Three dimensional mechanical modelling and analysis of embryos microinjection.

This research has developed a novel 3D particle based cell model that is able to accurately estimate the membrane deformation and indentation force in bio-micromanipulation of an individual cell, especially embryos microinjection practice

3D particle-based cell modelling for haptic microrobotic cell injection

Introducing haptic interface to conduct microrobotic intracellular injection has many beneficial implications. In particular, the haptic device provides force feedback to the bio-operator\u27s hand. This paper introduces a 3D particle-based model to simulate the deformation of the cell membrane and corresponding cellular forces during microrobotic cell injection. The model is based on the kinematic and dynamic of spring – damper multi particle joints considering visco-elastic fluidic properties. It simulates the indentation force feedback as well as cell visual deformation during the microinjection. The model is verified using experimental data of zebrafish embryo microinjection. The results demonstrate that the developed cell model is capable of estimating zebrafish embryo deformation and force feedback accurately

DOES SUPPLIER’S WILLINGNESS TO CUSTOMIZE INFLUENCE THE BUYER’S RETENTION?

Since the last decade, customer retention has become the central topic in the management and marketing decisions in many companies.  A 5% increase in customer retention can lead to 25-95 % increase in profits. A retained customer is the loyal one to the companies due to the attachment and commitment. This loyal customer will, recommend other customers to purchase and repurchase the companies’ products and services. How we can enhance customer retention? This is one of the main challenges for most of professionals, which requires a lot of investigations. Therefore, the antecedents of customer retention required enough attention. This study explores literatures on antecedents of customer retention in Business-to-Business relationship. Based on the thorough literatures done, a theoretical framework is proposed and some possible recommendations are put forward for future researches. Keywords: Customer retention; Supplier’s willingness to customize; Supplier-buye

International Medical Tourists’ Behavioral Intention: An Empirical Study in Malaysia

A few studies have examined the effect of hospital service quality, hospital accreditation, destination image on patient satisfaction and patient loyalty in a tourism context. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of medical patients’ behavioural intention in Malaysia. A total of 360 questionnaire were distributed and quantitative techniques were used to test the hypotheses within the structural equation modelling (SEM) using SmartPLS software. Our statistical results support the positive effect of hospital service quality, destination image and patient satisfaction on patient loyalty. Hospital accreditation didn’t have positive impact on patient loyalty. The research contribution, implication, and limitation are discussed. Keywords: hospital service quality, destination image, hospital accreditation, patient satisfaction, patients’ loyalty

Executive functions and information processing in patients with type 2 diabetes in comparison to pre-diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is associated with cognitive decline or dementia. The purpose of this study was to assess the executive functions and information processing in patients with type 2diabetes in comparison to pre-diabetic patients and normal subjects in Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center of Isfahan City from April to July 2011. METHODS: The sample consisted of 32 patients with type 2 diabetes, 28 pre-diabetic patients and 30 healthy individuals. Executive functions were assessed by Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Information processing was assessed by Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and sub tests of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R). RESULTS: There was a significant difference among 3 groups, after the variables of age, sex and academic status were controlled (p ≤ 0.001). The pairwise comparisons of executive functions among three groups suggest a significant difference between diabetic and normal groups in WCST (perseveration) p = 0.018, and significant difference between diabetic and pre-diabetic patient in WCST (perseveration) p = 0.019. But there was no difference between three groups in WCST (category) and WCST (conceptual responses). The pairwise comparisons of information processing among three groups, suggest a significant difference between diabetic and normal groups in PASAT3". PASAT2", and Symbol coding (P = 0.003, P = 0.009, and P = 0.001, respectively). There was a significant correlation between demographic variable (FBS, HbA1c) and Symbol coding p = 0.05, p = 0.01 respectively) and significant correlation between (cholesterol) and WCST (conceptual responses) p = 0.05. The other variables were not correlated. CONCLUSION: There were significant differences in executive function and information processing in patients with type 2 diabetic and normal individuals. Thus, monitoring neuropsychological status besides controlling levels of blood sugar in these patients is important

