Values In Iran Research Articles

The Value Framework Governing Iran's Health System Policy: A Practical Gap.

Background:The value framework governing the health system can guide the policymaking. This study presents a set of values governing the health policies for adopting policies that are in harmony with the ideology of Iran.Methods:This study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, using the qualitative approach, Shams et al. framework was adopted to identify values. Identification of health-related national documents (nine documents) was performed purposefully. In the next phase, semi-structured interviews on individual experts in the health system were carried out. The key question was “What values and principles govern the health policy system?” Participants included 15 individuals. Both phases were analyzed based on qualitative content analysis.Results:In this study, a taxonomy of values governing policymaking is presented. Results show that equity in different dimensions, comprehensive health and a healthy human being, pioneering in health in the region, and accountability are the most important terminal vaqlues. Individual responsibility, government responsibility for health, endogenous and extrinsic economics, fair access, transparency, efficiency, quality and integrity in the supply, development and fair allocation of public health resources, and professional commitment are the most important instrumental values in Iran. Participants believed that, despite the many higher-order documents available, the health system policymaking was not based on a predetermined value.Conclusions:It is not enough to provide a set of values in upstream documents for implementation. It is necessary to specify the relative weight of the reference values in policymaking and their relation to each other in order to apply them in policymaking.

Spatiotemporal variations of albedo using MODIS and PCA analysis in Iran

The aim of this study is to investigate the spatiotemporal variations of albedo in Iran. To this aim, the daily albedo datasets of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) from onboard Aqua and Terra (MCD43A3v006) were applied for the period of 2000 to 2019 with a spatial resolution of 500 × 500 m2. First, the long-term average of Iran’s albedo was calculated; the obtained results show that the average albedo of spring, summer, autumn, and winter in Iran is 13.7%, 14.7%, 15.2%, and 19.2%, respectively. Second, the temporal-spatial variations of albedo values in Iran were analyzed using principal component analysis, and the results showed that the three main components are able to explain 97% of the data variation. The first component explains more than 74% of the total changes, the second component more than 20%, and finally, the third component explains more than 3% of the changes. Finally, the linkage between the three main components with aspect, slope, and elevation was examined in Iran. The results showed that the role of solar zenith angle, elevation, and aspect in the first and third components and also the role of slope and elevation in the second component were the most significant. In general, it can be said that snow cover in the first component, salt cover in the second component, and also snow reservoirs in the third component had albedo above average; this issue depends on the roughness and the surface of the ground. The results showed that this technique is very suitable for the analysis of the spatiotemporal variations of Albedo.

The effect of gender, religiosity and personality on the interpersonal distance preference: a virtual reality study

ABSTRACT Interpersonal distance (ID) is an important aspect of human nonverbal behavior. Both situational and dispositional factors play roles in interpersonal distance preference (IDP). In the present study, we investigated the effect of gender, religiosity, and Big Five personality factors on IDP in an Iranian sample. Forty-six university students watched fourteen 360-degree video clips via a virtual reality headset. In each video-clip, a male or a female actor spoke toward the camera from a particular distance and participants rated the favorability of each distance. Results showed that at the middle-range distances, religious individuals exhibited a pronounced gender bias by rating their distance from the same gender actor more favorable than the same distance from the opposite gender actor. Furthermore, openness to experience was correlated with the favorability of the middle-range distances. These findings can be justified by dominant Islamic values in Iran and specific characteristics of openness to experience.

Morpho-physiological and phytochemical traits of (Thymus daenensis Celak.) in response to deficit irrigation and chitosan application

Thymus daenensis Celak. is an aromatic herb used as a popular medicine and its natural products in the form of extracts and essential oil have significant economic values in Iran. We hypothesized that spraying plants grown under deficit irrigation system with chitosan can be considered as an applicable method to enhance essential oil and antioxidant activity in thyme. Response of thyme to three irrigation regimes including well-watered, moderate stress, and severe stress along with three levels of chitosan application rates 0, 200, and 400 μL L−1 was evaluated in a 2-year study in 2014 and 2015. Drought stress condition significantly shortened phenologic stages, more specifically in the first (establishment) year. All growth parameters were reduced dramatically as drought stress intensified. Imposing even moderate stress reduced leaf area as much as 59 and 44% in the first year and the second year, respectively. Biomass yield of plants grown under severe drought stress decreased substantially, whereas essential oil content and the share of thymol in thyme oil which possesses the greatest degree of biological activity improved. Maximum oil yield (1.50 g plant−1) was obtained from plants under mild drought stress when sprayed with 400 μL L−1 chitosan in the second year when plants were well-established. Foliar applications of chitosan reduced the adverse effect of water deficit on oil yield and improved thymol content of the essential oil. Chitosan also increased secondary metabolites including α-terpinene, p-cymene, γ-terpinene, thymol, carvacrol and β-caryophyllene. Leaf flavonoid reduced under deficit irrigation while more phenol was found in plants grown under deficit irrigation. The essential oil of thyme exhibited antioxidant property when the plants were sprayed with 400 μL L−1 chitosan. The results of this study indicated that thyme can be grown successfully under moderate stress and that application of chitosan elicitor can to some degree compensate the negative impact of deficit irrigation on its biomass and essential oil yield.

