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Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) programs have been recognized as one of the most effective channels through which theses and dissertations can be made available to academic communities and beyond. ETD program management, however, needs to be aware of the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) throughout the process of design and development of ETDs. As the name implies, CSFs are those considerations decisive in achieving the projects' mission and goals. Based on a structured review of the existing literature about ETDs, this study identifies the CSFs that are crucial for the implementation of ETD programs. By comparing and classifying the identified CSFs, the study conceptualizes a generic framework comprising five generic dimensions: management and organization, participation, content, technology, and service. The framework can help the ETDs community, both scholars and practitioners, to make informed decisions on how to allocate effort and resources to the development, implementation, or improvement of ETD programs.

A new Ag(I)-ion imprinted polymer (IIP) was prepared by formation of 2-(4-hydroxypent-3-en-2-ylideneamine) phenol complex for selective extraction and preconcentration of silver ions. Polymerization was performed with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as crosslinking monomer and methacrylic acid as functional monomer in the presence of 2,2-azobis(isobutyronitrile) as initiator via bulk polymerization method. The Ag(I)-imprinted polymeric particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The template silver ion was removed from the polymeric matrix using 2.0 M HN[O.sub.3]. Optimum pH for maximum sorption was 6.0. Maximum sorbent capacity and enrichment factor for Ag(I) were 12.5 mg/g and 50, respectively. The relative standard deviation and detection limit of the method were evaluated as [+ or -]4% and 2.3 ng/L, respectively. The developed IIP has also been tested for preconcentration and recovery of Ag(I) ions from water and hair samples. Keywords: ion-imprinted polymers, electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, solid-phase extraction, silver, hair, The increasing use of silver compounds and silver-containing preparations in industry and medicine have resulted in an increased silver content of environmental samples [1, 2]. Silver is often present as [...]

Objective: Today, start-ups play an important role in all industries and businesses. In this regard book-related industries are one of the most important cultural industries in all of countries. So it is accordingly important in Iran. Considering the activities of start-ups in the field of books, it is necessary to conduct periodic studies on the status and quality of their activities. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study was to explain the activity status of active startups in the field of book in Iran and present development scenarios for them. Methodology: The approach used in this study is mixed (quantitative and qualitative). This means that in the first stage of the research, a quantitative approach was used to collect information and explain the status of start-ups. Then in the second part of the research, a qualitative approach was used to formulate their future scenarios. In the quantitative part of the present study, survey research method was used. Also in the second part of this study, which is dedicated to scenario development for future drawing, formative scenario planning method was used. In the first part of the study population, there were 154 active start-ups in the field of books. According to this, 58 of which were in the field of electronic books, 26 of them are in the field of audio books, 65 of them are in the field of distribution and sales of printed books and 5 of them are in the field of social networks. In the second part of the present study, semi-open interviews were conducted with 9 scientific and executive experts in this field to formulate scenarios. To analyze the contents of interviews, hidden qualitative content analysis with inductive approach was used. Findings: The results of this study showed that the main focus of startups is in Tehran and their formation life dates back to the last two decades. In general, start-ups in this field are weak and this weakness is due to the weak field of books in the country. The financial and infrastructure capabilities of these companies are very low and in most cases require support, and investor institutions and accelerators rarely enter these areas due to the slight profitability of this field. In terms of legal and administrative infrastructures, there are many gaps facing these companies in the book industry and it is necessary to reform the procedures, laws and executive infrastructures and facilitate the activities of these institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of the study is to offer integrated access to information and data sources in the libraries of Iranian universities of medical sciences (UMS) as an important feature enhancing the quality and quantity of research. Thus, it is essential to study the status of Iranian libraries of UMS in terms of integration features. Accordingly, the main objective of the present study was the identification of integration in libraries of Iranian UMS in terms of metadata, digital contents, software, hardware, and human force. The quantitative study was conducted with an analytic survey method. The statistical population consists of 66 Iranian UMS, of this, 59 libraries completed the researcher-made questionnaire. To ensure the accuracy of data, interviews and, in some cases, observations were also performed. Statistical estimates of frequency, percentage, cumulative frequency, and diagrams were utilized for data analysis. The results demonstrated that the library software programs of UMS do not have a desirable status in terms of content, human force, software infrastructure, and integration features. These libraries enjoyed an optimal status in terms of hardware which was, however, not properly used. To create integrated access to the contents of libraries of Iranian UMS, it is essential to provide the required infrastructure, including integration features, human force, and appropriate contents such as the metadata and digital contents of data sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a sustainable development and greater success, digital libraries need to be evaluated at different time points. Usability study is a type of digital library evaluation. The aim of this study is identifying the usability of digital libraries in Tehran's public universities i.e. Sharif, Amirkabir and Tehran universities. Evaluative Survey methodology was used for the survey applying measures of search, navigation, forms layout, contrast and scan ability, optimization, help, usage of windows and speed and errors through a questionnaire containing 36 questions. The research population included 124,800 undergraduate, Master and PhD students, from three governmental universities of Sharif, Amirkabir and Tehran. Stratified random sampling method was applied to select 378 students as a sample which are 130 people in Tehran, Amirkabir 125 people and Sharif 123 people. For data analysis, SPSS software was used along with descriptive techniques as well as independent test and ANOVA where needed. The findings indicated that the criteria relating to the usability of digital libraries in the three Tehran governmental universities evaluated to be in relatively good condition and there is no significant difference between the digital libraries for the usability criteria. The results of this study suggest that according to the usability of digital library design creates more willingly resort to this type of user to visit the library and the realization of the objectives of the parent organization provides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to evaluate expert system features of Iranian selected digital library software in the context of information retrieval. This study was performed using evolutional method using a checklist. In