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| 2. |
- Baichoo, Shakuntala, et al.
(författare)
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H3ABioNet computational metagenomics workshop in Mauritius : training to analyse microbial diversity for Africa
- 2015
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Ingår i: Standards in Genomic Sciences. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1944-3277. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In the context of recent international initiatives to bolster genomics research for Africa, and more specifically to develop bioinformatics expertise and networks across the continent, a workshop on computational metagenomics was organized during the end of 2014 at the University of Mauritius. The workshop offered background on various aspects of computational biology, including databases and algorithms, sequence analysis fundamentals, metagenomics concepts and tools, practical exercises, journal club activities and research seminars. We have discovered a strong interest in metagenomics research across Africa, to advance practical applications both for human health and the environment. We have also realized the great potential to develop genomics and bioinformatics through collaborative efforts across the continent, and the need for further reinforcing the untapped human potential and exploring the natural resources for stronger engagement of local scientific communities, with a view to contributing towards the improvement of human health and well-being for the citizens of Africa.
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| 3. |
- Ghaderi, Zahed, et al.
(författare)
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Green supply chain management, environmental costs and supply chain performance in the hotel industry : the mediating role of supply chain agility and resilience
- 2023
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Ingår i: Current Issues in Tourism. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 1368-3500 .- 1747-7603.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although developing a green supply chain is a topic of growing interest in the hotel industry, research on hospitality green supply chain management (GSCM) is limited. This study investigates the effect of internal and external measures of GSCM on environmental cost reduction, and how environmental cost reduction improves the supply chain performance with the mediating role of agility and resilience of a green supply chain. Data were collected from 370 employees of the top-rated hotels in Tehran, Iran, and analyzed using structural equation modelling in SmartPLS software. The findings revealed that internal and external measures of green supply chain management have a positive and significant effect on the environmental cost reduction of hotels. The reduction in environmental costs directly affected the variables of green supply chain agility, green supply chain resilience and green supply chain performance. The findings also confirmed the mediating role of green supply chain agility and resilience between environmental cost reduction and green supply chain performance. Overall, the study reinforces that addressing environmental measures in the hotel industry could have favourable consequences for hotels to improve supply chain performance.
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| 4. |
- Hadadgar, Arash, et al.
(författare)
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A Theory-Based Study of Factors Explaining General Practitioners' Intention to Use and Participation in Electronic Continuing Medical Education
- 2016
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Ingår i: Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0894-1912 .- 1554-558X. ; 36:4, s. 290-294
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Electronic modes of continuing medical education (eCME) can provide an appropriate and scalable way of updating the knowledge and skills of general practitioners (GPs). To optimize the adoption of eCME and develop efficient and cost-effective eCME programs, factors explaining GPs' intention to use eCME must first be elucidated. Methods: Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework, we developed a questionnaire and administered it to GPs in seven CME seminars in Isfahan, Iran, in 2014. Three domains of GPs' intention to use eCME were measured: attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms. We used linear and logistic regression to identify the main predictors of intention and behavior. Results: GPs who had high score in perceived behavioral control and a more positive attitude toward e-learning had a higher intention to adopt it for CME. In contrast, subjective norms (eg, social pressures to use eCME) were not a predictor. Attitude toward usefulness of eCME was the main predictor of being an actual eCME user. Discussion: Perceived behavioral control and attitude constitute the main predictors of the intention to use eCME. Establishing discussions forums and strengthening organizational support for eCME through an increased awareness among clinical superiors and CME managers would be expected to increase GPs' intention to use eCME.
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| 5. |
- Hadadgar, Arash, et al.
(författare)
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Applicability of the theory of planned behavior in explaining the general practitioners eLearning use in continuing medical education
- 2016
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Ingår i: BMC Medical Education. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6920. ; 16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: General practitioners (GP) update their knowledge and skills by participating in continuing medical education (CME) programs either in a traditional or an e-Learning format. GPs' beliefs about electronic format of CME have been studied but without an explicit theoretical framework which makes the findings difficult to interpret. In other health disciplines, researchers used theory of planned behavior (TPB) to predict user's behavior. Methods: In this study, an instrument was developed to investigate GPs' intention to use e-Learning in CME based on TPB. The goodness of fit of TPB was measured using confirmatory factor analysis and the relationship between latent variables was assessed using structural equation modeling. Results: A total of 148 GPs participated in the study. Most of the items in the questionnaire related well to the TPB theoretical constructs, and the model had good fitness. The perceived behavioral control and attitudinal constructs were included, and the subjective norms construct was excluded from the structural model. The developed questionnaire could explain 66 % of the GPs' intention variance. Conclusions: The TPB could be used as a model to construct instruments that investigate GPs' intention to participate in e-Learning programs in CME. The findings from the study will encourage CME managers and researchers to explore the developed instrument as a mean to explain and improve the GPs' intentions to use eLearning in CME.
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| 6. |
- Kooch, Yahya, et al.
(författare)
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Soil health reduction following the conversion of primary vegetation covers in a semi-arid environment
- 2024
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 921
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A degraded forest is the outcome of a degradation process that has adverse effects on ecosystem functions and services. This phenomenon results in alterations of soil physicochemical and biological properties, which serve as valuable indicators for assessing soil health that has been recognized as a crucial component of soil quality. For several decades, the conversion of forested areas into rangeland has been documented in specific regions of the world. There is a widespread lack of global understanding regarding the lasting consequences of land degradation on soil health indicators. The present study aims to investigate the impact of forest degradation on soil health indicators in a mountainous semi-arid region located in northern Iran. The study area was predominantly forested, but due to human activities over the past 30 years, it has been transformed into three distinct land uses: forest, forest-rangeland ecotones and rangeland. In each of these land covers, a total of 20 litter (O-horizon) and 20 soil (from two depths of 0–15 and 15–30 cm) samples were collected in the summer (August 2022) season. According to our results, the highest litter thickness, P and Mg were in forest ecosystem, the lowest in rangeland ecosystem. The findings indicated that following the conversion of forest to rangeland, there was a decrease in soil aggregate stability, porosity, soil organic matter, POC, PON, NH4+, NO3− and nutrient levels, while soil bulk density increased. The forest ecosystem showed notably higher C and N stocks (45 and 5.21 Mg ha−1) in comparison to the rangeland (38 and 3.32 Mg ha−1) ecosystem. In addition, P, K, Ca, and Mg exhibited elevated levels within the total root of the forest ecosystem (2.12, 1.23, 0.71, and 0.38 %, respectively), whereas the lower values (1.29, 1.01, 0.43, and 0.23 %, respectively) were found in the rangeland ecosystem. Following the shift of land cover from forest to rangeland, soil fauna, microflora populations, soil enzymes and microbial activities decreased (about 1–2 times higher in the forestland). This research emphasizes the urgent need to advance sustainable management practices to prevent further degradation and promote the implementation of restoration or rehabilitation techniques in degraded forests. Despite being conducted in a semi-arid region situated in northern Iran, the findings of this study have considerable value for the sustainable management of soil and land conservation in various other semi-arid regions around the world.
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