Comparison Radiation Dose in Interventional Cardiology Between Iran and Other Countries: Evaluation Influencing Factors

Background: Interventional cardiology procedures result in substantial patient radiation doses due to prolonged fluoroscopy time and radiographic exposure. The procedures that are most frequently performed are coronary angiography (CA), percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), diagnostic electrophysiology studies and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). When complex procedures are performed or procedures are repeated for the same patient, high-radiation dose levels can occur because procedures often require long fluoroscopy times and require high-quality images. Objectives: The objective of the study is to review patient radiation doses from interventional cardiology procedures in the Iran and the world and comparison between them. Methods: In this article we checked the derived data from 20 relevant studies published during the last 20 years in international scientific literature at other country except Iran and 10 studies from Iran. The variables dose-area product (DAP), fluoroscopy time, number of sequences and frames per sequence were collected for each CA, PTCA, RFA and diagnostic electrophysiology and then the obtained mean values, were compared. Results: Published results indicate that patient radiation doses vary widely among the different interventional cardiology procedures but also among equivalent studies. By comparing the mean values of DAP and the fluoroscopy time obtained in the studies carried out in Iran with other studies in this field in other counties, it is revealed that these values in Iran were lower than the outcomes of other studies in the world. Conclusions: This difference was due to the high knowledge and experience of the cardiologist in Iran and type of justify patient.

Toward Developing a Conceptual Framework to explain Positive Thinking Based on Islamic View

The aim of the present study was to critically review theories and approaches related to positive thinking and to develop a theoretical model based on Islamic view, which is compatible with cultural values in Iran. To fulfill the stated aim, philosophical and historical foundations of positive thinking in different schools of thought including Leibnitz, Sadra, Kant, Freud and James were critically reviewed. In addition, the theoretical constructs associated with positive thinking including hope, positive automatic thoughts and paradigms of Seligman, Scheier and Carver in this regard were critically studied. Finally, based on the attachment theory of Bowlby, positive thinking was established on and its applications were explained for individuals' thinking styles about past events, present interpretations of events and future expectations. Since the attachment theory is a relational theory, positive thinking in this paradigm was discussed in a way that included individuals' relationship with transcendental being, others, nature, and the self.

The effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere in the collision zone between Arabia and Eurasia in Iran

The effective elastic thickness, Te, has been calculated in the collision zone between Arabia and Eurasia in Iran from the wavelet coherence. The wavelet coherence is calculated from Bouguer anomalies and topography data using the isotropic fan wavelet method, and gives Te values between 14.2 and 62.2km. The lower value is found in the Central Iranian Blocks and the East Iranian Belt which are bounded by several large strike-slip faults with lithospheric origin. The higher value occurs in the east of the South Caspian Sea Basin. The resulting Te map shows positive and negative correlation with shear wave velocity and surface heat flow, respectively. A comparison between the seismogenic thickness (Ts) and Te in Iran suggests that Te>Ts. Results of the load ratio in Iran indicate that in most of the study area surface loads are much more prevalent than subsurface loads, except in the Central Iranian Blocks and NW of Iran. Intermediate to low Te values in Iran were inherited from multiple rifting and orogenic activities from Late Precambrian (∼650Ma) to present day which are not only reflected in thin and warm lithosphere but also an increasing seismicity rate.

Prediction of the size of unerupted canines and premolars in an Iranian population

One of the important aspects of diagnosis and treatment planning in the mixed dentition is estimation of the size of unerupted permanent canines and premolars. One of the most commonly used the prediction methods are Tanaka and Johnston, which are based on data from a sample of Northern European descent children. The accuracy of this method when applied to a different ethnic population is questionable. The aim of this study was to determine the modified equations from Tanaka and Johnston for Iranian population. This study was an analytic and cross-sectional investigation with the randomized cluster sampling in Ahwaz. Fifty four students of 14-18 years age (32 girls, 22 boys) were selected between 320 students and plaster models of their maxillary and mandibular arches were prepared. Subjects had fully erupted teeth, class I canine and molar relationship and presented no proximal caries or fillings, morphological anomalies, missing teeth or occlusal abrasion, and bruxism. The mesiodistal crown diameters of the permanent teeth were measured with using the sharpened boley gauge (accuracy 0.01 mm). The data were analyzed by using the regression correlation analyses and t-test. The size of permanent canines and premolars were larger in maxilla than mandible and males than females. These values in Iran were different from other countries. In this study to predict the space (in mm) required for alignment of unerupted canine and premolars in Iranian children, halve the sum of mesiodistal dimension of the four mandibular incisors and add the respective constants 10.5 for upper jaw and 10 for lower jaw.

