Gastroenterology and Hepatology Experts\u27 Views about the Current Information Retrieval Systems and Determining the Characteristics of the Optimal System from Their Point of View

Objective: The ideal goal of any information system is to supply and deliver the information that users need. The aim of this study is to determine gastroenterology and hepatology experts\u27 views about the current information retrieval systems and determining the characteristics of the optimal system from their point of view. Methods: This is qualitative research that has been done phenomenologically. The study population 14 gastroenterology and hepatology experts. The data collection tool was a free interview in a non-structured way. Colaizzi\u27s descriptive phenomenological method was used to collect data. Results: The problems were classified into 3 categories, 15 general themes, and 31 sub-themes. The optimal information retrieval systems were classified into 4 categories, 12 general themes, and 41 sub-themes. Conclusions: The success of information retrieval systems, especially in the field of medical sciences, depends on considering various dimensions that not paying attention to them can lead to dissatisfaction of end-users of the system and ultimately the failure of the retrieval system. Therefore, it is suggested that information retrieval system design be done by developers under the characteristics of the optimal information retrieval system by gastroenterology and hepatology expert

Development of Bridge Information Model (BrIM) for digital twinning and management using TLS technology

In the current modern era of information and technology, the concept of Building Information Model (BIM), has made revolutionary changes in different aspects of engineering design, construction, and management of infrastructure assets, especially bridges. In the field of bridge engineering, Bridge Information Model (BrIM), as a specific form of BIM, includes digital twining of the physical asset associated with geometrical inspections and non-geometrical data, which has eliminated the use of traditional paper-based documentation and hand-written reports, enabling professionals and managers to operate more efficiently and effectively. However, concerns remain about the quality of the acquired inspection data and utilizing BrIM information for remedial decisions in a reliable Bridge Management System (BMS) which are still reliant on the knowledge and experience of the involved inspectors, or asset manager, and are susceptible to a certain degree of subjectivity. Therefore, this research study aims not only to introduce the valuable benefits of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) as a precise, rapid, and qualitative inspection method, but also to serve a novel sliced-based approach for bridge geometric Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model extraction using TLS-based point cloud, and to contribute to BrIM development. Moreover, this study presents a comprehensive methodology for incorporating generated BrIM in a redeveloped element-based condition assessment model while integrating a Decision Support System (DSS) to propose an innovative BMS. This methodology was further implemented in a designed software plugin and validated by a real case study on the Werrington Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge in New South Wales, Australia. The finding of this research confirms the reliability of the TLS-derived 3D model in terms of quality of acquired data and accuracy of the proposed novel slice-based method, as well as BrIM implementation, and integration of the proposed BMS into the developed BrIM. Furthermore, the results of this study showed that the proposed integrated model addresses the subjective nature of decision-making by conducting a risk assessment and utilising structured decision-making tools for priority ranking of remedial actions. The findings demonstrated acceptable agreement in utilizing the proposed BMS for priority ranking of structural elements that require more attention, as well as efficient optimisation of remedial actions to preserve bridge health and safety

Critical rationalism and macrosociology of globalisation

Phd ThesisThis thesis employs Critical Rationalism—an inter-subjective theory of rationality originated in Karl Popper’s conjectural theory of knowledge— in order to develop a new macrosociology of globalisation. It describes contemporary globalisation as the formation of a liberal globality through which the centrality of the Hobbesian struggle for political power has been superseded with the Lockean competition for economic interests. But the thesis argues that liberal globalisation suffers from fundamental societal deficits due to a global organisation of people based on economic competition rather than rational dialogue and social cooperation. The central question of thesis therefore is that ‘how emerging utilitarian-based liberal globality can be transformed into a global society of free and equal citizens?’ The thesis argues that people’s potential access to critical rationality enables them to agree upon one set of globally shared values concerning the equality of people and people-centric global institutions, which are required for creating a global society of free and equal citizens. Through its macrosociological analysis the thesis addresses the question of how such a system of globally shared values can operate as the cultural driving force of a radical global institutional change from the Lockean logic of economic competition to the Kantian logic of dialogue and social cooperation. The thesis concludes that intellectuals can employ the ideal-type of an open global society of free and equal persons in order to persuade global social movements to work for realising such a fundamental global institutional change towards a just and free global society

Conceptual framework of information retrieval system in the field of gastroenterology and hepatology

Background and aims: Optimal information retrieval is one of the components of achieving evidence-based medicine. This study aimed to present the Conceptual framework of information retrieval system in the field of Gastroenterology and hepatology. Methods: Based on the previous two studies, the characteristics of the optimal information retrieval system from the perspective of gastroenterologists and hepatologists and the most important approaches and technologies used in the design of information retrieval systems in medical sciences have been used in designing the proposed conceptual framework. Results: The conceptual framework of the information retrieval system in the gastroenterology and hepatology was presented in 4 sections and the technical and content features were presented in each section. Conclusions: Considering the comparison of this research with other researches in the field of frameworks and conceptual models of retrieval systems, special needs of users and using methods of personalization of information as well as conceptual mapping of resources have been the most important differences with other researches

Evaluation of scientific status of endocrine, diabetes, and metabolism research centers in Iran using exergy method

The aim of this study was to determine the scientific status of endocrine, diabetes and metabolism research centers in Iran using exergy method in terms of scientific publications indexed in the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar database in 2013. This study is a cross-sectional one. The study population included 6 Iranian endocrine, diabetes and metabolism research centers. Data were collected by referring to the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education personally and also using the above-mentioned citation databases. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and descriptive statistics. The results revealed that endocrine, diabetes and metabolism research centers of Shahid Beheshti and Tehran University of Medical Sciences were top centers in Iran in terms of the quality of scientific publications. Diabetes Research Center of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences was found to have the weakest performance. This article is the results of the first study in Iran, regarding the evaluation of research centers by exergy analysis

Study on the effects of origanum majorana essential oil on E.coli and the Chemical constituents of Essential oil

Origanum majorana (Lamiaceae) is well-known for high Phenolic contents. These compounds prone to have antibacterial activity. UTI with high prevalence and increasing resistance to conventional antibiotics is a matter of concern for health services. E.coli is the most detected pathogen in UTI cases(1). So the aim of present study was to investigate the effects on O.majorana essential oil on and E.coli and it’s chemical constituents.  Materials and Methods: Aerial Parts of O.majorana were collected from population growing in Golestan province. A voucher specimen was deposited to the plant species in herbarium of Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. The air dried plant material was subjected to hydrodistillation to prepare essential oil. The essential oil kept in refrigerator until use. The essential oil was injected to GC/MS for identification of constituents. The zone of inhibition against E.coli were determined using Agar well diffusion method. Results: Forty-four Compounds were identified in the essential oil. The major compounds were Thymol (18.58%), P-cymen (14.34%), 4-terpineol (13.25%), γ-terpineol (10.88%), α-terpineol (5.63%), linaleol (4.98%) and E.caryophyllene (3.53%), respectively. The zone of O.majorana essential oil against E.coli was. Discussion: The findings of present study shows profound antibacterial effects of O.majorana essential oil on E.coli. the main component of the plant is thymol as detected by GC/MS. Thymol has a phenolic structure. The profound effect of plant on E.coli may be related to Thymol(1). Conclusion: O.majorana essential oil may be a candidate for treatment of UTI