Investigating the Relationship between Information Technology Maturity and Knowledge Management Maturity: A Case Study of the Tehran Municipality

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the maturity level of information technology and the maturity level of knowledge management in Tehran Municipality. The current research was applied in terms of purpose and survey research in terms of method. The statistical population of this research was experts and specialists in the field of information technology and knowledge management in Tehran Municipality. Considering the specialization of the subject, and the number of experts in the fields of information technology and knowledge management, 31 experts in the field of urban management were asked to answer the questionnaires. In this research, to measure the maturity level of information technology and maturity of knowledge management, two standard questionnaires of the maturity level of the Gartner information technology management process and the maturity level of knowledge management from the standard questionnaire of the knowledge management evaluation tool were used. In this research, data analysis was done using SPSS software (version 22). The research indicated that in the maturity of information technology, the level of leadership and information technology management activities in Tehran Municipality, the readiness of customer-oriented service agents, control and evaluation, configuration and asset management, security management, change management, service level management, Accessible management, service and support documentation, capacity management and strategic orientations are in good condition and other components are below 3 average levels. Also, the results in the knowledge management maturity section indicated that in the areas of searching for ideas in all places by organization members, creating marketing strategies and selling the organization's knowledge assets, using learning to support the organization's core competencies, flexibility, and willingness to innovate as The drivers of the learning process were the employees' responsibility for their learning, connecting the organization's members and the external communities by technology, and the rapid availability of technology to the employees. Also, the research results showed that there is no significant relationship between the maturity of information technology management and knowledge management. The results of the research showed that, in general, the maturity of information technology management of Tehran Municipality is at a favorable level, but the maturity level of knowledge management of Tehran Municipality has an unfavorable situation. In the end, suggestions were made to improve the situation

Effect of some plant growth regulators and different explants types on callus induction in saffron

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the world's most expensive spice. Moreover, it is important since it contains various drug metabolites. Saffron is a triploid (2n=3X=24) and sterile plant and it does not have any viable seeds. Because of the sterility, classical breeding of this plant is limited. Developing an efficient callus induction protocol is studied for two reasons, i.e. molecular breeding and the production of secondary metabolites. In order to provide a suitable callus induction protocol, establishment of corms was considered. Five different treatments were applied to sterilization of corms. Thin cell layer explants with approximately 1 mm thickness and typical explants with approximately 1 cm thickness were prepared from sterilized corms. For callus induction, different explants were planted in MS medium containing different concentration of 2, 4-D, BAP and NAA. Then, they were incubated in dark conditions at 20 ±20C for 3 months. The results showed that the use of Benomyl fungicide, followed by surface sterilization using sodium hypochlorite (2.5 %) was the best sterilization treatment. The highest survival rates of explants (90%) were observed in this treatment and all explants were free of contamination. The highest amount of callus induction (75%) was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2mg/l NAA and 0/5 mg/l BAP from thin cell layer of basal corm. The same result was observed with 1mg/l 2, 4-D from typical explants of basal corm. The results obtained from this study show that the thin cell layer explants are suitable explants because of the high amount of callus formation and the advantages for gene transfer studies. The results showed that the use of Benomyl fungicide, followed by surface sterilization using sodium hypochlorite (2.5 %) was the best sterilization treatment. The highest survival rates of explants (90%) was observed in this treatment and all explants were free of contamination. The highest amount of callus induction (75%) was obtained in MS medium supplemented with 2mg/l NAA and 0/5 mg/l BAP from thin cell layer of basal corm. The same result was observed with 1mg/l 2,4-D from typical explants of basal corm. Our results showed that the thin cell layer explants are suitable explant because of high amount of callus formation and advantages for gene transfer studies

Diagnostic value of cystatin C for diagnosis of early renal damages in type 2 diabetic mellitus patients: The first experience in Iran

