Intercultural Discourse in Virtual Learning Environments

The potential of community building through computer-mediated communication (CMC) in virtual learning environments has received increasing attention in recent years, yet little empirical research has been conducted in this field in Middle Eastern countries particularly based on a social constructivist approach as in this case. This research is concerned with the processes of community building as experienced by university students in computer-mediated distance education classes in Iran. Its overarching concern was to see if convergence happens in an on-line university discussion forum in a Middle Eastern cultural context, and if so, to explore how it happens and with what strategies it can be supported in such environment. The research addressed the role of collaborative interaction as the process of co-construction of knowledge and identities, by looking at: (i) the students’ beliefs as reflected in a survey; (ii) patterns and outcomes of interaction derived from an analysis of on-line transactions; (iii) students’ perspectives based on interviews and their responses to a survey. The participants came from four different Middle Eastern cultural and linguistic backgrounds and were all students studying at Masters Level. The academic context was an Iranian university that has a large face-to-face student population as well as a large number of distance students. The participants’ common meeting ground was primarily a virtual environment created for the students to share their learning experience and to communicate with each other and the tutors. The participants’ beliefs and ideas in terms of choice, opportunity, culture and expectations were examined through a survey in the first phase of the study. Then, to investigate their roles in shaping the on-line community, an additional university e-forum was designed and implemented by the researcher in the second phase of the study. In this forum the participants were free to contact each other without pre-planned tasks or interventions by the class tutors. Social constructivist approaches were used to analyse interactions between students and the outcomes of these interactions. The findings suggest that participants moved their communicative competence from tangible topics towards shaping new beliefs and ideas; creating the VSD-Virtual Social Development- model. These developments are regarded as something unique for an area such as the Middle East where gaining confidence is hard especially when there is no face-to-face contact with other participants, and individuals often have concerns about revealing their real personalities in untried situations. The findings of the interviews support the findings of the second phase of the study and show what strategies the participants used in community building. The research also highlighted many issues for further study, one of which is the various interpretations of the concept of community building in on-line contexts.The Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, Ira

Detection of Efflux MexAB-associated Multidrug Resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolated from Patients in Torbat Heydarie, Northeast Iran

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is one of the leading causes of hospital acquired infections. Infections with P. aeruginosa are often hard to treat because of existence of different mechanisms of antibiotic resistance changes in permeability of drugs and activity multidrug efflux pumps. The aim of current study was to determine the antibiotic resistance pattern of P. aeruginosa and existence of efflux pump MexAB genes using PCR technique.Materials and Methods: 506 isolates cultured from different clinical specimens of patients hospitalized at Nohom Dey and Razi hospitals of Torbat Heydarie (northeast Iran) were collected and used in this study. Isolates were identified using conventional bacteriology and their susceptibility to different antibiotics were assessed using agar disk diffusion method. The PCR assay was used to detect efflux pump MexAB genes.Results: From 506 isolates, 50 were identified as P. aeruginosa and these were isolated from isolated from blood, tracheal, burn, and wound. Incidence of P. aeruginosa was greater in males than females, wound infections had the highest number of occurrence and patients between 30-50 years were the most infected age group. In total, 60.86% of strains were multidrug resistant (MDR). The PCR technique revealed that most of the P. aeruginosa isolates and all the MDR strains contained MexA and MexB genes.Conclusions: The emergence of MDR microorganisms poses serious therapeutic problems for patients. Determining bacterial resistance mechanisms is complex. In this way, efflux systems were responsible for antibiotic resistance and played an important role in the MDR phenotype among P. aeruginosa isolates

True Vertigo Patients in Emergency Department; an Epidemiologic Study

Introduction: Vertigo prevalence is estimated to be 1.8% among young adults and more than 30% in the elderly. 13-38% of the referrals of patients over 65 years old in America are due to vertigo. Vertigo does not increase the risk of mortality but it can affect the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of vertigo patients referred to the emergency department (ED). Methods: In this 6-month retrospective cross-sectional study, the profiles of all vertigo patients referred to the ED of Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from October 2013 to March 2014 were evaluated. Demographic data and baseline characteristics of the patients were recorded and then patients were divided into central and peripheral vertigo. The correlation of history and clinical examination with vertigo type was evaluated and screening performance characteristics of history and clinical examination in differentiating central and peripheral vertigo were determined. Results: 379 patients with the mean age of 50.69 ± 11.94 years (minimum 18 and maximum 86) were enrolled (58.13% female). There was no sex difference in vertigo incidence (p = 0.756). A significant correlation existed between older age and increase in frequency of central cases (p < 0.001). No significant difference was detected between the treatment protocols regarding ED length of stay (p = 0.72). There was a significant overlap between the initial diagnosis and the final decision based on imaging and neurologist’s final opinion (p < 0.001). In the end, 361 (95.3%) patients were discharged from ED, while 18 were disposed to the neurology ward. No case of mortality was reported. Conclusion: Sensitivity and specificity of history and clinical examination in differentiating central and peripheral vertigo were 99 (95% CI: 57-99) and 99 (95% CI: 97-99), respectively

