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Article
Publication date: 22 February 2021

Razie Hormoznejad, Anahita Mansoori, Seyed Ahmad Hosseini, Marzie Zilaee, Maryam Asadi, Mojdeh Fathi and Fateme Kiany

The purpose of this paper with meta-analysis is to clarify the effects of cranberry consumption on features of the metabolic syndrome of interest of all relevant randomized…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper with meta-analysis is to clarify the effects of cranberry consumption on features of the metabolic syndrome of interest of all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature search was conducted on ISI web of science, PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library and Google Scholar databases, to include trials published up to March 2019. Weighted mean differences (WMD) were calculated from a random or fixed-effects models. Between‐study heterogeneity was assessed by Cochrane’s test and I2 index.

Findings

Ten RCTs were included in this review which involving a total of 371 subjects. Our meta-analysis showed that cranberry consumption had beneficial effects on waist circumference (WMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.96 to −0.036; p = 0.034). No significant effect of cranberry consumption on fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure was found in this meta-analysis.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic review with meta-analysis of RCTs that investigate the effect of cranberry consumption on features of the metabolic syndrome.

Details

Nutrition & Food Science , vol. 51 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0034-6659

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 November 2009

Maryam Asadi and Maryam Shekofteh

The aim of this paper is to look at the relationship between research in Iranian medical universities, together with their Web Impact Factor (WIF).

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to look at the relationship between research in Iranian medical universities, together with their Web Impact Factor (WIF).

Design/methodology/approach

The Altavista search engine was chosen because of its advanced search facilities for counting links and having a wider scope of academic web sites than other search engines. It was searched for determining the number of pages, in‐links and self‐links of 42 web sites of Iranian medical universities. The Web Impact Factor (WIF) was calculated by two formulas and the relationship between the two grades of universities (WIF and ISI) was calculated by using the Spearman's correlation coefficient.

Findings

Tehran, Iran and Gilan medical universities had the first to third grade in the number of web sites' pages. The number of in‐links to Tehran, Isfahan and Tabriz medical universities was more than the others. The WIF of universities' web sites was counted in four groups with regard to their number of web pages and Kerman, Kermanshah, Fasa and Qom had the highest grades of WIF in each group, but there was no meaningful relationship between WIF grades and ISI grades. Also, the WIF of university web sites was counted with regard to the number of their members in the four groups and the result shows that Hormozgan, Shiraz, Isfahan and Tehran had the highest grade in each group. Again, there was no meaningful relation between WIF grades and ISI grades.

Research limitations/implications

It seems that counting the number of in‐links is a better scale for ranking university web sites than WIF. WIF is proposed only in situations where the number of web pages is about equal.

Originality/value

The paper provides rankings, for the first time, of Iranian medical university web sites with regard to WIF based on the number of the web pages as well as on the number of the academic staff. The research shows a methodology that others can follow.

Details

The Electronic Library, vol. 27 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-0473

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 July 2014

Nadjla Hariri, Maryam Asadi and Yazdan Mansourian

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of verbal-imagery cognitive styles of information searching behavior of users in using the Web.

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of verbal-imagery cognitive styles of information searching behavior of users in using the Web.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 44 participants were recruited for this study. The participants’ cognitive styles were measured by using Riding's Cognitive Style Analysis test. Three search tasks were designed based on Kim's search task definitions. Moreover, an individual lab session was arranged and then participants’ memos were analyzed using content analysis.

