Studying the Link between Organizational Learning and Employees’ Empowerment (Case Study: Qom Maskan Bank Selected Braches)

Present study aims at investigating the relationship between organizational learning and employees’ empowerment. Organizational learning consists of such components as structure, strategy culture, and perspective based on Neefe’s theory while employees’ empowerment is considered based on introduced components by Spritz including effectiveness, significance, meritocracy, independence and trust. Present study is conducted by a descriptive survey and its population consists of management and employees in Qom Maskan Bank selected branches. In this research, 120 questionnaires were distributed by layered random sampling method and finally 100 ones were returned and analyzed. To gather data, the first questionnaire involves 12 items based on Neefe’s components while the second one (employees’ empowerment) involves Spritz indices that their validity can be supported. Chronbach’s alpha value is used to measure reliability as 0.93 and 0.94 for organizational learning and employees’ empowerment respectively. To analyze research data in SPSS and Amos software packages, such techniques as Spearman correlation coefficient, regression analysis and structural equations are used. The findings support research conceptual model and show that there is an association between organizational learning and employees’ empowerment

The Relationship between Empowerment and Organizational Citizenship Behavior of the Pedagogical Organization Employees

Employee empowerment and organizational citizenship behavior have very important roles in the process of accomplishment and continuous development of organizational performance. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to determine the relationship between these two variables in employees of Qom province pedagogical organization. Ninety nine statistical samples were selected from the population through classified sampling. The researcher-made questionnaire was used to measure the empowerment and its components and the Moorman and Black‟s standardized questionnaire was employed to measure organizational citizenship behavior and its components.The components of empowerment are expertise, courage in action, work ethics, communicative skills, thinking, and experience gaining. The results of t-test showed that the situation of empowerment and organizational citizenship behavior were relatively desirable. But the results of Spearman‟s correlation coefficient and partial correlation coefficient showed that there was no relationship between empowerment and organizational citizenship behavior of employees (p<0.05). However, the relation of communicative and behavioral skills to organizational citizenship behavior was significant

Protective Effect of Thymoquinone Against Fluoxetine-Induced Liver Damage Through Enhancing Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory System in Male Rats

Introduction: Fluoxetine is a drug used to treat depression and has toxic effects on liver cells. Thymoquinone, the most important active ingredient in black seed (Nigella sativa), has several pharmacological effects, including sedation, reduced motor activity, and muscle relaxation. This study aimed to investigate the effect of thymoquinone on reducing the hepatotoxicity effects of fluoxetine. Methods: A total of forty Wistar rats were treated with fluoxetine, thymoquinone, and silymarin for four weeks. Different techniques, including biochemical analysis, qRT-PCR, and histopathological examination, were performed to investigate the effect of drugs on the oxidant/antioxidant system and inflammatory responses. Results: Our results revealed that fluoxetine increased lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation and inhibited antioxidant systems in rat hepatocytes. In addition, fluoxetine increased the expression of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α and also the migration of lymphocytes to liver cells. In contrast, thymoquinone (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) significantly decreased MDA, PC, and TNF-α levels. Moreover, thymoquinone enhanced the catalytic activity of antioxidant enzymes, including catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and GSH. Thymoquinone only at a dose of 40 mg/kg can inhibit the infiltration of lymphocytes into the liver. Conclusion: Thymoquinone exerted liver protective effects against fluoxetine hepatotoxicity by inducing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This study suggests that thymoquinone, in combination with fluoxetine, can be used to reduce liver damage

Optimization of the Catalytic Ozonation Process via MgO in Presence of Persulfate for Removal of Dye from Real Textile Wastewater Applying Fractional Factorial 3-Level Design

Background and purpose: Using catalysts to enhance the efficiency of the ozonation process (known as catalytic ozonation process) has received much attention in recent years. This study aimed at examining the overall feasibility of using catalysts ozone as catalyst in ozonation process for decolorization and mineralization of a real textile wastewater in presence of persulfate. Materials and methods: This experimental study was conducted on a laboratory scale reactor using a semi-batch mode. The effect of persulfate, ozone flow rate, reaction time and catalytic dose in dye and COD was investigated in an optimal state of textile wastewater. To obtain optimization test, the experiment was performed by fractional factorial method at three-level factorial (3k−p) with a high resolution (VI). Results: In this study, 15 min contact time (P = 0.006) and 0.5g/L dose of catalyst (P=0.029) had the best effect on color removal. Moreover, the interaction of these parameters were found to be significant (P= 0.025). The optimum condition for color removal was achieved at 15 min reaction time, ozone flow rate of 2 L/min, 1.5 mM persulfate and catalyst dosage of 0.5 g/L. Optimum efficiency removal for color and COD in textile wastewater were 96% and 75%, respectively. Conclusion: Application of nano-magnesium oxide with ozone in presence of persulfate showed synergistic effect and buffering property in decolorization and mineralization of textile wastewater. It also increases the efficacy of color removal and improves mineralization so, there would be no need for pH adjustment

