Textbook Evaluation: EFL Teachers’ Perspectives on “New Interchange”

The present study aims at evaluating New Interchange Series, which is widely used in language classrooms in Iran. The purpose of this research project is to determine the overall pedagogical value and suitability of the series. Thirty-five Iranian EFL teachers comprising males and females participated in this study. The instrument employed in the study was a textbook evaluation questionnaire developed by Litz (2000). Descriptive statistics were carried out to interpret the data. The findings showed that most teachers have similar opinions with regard to the effectiveness and suitability of the series. Results also demonstrated that the series suffer from a number of weak points that require teachers’ awareness and consideration. Key words: Textbook; Textbook evaluation; New Interchange Series; Iranian EFL teacher

Anti-Cancer Compounds of Cyanobacteria

Introduction: The ocean, which is called the “mother of origin of life,” is also the source of structurally unique natural products that are mainly accumulated in living organisms. The cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are photosynthetic prokaryotes having applications in human health.  Bioactive compounds of marine cyanobacteria have biological activity in deadly diseases like cancer. Methods and Results: Peer-reviewed publications were identified through searches in pubmed, scopus, science direct and google scholar by using the search terms "anti-cancer," "bioactive compounds," "pharmaceutical agents," " cyanobacteria,". In this search, 127 articles were found that studied 21 of them. Based on this search, anti-cancer  compounds  such as  apratoxin A, tolyporphin, curacin A, dolastatin 10  in cyanobacteria act through mechanisms  such as induction of G-1 phase cell cycle arrest, inhibition of microtubule dynamics,  inhibition of actin filaments, inhibition of histone deacetylase, inhibition of proteasome activity, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibition epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR).  Conclusions: The fact that cyanobacteria are one of the richest sources of known and novel bioactive compounds including toxins with wide pharmaceutical applications is unquestionable. Many compounds from cyanobacteria are useful for welfare of mankind. Advantage of cyanobacteria as an anti-cancer source for drug discovery lies in the economy of their cultivation compared with other microorganisms, as they require only simple inorganic nutrients for growth. Thus, it seems that the cyanobacteria have the potential for expanded utilization in drug discovery

EVALUATING MANAGERS LEADERSHIP STYLE, CAREER SELF-EFFICACY AND BURNOUT AMONG NURSES

Introduction: The present study examined the relation between managers leadership style and burnout through career self-efficacy in the framework of a scientific model. Methodology: The study participants included 240 nurses (205 women, 35 men) from Shiraz city hospitals who were selected based on random multistage cluster sampling method. The participants completed three questionnaires of leadership style inventory, career self-efficacy and burnout. The model was analyzed using multiple regression method in simultaneous style based on Baron & Kenni stages. Results & Conclusion: The results showed that: a) managers leadership style is predictive of burnout dimensions, b) managers leadership style is predictive of career self -efficacy dimensions. Totally, the present study findings and Sobel test results showed that career self-efficacy has a moderate role between managers leadership style and burnout

EVALUATING MANAGERS LEADERSHIP STYLE, CAREER SELF-EFFICACY AND BURNOUT AMONG NURSES

Introduction: The present study examined the relation between managers leadership style and burnout through career self-efficacy in the framework of a scientific model. Methodology: The study participants included 240 nurses (205 women, 35 men) from Shiraz city hospitals who were selected based on random multistage cluster sampling method. The participants completed three questionnaires of leadership style inventory, career self-efficacy and burnout. The model was analyzed using multiple regression method in simultaneous style based on Baron & Kenni stages. Results & Conclusion: The results showed that: a) managers leadership style is predictive of burnout dimensions, b) managers leadership style is predictive of career self -efficacy dimensions. Totally, the present study findings and Sobel test results showed that career self-efficacy has a moderate role between managers leadership style and burnout

Conductance modulation of charged lipid bilayer using electrolyte-gated graphene-field effect transistor

Graphene is an attention-grabbing material in electronics, physics, chemistry, and even biology because of its unique properties such as high surface-area-to-volume ratio. Also, the ability of graphene-based materials to continuously tune charge carriers from holes to electrons makes them promising for biological applications, especially in lipid bilayer-based sensors. Furthermore, changes in charged lipid membrane properties can be electrically detected by a graphene-based electrolyte-gated graphene field effect transistor (GFET). In this paper, a monolayer graphene-based GFET with a focus on the conductance variation caused by membrane electric charges and thickness is studied. Monolayer graphene conductance as an electrical detection platform is suggested for neutral, negative, and positive electric-charged membrane. The electric charge and thickness of the lipid bilayer (Q LP and L LP) as a function of carrier density are proposed, and the control parameters are defined. Finally, the proposed analytical model is compared with experimental data which indicates good overall agreemen