Findings

In all, 48 strategies in four categories of behaviors in searching the Web were identified. There were associations between users’ cognitive styles and their information searching behavior. The participants’ selection of the search initiation behaviors varied, so that imagers suffered from more varied initial behavior than verbalizers. The verbalizers tended to search in a narrow area, then broadening the area and following structured navigation and reading behavior to process information, while imagers tended to search in a general area, then narrowing down the search and adopting mixed navigational styles and mixed behaviors to process information. This study revealed that there was a difference in search performance of verbalizers and imagers descriptively, as verbalizers spent more time compared to imagers and imagers visited more nodes than verbalizers for the tasks completion. In addition, the task was an important variable influencing the search performance. Based on the key findings (search initiation behaviors, formulating search queries, navigational behaviors, information processing behaviors), a conceptual pattern of Web searching and cognitive styles is presented.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides a new understanding of Web users’ information search behavior based on cognitive styles which contributes to the theoretical basis of Web search research. It also raises various questions within the context of user studies

Originality/value

The paper adopted a mixed approach in the area of information searching on the Web. A valuable contribution lies in the methods developed.

Details

Aslib Journal of Information Management, vol. 66 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-3806

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 September 2021

Fatemeh Narenji Thani, Ebrahim Mazari, Somaye Asadi and Maryam Mashayekhikhi

Considering innovation and its improvement as an essential strategy to enable organizations to continue their lives in the new competitive environment leads to a focus on…

Abstract

Purpose

Considering innovation and its improvement as an essential strategy to enable organizations to continue their lives in the new competitive environment leads to a focus on employees' self-development as a factor that affects human resource agility (HRA) and the tendency toward organizational innovation. Consequently, the purpose of the study was to explain the impact of self-development on the tendency toward organizational innovation with the role of the mediator, HRA in higher education institutions as one of the most important and vital organizations in any society.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was an applicable one with the quantitative approach using the descriptive–correlative method. The population consisted of 477 nonacademic employees of Kharazmi University among whom 214 ones were selected as the sample group, using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through the self-development, HRA and the tendency toward organizational innovation questionnaires and then analyzed using the structural equation modeling approach.

Findings

The study findings revealed a positive impact of self-development on the HRA (γ = 0/79) and HRA on the tendency toward organizational innovation (β = 0/6). Also, self-development with mediating HRA impacts the tendency toward organizational innovation (β = 0/58). Finally, self-development had no direct impact on the tendency toward organizational innovation.

Research limitations/implications

Taking the circumstances of doing this research into consideration, if there were the opportunity to do the research on the staffs of more than one university simultaneously and categorize the university staff into executives, managers and experts, more favorable results could be achieved. Also, considering group and organizational factors with the attention to the self-development approach and its factors would provide more awareness-training information on the higher education system in Iran. For future researches, both the individual and group factors are suggested to be surveyed and compared, to assess the weight and impact of these factors all together and to provide an adequate clarification of the role of the group and the organization. Finally, in future studies, it is also recommended that a qualitative approach be used to reach deeper clarifications on the aspects of these variables in the context of higher education.

Practical implications

These findings have major practical implications concerning the higher educational settings. The findings of this study must give significant and practical insights for policymakers of universities and other higher education stakeholders, as well as recommendations to the academic community for further research in this area. First, they should recognize that nonacademic staff members are professional employees who contribute to improving organizational innovation. Higher education must focus on designing and implementing successful mechanisms and a well-planned self-development program that can help and promote the self-development approach among all staff. If the above-mentioned programs are designed based on the employees' needs analysis, they will get trained in a way to enhance mental and behavioral flexibility. The programs with such an approach can result in the proactive, adaptive, resilient behavior and agility of HR.

Originality/value

The model for this study has integrated and prioritized the key innovation drivers that would help universities design, adopt and implement policies and practices that facilitate and encourage improvements and adaptation to a fast-paced environment. Furthermore, the convincing reason for the significance of the current research is that although several types of research have been carried out on each of these three variables in different contexts separately, very few studies, like this, have directly examined the correlation between these three variables among the non-academic staff in higher education institutes. So, given the importance of the issue and rare availability of evidence in this regard, the authors were intrigued to discover whether the self-development through the mediation of HRA could reinforce and strengthen the tendency toward organizational innovation and whether HRA could be an appropriate mediator of the relationship between self-development and the tendency toward organizational innovation among the nonacademic staff of Kharazmi University as one of the most prestigious and celebrated universities in Iran.

