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

Effect of Phentolamine as Reversal of Soft-Tissue Anesthesia on Post-Endodontic Pain in Patients with Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Introduction: Phentolamine mesylate (OraVerse) is mostly used to reverse soft tissue anesthesia after dental procedures. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the injection of OraVerse on postoperative pain after root canal treatment in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis. Methods and Materials: In this randomized single-blind clinical trial study, 100 patients (50 per group) with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in the first or second mandibular molars, randomly received either OraVerse or sham treatment after a single-visit root canal therapy. Each patient recorded their pain score, using a Heft Parker visual analogue scale, before and after 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 72 h of the treatment. They also monitored their soft-tissue anesthesia every 15 min for 5 h. Data were analyzed by t-test and repeated measured ANOVA statistical tests. The level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: Patients who received phentolamine had significantly higher pain scores at 6- and 12-h postoperative intervals compared with those receiving sham treatment (P=0.01 and P=0.00 respectively). Consumption of analgesics in OraVerse group was significantly higher than that of the sham group (P=0.48). Conclusion: Although phentolamine accelerated the reversal of normal soft tissue sensation after the dental visit, it increased postoperative pain in patients suffering from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, which may limit phentolamine administration in this group.Keywords: Anesthesia; Inferior Alveolar Nerve; Lidocaine; Phentolamine Mesylate; Postoperative Pai