Investigating The Factors Affecting Successful BSC Implementation In The MAPNA Railway Sector

As a performance appraisal system and besides other traditional financial appraisal systems, Balanced Score Card (BSC) evaluates performance of organizations from three other perspectives, including customers, internal business processes, and growth and learning perspectives. As a whole, three main groups of effective factors on successful implementation of BSC are recognized, including Organizational, Staff and Top Management factors. In the verified model, these factors are shown. In the study done in the MAPNA railway sector, a sample of 35 persons was drawn to be used for the distribution of questionnaires. To verify the validity of the questionnaire, the face-validity method was used, and to verify its reliability, we used Cronbach's ?. To determine the degree of normality of our data, we used the Kolomogorov-Smironov method. Also, Spearman non-parametric correlation tests were used to test the hypotheses. The results verify all three hypotheses which indicate effectiveness of top management, staff and organizational factors in successful implementation of BSC. Top management is the most important factor, followed by organizational and staff. After verification of all three hypotheses, researchers tried to estimate the dependent variable (that is, successful implementation of BSC) using multiple regression analyses and the three main independent variables. This shows the simultaneous impact of the three independent variables on successful implementation of BSC. Based on the results, only staff factor is not statistically significant. It means that, for successful implementation of BSC, if “Top Management” and “Organizational” factors are considered correctly, indices related to staff automatically improve, too

Investigation of the components and antibacterial effects of three plant's essential oil Coriandrum sativum, Achilleh millefolium, Anethum graveolens in vitro

زمینه و هدف: در این پژوهش ترکیبات عمده اسانس سه گیاه گشنیز (Coriandrum sativum)، بومادران (Achillea wilhelmsii) و شوید (Anethum graveolens) شناسایی و اثر ضد میکروبی این گیاهان بر روی چهار باکتری پاتوژن اشیرشیاکلی، باسیلوس سرئوس، باسیلوس لیچنی فورمیس و سودوموناس آئروجینوزا در شرایط آزمایشگاهی بررسی و حداقل غلظت مهارکنندگی (MIC) آنها تعیین شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی اسانس گیاهان توسط دستگاه کلونجر و به روش تقطیر با آب استخراج گردید. ترکیبات تشکیل دهنده‌ی اسانس این گیاهان توسط کروماتوگرافی گازی تجزیه ای (GC) و گاز کروماتوگراف متصل به طیف سنجی جرمی (GC/MS) مورد شناسایی قرار گرفتند و درصد ترکیبات آنها اندازه گیری شد. برای تعیین MIC هر اسانس بر روی باکتری های مورد مطالعه از روش ریز رقت (Micro Dilution) استفاده گردید. یافته ها: نتایج نشان داد در اسانس گیاهان بومادران، گشنیز و شوید به ترتیب آلفا-پینن، -Dکارون و لینالول ترکیبات عمده را تشکیل می دهند. برای مهار رشد باکتری‏های اشیرشیا کلی و باسیلوس لیچنی فورمیس، اسانس شوید با غلظت ppm 5/312 و برای مهار رشد باکتری های باسیلوس سرئوس و سودوموناس آئروجینوزا به ترتیب اسانس های گیشنیز و بومادران با غلظت‌های ppm 1250 و ppm 5/312 موثرتر واقع شدند. نتیجه گیری: اسانس هر سه گیاه گشنیز، بومادران و شوید اثر ضد میکروبی قابل توجهی روی باکتری‏های مورد مطالعه داشتند و ممکن است بتوان از آنها به خصوص از شوید در درمان عفونت ها استفاده کرد