Details

Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, vol. 14 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2050-7003

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 August 2017

Soodeh Mohammadinezhad and Maryam Sharifzadeh

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of academic courses on agricultural entrepreneurship.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the importance of academic courses on agricultural entrepreneurship.

Design/methodology/approach

Modified global entrepreneurship and development index (GEDI) was used to determine entrepreneurial dimensions among 19 graduated students of agricultural colleges resided in Iran. Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process was applied to understand agricultural graduates’ preferences on effectiveness of university courses (core, free elective and restricted elective).

Findings

Results suggested the importance of professional restricted elective courses to provide students with necessary skills. These courses were successful in providing a context for entrepreneurial profile.

Research limitations/implications

Innate talent or acquired skills were always the place of debate on entrepreneurial development. The paper builds on the premise that entrepreneurs are made through education and continuing reconstruction of experience, further research is required as the field develops in experience and complexity.

Practical implications

The paper provides strategies to effectively modify practical route in higher education to enhance entrepreneurial orientation among students.

Originality/value

The paper is innovative at a conceptual level in modifying GEDI elements in individual-level variables based on GEDI configuration theory. This approach is particularly useful in addressing the bottleneck problems of entrepreneurship profile and focusses on the information interpreted at weights of the individual-level data.

Details

Education + Training, vol. 59 no. 7/8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0040-0912

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 November 2013

Jamal Shahrabi, Esmaeil Hadavandi and Maryam Salehi Esfandarani

In shopping, for selecting the appropriate garments, people have to try on multiple garments. This problem is due to lack of a sizing system based on updated anthropometric data…

Abstract

Purpose

In shopping, for selecting the appropriate garments, people have to try on multiple garments. This problem is due to lack of a sizing system based on updated anthropometric data and the classification system that introduces the appropriate size from the sizing chart to each person. To solve this problem, as a first study in the literature, a hybrid intelligent classification model as a size recommendation expert system is proposed. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Three stages for developing a hybrid intelligent classification system based on data clustering and probabilistic neural network (PNN) are proposed. In the first stage, the clustering algorithm is used for specifying the sizing chart. In the second stage, the resulting sizing chart is used as a reference for developing a new intelligent classification system by using a PNN. At the last stage, the accuracy of the proposed model is evaluated by using the Iranian male's body type data set.

Findings

Experimental results show that the proposed model has a good accuracy and can be used as a size recommendation expert system to specify the right size for the customers. By using the proposed model and designing an interface for it, a decision support system was developed as a size recommendation expert system that was used by an apparel sales store. The results were time saving and more satisfying for the customers by selecting the appropriate apparel size for them.

Originality/value

In this paper, as a first study in literature, a hybrid intelligent model for developing a size recommendation expert system based on data clustering and a PNN to enable the salesperson to help the consumer in choosing the right size is proposed. In the first stage, the clustering algorithm is used for specifying the sizing chart. In the second stage, the resulting sizing chart is used as a reference to develop a new intelligent classification system by using a PNN. In the last stage, the accuracy of the proposed model is evaluated by using testing data. The proposed model achieved an 87.2 percent accuracy rate that is very promising.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 25 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 September 2023

Maryam Taji, Ali Siadat and Leila Moghtadaie

The present study aimed at developing and validating a self-development training package and determining self-development's effectiveness on job variables and human capital…

Abstract

Purpose

The present study aimed at developing and validating a self-development training package and determining self-development's effectiveness on job variables and human capital agility among secondary school principals in Isfahan.

Design/methodology/approach

In the first phase, the researcher conceived a full version of the self-development training package by studying the theoretical evidence of research and interviewing experts as well as using content analysis. The questionnaire was presented to several experts (n = 8) in that field of study for evaluation after compiling the initial version of the self-development training package, with the aim of determining the face and content validity. In the second phase of the study, the effectiveness of the self-development training package was experimented on secondary school principals using a quasi-experimental pre-test–post-test design and follow-up with a control group.

