Market-Orientation and Its Impact on the Performance of Asia Insurance Company in Kerman Province

The key of successes by service providers can be found in their market-orientation. These are organizations which pay more attention to customers and rivals and attempt to provide services with the highest quality. Present paper has studied experimentally the relationship between market-orientation and performance of agencies and brokers of Asia Insurance Company in Kerman province. Here, the scale of market-orientation in service sector is applied. The methodology is field study and the tool to gather information is questionnaire. Factors analysis shows that there are four hidden aspects in the title of market-orientation: customer-orientation, rival-orientation, organizational responsiveness, propensity to customer satisfaction. Findings suggest that customer–orientation and propensity to customer satisfaction have remarkable impacts on performance relative to other aspects. Rival-orientation has lower impact on performance and organizational responsive has an inconsistency relationship with performance

Atud Gabbro-Diorite Complex: Glimpse of the Cryogenian Mixing, Assimilation, Storage, and Homogenization Zone beneath the Eastern Desert of Egypt

We analysed gabbroic and dioritic rocks from the Atud igneous complex in the Eastern Desert of Egypt to understand better the formation of juvenile continental crust of the Arabian–Nubian Shield. Our results show that the rocks are the same age (U–Pb zircon ages of 694.5 ± 2.1 Ma for two diorites and 695.3 ± 3.4 Ma for one gabbronorite). These are partial melts of the mantle and related fractionates (εNd₆₉₀ = +4.2 to +7.3, ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_i = 0.70246–0.70268, zircon δ¹⁸O ∼ +5‰). Trace element patterns indicate that Atud magmas formed above a subduction zone as part of a large and long-lived (c. 60 myr) convergent margin. Atud complex igneous rocks belong to a larger metagabbro–epidiorite–diorite complex that formed as a deep crustal mush into which new pulses of mafic magma were periodically emplaced, incorporated and evolved. The petrological evolution can be explained by fractional crystallization of mafic magma plus variable plagioclase accumulation in a mid- to lower crustal MASH zone. The Atud igneous complex shows that mantle partial melting and fractional crystallization and plagioclase accumulation were important for Cryogenian crust formation in this part of the Arabian–Nubian Shield

Origin and evolution of Neoproterozoic metaophiolitic mantle rocks from the eastern Desert of Egypt: Implications for tectonic and metamorphic events in the Arabian-Nubian Shield

The mantle rocks from Kadaboura and Madara areas represent sections of dismembered ophiolitic complexes developed during the Neoproterozoic in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, which is located in the northwestern corner of the Arabian–Nubian Shield. The Kadaboura mantle rocks comprise serpentinites and serpentinized dunites, whereas those of the Madara consist of serpentinites and serpentinized pyroxenites.Despite the serpentinization of the studied mantle rocks, few relicts of primary chromite, olivine and pyroxene are preserved. Chromite is partly altered having unaltered Al-rich chromite cores surrounded by Fe-rich chromite and Cr-rich magnetite rims. The unaltered Al-rich chromite cores show compositions equilibrated at temperatures mostly below ~500-600°C, which is a temperature comparable to that estimated for primary chromite in greenschist up to lower amphibolite facies rocks. The high Cr# [100×Cr/(Cr+Al)= 47-76] of the unaltered chromite cores and the Mg-rich nature of the olivine relicts (Fo91–94) indicate that the studied mantle rocks were produced from a highly depleted mantle that experienced high degrees of melt extraction (mostly ~30-40%). This range of melt extraction resembles that estimated for supra-subduction zone peridotites, but higher than that in abyssal and passive margin peridotites. Furthermore, the clinopyroxene relicts show compositions comparable to those from the Mariana forearc peridotites. Bulk-rock geochemistry also reflects derivation from an extremely depleted and a highly refractory mantle source. Modelling of rare-earth elements suggests that the studied mantle rocks were possibly formed by the interaction of their highly depleted harzburgitic mantle precursors with subduction-related melts/fluids during their evolution in a fore-arc basin of the supra-subduction zone.The proposed geodynamic model suggests that the oceanic lithosphere generated during the seafloor spreading of the Mozambique Ocean was emplaced in the upper plate of the intra-oceanic subduction zone, in which the formely depleted Neoproterozoic mantle of the Arabian-Nubian Shield experienced mature phases of hydrous melting, extreme depletion and enrichment

Origin and evolution of Neoproterozoic metaophiolitic mantle rocks from the eastern Desert of Egypt : Implications for tectonic and metamorphic events in the Arabian-Nubian Shield