تاثیر آموزش مدیریت بحران در حوادث ترافیکی پرتلفات با روش تمرین شبیه سازي شده بر دانش و نگرش کارکنان پرستاري

Introduction: Crisis management plays an important role in preparing hospitals for responding to disasters. Therefore, improvement of knowledge and attitude of the crisis management team is an unavoidable necessity for increasing the preparedness of the hospitals in the response phase to critical conditions and real disasters. Since, based on previous studies, lack of knowledge and proper attitude is one of the main problems of disaster management in Iran, teaching crisis management using simulated training method has been considered as a solution. Therefore, the aim of this study was determining the effect of teaching crisis management in traffic accidents with a high rate of mortality using simulated training (maneuver) method on the knowledge and attitude of nursing staff of Hospital. Methods: The present experimental interventional study was performed from September 2017 to January 2018, in Shahid Motahari Hospital, Marvdasht. The study population consisted of the nursing staff of the hospital and the sample included all of the emergency department nurses of the hospital (100 nurses). Data were gathered with the attitude scale in crisis, emergency preparation questionnaire and triage knowledge test of accidents before and 2 weeks after intervention. Intervention included a one-day workshop training for all of the study population and then performing table maneuver and stimulated road accident maneuver for the test group. Analysis of data was done using SPSS 22 and descriptive statistics, paired t-test and ANCOVA test. Results: Mean score of emergency preparation knowledge showed a statistically significant difference between the 2 groups of test (166.69 ±25.47) and control (136.14±39.24) after intervention (p<0.0001). In addition, the overall score of attitude towards crisis management after intervention was significantly different between test (21.44±1.10) and control (20.92±1.57) groups (p=0.02). Conclusion: The results showed that training via simulation method and workshop could improve knowledge and attitude towards crisis management better than educational workshop alone. Therefore, simulation training of educational programs is suggested for improvement of knowledge and attitude regarding crisis management.مقدمه: مدیریت بحران نقش مهمی در كسب آمادگي بيمارستان ها براي پاسخ به بلايا ایفا می کند. بنابراين افزایش دانش و بهبود نگرش تیم مدیریت بحران در ارتقای آمادگي بيمارستانها در مرحله پاسخ گویی به شرایط بحرانی و حوادث واقعی، یک ضرورت اجتناب ناپذیر است. از آنجايي كه بر اساس مطالعات انجام شده ضعف دانش و عدم نگرش مطلوب از مشكلات اصلي مديريت حوادث در ايران مي باشد، آموزش مديريت بحران به روش تمرین شبیه سازی شده به عنوان يك راهكار در نظر قرار گرفته است، لذا هدف از انجام اين پژوهش تعیین تاثیر آموزش مدیریت بحران در حوادث ترافیکی پرتلفات با روش تمرین شبیه سازی شده (مانور) بر دانش و نگرش کارکنان پرستاری بیمارستان بود. روش کار: این مطالعه تجربی مداخله ای از شهریور تا دی ماه سال 1396 در مرکز آموزشی درمانی شهید مطهری مرودشت انجام شد. جامعه پژوهش گروه پرستاری بيمارستان و نمونه برابر جامعه پرسنل بخش اورژانس بیمارستان بود (100نفر). داده ها با مقیاس نگرش در بحران، پرسشنامه اطلاعات آمادگی اورژانس و آزمون دانش تریاژ حوادث قبل و دو هفته بعد از مداخله جمع آوری شدند. مداخله شامل کارگاه آموزشی یک روزه برای کل جامعه پژوهش و سپس انجام مانور رو ميزي و مانور حادثه جاده ای شبیه سازی شده برای گروه آزمایش بود. تجزیه و تحلیل داده ها با استفاده از SPSS 22 و آزمون تی زوجی و آزمون آنکوا انجام شد. يافته ها: میانگین نمره اطلاعات آمادگی اورژانس بعد از مداخله بین دو گروه آزمایش (47/25  69/166) و کنترل (24/39± 14/136) تفاوت آماری معنی داری داشت (0001/0 >p ) . همچنین نمره کلی نگرش نسبت به مدیریت بحران پس از مداخله در گروه آزمایش (10/1± 44/21) و کنترل (57/1± 92/20) تفاوت معناداری داشت (02/0=p). نتيجه گيری: یافته ها نشان داد که آموزش به روش تمرین شبیه سازی و کارگاه آموزشی بهتر از کارگاه آموزشی به تنهایی توانست دانش و نگرش نسبت به مدیریت بحران را بهبود بخشد. بنابراین، تمرین شبیه سازی برنامه های آموزشی جهت بهبود دانش و نگرش مدیریت بحران توصیه می شود

Role of big data in the future of the banking industry with scenario planning approach

