Information technology directors' efforts on innovation, integrated marketing communications and brand equity

Purpose – The main purpose of this study is to examine information directors in the area of communication activities related to innovation and marketing decisions in branding. Design/methodology/approach – The study is quantitative and utilized structural equation modeling technique with the approach of minimum trivial squares for analyzing the data. 130 questionnaires were distributed among information technology directors in Tehran and they form the statistical population for the research. Findings – The results suggested that innovation in integrated marketing communications has positively significant effect. In addition, both the variables of innovation and integrated marketing communications positively and significantly affect the three components of brand equity (namely, brand image, the perceived quality and brand loyalty). Originality/value – Despite the growing acknowledgment the importance of innovation, integrated marketing communications and brand equity, however, there are few studies on the role and importance of information technology directors’ efforts on innovation, integrated marketing communications and brand equity

Investigation of correlation of the variations in land subsidence (detected by continuous GPS measurements) and methodological data in the surrounding areas of Lake Urmia

Lake Urmia, a salt lake in the north-west of Iran, plays a valuable role in the environment, wildlife and economy of Iran and the region, but now faces great challenges for survival. The Lake is in immediate and great danger and is rapidly going to become barren desert. As a result, the increasing demands upon groundwater resources due to expanding metropolitan and agricultural areas are a serious challenge in the surrounding regions of Lake Urmia. The continuous GPS measurements around the lake illustrate significant subsidence rate between 2005 and 2009. The objective of this study was to detect and specify the non-linear correlation of land subsidence and temperature activities in the region from 2005 to 2009. For this purpose, the cross wavelet transform (XWT) was carried out between the two types of time series, namely vertical components of GPS measurements and daily temperature time series. The significant common patterns are illustrated in the high period bands from 180–218 days band (~6–7 months) from September 2007 to February 2009. Consequently, the satellite altimetry data confirmed that the maximum rate of linear trend of water variation in the lake from 2005 to 2009, is associated with time interval from September 2007 to February 2009. This event was detected by XWT as a critical interval to be holding the strong correlation between the land subsidence phenomena and surface temperature. Eventually the analysis can be used for modeling and prediction purposes and probably stave off the damage from subsidence phenomena

Numerical Analysis of a Nonlinear Mechanical-Electrical-Acoustical Model of the Cochlea

The overarching goal of my research project is to develop a computational model of the mammalian auditory system and compare the results with the experimental data. This model describes the response of the cochlea to both external acoustic and internal electrical stimulations. The cochlea is the spiral-shaped part of the inner ear where the fluid-borne vibrations are detected by the auditory sensors and then the information, in the form of neural signals, are transferred to the brain by the auditory nerves. The cochlear model will enhance our understanding of failure mechanisms in the cochlea, answering important questions as to the morphological elements of the cochlea that fail and why. A mathematical model of the cochlear response to sound over the entire spectrum will help us understand how important classes of signals are processed in the cochlea (such as speech and music) which can lead to better speech processing algorithms or cochlear implant electrical stimulation paradigms. One important question of biophysics of the cochlea is the underlying mechanism of the cochlear active process which enables sound processing over a broad range of frequencies and intensities. Two mechanisms are hypothesized as the main active processes: outer hair cell (OHC) somatic electromotility and hair bundle (HB) motility. The proposed active mechanisms are implemented into our model and their relative contribution on the cochlear nonlinear amplifier is investigated. It is shown that somatic based activity plays a fundamental role in amplification while the HB motility contribution remains elusive. Two distinct mechanisms are identified through which the HB activity affects the cochlear dynamics. The extracellular voltage is shown to undergo a phase shift at frequencies slightly below the peak, that coincides with the onset of the nonlinear amplification. It is hypothesized that this phase difference between the electrical and mechanical responses gives rise to effective power generation of the OHC somatic force. A three-dimensional model of the cochlea is utilized along with experimental data and it is shown that the electro-mechanical phase transition, generated by the tectorial membrane (TM) shear mechanics, activates the cochlear nonlinear amplifier. The cochlear computational model is also used to simulate a series of active in vitro experiments and interpret the results. It is shown that our model of the electrical, mechanical, and acoustical conditions of the experimental configuration is able to replicate the important findings of the experiments while our interpretation of the results contradicts conclusion of the experiments. It is shown that the OHC somatic electromotility, rather that HB motility, is sufficient to predict the nonlinearities observed in the experiments.PHDMechanical EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144086/1/nankali_1.pd

Information technology directors' efforts on innovation, integrated marketing communications and brand equity