Quality of Life in Emergency Medicine Specialists of Teaching Hospitals

Introduction: Quality of life (QOL) of emergency medicine specialists can be effective in providing services to patients. The aim of the present study was evaluating the lifestyle of emergency medicine practitioners, understanding their problems, and addressing the solutions to enhance and improve their lifestyles, in teaching hospitals in Iran. Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on emergency medicine physicians in 10 teaching hospitals of Iran in 2011. Emergency physicians with at least three years of experience who interested in the study, were enrolled in the project. All participants filled out the consent form and QOL questionnaires, then underwent physical examinations and some medical laboratory tests. Categorical variables were reported as percentages, while continuous variables expressed as means and standard deviations. p <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Totally, 100 subjects participated in the study, of whom 48 were male. The mean and standard deviation of the physicians’ age were 38.7±5.1 years. 43% of physicians had an average QOL, while 37% good. 96% of studied physicians had a good condition regarding habitual history, while 93% of them had a poor condition in performing screening tests. Exercise program and personal health in individuals with normal BMI were correlated with higher levels of QOL. BMI was higher in 40-50 years old subjects than youngers. Hypertension was present in five cases (5%), hypercholesterolemia in six (6%), hypertriglyceridemia in six (6%), increased LDL in four (4%), low HDL in four (4%), and impaired FBS in 4 (4%). Conclusion: The findings showed that 63% of studied emergency physicians had an average level of QOL and other ones good. The majority of physicians had undesirable situation regarding the performance of screening tests

Parámetros sedimentarios y texturales de continuidad y características mineralógicas del río Jajrood, Irán

In this research, we try to study the sedimentary characteristics and the trend of textural changes in the sediments of the Jajrood River from upstream to downstream at the point of junction to Latiyan dam. Based on the textural changes of sediments along the path from the upstream in the Garmabdar area to the downstream to the Latiyan Dam, the Jajrood River is divided into four A, B, C and D basins. Twenty sediment samples were collected and all sieved by dry and wet method also the specimens were morphoscopically studied. Data from field and laboratory phases were combined and interpreted using reliable scientific sources and finally a detailed summary was obtained regarding sedimentology of the study area. Mineralogically, the sediment type of the river is a clastic carbonate sedimentary type with fragments ranging from 30 to 58 percent and rock fragments between 25 to 50 percent abundance. Other minerals, such as feldspar minerals, account for about 1 to 4 percent, quartz 5 to 10 percent, and opauqe minerals from 1 to 5 percent. Examination of the average particle size in the A to D basins shows that decreasing trend of sediment size from the A to C basin occurs and reverses in the D basin. In the first three basins, the sorting grade of the river sediments is very bad and in the last basin it has become extremely bad. The amount of kurtosis of the particle distribution curve from upstream to downstream of the river is generally increasing trend. Textural changes along the river do not follow natural conditions due to the influence of various natural factors such as the entry of distributary into the main River, and phenomena such as landslide and rock collapses and debris flows, especially during floods along the riverbank.En esta investigación, tratamos de estudiar las características sedimentarias y la tendencia de los cambios de textura en los sedimentos del río Jajrood desde aguas arriba hacia aguas abajo en el punto de unión con la presa de Latiyan. Basado en los cambios de textura de los sedimentos a lo largo del camino desde el río arriba en el área de Garmabdar hasta la presa de Latiyan, el río Jajrood se divide en cuatro cuencas A, B, C y D. Se recogieron veinte muestras de sedimentos y todas se tamizaron por método seco y húmedo, y las muestras se estudiaron morfoscópicamente. Los datos de las fases de campo y laboratorio se combinaron e interpretaron utilizando fuentes científicas confiables y finalmente se obtuvo un resumen detallado sobre la sedimentología del área de estudio. Desde el punto de vista mineralógico, el tipo de sedimento del río es un tipo sedimentario de carbonato clástico con fragmentos que van del 30 al 58 por ciento y fragmentos de roca entre el 25 y el 50 por ciento de abundancia. Otros minerales, como los minerales de feldespato, representan alrededor del 1 al 4 por ciento, los cuarzos del 5 al 10 por ciento y los minerales opacos del 1 al 5 por ciento. El examen del tamaño promedio de partícula en las cuencas A a D muestra que se produce una tendencia decreciente del tamaño del sedimento de la cuenca A a C y se invierte en la cuenca D. En las primeras tres cuencas, el grado de clasificación de los sedimentos del río es muy malo y en la última cuenca se ha vuelto extremadamente malo. La cantidad de curtosis de la curva de distribución de partículas de río arriba a río abajo es generalmente una tendencia creciente. Los cambios de textura a lo largo del río no siguen las condiciones naturales debido a la influencia de varios factores naturales, como la entrada de distribución en el río principal, y fenómenos como derrumbes y derrumbes de rocas y flujos de escombros, especialmente durante las inundaciones a lo largo de la orilla del río

