THE IMPACT OF E-LEARNING ON UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AND CREATIVITY

Research on the efficacy of ICT-based teaching methods in improving generic skills in addition to content skills among future workforce is increasing.  Accordingly, this study investigates the impact of e-learning on creativity and content knowledge of chemistry students at the Payame Noor University of Hamedan, Iran. The study used the pre-test/post-test experimental design with a control group. The statistical population of the study included was 100 pure chemistry students who were following two separate classes. Forty students were selected from this group who placed in the experimental group (n = 20) and the control group (n = 20). Two instruments were used for data collection; a specifically developed test on the Introduction to Chemistry course and the Abedi Inventory for assessing creativity. Results of data analysis using the independent t-test (aided by SPSS) demonstrated statistically significantly higher scores for the experimental group on measured variables, knowledge and creativity. Therefore, it is concluded that e-learning is effective for knowledge and creativity acquisitions among chemistry students and the greater e-learning opportunities should be provided for wider audiences

Pneumocephalus after Tympanomastoidectomy: A Case Presentation

Introduction: Pneumocephalus is the presence of air or gas within the cranial cavity. It can occur following otorhinolaryngological procedures. A small pneumocephalus spontaneously heals without any treatment. In severe cases, conservative therapy includes a 30-degree head elevation, avoidance of the Valsalva maneuver, analgesics, osmotic diuretics, and oxygen therapy.   Case Report: A 56-year-old woman was referred to the emergency department due to a severe headache in the frontal area for 2 days before admission. The patient experienced nausea and vomiting in the morning and had no history of seizures or decreased consciousness. Examination of neurological symptoms was completely normal and showed no symptoms of meningeal irritation. In terms of past history, the patient had undergone tympanomastoidectomy surgery and resection of the cholesteatoma 1 week previously. The Mount Fuji sign was found on the brain computed tomography (CT) scan of the patient. Treatments such as CBR (complete bed rest), 30-degree head elevation, anti-fever, analgesics and oxygen therapy, along with anti-compulsive drug (phenytoin), were prescribed. At the end of 5 days, the patient's pneumocephalus was resolved completely.   Conclusion: Pneumocephalus should be considered a post-operative complication of tympanomastoidectomy. In most cases, pneumocephalus responds to conservative therapy. Supplemental oxygen increases the rate of absorption of pneumocephalus. Serial imaging is needed to ensure gradual reduction of the pneumocephalus

Prevalence of anti-HCV antibody and related risk factors among bleeding disorder patients in Yazd province of Iran

زمینه و هدف: مصرف جایگزین درمانی خون و فرآورده های خونی غربال نشده یا فاکتورهای انعقادی تغلیظ شده ویروس زدایی نشده در بیماران اختلال انعقادی خطر ابتلا به هپاتیت C را در آنها ایجاد می کند. مطالعه حاضر به منظور بررسی فراوانی آنتی بادی بر علیه ویروس هپاتیت C (anti-HCV Ab) و فاکتورهای خطر مربوطه در بیماران اختلال انعقادی استان یزد انجام شد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی-تحلیلی که به روش سرشماری در تابستان 1385 انجام شد، پس از جمع آوری اطلاعات پرسشنامه ای، از 77 بیمار نمونه خون گرفته شد. نمونه های پلاسما با کیت الیزا از نظر آنتی بادی بر علیه ویروس هپاتیت C و سپس نمونه های مثبت با روش تست RIBA (Recombinant Immonoblot Assay) تایید شدند. داده ها با استفاده از آزمون های آماری کای دو و آنالیز رگرسیون لجستیک مورد تجزیه و تحلیل قرار گرفتند. یافته ها: فراوانی آنتی بادی بر علیه ویروس هپاتیت ‍‍C معادل 4/49 (38 بیمار) بدست آمد. بین داشتن فرم شدید بیماری (از نظر نیاز به فرآورده های خونی) (01/0

The effects of curcumin on the prevention of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure in patients with unstable angina: A randomized clinical trial