The mantle rocks from Kadaboura and Madara areas represent sections of dismembered ophiolitic complexes developed during the Neoproterozoic in the Eastern Desert of Egypt, which is located in the northwestern corner of the Arabian-Nubian Shield. The Kadaboura mantle rocks comprise serpentinites and serpentinized dunites, whereas those of the Madara consist of serpentinites and serpentinized pyroxenites. Despite the serpentinization of the studied mantle rocks, few relicts of primary chromite, olivine and pyroxene are preserved. Chromite is partly altered having unaltered Al-rich chromite cores surrounded by Fe-rich chromite and Cr-rich magnetite rims. The unaltered Al-rich chromite cores show compositions equilibrated at temperatures mostly below ~500-600°C, which is a temperature comparable to that estimated for primary chromite in greenschist up to lower amphibolite facies rocks. The high Cr# [100×Cr/(Cr+Al)= 47-76] of the unaltered chromite cores and the Mg-rich nature of the olivine relicts (Fo91-94) indicate that the studied mantle rocks were produced from a highly depleted mantle that experienced high degrees of melt extraction (mostly ~30-40%). This range of melt extraction resembles that estimated for supra-subduction zone peridotites, but higher than that in abyssal and passive margin peridotites. Furthermore, the clinopyroxene relicts show compositions comparable to those from the Mariana forearc peridotites. Bulk-rock geochemistry also reflects derivation from an extremely depleted and a highly refractory mantle source. Modelling of rare-earth elements suggests that the studied mantle rocks were possibly formed by the interaction of their highly depleted harzburgitic mantle precursors with subduction-related melts/fluids during their evolution in a fore-arc basin of the supra-subduction zone. The proposed geodynamic model suggests that the oceanic lithosphere generated during the seafloor spreading of the Mozambique Ocean was emplaced in the upper plate of the intra-oceanic subduction zone, in which the formely depleted Neoproterozoic mantle of the Arabian-Nubian Shield experienced mature phases of hydrous melting, extreme depletion and enrichment

Synthesis and Anticancer Properties of Silver(I) Complexes Containing 2,6-Bis(substituted)pyridine Derivatives

Several new 2,6-bis(substituted)pyridine ligands and 2,6-bis(substituted)pyridine Ag(I) nitrate complexes were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. The newly synthesized ligands include pyridine-2,6-bis(3-oxopropanenitrile) (1), pyridine-2,6-bis(2-cyano-N-phenyl-3-oxopropanethioamide) (2), and pyridine-2,6-bis((E)-2-(2-phenylhydrazono)-3-oxopropanenitrile) (3). The newly synthesized ligands and silver(I) complexes were evaluated for their in vitro anticancer activity against four human cancer cell lines including hepatocellular carcinoma (HePG2), lung adenocarcinoma (A549), colon carcinoma (HT29), and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7). Most of the newly synthesized silver(I) complexes exhibited better activity than the ligands, and the results have been compared with doxorubicin as a reference drug

Designing, Constructing and Installing a Local Exhaust Ventilation System to Minimize Welders\' Exposure to Welding Fumes

Background & Aims of the Study: Welder’s exposure to welding fumes can cause occupational diseases. The current study sought to examine exposure to welding fumes among welders who work in the repair shop of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex and design a local exhaust ventilation system to control exposure to welding fumes. Materials & Methods: This applied analytical study was conducted in the summer of 2016 among welders working in the repair shop of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex. The study comprised three phases; in the first one, welders’ exposure to welding fumes was assessed at the beginning of the study. After that, a local exhaust ventilation system was designed and installed in the aforementioned repair shop. In the final stage, welders’ exposure to welding fumes was assessed again after installation of the ventilation system. The procedure recommended by NIOSH (method number 7300) was used for individual sampling of welders. Results: Based on the obtained findings, before installing the ventilation system, welding technicians were exposed to 0.3 mg/m3 of copper fumes and 0.04 mg/m3 of chromium fumes. Journeyman welders were also exposed to 2.16 mg/m3 of manganese fumes, while stellar welders were exposed to 6.9 mg/m3 of iron fumes. In the light of these measurements, a local exhaust ventilation system was designed and installed. Subsequently, measurement of exposure to welding fumes showed a significant reduction. That is, welding technicians were exposed to 0.17 mg/m3 and 0.015 mg/m3 of copper and chromium fumes respectively. Additionally, journeyman welders were exposed to 0.86 mg/m3 of manganese fumes, whereas stellar welders were exposed to 4.3 mg/m3 of iron fumes. Conclusions: A comparison of standard limits of exposure to welding fumes and the results obtained from measurements in sampling stations before and after the installation of the local exhaust ventilation system reveals that this controlling measure was very effective in the repair shop of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex

Wheelchair Neuro Fuzzy Control and Tracking System Based on Voice Recognition

Autonomous wheelchairs are important tools to enhance the mobility of people with disabilities. Advances in computer and wireless communication technologies have contributed to the provision of smart wheelchairs to suit the needs of the disabled person. This research paper presents the design and implementation of a voice controlled electric wheelchair. This design is based on voice recognition algorithms to classify the required commands to drive the wheelchair. An adaptive neuro-fuzzy controller has been used to generate the required real-time control signals for actuating motors of the wheelchair. This controller depends on real data received from obstacle avoidance sensors and a voice recognition classifier. The wheelchair is considered as a node in a wireless sensor network in order to track the position of the wheelchair and for supervisory control. The simulated and running experiments demonstrate that, by combining the concepts of soft-computing and mechatronics, the implemented wheelchair has become more sophisticated and gives people more mobility

Synthesis, anticancer activity and molecular docking study of Schiff base complexes containing thiazole moiety

AbstractA Schiff base ligand 1 was prepared from condensation of salicyaldehyde with 2-amino-4-phenyl-5-methyl thiazole. The ligand forms complexes with CoII, NiII, CuII, and ZnII in good yield. The synthesized compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, infrared spectra, 1H and 13C NMR, mass, electronic absorption and ESR spectroscopy. The anticancer activity of the synthesized compounds was studied against different human tumor cell lines: breast cancer MCF-7, liver cancer HepG2, lung carcinoma A549 and colorectal cancer HCT116 in comparison with the activity of doxorubicin as a reference drug. The study showed that ZnII complex showed potent inhibition against human TRK in the four cell lines (HepG2, MCF7, A549, HCT116) by the ratio 80, 70, 61 and 64% respectively as compared to the inhibition in the untreated cells. Moreover, the molecular docking into TRK (PDB: 1t46) was done for the optimization of the aforementioned compounds as potential TRK inhibitors

Genetic Variability of Yield and Some Agronomical Traits of Promising Wheat Genotypes by R Project “Metan Package”

Plant breeders have to employ strategies and techniques to produce new improved wheat cultivars to increase productivity to meet the needs of the growing population. Therefore, they have to develop a new cultivar for adaptation to a new environment and new management practices. One of the most important criteria plant breeders should focus on is the exploitation of genotype × environment interaction (GEI). Thus, this study aimed to assess the variability of 24 wheat genotypes growing in different seasons by using the R software “Metan Package”. Moreover, the study estimates the stability parameters and finally highlights the winning genotypes across seasons. Field experiments were conducted across three consecutive seasons specifically 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 and at different locations. The assessment was done on traits such as plant height [cm], flag leaf area [cm2], chlorophyll index [SPAD], spike number [spike/m2], fertility ratio [%], grain number [grain/spike], grain weight [g], and yield [kg/ha]. Results indicated different performances of wheat genotypes in certain environments as well as across the three environments included in this study. Winner genotypes such as G-20, G-10, G-30, G-4, and IRAQ were selected according to their stability and high grain yield potential. It can be concluded that the use of the Multi-Environment Trail Analysis-METAN package is powerful for detecting promising wheat genotypes with high and stable yields across different environments and under various climate change conditions. Furthermore, it can be recommended that wheat performance needs to be assessed across very wide geographical locations

Reoperations on the pulmonary autograft and pulmonary homograft after the Ross procedure: An update on the German Dutch Ross Registry

OBJECTIVES: Reinterventions after the Ross procedure are a concern for patients and treating physicians. The scope of the present report was to provide an update on the reinterventions observed in the large patient population of the German-Dutch Ross Registry. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1988 to 2011, 2023 patients (age, 39.05 ± 16.5 years; male patients, 1502; adults, 1642) underwent a Ross procedure in 13 centers. The mean follow-up was 7.1 ± 4.6 years (range, 0-22 years; 13,168 patient-years). RESULTS: In the adult population, 120 autograft reinterventions in 113 patients (1.03%/patient-year) and 76 homograft reinterventions in 67 patients (0.65%/patient-year) and, in the pediatric population, 14 autograft reinterventions in 13 patients (0.91%/patient-year) and 42 homograft reinterventions in 31 patients (2.72%/patient-year) were observed. Of the autograft and homograft reinterventions, 17.9% and 21.2% were performed because of endocarditis, respectively. The subcoronary technique in the adult population resulted in significantly superior autograft durability (freedom from autograft reintervention: 97% at 10 years and 91% at 12 years; P < .001). The root replacement technique without root reinforcement (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.1) and the presence of pure aortic insufficiency preoperatively (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-3.5) were statistically significant predictors for a shorter time to reoperation. The center volume had a significant influence on the long-term results. The freedom from homograft reoperation for the adults and pediatric population was 97% and 87% at 5 years and 93% and 79% at 12 years, respectively (P < .001), with younger recipient and donor age being significant predictors of a shorter time to homograft reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: The autograft principle remains a valid option for young patients requiring aortic valve replacement. The risk of reoperation depends largely on the surgical technique used and the preoperative hemodynamics. Center experience and expertise also influence the long-term results. Adequate endocarditis prophylaxis might further reduce the need for reoperation