Does accountability discharged through performance measurement system?

This paper discusses the relevant literatures with regard to the conceptualization of accountability from different perspectives, particularly from private and public sector.The importance of discharging accountability and related problems are also discussed in the paper.The next section of the paper deals with the linkages between accountability and performance measurement system comprising the issues of using performance measurement in the public sector and other implementation issues.The discussion of these issues is then relates to the philosophy of new public management (NPM) being adopted by public sector.The conflicting results on the roles of NPM in enhancing effectiveness are also being articulated, blending together the human aspects and the cultural values as pre-requisites for the success

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Vitex agnus castus fruit in mice

زمینه و هدف: از آنجا که در طب سنتی اثرات ضد دردی و ضد التهابی به گیاه پنج انگشت نسبت داده شده است. این مطالعه با هدف بررسی اثرات ضد دردی و ضد التهابی عصاره هیدروالکلی میوه گیاه پنج انگشت ((Vitex agnus- castus در موش کوچک نر نژاد آزمایشگاهی NMRI انجام شده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی از 112 سر موش نر بالغ نژاد NMRI استفاده شد. در تست التهاب، حیوانات به 7 گروه شاهد، کنترل مثبت (دریافت کننده دگزامتازون با دوز mg/kg15) و پنج گروه دریافت کننده دوزهای 265، 365، 465، 565 و 665 میلی گرم بر کیلوگرم عصاره هیدروالکلی میوه پنج انگشت تقسیم و برای ایجاد التهاب از گزیلن استفاده شد. جهت بررسی اثر ضد دردی عصاره، تست فرمالین مورد استفاده قرار گرفت. در این تست نیز حیوانات به 7 گروه شاهد، کنترل مثبت (دریافت کننده مورفین با دوز mg/kg 10) و پنج گروه دریافت کننده عصاره تقسیم شدند. تزریقات به روش داخل صفاقی و 30 دقیقه قبل از شروع هر تست انجام شد. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون های آماری آنالیز واریانس یک طرفه و سپس توکی تجزیه و تحلیل شدند. یافته ها: تمام دوزهای عصاره اثر ضد التهابی قابل ملاحظه ای را در مهار التهاب گوش، ناشی از گزیلن در مقایسه با گروه شاهد نشان داد (05/0

Investigating activity of masticatory muscles in patients with hypermobile temporomandibular joints by using EMG

Background: Temporomandibular joint hypermobility (TMJH) can manifest higher range of motions in mandible. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the activity of masticatory muscle of TMJs in healthy individuals and patients with mild, moderate and severe TMJH. Material and Methods: In this clinical study, 69 patients (between the ages of 22 to 42) with manifestation of TMJH were included. The patients were divided into three groups based on their maximum mouth opening (MMO): (light) with MMO of 50-55 mm; (moderate) with MMO between 55 to 65 mm; and (severe) with MMO >65 mm. Also, 20 healthy people with profiled tomography in the last 6 months were invited as control group (healthy) with normal MMO (<50 mm). All the groups subjected to electromyogram (EMG) in 2 steps: maximal voluntary clenching (MVC) of the jaws; and during chewing of bread by using one side of the jaws voluntary. The collected data were analyzed by Student T-test and Chi-Square tests using SPSS software version 15 at significant level of 0.05. Results: Both TMJs of light, moderate and severe groups showed significant differences in frequency, time of activity and rest in comparison with healthy group during chewing and MVC (all p values < 0.01). Conclusions: Masticatory muscles activity reduced in relation with the severity of TMJH and higher excessive mouth opening

The status of college students’ critical thinking disposition in humanities

AbstractThis survey aimed at measuring students’ critical thinking dispositions in humanities fields. 123 students were randomly selected by stratified sampling method among undergraduate students in the College of Humanities in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran during academic year of 2010-2011. They completed Ricketts’(2003) Critical Thinking Disposition Questionnaire. Overly, finding showed that all subjects achieved optimal level of critical thinking in the moderated level (p<0.001,t=17.56), but not in the strict level (p<0.001, t=-9.20). Implications for applying active learning and problem solving approaches to enhance students’ critical thinking propositions were proposed

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Calcium Hypochlorite as an Endodontic Irrigant on a Mixed-culture Biofilm: An Ex vivo Study

