Habitat, Phenology, and Seed Studies of \u3ci\u3eCitrullus colocynthis\u3c/i\u3e in Lut Desert, Iran

Colocynth is one of the major medicinal plants that naturally grows in deserts of Middle East and North Africa. Extending cultivation of this species is useful for sand dune fixation and for making incomes for the needy inhabitants. Despite of numerous studies on seed germination, there are still debates on best method of seed dormancy breaking for colocynth. Moreover, seed morphology, phonological stages, and habitat conditions of this species are not fully studied. In a flat plain of Gonabad, located at the edge Lut desert, we established line transects of 200 m and plots of 4×4 m, where vegetation parameters, phenology, and soil characteristics of Colocynth habitats were studied. Soil of study area was classified as slight alkaline, where pH varied between 7-7.5 in open and 8-8.11 under the canopy of colocynth. Two weeks pre-chilling at 5°C and day/night temperature range from 25-40°C significantly increased seed germination. In the study area colocynth was detected as a perennial herb with long and ligneous roots (\u3e 120 cm depth). Its vegetative growth starts at mid-May, seed ripening and shedding occur in October and November respectively. Average fruit volume was 2.62 m3 and seed number counted in each fruit varied between 250 to 420 by the length of 4 to 7 mm and 2-4 mm width. Bigger size fruits contained highest seed number, hence the full maturity stage is best harvesting time in terms of both economic value and seed viability

Measuring Head Circumference in Neonates Weighing Less Than 2500 Grams

Background: Anthropometric measures are important research goals especially because of racial differences and also variation in measurement techniques. In this study, head circumference in neonates weighing less than 2500 grams in Emam-Hosein hospital in 2018 was assessed. Aim: The aim of this study was to Measuring Head Circumference in Neonates Weighing Less Than 2500 Grams. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 200 neonates weighing less than 2500 grams in Emam-Hosein hospital in 2018 were enrolled. The head circumference in neonates was determined and also was compared according to gestational age, birth weight, and sex. Results: There were 53% males and 47% females. There were 85.5% preterm neonates. Birth weight was less than 2000 gram in 12.5%. Head circumference was low in 148 cases (74%). The head circumference was not differed by gestational age, birth weight, and sex (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Totally, it may be concluded that head circumference is normal only in ¼ of neonates weighing less than 2500 grams and it is not an optimal goal for growth pattern monitoring

Study of the Impacts of Educational Technology on Academic Progress of Students in Bamian Boys’ Center High School

The aim of this research was to study the impact of educational technology on the academic progress of Bamyan boys’ high school students in 1401 (2022). This research was applied in terms of purpose and a descriptive survey in terms of nature. Societal statistics of this research were the whole of 83 teachers at Bamian Boys’ High School. So, from the societal statistics, we used simple random sampling with confidence levels of 95% and 5% error for 70 people selected according to Morgan’s table and 64 of them answered the questionnaires. For data collection, a questionnaire measuring the attitude towards the use of technology in education (including 50 questions) was specially prepared for teachers and fixed to check their academic progress. SPSS 24 statistical software was used in data analysis. The research outcome indicates factors like the teacher’s understanding and the benefits of implementing educational technology and equipment’s effects on the academic progress of school students. The result means that a spiritual relationship exists between educational technology and the academic progress of students

A survey of factors related to urine iodine levels in elementary school children, Kurdistan, Iran

BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) control program has two important factors: annual monitoring of urine iodine levels and controlling iodized salt consumed in the community. Preserving the iodine indexes in different level is important now too. This survey determined factors affecting median levels of urine iodine levels in students of Kurdistan Province (Iran). METHODS: This cross-sectional study selected 255 8-10-year-old students using cluster random sampling. Data was obtained by a questionnaire and urine analysis. The collected data was analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman correlation, and multiple regression. All analyses were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: The median urine iodine level of the studied school children was 9.7 μg/dl. There was no significant relation between urine iodine level and sex, place of residence (rural/urban areas), and household iodized salt intake (r = 0.188, P = 0.003). Overall, 119 families (46.7%) did not appropriately protect their iodized salt. The amount of iodine in salt and the condition in which salt is kept had relationships with children’s urine iodine levels. CONCLUSION: Low median level of urine iodine in students, low household iodized salt, and high use of salt with lesser iodine than the standard value showed that the IDD program in Kurdistan Province has not been successful. Therefore, there is a risk for increased prevalence of Goiter in the region. We recommend interventional programs to improve the current status in the province. KEYWORDS: Goiter, Urine Iodine, Ira

The Relationship between Knowledge Transfer and Competitiveness in “SMES” with Emphasis on Absorptive Capacity and Combinative Capabilities

In order to improve SMES’ competitiveness, introduction of Knowledge into all aspects of production process and management levels is essential. The question is how the knowledge can be transfer into firms? The purpose of this study is to examine the role of knowledge transfer in Firm’s competitiveness. Firms’ need to manage resources flow effectively to be able to survive and to grow in competitive business environment. How can they do this? Over the last decade, the knowledge- based view has rapidly seized a prominent role in strategy research. The knowledge – based view explains that tacit knowledge is the critical component of the value that a firm adds to input , and that a firm’s ability to transfer this tacit knowledge is the essential source of sustained competitive advantage. Firms which have a good absorptive capacity and combinative capabilities are able to compete effectively. Absorptive capacity and combinative capability are main aspect of knowledge - transfer which has captured the attention of numerous studies in recent years. Large firms have possibilities to invest a large amount of money into R&D and to monopolize the knowledge which they have explored and then to exploit it, but the questions are: What about SMES? Are they able to explore and to exploit new knowledge? What are the advantages of K-T in SMES’ competitiveness? With consideration of SMES’ expansion in developed and developing countries, growth and survival of them depend on K-T in these firms and its relationship with firms’ competitiveness. When firms interact with external constituents, be they suppliers or customers, they seek to acquire and/or maintain access to knowledge that otherwise would not efficiently available. Based on the literature review a theoretical model of Small and medium enterprises (SME’S) competitiveness relating to that knowledge transfer is a function of absorptive capacity and combinative capability that characterize the competitiveness. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are assumed to play a key role in social and economic development. The theoretical model that was developed in this study predicted that knowledge transfer is a function of absorptive capacity and combinative capability that characterize the SMEs’ competitiveness. Absorptive capacity refers to the capability to understand and use new knowledge. Results from this study indicate that two dimensions of absorptive capacity, available complementary knowledge and prior related experience, are both important antecedents of knowledge transfer. Combinative capability refers to a firm’s capacity to combine and recombine existing knowledge. The theoretical model predicted that this capacity is a function of the opportunity, motivation, and ability to share knowledge. Key words: Competitiveness; Firm; Tacit; Strategy; Absorptive; Combinative; Knowledge; SMES; Capability; Capacity; Motivatio

Effect of excessive Arm Swing on Speed and Cadence of walking

Introduction: One of the changes in the movement patterns that can be seen in upper limb swing is the excessive increase in upper limb movement and swing during walking. As temporal parameters such as cadence and speed in stationary and mobile environments can be equally used to determine early fall potentials, Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of excessive arm swing on speed and cadence of walking. Material and Methods: 30 healthy subjects were exposed to Vicon 10 motion capture system analysis and were asked to first walk normally at normal speeds and then move their hands excessively while walking at the same speed. The temporal data were extracted and analyzed by Matlab software. Descriptive (mean, SD) and Shapiro-Wilk test for normality of data distribution, and paired sample t-test were used to compare the patterns. Results: there was a significant difference in cadence and speed variables, between the means of natural arm swing and excessive arm swing modes (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion: Given these results, it should be considered that the effects of upper limb pattern changes on the lower limbs and gait can compensate for the lack of attention to movement and pattern of upper extremity positioning during walking