Strategies to Treat Aggression in the View of the Quran and Narrations

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objective: One of the unpleasant outcomes of today's society is aggression, which can have many reasons behind. The Qur'an perceives anger as an instance of ignorance; on the other hand, its controlling is considered to be one of the features of pious people. The aim of this research is to find the right Quran-narrative solutions to treat aggression given the behaviors that are regarded as aggressive, and need to be dealt with.Method: This research adopts a descriptive-analytic method and, by using the Quran-narrative approach, is looking for ways to treat aggression, namely determining the contributory factors and preventing them, addressing aggression, and also preventing its catastrophic consequences. To collect the data, information centers like the database for the magazines of Iran (Magiran) and Scientific Information Database (SID) were utilized. Moreover, in this study, the ethical issues were all considered and the authors declared no conflict of interest.Results: The results of this study show that in order for the strategies to take effect, it is necessary that all three solutions of cognitive, behavioral and emotional be used together to succeed in treating the aggression to a great extent.Conclusion: From religious viewpoint, the first way to treat aggression is cognitive. This solution which is also called cognitive therapy aims at changing the attitude of the individual, explaining the concept of anger and its effects and consequences, along with changing the view of one's self, the world and others in the light of the orthodox monotheism. Therefore, it will guide individuals and save them from plunging into abyss of anger. As the next step, this helps individuals through emotional and behavioral solutions to become aware of this realization, thus internalizing it.For downloading the full-text of this article please click here

Trend in incidence of gastric adenocarcinoma by tumor location from 1969–2004: a study in one referral center in Iran

AIM: In recent years several studies have shown increasing rate of upper gastric cancers regarding to decrease in distal gastric cancers. The aim of this study was to describe the trend of gastric cancers by location in Iran, which is one of the countries with high prevalence of gastric cancers. METHODS: All registered cases of gasterectomy in Tehran Cancer Institute from 1969 through 2004 were re-evaluated clinicopathologically. The stomach was anatomically divided into the upper, middle, and lower third. The prevalence of gastric cancers in 5 year periods estimated by location and the changes trough the time was evaluated independently and in aspect of age and sex. RESULTS: Over 36 years, the prevalence of cancers in the upper and middle third of the stomach have increased and that of the lower third has decreased. These changes were seen in both sexes and age groups under and over 50 and it was more significant in younger. CONCLUSION: The results are the same as most previous reports in other countries. This can indicate different risk factors as well as confrontation with them. However in regard to few numbers of cases in this study, a population-based study is recommended for confirmation

Study of Methamphetamine Use in Patients Referred to Emergency Ward of a General Hospital at North of Iran in 2017

Background: Acute use of methamphetamine affects the sympathetic system and causes symptoms like tachycardia, hypertension (HTN), tachypnea, peripheral blood vessels constriction, hyperthermia, and mydriasis that can lead to many medical complications. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the use of methamphetamine, clinical symptoms, and admission causes in patients referred to emergency ward of Imam Khomeini General Hospital in Sari, Iran. Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 3263 patients were enrolled in the census. The population was patients referred to emergency ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Sari, in 2017. Clinical signs and symptoms, test results, primary and definite diagnosis, and patients' status during discharge or referral were extracted from medical records. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Findings: A total of 3263 people were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of positive methamphetamine test in patients referred to the emergency department was 1.2%, which was significantly higher in men (P = 0.017). The mean age was 39.9 ± 17.2 years. Methamphetamine users were more likely to be traumatized than the general population. There was a statistically significant difference in seizure (P = 0.003), chest pain (P < 0.001), tachycardia (P < 0.001), palpitation (P < 0.001), HTN (P = 0.002), tachypnea (P = 0.001), visual hallucinations (P = 0.001), auditory hallucinations (P = 0.001), paranoia (P = 0.001), grandiosity (P = 0.035), talkativeness (P = 0.001), suicidal ideation (P < 0.001), homicidal ideation (P = 0.001), violence (P < 0.001), and disorientation (P < 0.001) in positive methamphetamine test group. Conclusion: Methamphetamine use is more frequent in young men in the second and third decades of life. The most common clinical symptoms in these patients were HTN, chest pain, palpitations, tachycardia, seizure, aggression, anxiety, delusions, and hallucination

Predicting dietary behavior of type 2 diabetics: Application of the theory of planned behavior and perceived risk of diabetes complications construct

