Realization of peace from the perspective of the role of higher education in the field of diplomacy: experience of academic diplomacy in Iran

New diplomacy with a focus on new actors is a ground for removal of misconceptions and solution of conflicts through communication, dialogue and reach of consensus. Higher education institution, especially universities, can be referred as new actors in the field of diplomacy. They can play an important role in communicating mutually and symmetrically. According to the authors, universities can provide the ground for removal of misunderstanding which is the root of violence at the level of communication within universities, both in a form of diplomacy Track II and also, through playing role in the science and technology diplomacy framework and they can be effective in promoting the culture of peace while they present positive image and enhance the country’s position in the international arena. So, in present study, it was tried to analyze the promotion of culture of peace in terms of the effectiveness of higher education on diplomacy institution and also, the position of higher education institution in the diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran by descriptive-analytical method and relying on the Habermas’s communicative action theory.  The results showed that the universities can contribute to the realization and promotion of peace through affecting diplomacy and relying on science and knowledge which are international language; also provided that there is purposeful policy-making to maximum use of the potential of higher education institutions in general, and specifically universities. Especially in Iran, despite negative beliefs, universities can provide positive images in international arena.Keywords: higher education, university, peace, science diplomacy, diplomacy Track I

Environmental evaluation and employee's exposure of a thermal power plant with extremely low frequency magnetic fields

Background and aims: Extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELF) is a Spectrum of electromagnetic waves with the range of 30 to 300 Hz. The average magnetic field exposures in the workplace have been found to be higher in "electrical occupations" compared to the other occupations such as office work. The interaction between magnetic fields produced by power lines and substations with living organisms are not fully understood and still open to many researchers. Methods: The three axes TES-1394 was used for magnetic field measurement. Magnetic field measurement conducted based on the IEEE std 644-1994 standard. Firstly all magnetic field sources were detected, then the measuring stations were determined nearby and around the source. The occupational groups with exposure to magnetic field were identified to determine the maximum exposure level and then to compare with ISIRI 8567 national standard. Results: The minimum and maximum measured magnetic field were in near of 63 Kv lines (1.03 μT) and generators (17.6 μT), respectively. The mean of magnetic flux density nearby the generators building source was significantly different from the other sources. The environmental amount of magnetic flux density in 230 Kv (1.58 μT) post was higher than the other environments. Maximum exposure (17.6 μT) of occupational groups was related to engineer's of generators building. Conclusion: Our results of the magnetic flux density measurement close to sources matched with the other relevant studies except for control room. The maximum exposure level of the occupational groups was not higher than the occupational exposure standard value

Coupling of CFD and semiempirical methods for designing three-phase condensate separator: case study and experimental validation

This study presents an approach to determine the dimensions of three-phase separators. First, we designed different vessel configurations based on the fluid properties of an Iranian gas condensate field. We then used a comprehensive computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method for analyzing the three-phase separation phenomena. For simulation purposes, the combined volume of fluid–discrete particle method (DPM) approach was used. The discrete random walk (DRW) model was used to include the effect of arbitrary particle movement due to variations caused by turbulence. In addition, the comparison of experimental and simulated results was generated using different turbulence models, i.e., standard k–ε, standard k–ω, and Reynolds stress model. The results of numerical calculations in terms of fluid profiles, separation performance and DPM particle behavior were used to choose the optimum vessel configuration. No difference between the dimensions of the optimum vessel and the existing separator was found. Also, simulation data were compared with experimental data pertaining to a similar existing separator. A reasonable agreement between the results of numerical calculation and experimental data was observed. These results showed that the used CFD model is well capable of investigating the performance of a three-phase separator

Impact of music type on motor coordination task performance among introverted and extroverted students

Purpose. People are interested in music. In this study, we assessed the impact of music type on objective performance.Materials and methods. We distributed 64 medical science students in Tehran into four groups: Iranian pop music, traditional music, Mozart's classical music and control groups. All participants performed the two-arm coordination test once without music and once with music (except for the control group), with an interval of 1 week. In the music groups, music was playing during the performance of the test. Participants were categorized as either introverted or extroverted and were distributed equally in the groups.Results. There was a significant decrease of test time in the second trial, observed in all music groups, and no significant difference identified in the control group. The traditional music group had less difference of mean time compared to the pop music group. The differences in the traditional and classical groups were not significantly different. In the music groups, both extroverted and introverted students decreased their test time significantly after music intervention, but extroverted students decreased more.Conclusion. Listening to music would enhance the speed of performance. Music with a higher tempo, such as pop music, increased the speed more