Virtual haptic cell model for operator training

Microrobotic cell injection is an area of growing research interest. Typically, operators rely on visual feedback to perceive the microscale environment and are subject to lengthy training times and low success rates. Haptic interaction offers the ability to utilise the operator’s haptic modality and to enhance operator performance. Our earlier work presented a haptically enabled system for assisting the operator with certain aspects of the cell injection task. The system aimed to enhance the operator’s controllability of the micropipette through a logical mapping between the haptic device and microrobot, as well as introducing virtual fixtures for haptic guidance. The system was also designed in such a way that given the availability of appropriate force sensors, haptic display of the cell penetration force is straightforward. This work presents our progress towards a virtual replication of the system, aimed at facilitating offline operator training. It is suggested that operators can use the virtual system to train offline and later transfer their skills to the physical system. In order to achieve the necessary representation of the cell within the virtual system, methods based on a particle-based cell model are utilised. In addition to providing the necessary visual representation, the cell model provides the ability to estimate cell penetration forces and haptically display them to the operator. Two different approaches to achieving the virtual system are discussed

Job burnout and some of its risk factors on the health workers (Behvarz) in Koohrang County, I.R.Iran, in 2010

زمینه و هدف : فرسودگی شغلی، شامل خستگی عاطفی ، مسخ شخصیت و کاهش موفقیت فردی است و زمانی که توانایی های فرد برای تقاضاهای محیط کار کافی نباشد علائم آن آشکار می شود. کارکنان نظام سلامت به دلیل مواجهه با استرس های فیزیکی و روانی در معرض فرسودگی می باشند. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین میزان فرسودگی شغلی بهورزان و بررسی ارتباط خصوصیات جمعیت شناختی با آن انجام گرفت . روش بررسی: این پژوهش توصیفی-تحلیلی، بر روی همه بهورزان شهرستان کوهرنگ ( 81 نفر) در آبانماه سال 1389 انجام شد . ابزار گردآوری داده ها پرسشنامه­ای شامل اطلاعات جمعیت شناختی و پرسشنامه فرسودگی شغلی مازلاک ( MBI ) بود. پرسشنامه توسط بهورزان تکمیل و داده­ها با استفاده از آزمون های آماری ANOVA ، ضریب همبستگی اسپیرمن و آزمون تی مستقل تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: از نظر فراوانی، کاهش موفقیت فردی زیاد ( 5/24 ) ، خستگی عاطفی زیاد ( 6/4 ) و مسخ شخصیت زیاد ( 7/2 ) ، به ترتیب از بیشترین فراوانی و از نظر شدت، خستگی عاطفی شدید ( 7/6 ) و مسخ شخصیت شدید ( 3/1 ) ، به ترتیب از بیشترین شدت برخوردار بودند. هیچ یک از بهورزان کاهش شدید موفقیت فردی را گزارش ننمود. میزان خستگی عاطفی با مسخ شخصیت و میزان کاهش موفقیت فردی با خستگی عاطفی رابطه معنی داری داشت (001/0 > P ) . بین جنس، سن، وضعیت تأهل، سابقه کار، نوع استخدام و میزان تحصیلات بهورزان و فرسودگی رابطه معنی داری دیده نشد. نتیجه گیری: این مطالعه نشان داد که فراوانی و شدت فرسودگی شغلی در بهورزان شهرستان کوهرنگ پایین است که از دلایل آن می توان به موقعیت اجتماعی مناسب، نزدیکی محل کار و زندگی، درآمد متناسب با حجم کار و تحصیلات، امنیت شغلی، سطح توقع پایین و شرایط آب و هوایی و فرهنگی منطقه اشاره کر

Paths to wider adoption of e-infrastructure services

This paper presents work conducted as part of the e-Uptake project, which aims to widen the uptake of e-Infrastructure services for research. We will discuss our fieldwork conducted so far, give examples of the barriers and enablers identified and discuss how using the accumulated knowledge can lead to paving the way for wider adoption of e Infrastructure Services

Adoption of e Infrastructure Services: inhibitors, enablers and opportunities

Based on more than 100 interviews with respondents from academic and IT services provider sides, we present findings from our study of inhibitors and enablers of adoption of e-Infrastructure services for research. We discuss issues raised and potential ways of addressing them

DFNB59 Gene Mutation Screening Using PCR-SSCP/HA Technique in Non-syndromic Genetic Hearing Loss in Bushehr Province

Background: Hearing impairment (HI) is the most prevalent Neurosensory disorder which is heterogenous and can also occur due to environmental causes. The majority of hearing deficiencies are of genetic origin affecting about 60% of the HI cases. A novel gene DFNB59 encodes pejvakin has been recently shown to cause deafness. This study aims to determine the frequency of DFNB59 gene mutations in coding region the gene in Bushehr province. Methods: In this descriptive experimental study, we investigated the presence of DFNB59