An integrated neural network algorithm for optimum performance assessment of auto industry with multiple outputs and corrupted data and noise

In the real world encountering with noisy and corrupted data is unavoidable. Auto industry sector (AIS) as a one of the significant industry encounters with noisy and corrupted data regarding to its rapid development. Therefore, developing the performance assessment in this situation is so helpful for this industry. As Data envelopment Analysis (DEA) could not deal with noisy and corrupted data, the alternative method(s) is very important. As one of excellent and promising feature of artificial neural networks (ANNs) are theirs flexibility and robustness in noisy situation, they are a good alternative. This study proposes a non-parametric efficiency frontier analysis method based on the adaptive neural network technique for measuring efficiency as a complementary tool for the common techniques for efficiency assessment in the previous studies. The proposed computational method is able to find a stochastic frontier based on a set of input–output observational data and do not require explicit assumptions about the function structure of the stochastic frontier. In this algorithm, for calculating the efficiency scores of auto industry in various countries, a similar approach to econometric methods has been used. Moreover, the effect of the return to scale of AIS on its efficiency is included and the unit used for the correction is selected by notice of its scale (under constant return to scale assumption). Another feature of proposed algorithm is its ability to calculate efficiency for multiple outputs. An example using real data is presented for illustrative purposes. In the application to the auto industries, we find that the neural network provide more robust results and identifies more efficient units than the conventional methods since better performance patterns are explored. To test the robustness of the efficiency results of the proposed method, the ability of proposed ANN algorithm in dealing with noisy and corrupted data is compared with Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Results of the robustness check show that the proposed algorithm is much more robust to the noise and corruption in input data than DEA

CPOE in Iran-A viable prospect?. Physicians' opinions on using CPOE in an Iranian teaching hospital

Background: In recent years, the theory that on-line clinical decision support systems can improve patients' safety among hospitalised individuals has gained greater acceptance. However, the feasibility of implementing such a system in a middle or low-income country has rarely been studied. Understanding the current prescription process and a proper needs assessment of prescribers can act as the key to successful implementation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore physicians' opinions on the current prescription process, and the expected benefits and perceived obstacles to employ Computerised Physician Order Entry in an Iranian teaching hospital. Methods: Initially, the interview guideline was developed through focus group discussions with eight experts. Then semi-structured interviews were held with 19 prescribers. After verbatim transcription, inductive thematic analysis was performed on empirical data. Forty hours of on-looker observations were performed in different wards to explore the current prescription process. Results: The current prescription process was identified as a physician-centred, top-down, model, where prescribers were found to mostly rely on their memories as well as being overconfident. Some errors may occur during different paper-based registrations, transcriptions and transfers. Physician opinions on Computerised Physician Order Entry were categorised into expected benefits and perceived obstacles. Confidentiality issues, reduction of medication errors and educational benefits were identified as three themes in the expected benefits category. High cost, social and cultural barriers, data entry time and problems with technical support emerged as four themes in the perceived obstacles category. Conclusions: The current prescription process has a high possibility of medication errors. Although there are different barriers confronting the implementation and continuation of Computerised Physician Order Entry in Iranian hospitals, physicians have a willingness to use them if these systems provide significant benefits. A pilot study in a limited setting and a comprehensive analysis of health outcomes and economic indicators should be performed, to assess the merits of introducing Computerised Physician Order Entry with decision support capabilities in Iran. © 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

The Anatomical Position of Appendix in Iranian Cadavers

Background: Vermiform appendix is different in terms of anatomical position, length and mesoappendix.  Knowing the anatomical position of vermiform appendix is important for the surgeons in terms of diagnosis and management. The aim of this study is analysis of length, anatomical position and mesoappendix of vermiform appendix.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on the 400 randomly selected cadavers (306 male and 94 female) who have been referred to the autopsy hall of legal medicine organization of Tehran province to be autopsied between March 21, 2010 and March, 2011. The cause of death was very heterogeneous among autopsied cadavers.Results:According to our results the anatomical positions were pelvic, subcecal, retroileal, retrocaecal, ectopic and preileal in 55.8%, 19%, 12.5%, 7%, 4.2% and 1.5% respectively. The mean length of vermiform appendix was 91.2 mm and 80.3 mm in men and women, respectively. Mesoappendix was complete in 79.5% and incomplete in 20.5%. No association was seen between sex and anatomical position of vermiform appendix.Conclusion:Anterior anatomical position was the most frequent vermiform appendix position in our population which is in discrepancy with most of the reports from western countries. It might be possible that factors such as race, geographical regions and nutritional regiment play roles in determining the position of vermiform appendix

