Breast Cancer Status in Iran: Statistical Analysis of 3010 Cases between 1998 and 2014

Background. Breast cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death in Iranian women. This study analyzed 3010 women with breast cancer that had been referred to a cancer research center in Tehran between 1998 and 2014. Methods. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 3010 breast cancer cases with 32 clinical and paraclinical attributes. We checked the data quality rigorously and removed any invalid values or records. The method was data mining (problem definition, data preparation, data exploration, modeling, evaluation, and deployment). However, only the descriptive analyses’ results of the variables are presented in this article. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study on breast cancer status in Iran. Results. A typical Iranian breast cancer patient has been a 40–50-year-old married woman with two children, who has a high school diploma and no history of abortion, smoking, or diabetes. Most patients were estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor (HER) negative, and P53 negative. Most cases were detected in stage 2 with intermediate grade. Conclusion. This study revealed original findings which can be used in national policymaking to find the best early detection method and improve the care quality and breast cancer prevention in Iran

INVESTIGATING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF CONSTRUCTION, ARCHITECTS AND INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF MAZANDARAN PROVINCE

Abstract. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between corporate social responsibility and financial performance of construction, architecture and industrial companies in the municipalities of Mazandaran province. This research is descriptive-correlative method and is of applied research type. The statistical population of the study consisted of all construction, architectural and industrial companies in the municipalities of Mazandaran province during 2013 to 2017, in which 50 companies were studied. The data of the research were extracted from the financial statements of the companies and analyzed using regression models using combination data. The research findings showedthat there is a positive and significant relationship between corporate social capital and asset returns and earnings per share of companies, and there is not a significant relationship between corporate social capitals with equity returns.Keywords: Social Responsibility, Financial Performance, Returns on Assets, Return on Equity, Earnings perShare

Astrocytic Abnormalities in Schizophrenia

Astrocytes are glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), which contribute to CNS health and disease by participating in homeostatic, structural, and metabolic processes that play an essential role in facilitating synaptic transmission between neurons. Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a neuropsychiatric disorder associated with various positive and negative behaviors and interruption of executive function and cognition thought to be due partly to aberrations in signaling within neural networks. Recent research has demonstrated that astrocytes play a role in SCZ through various effects, including influencing immune system function, altering white matter, and mediating changes in neurotransmitters. Astrocytes are also known to play a role in inducing SCZ-associated changes in neuroplasticity, which includes alterations in synaptic strength and neurogenesis. Also, astrocyte abnormalities are linked to neurobehavioral impairments seen at the clinical level. The present chapter details general information on SCZ. It highlights the role of astrocytes in SCZ at molecular and behavioral levels, including neural changes seen in the disease, and the therapeutic implications of targeting astrocytes in SCZ

Variable sample size Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Chart With Measurement Errors

International audienceThe effect of measurement errors on adaptive Shewhart charts have been investigated by several researchers. However, the effect of measurement errors on the performance of variable sample size EWMA control charts has not so far been investigated. In this paper, the performance of the VSS EWMA chart in the presence of measurement errors is investigated using a linear covariate error model and a Markov chain method. It is shown that the performance of the VSS EWMA chart is significantly affected by the presence of measurement errors. The effect of taking multiple measurements for each item in a subgroup on the performance of the VSS EWMA chart is also investigated. Moreover, the performance of the VSS EWMA control chart is compared with several other control charts in the presence of measurement errors. At last, an illustrative example is presented to show the application of the VSS EWMA control chart with measurement errors

The Effect of the Spirituality in the Workplace on the Social Undermining with Mediating Role of Organizational Ethical Climate (Department Social Security of Isfahan as a Case Study)