Objective: Inflammation along with oxidative stress has an important role in the pathophysiology of unstable angina which leads to acute myocardial infarction, arrhythmias and eventually heart failure. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects and thereby, it may reduce cardiovascular complications. This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of curcumin on the prevention of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and heart failure in patients with unstable angina. Materials and Methods: Forty patients with unstable angina who met the trial inclusion and exclusion criteria, participated in this double-blind randomized clinical trial. The patients were randomized into two groups: curcumin (80 mg/day for 5days) and placebo (80 mg/day for 5days). Cardiac function was evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography devices at baseline (immediately after hospitalization) and 5 days after the onset of the trial. Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias were recorded by Holter monitors in cardiology ward, Ghaem academic hospital, Mashhad, Iran. Progression to heart failure, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary and cardiopulmonary resuscitation events as well as mortality were recorded daily throughout the study. Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in atrial and ventricular arrhythmias (p=0.2), and other echocardiographic parameters (Ejection fraction, E, A, E/A ratio, Em, and pulmonary artery pressure) at baseline and five days after the start of the trial. Conclusion:  Nanocurcumin administered at the dose of 80 mg/day for five days had no effect in the incidence of cardiovascular complications in patients with unstable angina

Global investments in pandemic preparedness and COVID-19: development assistance and domestic spending on health between 1990 and 2026

Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put into context the expected need for investment in pandemic preparedness. Methods In this analysis of global health spending between 1990 and 2021, and prediction from 2021 to 2026, we estimated four sources of health spending: development assistance for health (DAH), government spending, out-of-pocket spending, and prepaid private spending across 204 countries and territories. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) to estimate spending. We estimated development assistance for general health, COVID-19 response, and pandemic preparedness and response using a keyword search. Health spending estimates were combined with estimates of resources needed for pandemic prevention and preparedness to analyse future health spending patterns, relative to need. Findings In 2019, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US$9·2 trillion (95$7·3 trillion (95% UI 7·2–7·4) in 2019; 293·7 times the $24·8 billion (95$43·1 billion in development assistance was provided to maintain or improve health. The pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in development assistance targeted towards health; in 2020 and 2021, $1·8 billion in DAH contributions was provided towards pandemic preparedness in LMICs, and$37·8 billion was provided for the health-related COVID-19 response. Although the support for pandemic preparedness is 12·2% of the recommended target by the High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP), the support provided for the health-related COVID-19 response is 252·2% of the recommended target. Additionally, projected spending estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2026, governments in 17 (95% UI 11–21) of the 137 LMICs will observe an increase in national government health spending equivalent to an addition of 1% of GDP, as recommended by the HLIP. Interpretation There was an unprecedented scale-up in DAH in 2020 and 2021. We have a unique opportunity at this time to sustain funding for crucial global health functions, including pandemic preparedness. However, historical patterns of underfunding of pandemic preparedness suggest that deliberate effort must be made to ensure funding is maintained

Essays in Entrepreneurship

My dissertation concentrates on the determinants of entrepreneurship and consists of two essays. The first essay develops a dynamic model of occupational choices to capture how big-five personality traits influence entrepreneurial decisions and returns. More importantly, I divide entrepreneurs into incorporated and unincorporated to differentiate between high-growth and lifestyle entrepreneurs. I use the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) data set for this study. My model captures the role of personality traits, cognitive ability, human capital, information accumulation, and non-pecuniary benefits in entrepreneurial dynamics. The estimated model demonstrates that personality traits affect pecuniary and non-pecuniary from incorporated and unincorporated entrepreneurs differently. For example, extroverted individuals have the highest returns in incorporated businesses but prefer to be unincorporated.I use the estimated model to evaluate several subsidies for incorporated businesses: subsidy for starting an incorporated business for the first time, subsidy for incorporated entrepreneurs at the beginning of the second year, and subsidy targeting potential young and productive individuals. The first subsidy primarily affects the entry margin and attracts more but less productive individuals. In contrast, the second policy mainly affects the exit margin and does not change the distribution of individuals\u27 characteristics. Both these subsidies have returns lower than one. Finally, the last subsidy has a return of around 2.5 AUD for every AUD invested, and it attracts more productive incorporated entrepreneurs to try incorporated businesses. The second essay studies the firm size and transitions in and out of self-employment. Small-firm workers are almost three times as likely to become self-employed as large-firm workers, and the self-employed are twice as likely to transition into small firms versus large firms. What explains these unbalanced dynamics between sectors? We use Australian data from 2001 to 2019 to estimate a dynamic structural model that captures the role of human capital, discovering one\u27s sector-specific abilities and non-pecuniary motivations on self-employment dynamics. Notably, capturing differences in the human capital and information accumulated across sectors, the model allows for experience from one sector to have different returns in another. It also allows signals drawn in one sector to update one\u27s beliefs about ability in another sector. The main drivers explaining the differential transitions into and out of self-employment from small firms are own-sector returns to experience and transition preferences