Poly(L-Lactide) Bionanocomposites

A variety of natural, synthetic, and biosynthetic polymers such as poly(L-lactide), polyhydroxyalkanoate, and poly(ε-caprolactone) are biocompatible and environmentally degradable. Biodegradability can therefore be engineered into polymers by the judicious addition of chemical linkages such as anhydride, ester, or amide bonds, among others. Poly(L-lactide) (PLLA) has attracted increasing attention due to the combination of its bioresorbability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and shape memory effect. It has been widely applied to biomedical fields such as bone screws, surgical sutures, tissue engineering, and controlled drug delivery. Nevertheless, the PLLA is weaker than that of natural cortical bones in mechanical strength. Additionally, the ability of PLLA in cell attachment and bioactivity are weak due to its hydrophobic properties. In order to overcome the unsuitable properties of PLLA, various techniques have already been applied to modify the physical and mechanical properties of PLLA. The most significant method is to introduce some various kinds of fillers into PLLA matrix to provide reinforcing filler/PLLA composites, such as hydroxyapatite (HA), b-tricalcium phosphate, bioglass, silica gel, amorphous carbon, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and so on

Visualizing Subjective Mapping in the Field of E-book Publishing in the Context of Users and Librarians

The present paper reports the findings of a research which aimed to visualize subjective mapping of "e-books" in the context of users and libraries. The research is a kind of scientometrics studies via qualitative content analysis method. Node XL software was used to visualize the map. The research community included all papers in the subjective field of "e-books" in the context of users and libraries which were published in the journals indexed in the EBSCO database during 2005-2011. Results show that subjects of "e-books (general)", "e-book readers" and "electronic textbook" are the most important subjects which are allocated mental disturbances related to users through the papers. Moreover, in the field of "e-textbooks" the strongest subjective connections are related to "students and usages". Moreover, "students" and "children" are as the most important stratum. Furthermore, survey on the usage rate of e-books and analysis statistics of their usage are as the most significant discussions that are considered from library-related approach. Additionally, the current situation of e-books in public and academic libraries is accentuated by researchers as another predominant subject. Visualizing subjective mapping including the mentioned contexts is not revealed by previous studies. Hence, it is included a novel contribution

Ranking the factors affecting scientific data sharing among Iranian Medical researchers using DEMATEL technique

Data sharing is considered as a hot topic and a norm in many scientific fields. But it seems that, it was neglected in Iranian Medical fields. This research aiming to identify relevant factors in data sharing. With using semi-structured interview, survey and DEMATEL techniques, the present study identified the influencing factors affecting data sharing. The sample population consisted of 14 experienced Iranian medical researchers in data sharing. The results showed that, education, budgeting, attitudes, and institutional requirements were the most influential factors among others and were pure casual factors. In view of Iranian medical researchers, budgeting and organizational supports had the highest effect on authorship, structures, attitudes, ownership and their trust. Co-authorship, trust among the researchers and research system, legal issues like ownership, and the conditions of data access were not strong casual nor strong effect variables in this research, but had important role in data sharing and should be more considered. Identifying factors influencing data sharing enhance and strengthen data sharing and facilitate movement towards data-driven researches, and scientific communities could apply the advantages of data sharing

Comparative Study of Research Performance and Innovation-Industry Indicators in National and International University Ranking Systems

Introduction: There are different national and international university ranking systems in the world which rank universities in terms of numerous metrics. Previous studies have investigated some educational and research indicators, but research and innovation metrics have not yet been compared. The present study aimed to compare research performance and innovation-industry indicators in the national and international university ranking systems based on measured dimensions, data extraction sources, and find the highest innovational and research-oriented ranking systems than others. Methods: This cross-sectional study covered the 2020 edition of each ranking, and the data were collected in January 2021. According to the inclusion criteria, 20 national and international university rankings were selected among 75 ranking systems. This study used a thematic method for data analysis. Results: Among 20 included university rankings in the study, 17 were international and three national university rankings that all have research performance indicators, and seven of them applied innovation-industry indicators. The highest research-oriented rankings were CWTS, NTU, U.S. News, URAP, and Research Excellence Framework. The highest innovative-industrial-oriented rankings were U-Multilink and Scivision. The U-Multilink and the Scivision were the most research and innovative-industry-oriented rankings, among others. Conclusion: The international university rankings are more innovational and research-oriented than national rankings. So, the national university rankings must introduce new national research and innovation-industry indicators for their universities' performance evaluation

Scientific Products of Iran in ISI from 1993 through 2007

Using indicators and statistics of ISI, this paper comparatively evaluates Iran indexed scientific productions from 1993 through 2007. Considering the number of indexed scientific productions in WOS, Iran was in a satisfactory position in terms of the growth rate. According to the statistics of ESI, Iran was in the second place after Turkey among Islamic countries and the fortieth in the world, during the last ten years. Most of the scientific productions of Iran were published in English "article" formats. According to JCR statistics, three Iranian Journals in 2005 were indexed in SCI section of this database and three more journals were added to it in 2006. Shiraz University has had the most journals in JCR in 2006

Visualizing Subjective Mapping in the Field of E-book Publishing in the Context of Users and Librarians

The present paper reports the findings of a research which aimed to visualize subjective mapping of "e-books" in the context of users and libraries. The research is a kind of scientometrics studies via qualitative content analysis method. Node XL software was used to visualize the map. The research community included all papers in the subjective field of "e-books" in the context of users and libraries which were published in the journals indexed in the EBSCO database during 2005-2011. Results show that subjects of "e-books (general)", "e-book readers" and "electronic textbook" are the most important subjects which are allocated mental disturbances related to users through the papers. Moreover, in the field of "e-textbooks" the strongest subjective connections are related to "students and usages". Moreover, "students" and "children" are as the most important stratum. Furthermore, survey on the usage rate of e-books and analysis statistics of their usage are as the most significant discussions that are considered from library-related approach. Additionally, the current situation of e-books in public and academic libraries is accentuated by researchers as another predominant subject. Visualizing subjective mapping including the mentioned contexts is not revealed by previous studies. Hence, it is included a novel contribution

The Role and Situation of the Scientometrics in Development

The measurement and evaluation of science, that scientometrics is followed, subsequently has always been in the world since it has been assumed that science can help the health and welfare of the inhabitants of the planet. Using the results of researches can effect on the economic, social, political, scientific, and cultural foundations. Therefore, the scientometrics researches are attractive for scientific and research societies that draw the distant horizons for themselves. This article introduced the scientometrics dimensions concisely and discusses the effects of results of these researches on economic, social, political, scientific, and cultural development in the countries and emphasizes its effects on the services of library and information centers. So, this paper presented the situation of scientometrics in science policy processes and states its role in the society development process based on the library method and using the analytical approach