Parámetros sedimentarios y texturales de continuidad y características mineralógicas del río Jajrood, Irán

In this research, we try to study the sedimentary characteristics and the trend of textural changes in the sediments of the Jajrood River from upstream to downstream at the point of junction to Latiyan dam. Based on the textural changes of sediments along the path from the upstream in the Garmabdar area to the downstream to the Latiyan Dam, the Jajrood River is divided into four A, B, C and D basins. Twenty sediment samples were collected and all sieved by dry and wet method also the specimens were morphoscopically studied. Data from field and laboratory phases were combined and interpreted using reliable scientific sources and finally a detailed summary was obtained regarding sedimentology of the study area. Mineralogically, the sediment type of the river is a clastic carbonate sedimentary type with fragments ranging from 30 to 58 percent and rock fragments between 25 to 50 percent abundance. Other minerals, such as feldspar minerals, account for about 1 to 4 percent, quartz 5 to 10 percent, and opauqe minerals from 1 to 5 percent. Examination of the average particle size in the A to D basins shows that decreasing trend of sediment size from the A to C basin occurs and reverses in the D basin. In the first three basins, the sorting grade of the river sediments is very bad and in the last basin it has become extremely bad. The amount of kurtosis of the particle distribution curve from upstream to downstream of the river is generally increasing trend. Textural changes along the river do not follow natural conditions due to the influence of various natural factors such as the entry of distributary into the main River, and phenomena such as landslide and rock collapses and debris flows, especially during floods along the riverbank.En esta investigación, tratamos de estudiar las características sedimentarias y la tendencia de los cambios de textura en los sedimentos del río Jajrood desde aguas arriba hacia aguas abajo en el punto de unión con la presa de Latiyan. Basado en los cambios de textura de los sedimentos a lo largo del camino desde el río arriba en el área de Garmabdar hasta la presa de Latiyan, el río Jajrood se divide en cuatro cuencas A, B, C y D. Se recogieron veinte muestras de sedimentos y todas se tamizaron por método seco y húmedo, y las muestras se estudiaron morfoscópicamente. Los datos de las fases de campo y laboratorio se combinaron e interpretaron utilizando fuentes científicas confiables y finalmente se obtuvo un resumen detallado sobre la sedimentología del área de estudio. Desde el punto de vista mineralógico, el tipo de sedimento del río es un tipo sedimentario de carbonato clástico con fragmentos que van del 30 al 58 por ciento y fragmentos de roca entre el 25 y el 50 por ciento de abundancia. Otros minerales, como los minerales de feldespato, representan alrededor del 1 al 4 por ciento, los cuarzos del 5 al 10 por ciento y los minerales opacos del 1 al 5 por ciento. El examen del tamaño promedio de partícula en las cuencas A a D muestra que se produce una tendencia decreciente del tamaño del sedimento de la cuenca A a C y se invierte en la cuenca D. En las primeras tres cuencas, el grado de clasificación de los sedimentos del río es muy malo y en la última cuenca se ha vuelto extremadamente malo. La cantidad de curtosis de la curva de distribución de partículas de río arriba a río abajo es generalmente una tendencia creciente. Los cambios de textura a lo largo del río no siguen las condiciones naturales debido a la influencia de varios factores naturales, como la entrada de distribución en el río principal, y fenómenos como derrumbes y derrumbes de rocas y flujos de escombros, especialmente durante las inundaciones a lo largo de la orilla del río

Layout of Cellular Manufacturing System in Dynamic Condition

Cellular manufacturing system (CMS) is highly important in modern manufacturing methods. Given the ever increasing market competition in terms of time and cost of manufacturing, we need models to decrease the cost and time of manufacturing. In this study, CMS is considered in condition of dynamic demand in each period. The model is developed for facing dynamic demand that increases the cost of material flow. This model generates the cells and location facilities at the same time and it can move the machine(s) from one cell to another cell and can generate the new cells for each period. Cell formation is NP-Complete and when this problem is considered in dynamic condition, surly, it is strongly NP- Complete. In this study, genetic algorithm (GA) is used as a meta-heuristic algorithm for solving problems and evaluating the proposed algorithm, Branch and Bound (B & B) is used as a deterministic method for solving problems. Ultimately, the time and final solution of both algorithms are compared