Investigation into effects of work-related quality of life and some related factors on cognitive failures among nurses

Objective. Cognitive failure is one of the factors which can be influenced by personal and professional characteristics. This research was carried out to study the effect of work-related quality of life (WRQoL) and some related factors on cognitive failures (CF) among nurses. Methods. This cross-sectional study was conducted among nurses working in intensive care units, critical care units and emergency units in 2014. Results. In total, 750 nurses participated in the study. The mean +/- SD for the total CF and WRQoL was 40.5 +/- 12.7 and 75.8 +/- 13.7 respectively. The results show that CF have a statistically significant difference among the age groups, experience groups and working units. Multiple regression tests show that age, income and WRQoL have a significant effect on CF. Based on the results, for a unit increase in WRQoL we expect a 0.26 unit decrease in CF. Analysis of variance results show that the emergency ward had changed the overall effect of WRQoL on CF, after the effect of WRQoL was controlled. Conclusions. Overall results from the present research indicated that, despite the high level of WRQoL among the studied nurses, the rate of CF was not at an appropriate level. Development of supportive and interventional strategies is highly recommended

Safety Evaluation of the Lighting at the Entrance of a Very Long Road Tunnel: A Case Study in Ilam

Background: At the entrance of a tunnel, reflection of sunlight from the surrounding environment and a lack of adequate lighting usually cause some vision problems. The purpose of this study was to perform a safety evaluation of lighting on a very long road in Ilam, Iran. Methods: The average luminance was measured using a luminance meter (model S3; Hagner, Solna, Sweden). A camera (model 108, 35-mm single-lens reflex; Yashica, Nagano, Japan) was used to take photographs of the safe stopping distance from the tunnel entrance. Equivalent luminance was determined according to the Holliday polar diagram. Results: Considering the average luminance at the tunnel entrance (116.7 cd/m(2)) and using Adrian's equation, the safe level of lighting at the entrance of the tunnel was determined to be 0.7. Conclusion: A comparison between the results of the safe levels of lighting at the entrance of the tunnel and the De Boer scale showed that the phenomenon of black holes is created at the tunnel entrance. This may lead to a misadaptation of the drivers' eyes to the change in luminance level at the entrance of the tunnel, thereby increasing the risk of road accidents in this zone. (C) 2016, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Published by Elsevier

Reliability and Validity study of the NIOSH Generic Job Stress Questionnaire (GJSQ) among Firefighters in Tehran city

Introduction: currently, stress is known as one the most important issue among societies which may have positive or negative results. Stress is caused when there is not a harmony between job demands, capabilities and desires of a person. Most of the behavioral, physical and mental disorders are results of job stress. The objective of this study was Validity and Reliability analysis of NIOSH Generic Job Stress Questionnaire (GJSQ), in order to have an appropriate tool for evaluation and analysis of job stress in Iran. . Material and Method: In this study, 228 members of Tehran fire-fighting office were chosen according to categorical and clustering sampling, methodology and they completed NIOSH Generic Job Stress Questionnaire (GJSQ). For Validity and Reliability of questionnaire, 20 persons of the group were chosen for content validity analysis of the questionnaire. For Reliability analysis of the result, Cronbach alpha test and in-cluster correlation test were used. SPSS software version 18 was used for analysis of the data. . Result: The mean age of the participants was 30.8 years (SD=4.9) and the average of job tenure in fire-fighting office was 7.4 years (SD=4.8). In order to reliability analyze the questionnaire, Cronbach alpha coefficient of all influential factors was obtained more than 0.7. In-cluster correlation coefficient of the questionnaire is calculated using retesting on all influential factors. With the exception of Physical Environment and Mental Demands which were about average, all other coefficients were over 0.7, which is a very appropriate result. . Conclusion: Considering that Validity and Reliability factors of the questionnaire were be appropriate, it can be recommended that NIOSH Generic Job Stress Questionnaire (GJSQ) can be used as a Valid and Reliable questionnaire for job stress evaluation in Iran