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered a major health problem due to its complications. However, it could be prevented or delayed by modifications in the patients’ behavior and diets. The objective of this study was to explore the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and complications of diabetes perceived risk to find modifiable diabetes-related beliefs in order to make behavioral changes feasible. METHODS: The present descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in diabetes clinics in Semirom, Iran, based on TPB and complications of diabetes perceived risk using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 154 patients with diabetes without complications of diabetes participated in the study. Measured variables were patients’ attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, complications of diabetes perceived risk, intention to maintain a healthful diet and nutritional style. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data. RESULTS: The results revealed that the TPB and perceived risk of diabetes complications fitted the data acceptably well among patients with type 2 diabetes and within dietary behavior. Perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, perceived risk of diabetes complications, and intention to maintain a healthy diet were related to healthy diet behavior. No relation was found between attitude and intention to follow a healthy diet. CONCLUSION: The TPB and perceived risk of diabetes complications is a useful theory in determining intentions of patients with diabetes and their adherence to a healthy diet

Predicting dietary behavior of type 2 diabetics: Application of the theory of planned behavior and perceived risk of diabetes complications construct

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered a major health problem due to its complications. However, it could be prevented or delayed by modifications in the patients’ behavior and diets. The objective of this study was to explore the utility of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and complications of diabetes perceived risk to find modifiable diabetes-related beliefs in order to make behavioral changes feasible. METHODS: The present descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in diabetes clinics in Semirom, Iran, based on TPB and complications of diabetes perceived risk using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 154 patients with diabetes without complications of diabetes participated in the study. Measured variables were patients’ attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, complications of diabetes perceived risk, intention to maintain a healthful diet and nutritional style. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze data. RESULTS: The results revealed that the TPB and perceived risk of diabetes complications fitted the data acceptably well among patients with type 2 diabetes and within dietary behavior. Perceived behavioral control, subjective norm, perceived risk of diabetes complications, and intention to maintain a healthy diet were related to healthy diet behavior. No relation was found between attitude and intention to follow a healthy diet. CONCLUSION: The TPB and perceived risk of diabetes complications is a useful theory in determining intentions of patients with diabetes and their adherence to a healthy diet

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

Developing a Model to Evaluating Effective Factors on Impulse Buying Behavior

Impulse buying is a significant aspect of consumer behavior and a critical concept in the marketplace. Dramatic increases in consumption and possibility of credit buying all over the world has provided appropriate situations for impulse buying, however there is little information about impulse buying in Eastern and in transition societies and economies. The purpose of this Study is to develop an explanatory model of impulse buying that addresses antecedents of impulse buying among Iranian consumers and particularly for students in the faculty of management at Tehran University as a sample. In this article we will review extensive literature in the field of impulse buying and will investigate this phenomenon along with its affective factors. In this regard, we have developed the model of affective factors impulse buying behavior by the help of subjective literature and it was assessed by the help of questionnaire and structural equation modeling and also PLS software. The results indicated that factors such as: going to shop alone, level of self-esteem, impulsivity, type of product, and promotion tools have meaningful impact on impulse buying behavior and impact of factors such as gender, buying environment, seller guidance, individualism, and product’s price were not approved

Factors Related to Patient Migration in Kerman Province

Background: Awareness toward peoples’ utilization of health care facilities is a very important issue in the programming and resource allocation process. With implementation of family physician project in Iran and attempts for reforming health referral system, patients’ mobility between regions and its related factors have found more importance. Methods: In this research by using the logit economic model and through retrospective design, the relationship of patient migration with patients’ demographic features, type of health insurance, distance from the health care center and hospitals’ features was determined in 21 disease groups, based on the final diagnosis recorded in patients’ medical files and ICD10 codes. Eviews 6 software was used for all estimations. Results: About 40 percent of inpatients in Kerman hospitals had migrated from other cities where the same services had been available, but the patients were not satisfied of the quality of them. Negative effects of geographical distance, physician and hospital bed count and the positive effect of insurances were constant in all groups, showing similar effects of these variables on patient migration in all disease groups. Conclusion: Results show that factors like distance and kind of disease have no more effect on patient migration than patient perception of the health care center; and ignoring this item, especially in planning the referral system in the big project of family physician, can result in problems in relation to patient equity, patient satisfaction and health organizations’ financial support. Keywords: Patient migration, Logit model, Kerman Provinc