Emergency medical services in Iran: An overview

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in Iran, named "Emergency 115," was established in 1978 with cooperation from America. In Iran, EMS delivery is financed by the government and is free of charge. Established standards call for a response time of less than eight minutes in cities and less than 15 minutes in suburban areas for 80 of the cases, and this standard has been met everywhere in the country except for Tehran (the capital of Iran). Emergency services coverage for traffic accidents has exceeded 52.3. In recent years, the Foundation of Medical Emergency Schools has established emergency medicine training programs for both EMS personnel and the general public. Also, personnel of the Iran Medical Emergency and Accidents Management Organization are establishing the standards for hospital emergency procedures and providing oversight of the emergency departments in hospitals. Over all, pre-hospital emergency services have made notable advances, and they are continuing to improve

The relationship between learning style preferences and gender, educational major and status in first year medical students: A survey study from Iran

Background: Identifying and employing appropriate learning styles could play an important role in selecting teaching styles in order to improve education. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the relationship between learning styles preferences and gender, educational major and status in first year students at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study employing the visual-aural-read/write-kinesthetic (VARK) learning style's questionnaire was done on 184 first year students of medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing and health services management at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2012. The validity of the questionnaire was assessed through experts' views and reliability was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficients (α = 0.86). Data were analyzed using the SPSS ver.18 software and x2 test. Results: Out of 184 participants who responded to and returned the questionnaire, 122 (66.3) were female; more than two-thirds (68.5) of the enrolled students were at the professional doctorate level (medicine, pharmacy, dentistry) and 31.5 at the undergraduate level (nursing and health services management). Eighty-nine (48.4) students preferred a single-modal learning style. In contrast, the remaining 95 students (51.6) preferred multi-modal learning styles. A significant relationship between gender and single modal learning styles (P = 0.009) and between status and learning styles (P = 0.04) was observed. Conclusions: According to the results, male students preferred to use the kinesthetic learning style more than females, while, female students preferred the aural learning style. Knowledge about the learning styles of students at educational institutes is valuable and helps solve learning problems among students, and allows students to become better learners. © 2015, Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal

A Microfluidic Device for the Investigation of Rapid Gold Nanoparticle Formation in Continuous Turbulent Flow

A new setup with an integrated microfluidic chip with small dead time, high time resolution and compatibility with in situ X-ray absorption (XAS) measurements is presented. It can also be combined with a free liquid jet. By using the microfluidic chip the short reaction times from 2 to 20 milliseconds can be observed, beyond that an external cyclone mixer for extended observation times was applied. The reduction of gold ions with tetrakis(hydroxy-methyl)phosphonium (THPC) has been investigated in the microfluidic setup to monitor this reaction yielding small gold nanoparticles, requiring preferentially a free liquid jet

Organization's quality maturity as a vehicle for EHR success

In health care industry, EHR has been advocated to improve care quality. The journey toward the development and adaptation of EHR should be holistic and integrate all the EHR's building blocks-health record management, business process improvement (BPI), collaboration and innovation, change management, user governance, etc.-that are intertwined together as like the links of a chain to improve quality of health care services. These cornerstones that shares common features with quality principles will pave the way for implementing EHR. To go along with quality features and take advantage of quality principles namely "quality maturity" builds a solid foundation for adaptation of EHR. Therefore, the recent theories of EHR success go far beyond technical rationales and focus on organizational and managerial factors in quality improvement. The milestone of quality concept in information system success is revealed in Delone and Mclean's model which launches system quality, information quality, service quality, as distinct elements of the IS success. EHR is a means to an end -to improve quality within enterprises- based on quality approaches. In this regards, more research should be conducted to investigate the relationship between of organization's quality maturity and EHR development success. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010

Quartic Anomalous Couplings in γγ\gamma\gamma Colliders

We study the constraints on the vertices $W^+W^- Z\gamma$, $W^+W^-\gamma\gamma$, and $ZZ\gamma\gamma$ that can be obtained from triple-gauge-boson production at the next generation of linear $e^+e^-$ colliders operating in the $\gamma\gamma$ mode. We analyze the processes $\gamma\gamma \to W^+W^-V$ ($V=Z$, or $\gamma$) and show that these reactions increase the potential of $e^+e^-$ machines to search for anomalous four-gauge-boson interactions.Comment: 15 pages, Latex file using ReVteX, 4 uufiled figures include