Findings

The evaluation results were suitable for the training package based on the proposed Lawshe method. The results also indicated that the implementation of a self-development training package in the experimental group had a significant effect on job performance and its dimensions, as well as human capital agility. The effect of the training package on increasing job performance in the post-test stage was 55.3% and was 50.2% in the follow-up stage. Also, the effect of this package on increasing the agility of human capital in the post-test phase was equal to 34.8% and was equal to 28.9% in the follow-up stage.

Originality/value

Question 1: What are the components of a self-development training package? Question 2: What is the credibility of the developed training package from the experts' point of view? Question 3: Does the self-development training package have an effect on job performance and its dimensions? Question 4: Does the self-development training package have an effect on human capital agility?.

Details

International Journal of Educational Management, vol. 37 no. 6/7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0951-354X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 August 2021

Reza Salehzadeh, Maryam Sayedan, Seyed Mehdi Mirmehdi and Parisa Heidari Aqagoli

Green brands are those brands that obtain attributes and benefits related to the reduction of the brands’ environmental impact. Green brand love is a very important issue for…

1940

Abstract

Purpose

Green brands are those brands that obtain attributes and benefits related to the reduction of the brands’ environmental impact. Green brand love is a very important issue for marketing managers. One of the main reasons for this degree of importance is because of the many positive outcomes that green brand love will have for organizations. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of green brand image, trust and attitude on green brand love among Muslim consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a cross-sectional survey is conducted based on the questionnaire method to collect data from a sample of 201 consumers of various automobile brands in Isfahan, Iran. Structural equation modeling is used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show that green brand image has a significant direct effect on green brand attitude, love and trust. In addition, the results indicate that green brand attitude and trust have a significant direct effect on green brand love.

Practical implications

Considering the importance of the issue of automobility and environmental harm, this paper offers new insights to marketing managers of the automotive industry in Iran.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to explore the effect of green brand image, trust and attitude on green brand love.

Details

Journal of Islamic Marketing, vol. 14 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1759-0833

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 January 2024

Khushbakht Hina, Muhammad Khalique, Jamal Abdul Nassir Shaari, Shazali Abu Mansor, Sundas Kashmeeri and Mohd Rafi bin Yaacob

This research attempts to assess the role of green intellectual capital components with respect to the sustainability business performance of manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia.

Abstract

Purpose

This research attempts to assess the role of green intellectual capital components with respect to the sustainability business performance of manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data for this study were gathered through structured questionnaire forms, from entrepreneurs, managers, and decision-makers of manufacturing, small and medium enterprises. A sample of 500 individuals from 170 manufacturing SMEs from Malaysia was participated. Partial Least Squares (PLS) Structural Equation Modelling technique was used to examine the impact of green intellectual capital on the sustainability business performance of SMEs.

Findings

Results expressed that green intellectual capital has a positive significant impact on the sustainability business performance of manufacturing SMEs in Malaysia. Results also posited that the three components such as green customer capital, green technological capital, and green spiritual capital were supported while green human capital, green structural capital, and green social capital were not supported.

Practical implications

The present study inspects how entrepreneurs, managers, and policymakers should practice the concept of green and sustainability to attain maximum benefits from green intellectual capital to increase the sustainability business performance of their organizations.

Originality/value

This pioneering research produces a comprehensive theoretical model of green intellectual capital, supporting the current literature where similar works have been yet. This theoretical model will guide entrepreneurs and managers of SMEs to measure green intellectual capital in SMEs. Despite the significant contribution, this study offers insights to researchers, academicians and practitioners to mitigate environmental destruction and to achieve the sustainable business performance of SMEs in Malaysia and developing countries.

Details

Journal of Intellectual Capital, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1469-1930

Keywords

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