First Autochthonous Coinfected Anthrax in an Immunocompetent Patient

Cutaneous anthrax has a mortality rate of 20% if no antibacterial treatment is applied. The clinical manifestations of cutaneous anthrax are obviously striking, but coinfection may produce atypical lesions and mask the clinical manifestations and proper laboratory diagnosis. Anthrax is known to be more common in the Middle East and Iran is one of the countries in which the zoonotic form of anthrax may still be encountered. We report a case of a 19-years-old male who used to apply Venetian ceruse on his skin. Venetian ceruse (also known as Spirits of Saturn) is an old cosmetic product used for skin whitening traditionally made from sheep’s spinal cord. The patient referred to the Referral Laboratory, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran, with atypical dermatosis, pronounced pain, and oedema of the affected tissue. It was confirmed by both conventional and molecular analysis that culture was a mixture of Bacillus anthracis and Trichophyton interdigitale. The patient was initially treated with ceftriaxone (1000 mg/day for two weeks), gentamicin (1.5–2 mg/kg/day), terbinafine (200 mg/week for one month), and 1% clotrimazole cream (5 weeks) two times per day which resulted in gradual improvement. No relapse could be detected after one-year follow-up. Anthrax infection might present a broader spectrum of symptoms than expected by clinicians. These unfamiliar characteristics may lead to delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment, and higher mortality rate. Clinicians need to be aware of this issue in order to have successful management over this infection

The Effects of Pentoxifylline on Serum Levels of Interleukin 10 and Interferon Gamma and Memory Function in Lipopolysaccharide-induced Inflammation in Rats

Background: Studies have shown that pentoxifylline (PTX) in addition to protective effects on blood vessels probably has positive influence against the brain inflammation. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PTX on serum levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and passive avoidance learning in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in rats. Materials and Methods: Inflammation was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of LPS (0.5 and 5 mg/kg) in male Wistar rats. After a week, PTX (25 mg/kg; i.p.) was injected for 14 days. Passive avoidance learning test was used for evaluation of learning and memory. Serum levels of cytokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The behavioral results did not show any significant effect of LPS and PTX on learning and memory. Both doses of LPS (0.5 and 5 mg/kg) decreased IL-10 significantly (P < 0.05). PTX prevented this reduction just in the LPS 0.5 mg/kg + PTX 25 mg/kg group. Serum level of IFN-γ was increased only in the LPS 0.5 mg/kg + PTX 25 mg/kg group comparing to the LPS 0.5 mg/kg group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The results showed that LPS-induced inflammation decreased the serum levels of IL-10. PTX could prevent these decreases only in mild inflammation. Both PTX and LPS-induced inflammation had no significant effects on learning and memory; therefore, their effects on CNS require further study

Intercultural discourse in virtual learning environments

The potential of community building through computer-mediated communication (CMC) in virtual learning environments has received increasing attention in recent years, yet little empirical research has been conducted in this field in Middle Eastern countries particularly based on a social constructivist approach as in this case. This research is concerned with the processes of community building as experienced by university students in computer-mediated distance education classes in Iran. Its overarching concern was to see if convergence happens in an on-line university discussion forum in a Middle Eastern cultural context, and if so, to explore how it happens and with what strategies it can be supported in such environment. The research addressed the role of collaborative interaction as the process of co-construction of knowledge and identities, by looking at: (i) the students’ beliefs as reflected in a survey; (ii) patterns and outcomes of interaction derived from an analysis of on-line transactions; (iii) students’ perspectives based on interviews and their responses to a survey. The participants came from four different Middle Eastern cultural and linguistic backgrounds and were all students studying at Masters Level. The academic context was an Iranian university that has a large face-to-face student population as well as a large number of distance students. The participants’ common meeting ground was primarily a virtual environment created for the students to share their learning experience and to communicate with each other and the tutors. The participants’ beliefs and ideas in terms of choice, opportunity, culture and expectations were examined through a survey in the first phase of the study. Then, to investigate their roles in shaping the on-line community, an additional university e-forum was designed and implemented by the researcher in the second phase of the study. In this forum the participants were free to contact each other without pre-planned tasks or interventions by the class tutors. Social constructivist approaches were used to analyse interactions between students and the outcomes of these interactions. The findings suggest that participants moved their communicative competence from tangible topics towards shaping new beliefs and ideas; creating the VSD-Virtual Social Development- model. These developments are regarded as something unique for an area such as the Middle East where gaining confidence is hard especially when there is no face-to-face contact with other participants, and individuals often have concerns about revealing their real personalities in untried situations. The findings of the interviews support the findings of the second phase of the study and show what strategies the participants used in community building. The research also highlighted many issues for further study, one of which is the various interpretations of the concept of community building in on-line contexts.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceMinistry of Science, Research and Technology, IranGBUnited Kingdo