Appropriate Cut-off Values of Waist Circumference to Predict Cardiovascular Outcomes: 7-year Follow-up in an Iranian Population

Due to the lack of compelling evidence for waist circumference (WC) as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor in many ethnic groups, the need for local research has been expressed by international authorities. This study was undertaken to determine the optimal cut-off points of WC for predicting incident CVD and metabolic syndrome in an Iranian population. A total of 6,504 participants from three areas in central Iran were followed over 7 years. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and area under the curve (AUC) were used to identify the maximum value of sensitivity and specificity combinations corresponding to the appropriate cut-off points of WC for the detection of the metabolic syndrome and CVD events. The optimal cut-off values were defined as the point at which the value of "sensitivity+specificity-1" reached the maximum value. Finally, Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to determine which cut-off point was better fit in the CVD risk prediction model. After 394,418 person-years of follow-up, 427 incident primary CVD events (233 men) were identified. Considering CVD, the optimum cut-off points were 99/103.5 cm (men/women) but these had a low sensitivity (AUC: 0.59, 95%CI 0.55-0.63 in both men and women). The second highest values for discriminating CVD were 93/97 cm that resulted in acceptable sensitivity. Regarding the metabolic syndrome, 92.6/97.8 cm were identified as optimum (AUC: 0.67, 95%CI 0.65-0.69 in men and 0.65, 95%CI 0.63-0.67 in women). The best cut-off values that fit in the Cox regression model were 90/97 cm. International recommended WC cut-off values for the Middle East are not appropriate compared to the locally defined cut-off values in Iran.

The Buddha Images and Conservation and Adherence to Cultural Values in Northeast

Problem statement: This study is caused by the problem of conservation of the Buddha images to exist in the original condition and by the problem of transference and adherence to indigenous knowledge of local craftsmen. At present there have not yet been systematic and wide conservation and adherence to the Buddha images. Other causes are such as incorrect techniques of conserving the Buddha images, lack of encouraging people and the community to appreciate the Buddha images, incorrect techniques of restoring the Buddha images, lack of increment of economic and cultural values in terms of tourism, lack of correct techniques of studying styles of the Buddha images to rebuild the styles for the community to appreciate local art, lack of clear examination of the background and there have not been comparative studies to find out relationships with other localities. Purposes were to examine backgrounds of Isan Buddha images and iconology, to examine current conditions and problems of the Buddha images and to investigate models of conservation and adherence to cultural values in Iran. Study area covered Changwat Maha Sarakham, Changwat Kalasin and Changwat Roi Et where there have been long backgrounds and continuous developments of the Buddha image in all Ages. Approach: This study used qualitative methodology by collecting data from related literature and from field studies by interviews and focused group discussion from totally 66 informants. Findings were presented by means of a descriptive analysis. Results: The result of this research revealed that there were 5 models of the Buddha image art found in Isan: Sandstone Buddha images, baked-clay votive tablets, cast motar Buddha images, bronze Buddha images and wooden Buddha images. They were in the Periods of Dvaravati, Lop Buri and Lan Chang. The Buddha images were popularly built in many different styles such as concentration style, double-miracle style, nag-over-his-head style, blessing style, world-opening style, relatives-stop style, dharma consideration style and others. In addition, they popularly made 4,9,12 or 168 votive tablets on each of a large number of baked-clay plates. Significant characteristics of the Buddha images were different based on the outside influences they received. Conclusion: The Buddha images of the Dvaravati Period were influenced from India in the art styles of Kupta, Pala, Sena and Pallava to central of Thailand. Those of the Lop Buri Period were influenced by Khmer art. Those of the Lan Chang Period were influenced by Lan Chang art which had been influenced by Lan Na Savana. The bronze Buddha images were popularly made in the concentration style and the maravijaya style. The wooden Buddha images were popularly made in the styles of maravijaya, concentration, dharma consideration and others.

The impact of culture on accounting: does Gray's model apply to Iran?

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between cultural values (as defined by Hofstede) and accounting values (as described by Gray) in Iran.Design/methodology/approachThe appropriate data for a period of ten years (1993‐2002) were compiled from economical magazines, the Iran Statistical Yearbook, financial statements, and auditors’ reports of the firms listed in Tehran Stock Exchange. LISREL was used to analyze the data.FindingsThe results of this research show the relationships among cultural and accounting values in Iran and found support for more than one‐half of Gray's hypotheses. Numerous issues, such as the abnormal evolution of accounting in Iran, the impact of unstable economics, inappropriate use of accounting methods and procedures which are common among developing countries, the impact of governmental ownership, and the lack of well developed capital market tradition may be some determining factors as to why several of Gray's hypotheses were not supported through this research.Originality/valueThis paper analyzes the effect of Iran's cultural changes on accounting practice and encourages research that examines all dimensions of accounting in Iran and other developing countries.