Identification and Prioritization of the Effective Factors on Employee Productivity of SMEs of Shiraz Industrial Town Using AHP and TOPSIS Techniques : Case Study In Iran

In today’s changing and complicated conditions that rules the economical, social, political, and…. environment, one of the factors that can help the survival of an organization is the issue productivity. As to this in this study we’ve tried to identify the most influential factors on the human force productivity and then to prioritize these factors. After studying the existing texts and pieces of research regarding productivity and decision making techniques and also interviewing experts and professors, a questionnaire including managerial, social-psychological, cultural, environmental, personal and economical factors was prepared. After analyzing the first questionnaire, the final criteria were identified and the second questionnaire which included the tables of pair- comparisons of the criteria was prepared and the obtained data was used for ranking the criteria in AHP, SAW, TOPSIS and ELECTRE methods. With regard to the fact that  the results obtained from carrying out the above methods didn’t correspond to each other  in some cases  for reaching a general consensus concerning the ranking of criteria the aggregate techniques (Poset) that include average, Borda and Copeland methods were used. Finally the managerial factors were identified as the most important factors and then personal, cultural, social-psychological and finally environmental factors respectively. Keywords: “Human Force Productivity, POSET, SAW,ELECTRE, TOPSIS, AH

Thermo-Viscoelastic-Viscoplastic-Viscodamage-Healing Modeling of Bituminous Materials: Theory and Computation

Time- and rate-dependent materials such as polymers, bituminous materials, and soft materials clearly display all four fundamental responses (i.e. viscoelasticity, viscoplasticity, viscodamage, and healing) where contribution of each response strongly depends on the temperature and loading conditions. This study proposes a new general thermodynamic-based framework to specifically derive thermo-viscoelastic, thermo-viscoplastic, thermo-viscodamage, and micro-damage healing constitutive models for bituminous materials and asphalt mixes. The developed thermodynamic-based framework is general and can be applied for constitutive modeling of different materials such as bituminous materials, soft materials, polymers, and biomaterials. This framework is build on the basis of assuming a form for the Helmohelotz free energy function (i.e. knowing how the material stores energy) and a form for the rate of entropy production (i.e. knowing how the material dissipates energy). However, the focus in this work is placed on constitutive modeling of bituminous materials and asphalt mixes. A viscoplastic softening model is proposed to model the distinct viscoplastic softening response of asphalt mixes subjected to cyclic loading conditions. A systematic procedure for identification of the constitutive model parameters based on optimized experimental effort is proposed. It is shown that this procedure is simple and straightforward and yields unique values for the model material parameters. Subsequently, the proposed model is validated against an extensive experimental data including creep, creep-recovery, repeated creep-recovery, dynamic modulus, constant strain rate, cyclic stress controlled, and cyclic strain controlled tests in both tension and compression and over a wide range of temperatures, stress levels, strain rates, loading/unloading periods, loading frequencies, and confinement levels. It is shown that the model is capable of predicting time-, rate-, and temperature-dependent of asphalt mixes subjected to different loading conditions

Synthesis of Cu-CNTs nanocomposites via double pressing double sintering method

In this research, copper (Cu)-carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanocomposites were synthesized with different weight percentages of CNTs by double pressing double sintering (DPDS) method as well as conventional sintering method. A planetary ball mill was used to disperse CNTs in Cu matrix. The milled powders were first cold pressed to 450 MPa in a uniaxial stainless-steel die with cylindrical compacts (diameter: 12 mm and height: 5 mm). The effect of CNTs content and the DPDS method on the properties of the nanocomposites were investigated. The microstructure and phase analysis of Cu-CNTs nanocomposite samples were studied by FESEM and X-Ray Diffraction. The electrical conductivity of nanocomposites was measured and compared to both sintering methods. Mechanical properties of Cu-CNTs nanocomposites were characterized using bending strength and micro-hardness measurements. Enhancements of about 32% in bending strength, 31.6% in hardness and 19.5% in electrical conductivity of Cu-1 wt.% CNTs nanocomposite synthesized by DPDS method were observed as compared to Cu-1 wt.% CNTs nanocomposites fabricated under the similar condition by a conventional sintering process

Electrical and mechanical properties of Cu-CNT nanocomposites sintered by microwave technique

In this research, multiwall carbon nanotubes were dispersed in a copper matrix using a planetary ball mill. The mixed powders were compacted using a uniaxial hydraulic presser. A novel method of microwave sintering was applied to consolidate Cu-CNT nanocomposites Conventional sintering method was also used to sinter samples to investigate the effects of applied methods on the properties of the sample. Sintering time was reduced to 20 min using microwave sintering method. The morphology and phase analysis of nanocomposites were studied by FESEM and XRD. The physical and mechanical properties of Cu-CNT nanocomposites were characterized using electrical conductivity, bending strength, and micro-hardness. The results show that the mechanical properties of Cu-CNT nanocomposites are improved significantly by microwave route. The optimum hardness and bending strength were obtained for 4 vol. % CNT as an optimum amount of reinforcement

Reprogrammed Cell‐based Therapy for Liver Disease: From Lab to Clinic

A large number of patients are affected by liver dysfunction worldwide. Liver transplantation is the only efficient treatment in a variety of enduring liver disorders including inherent and end-stage liver diseases. The generation of human functional hepatocytes in high quantities for liver cell therapy is an important goal for ongoing therapies in regenerative medicine. Reprogrammed cells are considered as a promising and unlimited source of hepatocytes, mainly because of their expected lack of immunogenicity and minimized ethical concerns in clinical applications. Despite gained advances in the reprogramming of somatic cells to functional hepatocytes in vitro, production of primary adult hepatocytes that can proliferate in vivo still remains inaccessible. As part of efforts toward translation of cell reprogramming science into clinical practice, more careful cell selection strategies should be integrated into improvement of dedifferentiation and redifferentiation protocols, especially in precision medicine where gene correction is needed. Furthermore, advances in cellular reprogramming highlight the need for developing and evaluating novel standards addressing clinical research interests in this field

