Development of a polynomial nodal model to the multigroup transport equation in one dimension

A polynomial nodal model which uses Legendre polynomial expansions was developed for the multigroup transport equation in one dimension. The development depends upon the least squares minimization of the residuals using the approximate functions over the node. Analytical expressions were developed for the polynomial coefficients. The odd moments of the angular neutron flux over the half ranges were used at the internal interfaces, and the Marshak boundary condition was used at the external boundaries. Sample problems with fine mesh finite difference solutions of the diffusion and transport equations were used for comparison with the model

The mediating role of customer lifetime value on customer relationship management and business performance

Iran is rich in touristic resources but does not collect enough shares of the international tourism revenues. The main concentration of tourism activities is in Tehran, the capital of Iran, while the other cities like Shiraz and Kish are neglected. As a solution to resolve Iran’s tourism issues, improvement in the performance of tourism-related businesses like hotel services could be an effective element in solving Iran’s tourism problems. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) has been proven effective in increasing hotel’s profitability. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the relationships between CRM and Business Performance (BP), CRM and Customer Lifetime Value (CLV), and CLV and BP, as most organizations which implement CRM also implement CLV in order to develop relationships with customers. There is a lack of study examines the mediating role of CLV on CRM and BP. This study was conducted among forty hotels in Shiraz and Kish, involving 120 managers of three to five star hotels. This study used Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) together with Partial Least Squares (PLS) approach. The results showed a significant relationship between CRM and BP, CRM and CLV, and CLV and BP. The results also showed a significant mediating role of CLV on the relationship between CRM and BP. The only CRM dimensions that had influence on BP was technology and the only CLV dimensions that had influence on BP was customer development. Theoretically, this study extend our understanding on the influence of process and technology on CRM. This study reinforces CLV’s role as mediator and suggests that CLV could be an important variable between CRM and BP. Practically, the study provides the hotel management with solution to improve performance of tourism-related businesses like hotel services by properly developing the CRM system. Hotels should cross-sell and upsell to customers to develop customer relationship. This study can be repeated by other industries such as telecommunications, pharmaceutical or air travel industry. Comparative studies could also be conducted among hotels and managers at different levels. Future research could also investigate the customers’ point of view as well as compare the phenomena among hotels and managers at different levels

Principles Governing a Fair Trial under Islamic Jurisprudence and International Law

A fair trial along with the preservation of human dignity is one of the most important features of Islamic judicial measurement and is a guarantee for individuals to enjoy the fundamental principles of human rights such as freedom and equality. The administration of judicial justice is not only possible due to the existence of substantive laws, but also its executive and formal methods have a prominent and important role in this field, which is also understood by the international judicial system today. However, the weakness of human thought in formulating comprehensive and efficient laws prevents the realization of justice and the achievement of a fair trial. The present article - with a descriptive-analytical method - deals with the formal and principled laws in a fair trial from the perspective of the Islamic judicial system and concludes that the Islamic judicial system includes principles that guarantee the rights of the accused to the highest degree and observe and include this Formal principles and rules in law are a step towards establishing justice in judicial proceedings; However, these laws have been approved and emphasized much earlier than other systems along with the preservation of human dignity in the Islamic judiciary

Assessing the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) in Iranian Students: Construct Validity and Reliability

AbstractMotivated Strategies for Learning is a complex construct that has inspired innumerable research in recent years. The present study aim to investigation validity and reliability of the motivated strategies for learning questionnaire in Iranian students. A sample of 504 students (boys & girls) was chosen by multistage sampling. The MSLQ is an 81-item, self-report Likert-type questionnaire was completed by students. The results of study show that the questionnaire was reasonably reliable (alpha was .958). The construct validity of questionnaire was evaluated by exploratory factor analysis. Six factors were obtained that explained 40.95% of total variance. The findings support that the MSLQ is a useful tool for assessing the motivated strategies for learning in Iranian students

Optimized Microstrip Antennas with Metamaterial Superstrates Using Particle Swarm Optimization

Two new designs of compact microstrip antennas, where metamaterials are placed on structure as superstrate, are proposed. The newly designed metamaterial unit cell and antenna feed position optimized by particle swarm optimization. It was found that the characteristics of novel microstrip antennas with designed metamaterials placed on the superstrate are comparable to the conventional patch antennas, while their gain, directivity and radiating efficiency are noticeably improved. Gain of microstrip antenna is increased 3dB to 4dB and level of back lobe is decresed

Bond Strength of Composite Resin to Bleached Dentin: Effect of Using Antioxidant Versus Buffering Agent

Objective: Application of sodium ascorbate as an antioxidant and calcium hydroxide as a buffering agent following intracoronal bleaching has been recommended. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using the mentioned materials onshear bond strength of composite resin to the bleached dentin.Materials and Methods: In this in vitro investigation, sixty human sound premolars were divided randomly into five groups (n=12). Occlusal dentin surfaces were exposed.The negative control (NC) group was not bleached and the other groups were bleached with 35% hydrogen peroxide gel for 5 days. Afterwards, compositecylinders were built up in the positive control (PC) group immediately after bleaching,in the delay bonding (DB) group after one week, in the sodium ascorbate (SA)and calcium hydroxide (CH) groups after 40 hours of treatment with the materials.Then, the samples were stored in 37°C for 24 hours. The specimens were thermocycled (5-55°C, 500 cycles), subjected to shear bond testing by universal machine.The data were analyzed by One-Way ANOVA and Duncan tests (a =0.05).Results: There was a significant difference between PC and CH groups in comparison with the other groups (p<0.05), but the difference among other groups was not significant (p>0.05).Conclusion: Application of sodium ascorbate could significantly increase the bond strength of composite resin to bleached dentin, while the use of calcium hydroxide did not affect bond strength

Construction of a Questionnaire to Assess Parental Stress in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background: Once an infant is hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), the entire family dynamics is disrupted due to stressors such as interruption in maternal-infant bonding, abandonment of other siblings and financial burdens. Combination of multiple stressors often ends in divorce or other devastating results. In this study, a novel survey questionnaire has been developed to assess the level of parental stress in NICU and identify the warning signs, in order to provide assistance to young couples in need of help. Methods: Qualitative content analysis was performed to survey 13couplesrecruited from various teaching hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. Results: The initial part of the questionnaire was designed to assess parents' stress level with an expected content validity index of 0.78 or above and to measure face validity of the questionnaire, all the items received a mean impact score of 1.5 or above, and the Cronbach's alpha reliability of the 12-item questionnaire equaled to 0.904. Based on the factor analysis, the items with a correlation coefficient of less than 0.4 were excluded (one item was omitted). Conclusion: Most survey questionnaires found in the existing literature have investigated the types of stressors experienced by parents with an infant in NICU. In this study, researchers offer a novel 11-item questionnaire designed to assess the level of stress among parents with a hospitalized infant in NICU