Corrosive Injury of the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract: Review of Surgical Management and Outcome in 14 Adult Cases

Introduction: Caustic ingestion is responsible for a spectrum of upper gastrointestinal tract injury from self-limited to perforation. This study conducted to evaluate clinical characteristics as well as surgical outcomes in patients with caustic ingestion.   Materials and Methods: Between Nov1993 to march 2011, 14 adults with a clinical evidence of corrosive ingestion were admitted into our institutions (Omid and Ghaem hospitals). Patients evaluated for etiology of erosion, location, type of surgery, morbidity and mortality after surgery.   Results: 14 patients (10men and 4 women) with a age range between18-53 years were evaluated. In 6 patients, the injury was accidental and in 8 patients ingestion was a suicide attempt. Ingested agent included nitric acid in 4 patients, hydrochloric acid in 7 patients, sulfuric acid in 2 patients and strong alkali in one patient. The location and extent of lesion varied included esophagus in 13 cases, stomach in 7 cases and the pharynx in 3 cases. Acute abdomen was developed In 2 patients and a procedure of total gasterectomy and blunt esophagectomy was performed. In the remaining patients, substernal esophageal bypass in 2 patients, esophageal resection and replacement surgery in 9 patients and gastroenterostomy in one patient performed to relieve esophageal stricture. Two patients died of mediastinitis after esophageal replacement surgery. Postoperative strictures were developed in 2 survived patients with hypopharyngeal reconstruction that was managed by per oral bougienage in one patient and KTP Laser and stenting in the other patient.   Conclusion:  Esophageal resection with replacement was safe and good technique for severe corrosive esophageal stricture with low mortality and morbidity

The Comparison Between the Complications after Two Surgical Techniques of Esophageal Cancer

Introduction: Esophageal cancer is a common gastro intestinal malignancy. One of the most common techniques of surgery in esophageal cancer is transhiatal esophagectomy with esophagogastric anastomosis in the neck. This technique is accompanied by complications like chronic gastero-esophegeal reflux and late stenosis. This study was designed to compare the risk of complications after two surgical techniques for esophageal cancer: esophagogastric anastomosis with partial fundoplication and esophagogastric anastomosis without it. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 100 patients with distal two thirds of esophageal cancer who underwent transhiatal esophagectomy in Ghaem and Omid hospitals Mashhad University of Medical Sciences from 2005 to 2010 were included. Esophagogastric anastomosis to the posterior gastric wall was performed with a partial gastric fundoplication in the first group but simple routine anastomosis was done to the posterior gastric wall in the second group. Results: In a retrospective cohort study 100 patients entered the study with 59 male & 41 female and with a mean age 54.6±6.4 years. Squamous cell carcinoma was observed in 77% of the patients and adenocarcinoma was reported in 23% of them. Seventy-two percent of tumours were located in distal third and 28% were in middle third of esophagus. Esophagogastric anastomotic leakage was observed in 3 cases of fundoplication group and 7 cases of simple anastomosis technique (P=0.182) so there was no significant difference between the two groups. Benign anastomosis stricture was reported in one of the patients who underwent esophagogastric anastomosis with fundoplication, but it was observed in 8 cases with simple anastomosis technique (P=0.03) so there was a significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Esophagogastric anastomosis with partial fundal fundoplication is a safe technique with low incidence of anatomic leakage and late stenosis

Early Post Operative Enteral Versus Parenteral Feeding after Esophageal Cancer Surgery

Introduction: The incidence of malnutrition in hospitalized patients is reported to be high. In particular, patients with esophageal cancer are prone to malnutrition, due to preoperative digestive system dysfunctions and short-term non-oral feeding postoperatively. Selection of an appropriate method for feeding in the postoperative period is important in these patients.   Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 40 patients with esophageal cancer who had undergone esophagectomy between September 2008 and October 2009 were randomly assigned into either enteral feeding or parenteral feeding groups, with the same calorie intake in each group. The level of serum total protein, albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, C3, C4 and hs-C-reactive protein          (hs-CRP), as well as the rate of surgical complications, restoration of bowel movements and cost was assessed in each group.   Results: Our results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of serum albumin, prealbumin or transferrin. However, C3 and C4 levels were significantly higher in the enteral feeding group compared with the parenteral group, while hs-CRP level was significantly lower in the enteral feeding group. Bowel movements were restored sooner and costs of treatment were lower in the enteral group. Postoperative complications did not differ significantly between the groups. There was one death in the parenteral group 10 days after surgery due to myocardial infarction.   Conclusion:  The results of our study showed that enteral feeding can be used effectively in the first days after surgery, with few early complications and similar nutritional outcomes compared with the parenteral method. Enteral feeding was associated with reduced inflammation and was associated with an improvement in immunological responses, quicker return of bowel movements, and reduced costs in comparison with parenteral feeding