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Haleh Jafari,1 Abbas Aghaei,2 Alireza Khatony31Clinical Research Development Center of Imam Reza Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran; 2Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran; 3Health Institute, Social Development and Health Promotion Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, IranPurpose: Study habits have been the most important predictor of academic performance and play a special role in the academic achievement of students. The aim of this study was to investigate the status of study habits and its relationship with academic achievement in medical sciences students in Kermanshah-Iran.Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 380 medical sciences students at Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences. The samples were randomly assigned to the study. The Palsane and Sharma study Habit Inventory was the tool used for data collection. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The mean of students’ grade point average was 15.73±1.5 out of 20 and the mean of total status of study habits was 45.70±11.36 out of 90. The status of study habits in 81.3% of the students was at moderate level. There was a direct and significant relationship between study habits and academic achievement.Conclusion: The status of study habits was at moderate level for most students. Therefore, it is recommended to consider and assess students’ study habits at the time of entry into university, in addition, specific training should be offered to students in order to help them learn or modify study habits to increase their academic achievements.Keywords: academic achievement, student, study habit

In this paper, we have applied a numerical method based on Boubaker polynomials to obtain approximate numerical solutions of multi-order fractional differential equations. We obtain an operational matrix of fractional integration based on Boubaker polynomials. Using this operational matrix, the given problem is converted into a set of algebraic equations. Illustrative examples are are given to demonstrate the efficiency and simplicity of this technique.

The fractional Burgers equation describes the physical processes of unidirectional propagation of weakly nonlinear acoustic waves through a gas-filled pipe. The Laplace homotopy perturbation method is discussed to obtain the approximate analytical solution of space-fractional and time-fractional Burgers equations. The method used combines the Laplace transform and the homotopy perturbation method. Numerical results show that the approach is easy to implement and accurate when applied to partial differential equations of fractional orders.

Background and Objective: There are controversial reports about the effect of training on serum level of visfatin and TNF-α Cytokine .This study was done to evaluate the effect of 8 weeks of aerobic training on serum level of visfatin and TNF-α in non-athletic young women. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, thirty non-athletic healthy women were non-randomly based on the weight, height, BMI index and body fat percentage divided into two control and training groups. In the training group 8 weeks of aerobic exercise on a stationary bicycle 3 times a week was performed. Serum level of visfatin and TNF-α was measured using ELISA method, prior and at the end of 8th week of training while the subjects were fasted for 12-14 hours. Results: At the end of 8 weeks of aerobic exercise, serum level of visfatin and TNF-α significantly reduced in the training group in comparison with controls (P

Background: Despite the overwhelming progress that has been accomplished in the prevention of mortality due to cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of death in the world.The aim of this study was to compare of the effects of enoxaparin versus unfractionated heparin (UFH) on major clinical events, including mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), and recurrent angina, as well as bleeding in patients with non ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). We also studied the need for coronary angiography and revascularization (PCI or CABG) in these patients. Method: Two-hundred patients were enrolled in this study, 100 of whom received intravenous UFH (an initial bolus of 5000 U followed by continuous infusion of 1000 U/h) and 100 received enoxaparin subcutaneous injections of 1mg/kg twice daily for a minimum of 72 h. During their admission we recorded data regarding death, MI, recurrent angina, need for angiography and revascularization, and major and minor bleeding.Results: The incidence of recurrent angina, total mortality and the need for revascularization were significantly lower in patients receiving enoxaparin compared to those receiving UFH, at 17% vs. 39% (p=0.002), 0% vs. 3% (p=0.035), 14% vs. 33% (p=0.001), respectively. However, there was no significant difference regarding the incidence of MI, major bleeding and cardiac death between the two groups. Conclusions: This study showed that, in patients with NSTEACS, enoxaparin was superior to UFH regarding the prevention of major in-hospital clinical events, especially recurrent angina and the need for revascularization. We therefore recommend enoxaparin as an alternative antithrombotic agent to UFH in patients with NSTEACS.