The Effect of Cost Leadership Strategy On ROA and Future Performance of Accepted Companies in Tehran Stock Exchange

This study empirically investigates the effect  of Cost Leadership Strategy   on ROA   and  future performance  . The research data is collected from 45 firms in the Tehran Security Exchange (TSE) during 2009-2013.The statistical technique is used to examine the assumption of regressions model. To test the assumptions, three variables the  ratio of  sale to assets, the ratio of  sale to capital expenditure  and  the ratio of staff to assets replace as alternative variables    a cost leadership strategy were considered. In order to examine the hypotheses, data is collected from the annual reports of the companies using official bulletins of the Tehran stock exchange, mainly, through Novin software, Tadbir Pardaz software, and stock sites such as www.rdis.ir. The results indicated that in the firms with cost leadership strategy, there were positive relationships between the ratio of  sale to capital expenditure  with percent of growth in sales. The results also suggested that there were negative relationships between the  ratio of  sale to assets and the ratio of staff to assets with ROA   and  Long-term financial performance and Short-term economic performance . Keywords: Cost Leadership Strategy, ROA, future performance, The Tehran Security Exchang

Effect of Evotherm-M1 on Properties of Asphaltic Materials Used at NAPMRC Testing Facility

Rheological properties of asphalt binders significantly affect distress development and performance of asphalt concrete materials. This article presents the effect of Evotherm-M1 modifications on rheological properties of asphalt binders used in the construction of test sections at the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Airport Pavement & Materials Research Center. Four different binders (i.e., polymer styrene butadiene styrene [SBS]-modified PG 76-22, PG 64-22, SBS-modified PG 76-22 plus Evotherm-M1, and PG 64-22 plus Evotherm-M1) are studied. Multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) and strain-controlled frequency sweep (FS) test results are analyzed to construct the master curves for the binders. Results indicate high sensitivity of SBS-modified PG 76-22 to Evotherm-M1 modifications as compared with PG 64-22. Subsequently, the results of dynamic modulus tests conducted on asphalt mixture specimens (prepared using job mix formula and different binders) are analyzed to investigate the effect of binder type and modification on rheological properties and rutting performance of asphalt mixtures. It is shown that the rutting resistance and rheological properties of asphalt mixtures can be ranked based on the results of MSCR and FS tests conducted on asphalt binders. It is shown that the rutting resistivity of traffic test sections and lab-tested asphalt mixtures can be ranked as follows: SBS-modified PG 76-22, SBS-modified PG 76-22 plus Evotherm-M1, PG 64-22, and PG 64-22 plus Evotherm-M1. This is consistent with the results obtained for tested asphalt binders

SCD (stearoyl-CoA desaturase (delta-9-desaturase))

Despite the presence of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in the usual diet, these fatty acids may also be synthesized de novo from saturated fatty acids (SFA) through enzymatic desaturase activity (Arregui et al., 2012). Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD)1 and SCD5 isozymes have been identified in human. SCD1 or ?9 desaturase is predominantly expressed in adipose tissue, meibomian, harderian and preputial glands. This enzyme is highly induced in response to high carbohydrate diet (Mauvoisin & Mounier, 2011). It has been proven that the elevated levels of SCD1 are associated with obesity, metabolic disorders and malignancies. Altogether, these findings propose SCD1 as a new therapeutic target

I405V and -629C/A polymorphisms of the cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene in patients with coronary artery disease

Background: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays a main role in high-density lipoprotein metabolism. CETP gene possesses several single nucleotide polymorphisms which have been associated with plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations. The aim of this study was to determine the association of CETP -629C/A and I405V polymorphisms with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Iranian population. Methods: The presence of two CETP gene polymorphisms -629C/A and I405V were studied in 187 unrelated CAD cases and 136 controls. All the samples were clinically examined and lipid profile was estimated. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results: The frequency of -629C/A and I405V allelic variants were found to be 0.732 and 0.366 in cases and 0.658 and 0.348 in controls, respectively. The frequency of A allele of -629C/A polymorphism in cases was significantly higher than that of controls. HDL-C in AA genotype was higher than CA and CC genotypes in controls. No significant effect of II, IV and VV genotypes was found in lipid profiles. Conclusion: No significant association was found between CETP I405V polymorphism and increased risk of CAD in Azeri population studied. AA genotype of -629C/A increased HDL but the risk of CAD in this genotype might be higher than CC genotype

The Effect of Perioperative Dimethyl Sulfoxide Efficacy on Regional and Local Flaps Viability

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects and results of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) usage on viability and perfusion of local and regional flaps in rabbits, via this study we are going to conclude whether DMSO could be effective after flap operations in human or not. Materials and Methods: Local and regional DMSO spray was used on rabbit’s dorsum flaps immediately after the operation and once per day up to 7 days post-op in 14 rabbits, divided equally to control group (saline solution spray) or experiment group (DMSO spray). The results were compared 3 and 7 days after operations. Results: There were improved results attributed to the DMSO effects regarding flap survival Conclusion: We concluded that topical application of DMSO reduces skin flap ischemia in rabbits and we highly advise the use of it after operations in which skin flaps are created