This research has been done with the aim of developing Iran's banking scenarios with an emphasis on big data. The current research is practical in terms of orientation and exploratory in terms of the goal. It is also mixed in terms of its philosophical, pragmatic and methodological foundations. To carry out the research in the first stage, 20 key drivers of the research were extracted through literature review and interviews with banking and technology experts. After screening with the fuzzy Delphi method, 8 factors were removed and the rest were evaluated with the Marcus decision making technique. The findings of the research show that the two factors of "technology regulation" and "technology transfer costs" were chosen as key uncertainties for developing research scenarios. Based on these two key uncertainties, four scenarios were developed based on interviews with the focus group with the titles of comprehensive banking, static banking, searching banking, wandering banking. In the comprehensive banking scenario, everything is in its optimal state; Technology transfer costs have decreased and regulators are supportive of the technologies. According to the findings of the research, considering drivers, key uncertainties and alternative scenarios by managers and decision makers can improve the performance and increase the competitive advantage of banks

The Impact of Greenhouse Density on Cognitive Function in Primary School Children Using the WISC Method

Exposure to pesticides is associated with various health concerns and may also be related to impaired cognitive function. This study investigated the relationship between greenhouse density and cognitive function in primary school children using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition (WISC-IV) and environmental sampling. This study was conducted on 128 children (6–9 years old) in Ebrahimabad village, Ashkezar, Yazd, Iran in 2019, and 10 students were excluded from the study after filling consent form. The WISC-IV measured children’s cognitive function, and a flame ionization detector for gas chromatography (GC-FID) instrument was used to detect environmental exposure to pesticides. There was a significant inverse relationship between greenhouse density in children’s homes and cognitive function scores with verbal thinking scores (P value=0.003) and the total scale (P value=0.0001) on the WISC. Further, the results showed that the obtained verbal thinking scores are significantly related to their fathers’ education (P value=0.008) and occupation (P value=0.014). Moreover, the results of environmental exposure measurement confirmed the presence of malathion, ethion, chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, and oxadiazine with a maximum concentration of 183 µg/m3 in response to malathion. The present study indicated that increasing the density of the greenhouse reduces children’s cognitive functions. The results of ambient air analysis confirmed the environmental exposure to pesticides as well. Due to long-term chemical effects, management measures such as public education, substituting crop types, and the use of eco-friendly methods are unavoidable

The Incidence Rate and Causes of Neonatal Deaths in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: a case study

Background & Objectives: Infant mortality rate is one of the main indicators in the assessment of community health. Around 65% of deaths in children under one year of age is related to the infancy period and undoubtedly the first step in promoting this index is to identify the causes of mortality at this period of life. The present study was conducted to determine the incidence rate and causes of infant mortality in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd/ Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 243 infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a selected educational hospital in Yazd from 21st March 2006 to 21st March 2007. A checklist was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Chi-square tests and through SPSS 19. Results: From 243 studied infants, 39 ones (16.4%) died. Prematurity was the first cause of neonatal death (56.4%) followed by cardiac arrest (47.5%). Neonatal death showed significant reverse relationship with infant’s weight and age at admission and maternal gestational age (P =<0.0001). Conclusion: Mother and child care should be given more importance in health programs and policies and measures should be taken to prevent the probable factors affecting infant death. Key­words: Infants, Dead, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Educational Hospital, Causes of Death Citation: Akbarian Bafghi MJ, Etemadi S, Ghafarian Malmiri Z, Sotoudehfar F, Zare H. The Incidence Rate and Causes of Neonatal Deaths in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: a case study. Journal of Health Based Research 2018; 3(4): 388-397

The Incidence Rate and Causes of Neonatal Deaths in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: a case study

Background & Objectives: Infant mortality rate is one of the main indicators in the assessment of community health. Around 65% of deaths in children under one year of age is related to the infancy period and undoubtedly the first step in promoting this index is to identify the causes of mortality at this period of life. The present study was conducted to determine the incidence rate and causes of infant mortality in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Yazd/ Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 243 infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of a selected educational hospital in Yazd from 21st March 2006 to 21st March 2007. A checklist was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Chi-square tests and through SPSS 19. Results: From 243 studied infants, 39 ones (16.4%) died. Prematurity was the first cause of neonatal death (56.4%) followed by cardiac arrest (47.5%). Neonatal death showed significant reverse relationship with infant’s weight and age at admission and maternal gestational age (P =<0.0001). Conclusion: Mother and child care should be given more importance in health programs and policies and measures should be taken to prevent the probable factors affecting infant death. Key¬words: Infants, Dead, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Educational Hospital, Causes of Death ¬Citation: Akbarian Bafghi MJ, Etemadi S, Ghafarian Malmiri Z, Sotoudehfar F, Zare H. The Incidence Rate and Causes of Neonatal Deaths in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: a case study. Journal of Health Based Research 2018; 3(4): 388-397