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most important complications of diabetes mellitus. Now-a-days, cystatin C (CysC) is introduced as a new marker for diagnosis of renal damages; however, use of this marker in clinical laboratories is still controversial. The present study was aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum CysC for early detection or monitoring treatment of kidney damages in the Kurdish people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods: Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. Serum CysC and urine microalbumin were also measured in 126 diabetic and healthy subjects. Blood glycated hemoglobin (Hb) also measured in all healthy and diabetic patients. Two independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis test, as well as Pearson/Spearman correlation coefficient statistical tests were used as appropriate. Results: Serum CysC was higher (1312.41 ng/ml) in diabetic patients with GFR <60 ml/min than other subjects (993.25 ng/ml) (patients with normal kidney function and healthy subjects). A borderline significant correlation between CysC and estimating GFR (rs = −0.16, P = 0.05) but highly significant with microalbumin (rs = 0.22, P = 0.014) was observed. Serum CysC sensitivity, negative and positive predictive values were 100 and 4%. Conclusion: CysC cover variation of GFR and urine microalbumin, but it cannot be used as a surrogating marker of glycated Hb. According to our results, it seems that serum CysC is a useful marker for screening of DN; but it cannot be used for monitoring of treatment in diabetic patients

Pulmonary Hypertension in Hemodialysis Patients

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of primary pulmonary hypertension (PHT) among hemodialysis patients and search for possible etiologic factors. The prevalence of PHT was prospectively estimated by Doppler echocardiogram in 62 long-term hemodialysis patients on the day post dialysis. PHT (> 35 mm Hg) was found in 32 (51.6&#x0025;) patients with a mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure of 39.6 &#x00B1; 13.3 mmHg. The hemoglobin and albumin levels were significantly lower in the PHT subgroup (11.1 &#x00B1; 1.86 vs 9.8 &#x00B1; 1.97 g/dL and 3.75 &#x00B1; 0.44 vs 3.38 &#x00B1; 0.32 g/dL, p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). Our study demonstrates a surprisingly high prevalence of PHT among patients receiving long-term hemodialysis. Early detection is important in order to avoid the serious consequences of the disease

The National Survey of Cardiac Pacemakers and Cardioverter Defibrillators

Background: Permanent pacemakers provide effective relief of symptoms and are life-saving in patients with symptomatic heart block. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) are also increasingly recognized as life-saving tools in various groups of patients with malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Methods: As part of the “world survey on pacemaker and ICD implantations”, a survey of all device implantations in Iran during the year 2001 was performed. Data was collected and cross-checked through three sources i.e. direct contact with implanting physicians, pacemaker companies and the governmental pacemaker distributing body.Results: During the year studied, 1635 patients received permanent pacemakers. 88% were new implants at an estimated rate of 24 per million population. The mean age of patients was 65 years and 56.2% were male. 40 cardiologists and 19 surgeons implanted the pacemakers at 27 centers throughout the country. Complete heart block was consistently the most common indication at all centers (mean 56.1%), sick sinus syndrome being the next most common one (mean 20.8%). 69% of the pacemakers were single chamber pacemakers. Transvenous insertion of bipolar steroid-eluting passive fixation leads was the predominant practice at most centers. A total of 60 ICDs were implanted at 7 centers by 9 cardiologists. 45% of ICD implants were dual chamber devices.Conclusion: The survey is the only one available right now and provides useful information about the prevailing pacemaker and defibrillator implantation practice in Iran. Future surveys would be facilitated if a standardized implant registry such as that used in Europe were established in this country

Beyond H2: Exploiting H-Transfer Reaction as a Tool for the Catalytic Reduction of Biomass

The hydrogenation of biomass-derived molecules is a key reaction in the upgrading of these compounds into chemicals and fuels. For reduction processes, catalytic hydrogenation using molecular H2 is still the main technique in use today. Nevertheless, the use of H2 is neither economic nor entirely green; therefore, a catalytic transfer hydrogenation process for the reduction of carbonyl groups, which employs alcohols as hydrogen sources, offers an alternative approach that avoids the use of both H2 pressure and precious metal catalysts. This reaction is a well-known process, which involves hydrogen transfer from an alcohol to the carbonyl moiety of an aldehyde or a ketone; recently it has attracted significant interest. This review reports some significant examples in this research area, while the considerable attention to this field makes it possible for us to envisage that some new processes based on the H-transfer reaction will be developed in coming years for the efficient production of chemicals and fuels from renewable raw materials