A Solution to the N-Queens Problem Using Biogeography-Based Optimization

Biogeography-based Optimization (BBO) is a global optimization algorithm based on population, governed by mathematics of biogeography, and dealing with geographical distribution of biological organisms. The BBO algorithm was used in the present study to provide a solution for the N-queens problem. The performance of the proposed algorithm has been evaluated in terms of the quality of the obtained results, cost function, and execution time. Furthermore, the results of this algorithm were compared against those of genetic and particle swarm algorithms

Psychological needs of men under methadone maintenance treatment: A mixed method study

Background: The psychosocial needs of participants who are responding to the methadone maintenance treatment method can be considered an important issue in the healing process. This study has had the aim of determining the psychosocial needs of patients who were receiving methadone therapy. Methods: This was a simultaneous mixed method study. On the qualitative side of the study, using the snowball sampling method, 19 male clients who were interested in participating in the study with at least one month of methadone therapy were selected, after which in-depth, semi-structured individual and face-to-face interviews were conducted. On the quantitative side, a descriptive study was carried out; to initiate the study, 136 male clients from 12 substance abuse treatment clinics in Kermanshah City located in the west of Iran were selected by applying the convenience sampling method and analysed using the Basic Needs Satisfaction scale. The content analysis method was used to analyse qualitative data, whereas quantitative data were analysed by SPSS 18 software. Results: The qualitative results comprised 15 subthemes and 5 main themes. The main categories included the need for support, the need for tranquillity, fear of ostracism, inadequate self-esteem and a vague self-image. The quantitative results indicated dependence on methadone, together with a weak sense of self-determination and competence; these findings were consistent with the qualitative results. The main limitation of the study was disagreement by some participants over the issue of recording interviews. Conclusions: The results showed that drug-using participants need the support of their family and community during treatment to satisfy their psychosocial needs

A Solution to the N-Queens Problem Using Biogeography-Based Optimization

Biogeography-based Optimization (BBO) is a global optimization algorithm based on population, governed by mathematics of biogeography, and dealing with geographical distribution of biological organisms. The BBO algorithm was used in the present study to provide a solution for the N-queens problem. The performance of the proposed algorithm has been evaluated in terms of the quality of the obtained results, cost function, and execution time. Furthermore, the results of this algorithm were compared against those of genetic and particle swarm algorithms

Investigating the Effect of Competitive and Commercial Awareness on Commercialization of Ideas with Emphasis on Competitive Advantage in Third Generation Universities in order to present a model

This research was designed to provide a model for explaining the effect of competitive and commercial intelligence on the commercialization of ideas with an emphasis on competitive advantage in third-generation universities. The current research was applied with a hybrid approach with exploratory design. Statistical communities in the qualitative section of study were university faculty members, which were selected through purposeful sampling and according to the saturation law of 18 people. The statistical society in the quantitative part of study, were university faculty members and lecturers from different universities of Mashhad, included 2,572 people. Using the Cochran formula and the floor sampling method a total of 335 people were considered as sample size. Semi-structured interviews were used as Data Collection tool in the qualitative part. To ensure the validity of the qualitative section and in order to ensure that the findings were accurate from the viewpoint of the researcher, the valuable ideas of professors and educators familiar with this field, especially in the field of entrepreneurship, were used. In the quantitative part, 4 questionnaires were used to collect data. Content and construct validity were used to calculate the validity of the questionnaire. Content validity of the questionnaire was approved by the university experts. To evaluate the construct validity, two convergent and divergent validity criteria were used. The results obtained from the factor loads for each factor showed that all items with factor load were greater than 0.4 and average extracted variance were higher than 4.5. The condition AVE> 0.5 is for all variables, so the convergent validity of these variables is confirmed. In addition, the mean values of the extracted variance were the highest, indicating a divergent validity among   the variables of the research. The combination showed reliability and combined reliability greater than 0.5. To analyze the data of the qualitative section, content / questionnaire analysis was used for all variables above 0.7. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Frequency tables, frequency, mean and standard deviation and, in inferential statistics, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, independent sample t tests, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation test were used. Data analyzed using Spss and Smart Pls softwares. The results showed that all dimensions and components of the variables have a factor load above 0.5. Also, the results of the confirmatory factor analysis showed that competitive intelligence with a coefficient of 0.879, business intelligence with coefficient of influence of 0.649 had a positive and significant effect on the Entrepreneur Universities. Although the competitive advantage does not  have an impact coefficient of 0.096, the proposed model is suited to the general fit estimation of the GOF

Nurses’ Perception of Ethical Climate and Job Satisfaction

The high turnover of nurses has become a universal issue. The manner in which nurses view their organization’s ethical climate has direct bearing on their job satisfaction. There is little empirical evidence confirming a relationship between different sorts of ethical climate within organizations and job satisfaction in Iran.The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between nurses’ perception of ethical climate and job satisfaction in the Teaching Hospital of Kerman University of Medical Sciences.A descriptive analytical design was used in this study. The sample consisted of 275 nurses working in 4 hospitals affiliated with the Kerman University of Medical Sciences. The instruments used in this study included a demo-graphic questionnaire, Ethical Climate Questionnaire (ECQ), and Job Satisfaction Scale (JS). Data analysis was carried out using Pearson’s correlation, one-way ANOVA, T-test and descriptive statistic through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS), version 16.Across the five dimensions of ECQ the highest mean score pertained to professionalism (mean = 13.45±3.68), followed by rules climate (mean = 13.41±4.01), caring climate (mean = 12.92±3.95), independence climate (mean = 11.35±3.88), and instrumental climate (mean = 8.93±2.95). The results showed a positive correlation among ethical climate type of: professionalism (p=0.001), rules (p=0.045), caring (p=0.000), independence (p=0.000) with job satisfaction, and no correlation was found between instrumental climate and job satisfaction.The result of this research indicated a positive correlation among professionalism, caring, rules, independence climate and job satisfaction. Therefore managers of hospitals can promote nurses’ job satisfaction by providing ethics training programs that establish a working team and a culture that strengthens team spirit among nurses