Employability of Iranian Engineering graduates: Influential factors, consequences, and strategies

Abstract University education is a significant factor in the socio-economic development of a nation and as such is expected to improve the employability capacity of the graduates. Achieving this goal, however, depends on various factors. The present study investigated the factors affecting the employability of engineering graduates of Iranian universities. To analyse this issue, a systematic grounded theory (GT) approach, drawing on in-depth interviews with academic and industry experts, was used. The participants were selected using a purposive strategy. The data analyses showed that employability is a context-oriented issue, and in addition to the university and its internal mechanisms, external factors are also involved. Based on the data, a model is presented and analysed to explain the employability of engineering graduates

Cutting Rate Effect on Temperature During Cortical Bone Sawing

When bone is cut the occurrence of thermal damage to the bone is of major concern to the surgeon. If the temperature exceeds 44°C for longer than 1 min, bone repair is impaired (Eriksson et al, 1984) and necrosis may occur. Repeated use of cutting blades may reduce the cutting efficiency (Wevers et al, 1987; Toksvig-Larsen et al, 1992). Wevers et al also found that there is a greater force required to cut cortical bone using a blunt saw compared to new one

Human waste management in first phase response, protecting ground water and human health: a case study from Haiyan 2013

This briefing paper presents a case study of a Peepoo implementation in first phase humanitarian response. The case is taken from the Philippines, post typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and aims to demonstrate a safe way of handling of human waste without risking the contamination of water. This briefing paper will outline how the organisations, ACF, arche noVa, Oxfam and Red Cross implemented the Peepoo solution and lesson learnt so far. Some of the key lessons learnt in the projects were that; it is preferred to have the Peepoos stocked locally in order to have them available for phase one in humanitarian response; training implementing staff on Peepoo prior to the intervention increases the probability of success; and exit strategies must be set up in order to secure good sanitation practices after the implementing organisations stop distributing Peepoos

La gestión sostenible y flexible del recurso humano en las organizaciones innovadoras

In response to the changes in economies and technology in recent decades, research in organizational theories have been focused toward innovative and entrepreneurial organizations. A research issue in this evolving research endeavor is adaptation of human resource management and the establishment of a sustainable human resource management. This paper investigates the main characteristics of a sustainable HRM in innovative organizations. The aim is to identify sustainable HRM as a key toward competing in turbulent markets. The problem statement is to find the relationship between psychological capital, HR flexibility and sustainable HRM in innovative organizations. Three main variables of HR flexibility, HR sustainability and psychological capital form the theoretical model of this study; and four hypotheses are developed based on this model. Findings do not reject any of four hypotheses, so it is concluded that psychological capital and HR flexibility has positive and meaningful effect on sustainable HRM; and in addition, psychological capital has positive and meaningful effect on sustainable HRM. Moreover, flexibility has moderate role in relationship between psychological capital and sustainable HRMEn respuesta a los cambios en las economías y la tecnología en las décadas recientes, la investigación en las teorías organizacionales ha estado enfocada en las empresas innovadoras y emprendedoras. Un tema de exploración en estos esfuerzos por una investigación cambiante se trata de la adaptación de la gestión del recurso humano (GRH) y el establecimiento de una gestión sostenible del recurso humano (GRH sostenible). Este artículo investiga las principales características de la GRH en las organizaciones innovadoras. El objetivo es identificar la GRH sostenible como clave para competir en mercados turbulen- tos. El problema planteado radica en encontrar la relación entre el capital psicológico y la flexibilidad en los recursos humanos y la GRH sostenible en organizaciones innovadoras. Tres importantes variables de la flexibilidad de los recursos humanos, la sostenibilidad de los recursos humanos y el capital psicológico forman el modelo teórico de este estudio; y se desarrollan cuatro hipótesis basadas en este modelo. Los hallazgos no rechazan ninguna de las cuatro hipótesis, por lo cual se concluye que el capital psicológico y la flexibilidad en los recursos humanos tienen un efecto positivo y significativo en la GRH sostenible, y adicional- mente, el capital psicológico tiene un efecto positivo y significativo en la GRH sostenible. Además, la flexibilidad desempeña un rol moderado en la relación entre capital psicológico y la GRH sostenibl

A Heuristic Algorithm for Nonlinear Lexicography Goal Programming with an Efficient Initial Solution

In this paper,  a heuristic algorithm is proposed in order to solve a nonlinear lexicography goal programming (NLGP) by using an efficient initial point. Some numerical experiments showed that the search quality by the proposed heuristic in a multiple objectives problem depends on the initial point features, so in the proposed approach the initial point is retrieved by Data Envelopment Analysis to be selected as an efficient solution. There are some weaknesses in classic NLGP algorithm that lead to trapping into the local optimum, so a simulated annealing concept is implemented during the searching stage to increase the diversity of search in the solution space. Some numerical examples with different sizes were generated and comparison of results confirms that the proposed solution heuristic is more efficient than the classic approach. Moreover the proposed approach was extended for cases with ordinal weights of inputs or outputs. The computational experiments for 5 numerical instances and the statistical analysis indicate that the proposed heuristic algorithm is a robust procedure to find better preferred solution comparing to the classic NLGP

Chronic Total Occlusion-Angioplasty with Antegrade Approach: A two-Year Experience in “Modarres Hospital”, A Tertiary University Hospital, Tehran, Iran

Introduction: New techniques for the percutaneous treatment of coronary chronic total occlusions (CTO) have had a high success rate since a few years ago, so the interest for this treatment has been increasing these days.Methods: The current observational study was performed in Modarres hospital as a tertiary referral center. All the patients with documented stable angina who had failed to response to full guideline-mediated medical therapy, referred to our hospital, were candidates for coronary angiography. Antegrade strategy was applied for all these patients. The length of the lesion, the fluoroscopy time of the CTO angioplasty, consumed contrast volume, the number of guide wires used, whether a corsair or tornus micro-catheter was used or not, and the success rate of the angioplasty were documented for further analysis.Results: A total of 47 patients with documented stable angina were finally included. The median age was 59 (45-78) and 70.2% were male. The mean length of the lesion was 34.0 ± 1.1 .The mean fluoroscopy time and contrast volume were 57.9 ± 3.2 minutes and 525.9 ± 20.9 mL, respectively. In average, 2.2 guide wires were used. Corsair and tornus micro-catheters were applied in 30 (63.8%) and 5 (10.6%) of the cases, respectively. Seven complications (all including coronary dissection) occurred. In-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) rate was 10.6%, all of which were non-Q wave myocardial infarction. The success rate was 85.1%. The higher number of used wires, use of corsair, and tornus micro-catheter were not significantly concordant with success rate (P-value > 0.05); in addition, longer lesion was not concordant with unsuccessfulness rate (P-value > 0.05).Conclusions: Patient selection for CTO-angioplasty should be performed more carefully. Patients’ quality of life and risk of probable procedural complications and future cardiac events should be assessed to decide the best treatment approach. Radiation exposure, contrast consumption and fluoroscopy time are recommended to be monitored during the procedure and thresholds should be defined to enhance safety and efficacy