order to gather data, a checklist was prepared with 66 criteria based on the research dimensions (including tools of information retrieval, interface, information database (knowledge), and the strategies used for guidance of users). In preparing the checklist the opinions of LIS experts were used as necessary. The population of this study were 5 selected Iranian Digital Library software namely Pars Azarakhsh, Simorgh, Papyrus, Payam and Parvan. The status of the selected digital library software was investigated based on research dimensions. According to the studied criteria in research, the results showed that selected digital library software are lower than normal from the information recovery point of view and information data base, but as for the interface feature, it is higher than normal range. Also in the dimention of guiding users, the results showed that the most emphasis is on common software features instead of specialized ones. The test of research hypothesis also showed that there is a significant difference between the current status of the features of the software of digital libraries in Iran. A checklist was prepared for evaluation of digital library software in expert systems context. Also the results can be helpful for the software providers to resolve the weaknesses and reinforce the strengths of the software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifier is one of the main elements in identifying an object in digital environment. Digital identifier systems were developed followed by a lot of problems such as violation of persistency and uniqueness of physical identifiers and URL in digital environment. These identifiers try to guarantee uniqueness and persistency of hostnames by using indirect names for Domain Name System (DNS). The main objective of this research is to identify qualified digital identifier system among other systems. To achieve the research objective, researchers have considered two major steps: first, identifying main criteria for distinguishing digital identifier based on literature review and focus group interview; and second, performing a comparative evaluation on common identifier systems in the world. Findings of first step demonstrated seven main criteria in three domains for distinguishing digital identifier systems: identifier uniqueness and persistency in the identifier features domain, digital identification, digital uniqueness, digital persistency and digital actionability in the digital coverage domain, and globality in the comprehensiveness of scope domain. In the second step, results of the comparative evaluation on common identifier systems indicated that six identifier systems, included, DOI, Handle, UCI, URN, ARK and PURL, are appropriate choices for using as a digital identifier system. Also, according to these results, three identification systems Including NBN, MARIAM and ISNI were identified as suitable choices for digital identification in certain specialized fields. According to many benefits of using these identifiers in important applied fields, such as digital content chains and networks integration, digital right management, cross referencing, digital libraries and citation analysis, results of this study can help digital environment experts to diagnose digital identifier and their effective use in applied fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is the identification of capabilities of Papyrus and Azarakhsh digital library softwares in information retrieval. The study uses applied method of research and employs content analysis and survey-comparison method by using a checklist of 81 statements to assess, review, and evaluate research aspects. The softwares were studied by five factors as: searching capabilities, search formulation, kinds of ways of searching, presentation properties, and retrieval standards. Independent t-test and one-sample t-test were used to analyze data by using SPSS software due to the nature of the research and application of statistical methods. The findings suggest that the overall rating of Azarakhsh digital library software is 83.37 percent and Papyrus digital software is 60.4 percent. Therefore, as to information retrieval, Azarakhsh digital software has gained a better position than Papyrus digital software. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to investigate the current status of information resource organization in Iranian digital libraries. In addition, it attempts to provide a clear picture of the ongoing activities, which will form the basis for future activities. The research has applied an analytical survey method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data regarding the status of information resources organization. 38 Iranian digital libraries were the research population of this research. Findings show that the studied digital library applications have many capabilities to organize information resources. Some of these capabilities include the ability of communication between elements in bibliographic records and related records in documentation format, Using Z39.50 standard in client servers, possibility of entering group of resources and correcting them, and so on. Moreover, digital libraries are common in 70 percent of fields for title, author, subject, publisher, year of publication, author (added entity) for describing Farsi books database. This status is not common to other types of digital resources as there is not sufficient number of metadata for them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study mainly aims to demonstrate the weaknesses and strengths of using marketing principles in academic libraries and finally presenting some important suggestions in order to improve their marketing. This study proceeds through expressing the current marketing situation of studied academic libraries from the view point of 4P model. In this regard, the current situation is analyzed using a researcher-made questionnaire, and then the problems and shortcomings are highlighted in the field of marketing in the view point of 4P model which in turn enables us to introduce suggestions to overcome them. This research indicates that marketing principles in the studied libraries are not in a good state. The situation of product dimension is a bit farther up middle state (3.23). Also, the Place dimension with total average of 2.97, Promotion dimension with total average of 2.63 and finally the Price dimension with total average of 1.59 are below the middle state. Therefore, trying to make a good plan in marketing in the four mentioned dimensions is essential for studied academic libraries. Improving academic libraries' statement needs identifying their current situation in the view point of marketing. Consequently, this research studied the current situation of Isfahan governmental academic libraries in order to identify their weaknesses and suggest sufficient suggestions to cover them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this article was identifying cost elements in syntactic integrating digital library systems in Iran. The levels of integration are content, technical, and organizational. It is obvious we could access some sub goals such as identifying current situation of information systems from the view points of data storage, needed standard outputs, and the current situation of interoperability in Iran, and suitable integration model in Iranian digital libraries. The analytical survey method was used in this research. Research population included 11 digital library systems that were used in Iranian digital libraries. In order to gather information, a researcher made questionnaire was used because of not existing standard collecting data tool. Findings demonstrated that we should search on three levels of interoperability: content, technical, and organizational level in order to identifying cost-adoption elements in syntactic interoperability. Also, findings showed that the elements of organizational level were too important level in cost-adoption elements. Also this research demonstrated that the high cost of adoption was related to libraries and their organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]