The foundation of capability modelling: A study of the impact and utilisation of human resources

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This research aims at finding a foundation for assessment of capabilities and applying the concept in a human resource selection. The research identifies a common ground for assessing individuals’ applied capability in a given job based on literature review of various disciplines in engineering, human sciences and economics. A set of criteria is found to be common and appropriate to be used as the basis of this assessment. Applied Capability is then described in this research as the impact of the person in fulfilling job requirements and also their level of usage from their resources with regards to the identified criteria. In other words how their available resources (abilities, skills, value sets, personal attributes and previous performance records) can be used in completing a job. Translation of the person’s resources and task requirements using the proposed criteria is done through a novel algorithm and two prevalent statistical inference techniques (OLS regression and Fuzzy) are used to estimate quantitative levels of impact and utilisation. A survey on post graduate students is conducted to estimate their applied capabilities in a given job. Moreover, expert academics are surveyed on their views on key applied capability assessment criteria, and how different levels of match between job requirement and person’s resources in those criteria might affect the impact levels. The results from both surveys were mathematically modelled and the predictive ability of the conceptual and mathematical developments were compared and further contrasted with the observed data. The models were tested for robustness using experimental data and the results for both estimation methods in both surveys are close to one another with the regression models being closer to observations. It is believed that this research has provided sound conceptual and mathematical platforms which can satisfactorily predict individuals’ applied capability in a given job. This research has contributed to the current knowledge and practice by a) providing a comparison of capability definitions and uses in different disciplines, b) defining criteria for applied capability assessment, c) developing an algorithm to capture applied capabilities, d) quantification of an existing parallel model and finally e) estimating impact and utilisation indices using mathematical methods

A Characterization For 2-Self-Centered Graphs

A Graph is called 2-self-centered if its diameter and radius both equal to 2. In this paper, we begin characterizing these graphs by characterizing edge-maximal 2-self-centered graphs via their complements. Then we split characterizing edge-minimal 2-self-centered graphs into two cases. First, we characterize edge-minimal 2-self-centered graphs without triangles by introducing \emph{specialized bi-independent covering (SBIC)} and a structure named \emph{generalized complete bipartite graph (GCBG)}. Then, we complete characterization by characterizing edge-minimal 2-self-centered graphs with some triangles. Hence, the main characterization is done since a graph is 2-self-centered if and only if it is a spanning subgraph of some edge-maximal 2-self-centered graphs and, at the same time, it is a spanning supergraph of some edge-minimal 2-self-centered graphs

An Investigation of Antioxidant Properties of Zinc and Molybdenum Dithiocarbamates in Hydrocarbons

The oxidation and degradation of hydrocarbons at high temperature and pressure in the presence of oxygen is one of the common oil product problems. There are many antioxidants to prevent or inhibit oxidation processes; molybdenum and zinc dithiocarbamates are known as powerful antioxidants. In this paper, the oxidation inhibition time of cumene has been investigated using zinc and molybdenum dithiocarbamate substituted with different alkyl groups as antioxidants and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. The best result obtained for molybdenum dibutyldithiocarbamate was about 210 min, while zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), a well known commercial antioxidant, showed an oxidation inhibition time of about 14 min under the same conditions. It was shown that antioxidancy properties decreased with increasing the chain length of the substituted alkyl groups. This can be explained by the fact that alkyl groups participate in the oxidation process and thus increasing the alkyl chain length reduces antioxidancy effect. The synergism effect of molybdenum dibenzyl dithiocarbamate on ZDDP was also investigated and the oxidation inhibition time of about 110 min was obtained, which was greater than that of any individual antioxidant.</span

Developing national framework of monitoring and evaluation of non-communicable diseases control and prevention: an experience from Iran

Background: Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country has undergone dramatic and rapid demographical and economic transition leading to increase mortality and morbidity of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Furthermore, the prevalence of risk factors of NCDs is at alarming range for the population. In response to this challenge, a number of different high level policies have been developed dealing with NCDs, directly or indirectly. However, the fragmentation of policies makes monitoring of NCDs control difficult. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to develop a comprehensive framework for monitoring and evaluating of NCDs control and prevention.  Methods: A qualitative approach with content analysis method was conducted. Components of NCDs monitoring and evaluation framework were extracted and adaptation of components based on requirements of Iran’s health system was made.    Results: Based on the proposed framework, the three main components of NCDs surveillance are as follows; 1) monitoring outcomes (morbidity and mortality); 2) monitoring risk factors; and 3) assessing health care system response, which includes national capacity to prevent NCDs.  Conclusion: The developed framework is a political tool to strengthen activities to control and prevention of NCD and making more effective inter-sectorial collaboration

Pregnancy outcomes in women with liver disease: Is pregnancy safe? A cross-sectional study

Background: There is evidence suggesting that the pregnancy outcome may be affected by some medical conditions, such as liver diseases. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of liver disease and its outcomes in pregnant women referred to antenatal clinic in the hospital. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, all pregnant women with abnormal liver function test attending antenatal clinic affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences were recruited from August 2017 to July 2018. All participants were followed-up until delivery with respect to the maternal and neonatal outcome. Results: Of a total of 7,121 pregnant women recruited in the study, 110 (1.58%) women were detected with a liver disease; of these, 105 women were diagnosed with pregnancy-specific liver diseases, including HELLP syndrome (10.9%), preeclampsia (50.98%), partial HELLP (0.9%), eclampsia (0.9%), acute fatty liver (9.1%), intra-hepatic cholestasis 25 (22.7%), and 5 women the non-pregnancy-specific liver disease, including Liver transplantation (2.7%), and Autoimmune hepatitis (1.8%). Prevalence of the premature birth was 64.5% in pregnancy-specific liver disease, but no premature birth was detected in cases with liver transplantation. We found that neonatal mortality was significantly associated with neonatal prematurity (p = 0.013), IUGR (p &lt; 0.001), placental pathology (p = 0.04), we had no maternal mortality. Conclusion: Liver disease is not uncommon in pregnancy. This study demonstrated that pregnancy is safe in women with liver disease. Key words: Liver diseases, Maternal, Outcome, Neonatal, Pregnancy

The Prevalence of Pediculus Capitis among Primary Schools of Shahriar County, Tehran province, Iran, 2014

Background: Pediculosis capitis is a common parasitic infection of children, which has been neglected in many areas as well in Shahriar County, Tehran province. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of pediculosis capitis among pupils in primary schools of Shahriar County.Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Shahriar for the period of 2012 to 2013. Data were collected by questionnaires and direct head inspection. The prevalence rate was determined in three primary schools and 750 girls participated, which were selected by a randomized cluster method. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS16) and Chi-square test.Results: Among the 750 girls who were examined, head pediculosis was observed in 36 cases (4.8%). There was a significant relationship between head lice infestation and two factors, father’s job and using private tools in hair salon.Conclusion: The results showed that pediculosis capitis could be a potentially health threatening problem for school children. It is necessary to give health education to families in order to prevent pediculosis in the study areas