Analysis of Factors that Influence Users’ Willingness to Pay for the Services of Iranian Academic Libraries by Using the Contingent Valuation Method

Background: The demand for evaluation methods of Academic libraries has resulted from the fact that universities are being recognized as an important economic asset of national competitiveness. This realization has led to an attempt to verify the effectiveness of investment in higher education, and Academic libraries also have had a chance to reconsider and promote the importance of their existence to their universities. Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate the economic value of a variety of academic library services and identify demographic, individual, sociological and technology factors affecting users’ willingness to pay by using the contingent valuation method. Methods: The study populations are the users of university central libraries (including students, faculty members and employees of the universities) under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iran. The data collection instrument was a two-dimensional questionnaire with 48 questions, constructed by the researcher. 854 respondents completed the questionnaire. The data was analyzed using logistic regression. A two-stage Heckman method was used to correct for selection bias. Results: Demographic and individual factors were found to be more effective than other factors, such as sociological factors and technology, in predicting users’ willingness to pay. The variables of education, monthly income, job, gender, and research had the most impact on willingness to pay. On the other hand, Hekman\u27s two-stage method, although it can be distinguished among the factors affecting the acceptance of the willingness to pay as well as the factors affecting its degree, Overall, Willingness to pay estimated Less than the other two methods(Linear &logistic regression). Contributions: Libraries and information centers in Iran are facing a lot of budget problems. In this research, the researcher seeks to find Effective factors to estimate the economic value of libraries and their services to the users. Economic valuation increases the value and credibility of a system, which Provides useful information for decision makers, planners and managers to decide on solve of problem

Software-based teaching of optical demultiplexers by using photonic crystals with presenting the syllabus for MSc students in electronic engineering major

Background and Objective:Software-based education is one of the most important ways to transfer knowledge in the field of new technologies. Because the hardware implementation of some modern science phenomena is not possible due to its complexity or sometimes due to the lack of appropriate manufacturing technology. Therefore, appropriate software can be used to teach such phenomena. One of the sciences and technologies that has grown significantly in recent years is photonic crystal structures, which have also appeared in new editions of graduate courses syllabuses as photon crystals. In this paper, simulation-based (software-based) teaching of a 4-channel optical demultiplexer based on photonic crystal is presented by using the R-Soft software. Methods: The teaching of the demultiplexer structure is based on the use of a photonic crystal filter. In this analysis, with the variation of the radius of the cylindrical nano-ring resonator and the radius of the scattering rods, the critical length parameter of 1573.6 nm is improved in the design of the filter. The advantages of the 4-channel demultiplexer include the mean quality factor of 4525, mean channel power transfer factor of 95%, and maximum and minimum channel cross-talk of -19.6 and -40.4, respectively. Also, mean channel width is obtained as 0.375 nm. Moreover, the proposed 4-channel demultiplexer can be used in WDM systems. Findings: The simulation-based teaching of these structures is very important to develop and improve the multiplexers performance. Therefore, the related syllabus is suggested for master of science (MSc) students in Electronic Engineering major. This syllabus can be considered as a part of Photonic Crystal or Photonics courses. Conclusion: In this paper, a 4-channel optical demultiplexer based on photonic crystal was studied. In order to teach the theoretical principles and foundations which are mostly complex and its hardware implementation is difficult due to technological limitations, the use of appropriate software environments along with strengthening the basic knowledge required can Improve teaching-learning processes. For this purpose, in this article, we tried to express the appropriate concepts of designing a four-channel optical dimplexplexor system for effective training. Accordingly, the proposed principles and topics as well as the prerequisites in the design were described. In the training section of the four-channel dimplex structure, it was stated that a T-shaped input waveguide, square resonator rings and several output waveguides can be used   ===================================================================================== COPYRIGHTS  ©2019 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers.  ====================================================================================

Morphometric Analysis of the Intestine in Experimental Coccidiosis in Broilers Treated with Anticoccidial Drugs

Background: Coccidiosis causes morphologic alteration in intestinal mucosa resulting in reduction of absorptive surface. Anticoccidials used as feed additives may induce changes in the intestinal mucosa. This study was designed to assess intestinal morphometry in broilers infected with Eimeria under different anticoccidial treatments. Methods: To evaluate the effect of salinomycin and amprolium+ethopabate on intestinal morphometry in broilers experimental coccidiosis, in Tehran, Iran in May 2015, fifty-four Ross 308 birds were randomly divided into two challenged and unchallenged groups at the age of 12 days. The birds were challenged with Eimeria field isolate at day 14. Different growth and parasitological parameters including weight gain, feed consumption, FCR, macroscopic lesion score and oocyst score were recorded 7 d post-inoculation. Histological sections from four main parts of intestine (anterior, middle, lower intestines and cecum) were prepared and analyzed. Villus width and length and total mucosal thickness were measured microscopically. Results: Amprolium+ethopabate and salinomycin significantly reduced coccidiosis gross lesions in infected birds. Microscopically anticoccidial administration in the presence of infection has significantly increased the villus length while the presence of amprolium+ethopabate in the absence of infection has greatly increased the mucosal thickness and villi height in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: Anticoccidials may induce some histological changes in the mucosa when there is no parasite to be affected. Some of these effects may be advantageous for the intestinal epithelium integrity and hence the birds’ performance