Wide variations in the prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema have been reported in the world, between regions and countries. The international study of asthma and allergies in childhood (ISAAC) was developed to provide standardized method to ascertain the prevalence of asthma and allergies in different regions. Comparisons of prevalence rates across geographic regions may help to identify factors that influence the development of these conditions in individuals."nMethods and Materials: For doing this descriptive study the ISAAC written questionnaire was completed by the parents of 3000 school children aged 6-7 years in Kashan, the central area of Iran, with different geographic and cultural characteristics, during the fall of 1998."nResults: The overall cumulative and 12 month prevalence of wheezing were 10.2 percent, 6.9 percent in the girls and 18.2 percent, 13.1 percent in the boys respectively. The prevalence of doctor diagnosed asthma were 1.3 percent and 2.2 percent in the girls and boys. Rhinitis symptoms were reported by 14,7 percent, 16.9 percent and chronic pruritic rashes by 5.1 percent and 8.3 percent of the girls and boys respectively."nConclusion: Allergic disorders are common in this area and prevalence is comparable to other parts of Iran and many other countries. Prevalence of asthma by medical diagnosis is relatively low with respect to other studies performed with the same methodology.

Objective(s): Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of quality of care and service delivery. The objective of this study was to examine patients’ satisfaction with the emergency departments in hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences.Methods: A study was carried out in the emergency departments of five major teaching hospitals (affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences) in Tehran, Iran by trained researchers using a valid and reliable questionnaire. The study included patients who had spent at least 10 hours in the emergency department, who were able to answer the questions without the need for an interpreter, did not have significant cognitive problems, and were well enough to answer the questions. The study questionnaire comprised five sections namely: nursing care, physician care, behavioral concerns, physical comfort and hoteling, and waiting time. The questionnaire was administered in secure and confidential conditions inside the emergency department and in the absence of the hospitals’ medical and non-medical staff. Data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS 13.Results: In all 153 patients were eternal into the study. After dichotomizing the state of satisfaction in each of the five dimensions, the highest dissatisfaction rates were observed in the following domains: nurses’ explanation to patients (73.2%), giving information (54.2%), investigating complaints (40.6%), patient welfare facilities (54.3%), and being kept waiting to receive laboratory services (26.2%) respectively. Only 44% of the patients rated their general satisfaction with the hospital as good or very good.Conclusion: The findings indicate the need for measures to improve services for patients visiting the emergency department and to ensure quality of service.

In this paper, approximate solutions for stochastic Fitzhugh–Nagumo partial differential equations are obtained using two‐dimensional shifted Legendre polynomial (2DSLP) approximation. The problem's suitability and solvability are confirmed. The convergence analysis for the proposed methodology and the error analysis in the L2$$ {L}^2 $$ norm are carried out. Using Maple software, an algorithm is created and implemented to arrive at the numerical solution. The solution thus obtained is compared with the exact solution and the solution obtained using the explicit order RK1.5 method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, nurse scheduling problem (NSP) is studied by minimizing the total number of the required nurses as well as by maximizing the nurses' preferences for working shifts. In this setting, hospital's managers set the total number of the required nurses while nurse-chiefs select the required part-timers and then assign shifts to all nurses including the full-timers and the selected part-timers. Obviously, competition between the managers and nurse-chiefs to make decisions leads to a conflict between their objectives. In this point of view, a two-player game-theoretic framework can be established between them to set decisions. To our knowledge, this study is the first one that develops the game-theoretic approach to solve the NSP. In this setting, four game-theoretic models, including Managers-Stackelberg, Nurses-Stackelberg, Nash, and Centralized, are proposed based on the various competitive and cooperative interactions between the players. Moreover, a mathematical programming model is developed to obtain the equilibrium strategies. It is found that the managers and nurse-chiefs gain their best responses under the Managers-Stackelberg and Nurses-Stackelberg games, respectively. In the Nash game, they make decisions in order to meet their objectives, mostly. Moreover, the equilibrium strategies given by the Managers-Stackelberg and Centralized games are the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the two-parameter spectral element method based on weighted shifted orthogonal polynomials for solving singularly perturbed diffusion equation on an interval [0, 1] which are modeled with singular parameters. We continue our study to estimate the lower bound of the weighted orthogonal polynomial coefficient and the upper bound of a posteriori error estimates of the method through different weighted norms to minimize the computational cost. Numerical examples are implemented to study the applicability and efficiency of the technique. The obtained error bounds for the coefficient of orthogonal polynomials and the posteriori estimates fall within the bounds derived in the theoretical section. It is also observed that the two weighted norms decreases when the values of N 1 and N 2 increases for the three choices of and for different values of x and y. The quality and accuracy of the solution can be realized through figures and tables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]