumptions which can be relied upon as a basis for traditional innovation management practice. Instead, it is intended to use the systems model in a series of scenario-based analyses of the effectiveness of policy instruments on the UIC associated with two Iranian cluster industries. A questionnaire survey and a series of semi-structured stakeholder interview methodology were used to build a basis for these scenario techniques. The method of systems modelling to generate policy change scenarios for UIC is a novel feature of this research. Analysis of the causal relationships of UIC activities in Iran found many were biased to create an established behaviour pattern (culture) which is overwhelmingly negative. This negative behaviour is manifest as a significant lack of trust at all interfaces between the primary actors in the system. According to the results of this research, trust is influenced by many factors including government activities, institutional structure, institutional culture, and also national culture of the country. The systems model is a complex interaction of reinforcing loops that emphasizes the scale of challenge policy-makers face in creating effective innovation systems, and may explain why few developing countries have been successful in achieving economic transition. This research shows how a policy development framework was formed using the UIC systems model to understand the structural problems facing Iran. A set of evolved states (exploratory and future-backward scenarios) served to illustrate the effect of these policy choices, and therefore to inform an improvement agenda for UIC activities in Iran