Assimilation of Flexible Information Technologies

This research focuses on the process of how flexible information technologies assimilate into work processes and become routinized in an organization’s activities. The success of this post-implementation phase is essential if organizations are to reap the benefits of their investments in these technologies. However, many organizations struggle to integrate them with their processes and consequently, do not fully realize the benefits and value of those technologies. We attempt to study IS assimilation using the grounded theory approach to respond to the call for researchers to take the sociomaterial nature of the IS phenomenon into account. To develop a better understanding of the sociomaterial findings of this research, we view these findings through the lens of the Imbrication concept in order to better explain how technology assimilates into organizational practices through gradual interactions of technological and social elements. Several implications for research and practice are discussed

The Effect of Soil around the Basement Walls on the Base Level of Braced Framed Tube System

According to the 2800 standard, the Iranian code of practice for seismic-resistant design of buildings, the base level refers to the level at which it is assumed that the horizontal movement of the ground is transmitted to the structure. In cases that there are reinforced concrete walls being run by an integrative structure in the underground perimeter, and the surrounding ground is dense and compressed, the base level is considered on the top of the basement wall. In tall structures, due to strong forces and moments at the foot of the structure, examining the location of base level and its movement becomes specially important. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of changing the properties of the soil around the underground perimeter walls on the base level, taking into account the effects of soil-structure interaction systems. In this regard, the soil-structure system was investigated in two-dimensional models and the location of the base level was identified using shear and drift changes. The results indicated that taking into account the level of the upper stories is possible through performing appropriate walls integrated with the structure even without Compacting the soil around the structure

Factors of Non-Humanities Students’ Tendency towards the Humanities

This paper examined personal, educational, social and economic factors of students of non-humanities disciplines’ tendency to continue their higher education in the humanities. The mixed methodology (quantitative & qualitative) was employed in this research. Population consisted of all MA candidates in the humanities with an unrelated bachelor’s degree. The sample involved 138 MA candidates who referred to University of Isfahan for the entrance examination. To enrich data, 18 higher education students with non-humanities bachelor’s degree (medical sciences, science, and engineering) who were already studying the humanities in University of Isfahan were interviewed. Research tools included semi-structured interview and researcher-made questionnaire in terms of four educational, personal, social and economic factors. Questionnaire’s reliability was estimated at 89% according to Cronbach’s alpha and its validity was verified by professors. Results showed that “educational” and “personal” factors were relatively most influential in students’ tendency to the humanities. Several recommendations are presented at the end to encourage students, especially the talented, to gravitate towards the humanities and to reconsider curriculums of the humanities in order to make them more interesting for elite candidates

Liquid-phase microextraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A review

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of organic compounds comprised of two or more fused benzene rings, which arise from the incomplete combustion of organic materials. These compounds have been of concern as carcinogens and mutagens for the past 50-60 years. Lately, they are also receiving attention as endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Therefore, proper analytical methods are required for sampling and analyzing these compounds. In response to problems associated with the conventional methods like solid-phase extraction (SPE) and liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), many studies have focused on the miniaturization of different sample preparation techniques. In this regard, the use of different types of liquid phase microextraction (LPME) techniques has increased significantly during the recent few decades. LPME techniques are advantageous because they use single-step sample preparation and have shown a greater sensitivity, selectivity, and efficiency than the conventional methods. In addition, these techniques have good potential for automation, to reduce the time and cost of analysis. This review focuses on the most important configurations of LPME including single‐drop microextraction (SDME), hollow-fiber liquid-phase microextraction (HF-LPME), and dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) techniques used for the sampling and determination of PAHs in different samples, along with their cons and pros, as well as their prospects