Introduction Meaning in life is a psychological phenomenon that is conceptualized as a cognitive characteristic of personality. It also roots in the human personality and is different from a person to another. Spirituality refers to the exploration of meaning in goal in the life. According to Berker and Wang (1988), meaning in life is perception of order, integration, and goal in the life from one side, and achieving valuable goals from other side. Frankl (1988) indicates that there is an extreme meaning in the life that is independent from others, individual goals, and status. Such a meaning is related to God and is the main meaning of spirituality. Indeed, spirituality is an unnatural part of life. Spirituality is emerged in the crisis time in which it is not possible to control the situation. It should be noted that spirituality is not limited to crisis and other unpleasant events, but it may emerge in the thought and emotions of people. Broadly speaking, lack of spirituality may lead to alienation. Development and reinforcement of spirituality in the workplaces may result in moral work environment. Increasingly complexity of current organizations and increased immoral and illegal activities in them call the managers’ attention to morality and moral workplace. The results of a survey, in which 4000 employees were participated, revealed that about 25% of employees believe that moral conditions are ignored in their organization and only 17% of them indicate that their organization encourages immoral values in the employees for achieving organizational goals. Organizational morality, which is a common believe in the employees, is resulted from moral policies and procedures in the organizations. It also is considered as a psychological concept. Morality is important for organizations, as it affects employees’ moral behaviors. Indeed, organizational morality refers to perception of right or wrong in the organization. It also provides employees with norms for accepting or rejecting organizational behaviors (Rahimnian and Nikkhah Farahani, 2013: 36). In the current conditions, destructive and inhumane behaviors of employees in the workplaces are the main challenges of most organizations. Such behaviors and activities have considerable costs for organizations. Based on the results of past studies, destructive behaviors of employees root in their moral and religious beliefs. Lack of spirituality is one the main reasons of such behaviors in the workplaces. Erikson (2010) refers to the immorality and lack of moral criteria in the organizations as the main reasons of destructive behaviors. Social abrasion is one of the main destructive behaviors in the organizations that calls the attention of scholars to itself. Social abrasion refers to the degree in which an employee is accepted or rejected by his/her colleagues. Social abrasion may lead to emergence of destructive behaviors in the organization such as hostility, subversion, non-constructive criticism, insulting others, creating an obstacle in achieving organizational goals, and destroying others’ reputations. In such a condition, an unhealthy workplace will be created. Given the destructive effects of social abrasion in organizations and its antecedents (such as immorality in workplace), the present study aims to investigate the effect of morality in workplace on the social abrasion through mediating role of organizational morality in Isfahan Social Security Organization. For this purpose, the following hypotheses were developed. H1: spirituality in workplace affects social abrasion significantly. H2: spirituality in workplace affects organizational morality significantly. H3: organizational morality affects social abrasion significantly. H4: spirituality in workplace significantly affects social abrasion through organizational morality.  Materials and methods The present study aims to investigate the effect of spirituality in workplace on the social abrasion through mediating role of organizational morality. This study is a practical research from goal perspective and is a descriptive-quantitative one from research methodology view. The statistical population of this study includes 270 employees of Isfahan Social Security Organization. A sample of 195 employees was selected randomly. The sample size was determined through Morgan Sampling Table. In order to collect the research data, three questionnaires were used. These include standardized questionnaire of spirituality in workplace (Milimin et al., 2003), questionnaire of social abrasion (Daffy et al., 2002), and questionnaire of organizational morality (Viktor and Kolten, 1993). In order to measure validity of questionnaire, both face and construct validities were used. Also Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient was used for measuring and confirming reliability of questionnaire. The coefficients were 0.94, 0.88, and 0.96 for questionnaires of spirituality in workplace, social abrasion, and organizational morality respectively. The coefficients confirm reliability of questionnaire. In order to analyze the research data and test the hypotheses, Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test and Structural Equating Modeling were used in the SPSS21 and AMOSS21 respectively. Discussion of results and conclusion Our findings revealed that spirituality in workplace (average: 3.142) has the most score and social abrasion (average: 2.354) has the least score in the studied case. The results of Pearson Correlation Coefficient Test tell us that there is a significant relationship between spirituality in workplace and organizational morality (r: 0.724); there is a significant negative relationship between spirituality in workplace and social abrasion (r: -0.414); there is a significant negative relationship between social abrasion and organizational morality (r: -0.312). In order to test the hypotheses, both “P” and “CR” should be investigated. If the CR is more than 1.96, the hypothesis will supported and vice versa. Based on the results, spirituality in workplace affects social abrasion significantly (path coefficient: -0.45); organizational spirituality affects social abrasion (path coefficient: -0.35); spirituality in workplace affects organizational morality (path coefficient: 0.78). The results of the fourth hypothesis showed that the hypothesis is supported (path coefficient: -0.27). In other words, spirituality in workplace significantly affects social abrasion through organizational morality. Since the effect of spirituality in workplace on the social abrasion through organizational morality (path coefficient: -0.27) is more than the effect of spirituality in workplace on the social abrasion (path coefficient: -0.45), it can be concluded that the mediating role of organizational spirituality in the relationship between spirituality in workplace and social abrasion is significant. Based on the results of this study, the following suggestion are developed for managers and administrators of Isfahan Social Security Organization: Promoting organizational culture based on the spirituality principles Developing and improving spirituality in workplace based on the Islamic-Iranian principles  Developing the Islamic spirituality virtual such as religious ceremonies at organization level  Establishing moral principles according to organizational culture Encouraging managers for implementing the established moral principles  Using social capitals in improving morality in the organization Implementing workshops in terms of interpersonal communications Expanding justice at organization level