Female Sex Workers' Experiences of Risky Behaviors, and the Causes of These Behaviors from their Viewpoints: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: The phenomenon of prostitution among women as one of the backgrounds for the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexual transmitted infections in recent years attracted the attention of the authorities, especially the Iranian health officials. From 2009, and accordance to the HIV surveillance, centers as centers for vulnerable women has been established by the national health system for harm reduction programs in women. In this study, experiences, risky behaviors, and causes of these behaviors in female sex workers (FSWs) came to the vulnerable women counseling center in 2015, in Sanandaj City, Iran, were studied. Method: In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion techniques were used to collect the data. Individual interviews with service provider personnel vulnerable women, including the director of the women counseling center, the midwife, and social worker consultant, and three focus group discussions with women referred to the center were done. Results: Sexual partners' unwilling to use harm reduction facilities, non-commitment of men to pay for prostitution, violence, physical and sexual harm, applying for unconventional sexual abuse, and forced use of drugs and alcohol were the main experiences and risk behaviors that prostitutes facing. Lack of adherence to religious, poverty, addiction, divorce, ethical and social distortions, and lack of healthy family relationships were the most important factors affecting the occurrence of prostitution among women. Conclusion: Even the health and social consequences of the prostitution among women and their risky behaviors are associated with multiple factors (multifactorial), but to deal with this problem, attention to the social determinants of health is very important; and each of the variables identified in this study can become a target for interventional programs in the country, particularly in vulnerable women counseling centers. Keywords: Female, Sex workers, Risk behavior, Qualitative researc

The effect of job-stress on patient-safety in hospitals affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

BACKGROUND: Patient-safety is one of the main pillars of healthcare. Given that nurses are the largest group associated with patients, so with safety harms, job-stress among then can reduce patient-safety in hospitals. The aim of this article was to investigate the effects of job-stress on patient-safety in hospitals affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, data gathering tools consisted of a reliable researcher-made job-stress questionnaire, and a patient-safety checklist. 320 nurses in hospitals affiliated to Alborz University of Medical Sciences, who were selected using simple randomized sampling method, completed the questionnaire, and the checklist was filled by the researcher. Data were analyzed at two levels of inferential and descriptive statistics.RESULTS: Job-stress and also patient-safety were at average levels in studied hospitals. Among the demographic factors, only the relationship between job-stress and marital status was statistically significant (P < 0.050). There were no significant relationships between different aspects of job-stress among nurses and patient-safety.CONCLUSION: According to average level of job-stress among studied nurses, the quality of offered services would decrease and patient-safety would become undermined, if no action take place to reduce the job-stress among them. Therefore, it is necessary to increase nurses’ physical, psychological, and social health to increase patient-safety

A survey of factors related to urine iodine levels in elementary school children, Kurdistan, Iran

BACKGROUND: Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) control program has two important factors: annual monitoring of urine iodine levels and controlling iodized salt consumed in the community. Preserving the iodine indexes in different level is important now too. This survey determined factors affecting median levels of urine iodine levels in students of Kurdistan Province (Iran). METHODS: This cross-sectional study selected 255 8-10-year-old students using cluster random sampling. Data was obtained by a questionnaire and urine analysis. The collected data was analyzed by Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, Spearman correlation, and multiple regression. All analyses were performed using SPSS. RESULTS: The median urine iodine level of the studied school children was 9.7 μg/dl. There was no significant relation between urine iodine level and sex, place of residence (rural/urban areas), and household iodized salt intake (r = 0.188, P = 0.003). Overall, 119 families (46.7%) did not appropriately protect their iodized salt. The amount of iodine in salt and the condition in which salt is kept had relationships with children’s urine iodine levels. CONCLUSION: Low median level of urine iodine in students, low household iodized salt, and high use of salt with lesser iodine than the standard value showed that the IDD program in Kurdistan Province has not been successful. Therefore, there is a risk for increased prevalence of Goiter in the region. We recommend interventional programs to improve the current status in the province