Control of Human Error and comparison Level risk after correction action With the SHERPA Method in a control Room of petrochemical industry

Background and aims Today in many jobs like nuclear, military and chemical industries, human errors may result in a disaster. Accident in different places of the world emphasizes this subject and we indicate for example, Chernobyl disaster in (1986), tree Mile accident in (1974) and Flixborough explosion in (1974).So human errors identification especially in important and intricate systems is necessary and unavoidable for predicting control methods.   Methods Recent research is a case study and performed in Zagross Methanol Company in Asalouye (South pars).   Walking –Talking through method with process expert and control room operators, inspecting technical documents are used for collecting required information and completing Systematic Human Error Reductive and Predictive Approach (SHERPA) worksheets.   Results analyzing SHERPA worksheet indicated that, were accepting capable invertebrate errors % 71.25, % 26.75 undesirable errors, % 2 accepting capable(with change) errors, % 0 accepting capable errors, and after correction action forecast Level risk to this arrangement, accepting capable invertebrate errors % 0, % 4.35 undesirable errors , % 58.55 accepting capable(with change) errors, % 37.1 accepting capable errors .   ConclusionFinally this result is comprehension that this method in different industries especially in chemical industries is enforceable and useful for human errors identification that may lead to accident and adventures

Assessing the usability of different models of hand-held mechanical pipette to determine the best type

Introduction: In Laboratory accusations a wide range of hand-held tools are used due to nature of their work. Long-term and repeated use of these tools has led the laboratory workers to suffer from upper limb disorders. The present study was designed and implemented with the aim of investigating the usability of different models of pipettes used in the laboratories of the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, employing subjective assessment methods for selecting the best pipette models.. Material and Method: This cross-sectional and analytical-descriptive study was performed among 35 laboratories employees of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. First, four models of the widely used pipettes were selected and their usability-related characteristics were investigated by a visual analog scale (VAS). Judgments concerned the usability of the pipettes done based on the criteria provided by the International Organization for Standardization 9241-11(1998) and 20282-2(2006). Data analysis was performed, using SPSS software version 22. . Result: The overall evaluation of the users in relation to the characteristics of the pipettes indicated that the highest VAS score was belonged to pipette A, C, and D, respectively. Furthermore, pipette B was selected as the most undesirable one by users. Results related to the usability criteria of pipette showed that of the four models of study pipettes, pipette A has been ranked first in two criteria (satisfaction and effectiveness). Regarding the efficiency, the first rank was for C pipette and the second rank was for pipette A. Pipette B obtained the lowest scores for all given criteria. .Conclusion: Shorter and lighter pipettes, which were designed according to ergonomic principles, had greater usability from the perspective of users and it could cause a better subjective assessment comparing to the other models

The relationship between employees’ emotional intelligence and their job satisfaction using structural equation model in one of the oil industries in Tehran

Introduction: Emotional intelligence as the ability to understand and control feelings and emotions, and job satisfaction as positive attitudes of employees towards their jobs is amongst the effective indicators in the workplaces. Therefore, this research invetigated the effect of emotional intelligence of employees on their job satisfaction in one of the Oil refineries in Tehran.   Methods and Materials: This research is a practical and cross-sectional study. The statistical population consisted of 300 employees selected by stratified random sampling method. Bar-On questionnaire (90-item) and JDI questionnaire (70-item) were used in order to measure emotional intelligence and job satisfaction, respectively. LISREL8.72 software was employed to estimate causal effect between study variables and calculation of descriptive indices and comparison of variables were done by means of SPSS software version 18.   Results: According to results, there was a direct association between emotional intelligence of employees and their job satisfaction. In other words, the higher emotional intelligence, the higher rate of job satisfaction. Of the 15 sub-scales of emotional intelligence, Responsibility and Self-expression obtained the highest and the lowest scores, respectively. Furthermore, Supervisor and Salaries were ranked as the highest and the lowest valued subscales of job satisfaction. According to the results, employees job satisfaction level are improved in parallel to increase of education level and the maximum score of this variable was belonged to the age group of 30-45 years.}   Conclusion: Emotional intelligence, as a psychological variable, affects the worker's job satisfaction. Considering the direct relationship between these two variables, by training and increasing the emotional intelligence of employees, job satisfaction and consequently their efficiency and productivity can be improved in the workplaces