Severe Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Infection led to Diagnosis of Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome

To this day, millions of people in the world have been diagnosed with corona virus 2019 (COVID-19). This disease cannot only lead to higher mortality rates among those with underlying Diabetes Mellitus (DM), but also may trigger DM in susceptible patients. Therefore, incidence of new-onset DM increased during the pandemic as a result; treatment of patients with diabetes and COVID-19 is important and needs further investigations. Here, we report a 27-year- old woman with past medical history of premature ovarian failure (POF) since14 years ago, who initially presented with severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) which was triggered by COVID-19 and later through her lab results hypoparathyroidism was also detected. She was treated for DKA and COVID-19 Infection concomitantly, and she was also diagnosed with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome due to her multiple autoimmune endocrine organ involvements.

Analysis of Factors that Influence Users’ Willingness to Pay for the Services of Iranian Academic Libraries by Using the Contingent Valuation Method

Background: The demand for evaluation methods of Academic libraries has resulted from the fact that universities are being recognized as an important economic asset of national competitiveness. This realization has led to an attempt to verify the effectiveness of investment in higher education, and Academic libraries also have had a chance to reconsider and promote the importance of their existence to their universities. Objectives: The aim of the study was to estimate the economic value of a variety of academic library services and identify demographic, individual, sociological and technology factors affecting users’ willingness to pay by using the contingent valuation method. Methods: The study populations are the users of university central libraries (including students, faculty members and employees of the universities) under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology of Iran. The data collection instrument was a two-dimensional questionnaire with 48 questions, constructed by the researcher. 854 respondents completed the questionnaire. The data was analyzed using logistic regression. A two-stage Heckman method was used to correct for selection bias. Results: Demographic and individual factors were found to be more effective than other factors, such as sociological factors and technology, in predicting users’ willingness to pay. The variables of education, monthly income, job, gender, and research had the most impact on willingness to pay. On the other hand, Hekman\u27s two-stage method, although it can be distinguished among the factors affecting the acceptance of the willingness to pay as well as the factors affecting its degree, Overall, Willingness to pay estimated Less than the other two methods(Linear &logistic regression). Contributions: Libraries and information centers in Iran are facing a lot of budget problems. In this research, the researcher seeks to find Effective factors to estimate the economic value of libraries and their services to the users. Economic valuation increases the value and credibility of a system, which Provides useful information for decision makers, planners and managers to decide on solve of problem

Novel structure of optical add/drop filters and multi-channel filter based on photonic crystal for using in optical telecommunication devices

In this paper, Using a 2D photonic crystal and a novel square ring resonator,several compact and simple structures have been introduced in the present paper toconstruct optical add/drop filters and multi-channel filter. The difference structures hasbeen designed and simulated by using the proposed square ring resonator and differentdropping waveguides. To do analyses, the finite-difference time-domain method and theplane wave expansion have been used. The three add/drop filters can separate thewavelength of 1554 nm with a transmission coefficient of 100 %, quality factor of 1295and bandwidth of 1.2 nm. The models of structures are simulated by the RSOFT CADLayoutsoftware. The results, flexibility and simplicity of structures have caused fromtheir used to designing of an optical multi-channel filter with a channel spacing of 1.5nm. The advantages of this design include the channel spacing, quality factor,transmission coefficient and bandwidth which are suitable for applicability in opticalcommunication systems such as wavelength division multiplexing systems

Numerical Analysis of SHB Effects in Laterally- Coupled Distributed Feedback (LC-DFB) Lasers

Abstract—In this paper the stability of Laterally-Couple

An Optical MIM Pressure Sensor Based on a Double Square Ring Resonator

Abstract In this paper, we have proposed a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) pressure sensor which consists of two plasmonic waveguides and a double square ring resonator. The two square rings are connected via a rectangular patch located between the two of them. The surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) can be transferred from a square ring to the other through this patch. The finite-difference time-domain method (FDTD) has been used to simulate the device. Applying a pressure on the structure, it deforms, and a red shift of 103 nm in the resonance wavelength has been calculated. The deformation is linearly proportional to the wavelength shift in a wide range of wavelength. The proposed optical plasmonic pressure sensor has a sensitivity of 16.5 nm/MPa which makes it very suitable for using in biological and biomedical engineering