Mediating Roles of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in the Relationship between Constipation and Sleep Quality among the Elderly: Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

Introduction Sleep quality is an important health index in the elderly. As age increases, changes occur in sleep quality leading to sleep disorders and recurrent complaints. Sleep quality management of the elderly requires identification of its determinants. The present study aimed to determine the mediating roles of stress, anxiety, and depression in the relationship between constipation and sleep quality among the elderly using structural equation modeling (SEM). Materials and Methods A correlational design was used in the present study through structural equation modeling. In this work, 363 elderlies were examined by multi-stage random sampling. Data collection tools included four questionnaires, namely a demographic information questionnaire, the constipation questionnaire (ROME III), the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-short form, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), which were completed by interview and the self-report method. The SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22.0, and SPSS AMOS (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) were used to analyze the data. Results The results indicated that the proposed model had an acceptable fit (p < 0.000, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.062, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.83, goodness-of-fit index [GFI] = 0.87, and Χ2/df = 1.94). The fitted model could explain 60% of the sleep quality variance. According to the proposed model, constipation could significantly predict sleep quality due to the mediation of stress, anxiety, and depression (p < 0.05). Conclusion The constructs of this model (constipation, stress, anxiety, and depression) can be used as a reference framework to design effective interventions and improve sleep quality in old people

Breast Cancer Status in Iran: Statistical Analysis of 3010 Cases between 1998 and 2014

Background. Breast cancer is the 5th leading cause of cancer death in Iranian women. This study analyzed 3010 women with breast cancer that had been referred to a cancer research center in Tehran between 1998 and 2014. Methods. In this retrospective study, we analyzed 3010 breast cancer cases with 32 clinical and paraclinical attributes. We checked the data quality rigorously and removed any invalid values or records. The method was data mining (problem definition, data preparation, data exploration, modeling, evaluation, and deployment). However, only the descriptive analyses’ results of the variables are presented in this article. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study on breast cancer status in Iran. Results. A typical Iranian breast cancer patient has been a 40–50-year-old married woman with two children, who has a high school diploma and no history of abortion, smoking, or diabetes. Most patients were estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor (HER) negative, and P53 negative. Most cases were detected in stage 2 with intermediate grade. Conclusion. This study revealed original findings which can be used in national policymaking to find the best early detection method and improve the care quality and breast cancer prevention in Iran.Peer Reviewe