Purpose – The main purpose of this study is to examine information directors in the area of communication activities related to innovation and marketing decisions in branding. Design/methodology/approach – The study is quantitative and utilized structural equation modeling technique with the approach of minimum trivial squares for analyzing the data. 130 questionnaires were distributed among information technology directors in Tehran and they form the statistical population for the research. Findings – The results suggested that innovation in integrated marketing communications has positively significant effect. In addition, both the variables of innovation and integrated marketing communications positively and significantly affect the three components of brand equity (namely, brand image, the perceived quality and brand loyalty). Originality/value – Despite the growing acknowledgment the importance of innovation, integrated marketing communications and brand equity, however, there are few studies on the role and importance of information technology directors’ efforts on innovation, integrated marketing communications and brand equity

On the Class of Einstein Exponential-Type Finsler Metrics

In this paper, a special class of Finsler metrics, the so-called (α, β)- metrics, which are defined by F = αφ(s), where α is a Riemannian metric and β is a 1-form, is studied. First we show that the class of almost regular metrics obtained by Shen is Einstein if and only if it reduces to the class of Berwald metrics. In this case, the Riemannian metrics are Ricci-flat. Then we prove that an exponential metric is Einstein if and only if it is Ricci-flat.У статтi вивчається спецiальний клас фiнслерових метрик, що називаються (α, β)-метриками, якi визначаються формулою F = F = αφ(s), де α - рiманова метрика, а β - 1-форма. Спочатку ми показуємо, що клас майже регулярних метрик, отриманий Шеном, є ейнштейновим тодi i тiльки тодi, коли вiн зводиться до класу метрик Бервальда. В цьому випадку метрики є Рiччi-пласкими. Потiм ми доводимо, що експоненцiальна метрика є ейнштейновою тодi i тiльки тодi, коли вона Рiччi-пласка

Duloxetine for Postoperative Pain in Orthopedic Surgeries: A Review Article

post-operative pain plays a key role in patients’ satisfaction. Since opioids may cause dependence and have a high abuse rate, non-opioid drugs such as Duloxetine are being investigated for their effect in this matter. Duloxetine is a dual serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) which causes a synergism effect and can help manage post operative pain. For this cause, it’s prescribed as 60mg per day. There have been studies in the recent years proving its effectiveness both in total arthroplasty and elective surgeries. The collective data shows that duloxetine can be used for post-operative pain management, and with minimal side effect, it can lower the opioid usage and dependence.

The effect of unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis on Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level after 3 and 6 months: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Endometriosis is one of the most common causes of infertility. The causes of the disease and its definitive treatments are still unclear. Moreover, Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a glycoprotein dimer that is a member of the transient growth factors family. This research work aimed to identify the effect of unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis on AMH levels after 3 months, and 6 months, using meta-analysis. Methods In this study, the articles published in national and international databases of SID, MagIran, IranMedex, IranDoc, Cochrane, Embase, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (ISI) were searched to find electronically published studies between 2010 and 2019. The heterogeneous index between studies was determined using the I2 index. Results In this meta-analysis and systematic review, 19 articles were eligible for inclusion in the study. The standardized mean difference was obtained in examining of unilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis (before intervention 2.8 ± 0.11, and after 3 months 2.05 ± 0.13; and before intervention 3.1 ± 0.46 and after 6 months 2.08 ± 0.31), and in examining bilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis examination (before intervention 2.0 ± 08.08, and after 3 months 1.1 ± 0.1; and before intervention 2.9 ± 0.23 and after 6 months 1.4 ± 0.19). Conclusion The results of this study demonstrate that unilateral and bilateral laparoscopic surgery for endometriosis is effective on AMH levels, and the level decreases in both comparisons

The political, research, programmatic, and social responses to adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in the 25 years since the International Conference on Population and Development

Among the ground-breaking achievements of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) was its call to place adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) on global health and development agendas. This article reviews progressmade in low- and middle-income countries in the 25 years since the ICPD in six areas central to ASRH-adolescent pregnancy, HIV, child marriage, violence against women and girls, female genital mutilation, and menstrual hygiene and health. It also examines the ICPD's contribution to the progress made. The article presents epidemiologic levels and trends; political, research, programmatic and social responses; and factors that helped or hindered progress. To do so, it draws on research evidence and programmatic experience and the expertise and experiences of a wide number of individuals, including youth leaders, in numerous countries and organizations. Overall, looking across the six health topics over a 25-year trajectory, there has been great progress at the global and regional levels in putting adolescent health, and especially adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, higher on the agenda, raising investment in this area, building the epidemiologic and evidence-base, and setting norms to guide investment and action. At the national level, too, there has been progress in formulating laws and policies, developing strategies and programs and executing them, and engaging communities and societies in moving the agenda forward. Still, progress has been uneven across issues and geography. Furthermore, it has raced ahead sometimes and has stalled at others. The ICPD's Plan of Action contributed to the progress made in ASRH not just because of its bold call in 1994 but also because it provided a springboard for advocacy, investment, action, and research that remains important to this day. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine