A Concurrent Dual-Band Inverter-Based Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) for WLAN Applications

low noise amplifier (LNA); concurrent; dual-band; inverter-basedIn this paper, a two-stage concurrent dual-band low noise amplifier (DB-LNA) operating at 2.4/5.2-GHz is presented for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) applications. The current-reused structure using resistive shunt-shunt feedback is employed to reduce power dissipation and achieve a wide frequency band from DC to-5.5-GHz in the inverter-based LNA. The second inverter-based stage is employed to increase the gain and obtain a flat gain over the frequency band. An LC network is also inserted at the proposed circuit output to shape the dual-band frequency response. The proposed concurrent DB-LNA is designed by RF-TSMC 0.18-µm CMOS technology, which consumes 10.8 mW from a power supply of 1.5 V. The simulation results show that the proposed DB-LNA achieves a direct power gain (S 21 ) of 13.7/14.1 dB, a noise figure (NF) of 4.2/4.6 dB, and an input return loss (S 11 ) of −12.9/−14.6 dBm at the 2.4/5.2-GHz bands

Estimating Unit Cost for Dental Services: Evidence from Community Health Centers in Iran

Objectives: Cost information can help policy makers to set user fees, public and private tariffs and budgets and also to conduct an economic evaluation to provide health care with acceptable quality and affordable price. This study aimed to do a cost analysis for the Iranian Comprehensive Health Centers (CHCs), to estimate the unit cost of different dental services. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Capital and recurrent cost information of three urban CHCs in Mashhad was collected. Cost identification was based on the provider’s perspective. The step-down costing method was adopted from Konte and Waker and applied in five steps: defining cost centers, identification of operational activities, assigning inputs to cost centers, allocate all costs to final centers, and compute unit costs. Results: In dental services, the most important cost driver was human resources that comprised 69% of the total cost. The unit cost of a relative K for dental care was 12,189 Rials (1 USD: 31,407 Rials as in 2016). Accordingly, the unit cost for different dental services varied from 182,834 Rials for dental radiography to 1,589,570 Rials for class II composite restoration. The mean cost of a dental visit for examination and diagnosis estimated 247,436 Rials. Conclusion: Comparison between the estimated unit cost and the current dental tariffs reveled considerable differences. Integration of dental services to primary health care in the Iranian CHCs would result in the economies of scope.&nbsp

Isolation and Identification of a Myxobacterium Producing Myxovirescins, Myxalamides and Myxochromids from Intestinal Tract of earth Worm of Ghaemshahr County

Introduction: Myxobacteria are Gram-negative Deltaproteobacteria with rod-shaped vegetative cells, aerobic organotrophs that exhibit unique group behavior. Materials and Methods:The myxobacterial strain Mx18Zk was isolated from intestinal tract of earth worm of GhaemshahrCounty in Mazandaranprovince and the extraction of the fermented broth culture was prepared with organic solvent extraction method. Methanol extract tested for potential antimicrobial activity against11 various human pathogens. Finally the rest of methanol extract fractionated by HPLC and tested again against sensitive pathogens. Results: Strain Mx18Zk significantly inhibited growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Chromobacterium violaceum, therefore was used for further characterization. Analysis of morphological, biochemical, 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic tree indicated that this strain with 100 % homology belongs to the genus Corallococcus macrosporus . The methanol extract was subjected to HPLC fractionation against sensitive pathogens. The active extracts studied by LC-MS and its results compared by previously identified myxobacterial secondary metabolites deposited in Myxobase database of HZI. LC/MS analysis resulted in the identification of Myxochromids and unknown Myxovirescins, Myxalamides antibiotics in methanol extract of the strain Mx18Zk. Discussion and conclusion: On the basis of results, isolated strain was active against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Chromobacterium violaceum and100 % homology was belong to the genus Corallococcus macrosporus. LC/MS analysis resulted in the identification of Myxochromids and unknown Myxovirescins, Myxalamides antibiotics in methanol extract of the strain Mx18Zk

Epistemology of the New Social Movements in the International System and Middle East

From 2010 onwards, the international system has observed public protests providing the situation for entering a new level of political and social evolutions around the world and the region. The transition from collective action based on class to action based on notions of identity, transition from unilateralism in action to interactive model and relationship-based and transition from economic aims in the form of collective action to symbolic cultural and political aims have been the main elements of evolution of social movement in the recent years. The current article is a response to the reason of incidence of such evolution and why the pluralism and increased access of people to political procedures, development of information and communication technologies, and highlighting the role of civil society, non-governmental organizations and expansion of role of new middle class have resulted in such evolution. Discussions made by authors such as Alberto Melucci regarding the interactive and identity-based action, could be appropriate theoretical frameworks for surveying the process of transition from conventional social movement to new social movement (NSM). From the point of research condition, the current article is a descriptive-analytical survey and from the point of aim it is an applied survey. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n5s1p31

Isolation and identification of the bacterium producing antitumor and antimicrobial compounds derived from Iranian swamp frog (Rana ridibunda) skin

Background and Objectives: Cancer incidence and recurrence, antibiotic resistance, and overuse of antibiotics have become a global concern. The purpose of this study was to identify and isolate bacteria from the skin of the Rana ridibunda, Iranian swamp frog, which has produced antimicrobial compounds, and investigate its cytotoxic activity on the breast (MCF7) and glioblastoma (U87) cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: An antibiotic-producing bacterium was isolated from the frog skin. The bacterium was identified based on 16S rDNA sequencing and biochemical and morphological characteristics. Antimicrobial activity of the culture supernatant was examined by disc diffusion and MIC methods. Cytoplasmic and cell wall extracts of bacteria were prepared by sonication. SDS-PAGE was then used to examine protein contents of them. The cancer cell lines were treated with cytoplasmic and cell wall extracts at different concentrations. The effects of cytotoxicity were assessed by MTT assay at 24 and 48 h intervals. Finally, the results were analyzed by SPSS. Results: The isolated bacterium was identified as a new strain of Bacillus atrophaeus. MIC and disc diffusion methods showed that the Bacillus atrophaeus antimicrobial activity was broad spectrum. MTT assay showed IC50 values 30 μg/ml and 20 μg/ml for U87 and MCF7 cells after 24-48 h exposure, respectively. Conclusion: The cytoplasmic extracts of Bacillus atrophaeus has anticancer potential and can be used as an alternative or complementary candidate in the treatment of cancer. Further in vivo and in vitro mechanistic studies are suggested to confirm the biological activities

Proactive risk assessment of the laboratory management process inGhaem Hospital, Mashhad (2013)

Laboratory errors may occur in every stage of laboratory management process and lead to a considerable harm to inpatients. This study was aim to investigate the Proactive risk assessment of the laboratory management process in Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad (2013). This was a descriptive research that quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed some failure modes and effects. In order to classify the modes of failure and effective causes of them and also determining the improvement strategies, we have used "nursing error management association", "Eindhoven" and "theory of inventive problem solving" models respectively. In 5 steps of laboratory management process which is conducted on17 listed sub-processes, on average 59 error modes in each ward was identified. 18.7% of error modes were identified as high risk errors (hazard score ≥ 8). Most of error causes were related to human factors (42.7%).In addition, 31.6% of preventive measures were assigned in human resources management strategy group and 16.9% in team work group. The Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis method was very efficient in identifying failure modes, determining causes which impact each failure mode, and proposing improvement strategies for laboratory management processes of Ghaem Department.

Validating and determining the weight of items used for evaluating clinical governance implementation based on analytic hierarchy process model

Background: The purpose of implementing a system such as Clinical Governance (CG) is to integrate, establish and globalize distinct policies in order to improve quality through increasing professional knowledge and the accountability of healthcare professional toward providing clinical excellence. Since CG is related to change, and change requires money and time, CG implementation has to be focused on priority areas that are in more dire need of change. The purpose of the present study was to validate and determine the significance of items used for evaluating CG implementation. Methods: The present study was descriptive-quantitative in method and design. Items used for evaluating CG implementation were first validated by the Delphi method and then compared with one another and ranked based on the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model. Results: The items that were validated for evaluating CG implementation in Iran include performance evaluation, training and development, personnel motivation, clinical audit, clinical effectiveness, risk management, resource allocation, policies and strategies, external audit, information system management, research and development, CG structure, implementation prerequisites, the management of patients’ non-medical needs, complaints and patients’ participation in the treatment process. The most important items based on their degree of significance were training and development, performance evaluation, and risk management. The least important items included the management of patients’ non-medical needs, patients’ participation in the treatment process and research and development. Conclusion: The fundamental requirements of CG implementation included having an effective policy at national level, avoiding perfectionism, using the expertise and potentials of the entire country and the coordination of this model with other models of quality improvement such as accreditation and patient safet

Spiritual health in cancer patients at OMID hospital affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences -2012

For downloading the full-text of this article please click here.Background and Objectives: Due to high prevalence of cancer and its destructive impact on spiritual health of patients, this study aim to investigate Spiritual health in cancer patients at OMID hospital affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 2012. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the study population was 106 cancer patients referred to hospital. Paloutzian-Ellison questionnaire (1982) and convenience sampling were used to collect data which were analyzed using SPSS 16.Results: The mean scores of spiritual health, religious health and existential health were 97±1.2, 52.1±6.4 and 44.8±8.4 respectively .There was not statistical significant relationship between Spiritual health and  demographic factors. Conclusion: Spiritual health in cancer patients was intermediate. Promotion of spiritual health in diseases such as cancer that it is effective on the body, mind and spirit be taken into consideration specifically, because the Promotion of spiritual health leads to physical and mental health promotion. Keywords: Cancer, Spiritual health, HospitalFor downloading the full-text of this article please click here

Original Article Customers' Complaints and its Determinants: The Case of a Training Educational Hospital in Iran

Background: Today, despite the efforts of the medical community and healthcare staff along with the advancements in medical technology, patients' dissatisfaction and complaints have been increased. The present study aimed at making a survey on the patients' complaints in a large training hospital affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS). Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on written and verbal complaints of patients and their relatives in a tertiary (specialty and sub-specialty) training hospital. All the recorded patients' complaints, from March to December 2012, were reviewed. Data were categorized and analyzed using descriptive statistics by Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: A total of 233 complaints were reviewed, of which 46.35%, 31.34% and 22.31%, respectively, were verbal, written and made on the phone. The main reasons for complaints were accessibility to medical staff (21.46%), communication failures (20.17%) and dissatisfaction with the provided care (14.59%). Thirty one (13.31%) cases were solved at first place, 194 (83.26%) referred to the complaints from the committee and 3.43% referred to the legal authorities. The average response time was about six to seven days. Conclusion: The findings of the study suggest that sufficient availability of medical staff, improvement in communication skills and paying attention to the patients' needs and expectations may reduce complaints from public health facilities