Introduction: Calcium hypochlorite (CH) has been recently suggested as an endodontic irrigant. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of CH compared to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and chlorhexidine (CHX) against multispecies biofilm in surface and deep dentinal tubules. Methods and Materials: Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of irrigant agents was assessed using a microdilution method. One hundred and twenty of human maxillary incisor teeth were prepared and infected with suspension of Entrococcus faecalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum and Prevotella intermedia in an anaerobic jar for 7 days. Depending on irrigation solutions, specimens were divided into 4 groups (n=30); group 1: 2% CHX, group 2: 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, group 3: 5% calcium hypochlorite, group 4: positive control (normal saline (NS)). Fifteen remained specimens were used as negative control. Surviving bacteria were sampled before (S1) and after irrigation from surface (S2) and deep (S3) dentin. The medium turbidity was visualized with spectrophotometry. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by Tukey post hoc test (α=0.05). Results: The MIC of CH against E. faecalis, F. nucleatum and P. intermedia was 25, 8 and 7.5 µg/mL respectively. There were no significant differences in S1 among the test groups. Moreover, 2% CHX and 5% CH had significantly lower medium turbidity at both S2 and S3, in comparison with 5.25% NaOCl (P=0.018 and 0.031, respectively). But there were no significant differences between 2% CHX and 5% CH at both S2 and S3 (P=0.862 and 0.978, respectively). Conclusion: Under the conditions of this ex vivo study, 5% CH and 2% CHX are more effective than 5.25% NaOCl in the reduction of mixed-culture biofilm.Keywords: Calcium Hypochlorite; Chlorhexidine; Endodontics; Sodium Hypochlorite

Atypical Presentation of Cytomegalovirus-Related Infantile Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic syndrome is the most common glomerular disease in children. Most cases are idiopathic and the first episode is rarely related to cytomegalovirus infection, particularly after 3 months of age. We present a 7-month-old infant who developed atypical presentation of nephrotic syndrome secondary to cytomegalovirus infection. The patient was referred to undergo orchipexy due to right-sided undescended testis. Following the surgery, he developed fever, gastroenteritis and renal failure. A few days later, generalized edema and proteinuria were detected. Due to positive test results for cytomegalovirus, ganciclovir was administered. Remission of nephrotic syndrome was obtained within the first two weeks of the treatment. No relapse of nephrotic syndrome was detected during 12 months of follow up. We may conclude that in unexplained infantile nephrotic syndrome, CMV should be considered as one of the possible etiologies.Keywords: Nephrotic Syndrome; Cytomegalovirus; Infant; Ganciclovir; Edema; Proteinuria; Gastroenteritis

Progesterone exerts antidepressant-like effect in a mouse model of maternal separation stress through mitigation of neuroinflammatory response and oxidative stress

Context: Experiencing early-life adversity plays a key role in the development of mood disorders in adulthood. Experiencing adversities during early life period negatively affects brain development. Sex steroids such as progesterone affect the brain structure and functions and subsequently affects behaviour. Objective: We assess the antidepressant-like effect of progesterone in a mouse model of maternal separation (MS) stress, focussing on its anti-neuroinflammatory and antioxidative effects. Materials and methods: NMRI mice were treated with progesterone (10, 50, and 100 mg/kg, i.p., respectively) for 14 days. Valid behavioural tests including forced swimming test (FST), splash test and open field test (OFT) were used. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used for evaluation of genetic expression in the hippocampus. Antioxidant capacity was assessed by the FRAP method and the level of malondialdehide by TBA. Results: MS provoked depressive-like behaviour in mice. Treatment of MS mice with progesterone increased the grooming activity time in the splash test and decreased the immobility time in the FST. In addition, progesterone decreased the expression of inflammatory genes related to neuroinflammation (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, TLR4 and NLRP3) as well as increased the antioxidant capacity and decreased the lipid peroxidation (MDA) in the hippocampus. Discussion and Conclusion: Administration of progesterone significantly mitigated the negative effects of MS on behaviours relevant to depressive-like behaviour as well as attenuated neuro-immune response and oxidative stress in the hippocampus of MS mice. In this context, we conclude that progesterone, at least partially, via attenuation of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, exerts antidepressant-like effects