361 research outputs found
Author Correction: Hydrogel mechanical properties in altered gravity (npj Microgravity, (2024), 10, 1, (83), 10.1038/s41526-024-00388-2)
No full textIn this article the affiliation, “Department of Aerospace Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, UAE” for the author “Yarjan Abdul Samad” was inadvertently omitted. The original article has been corrected
Political analysis of health technology assessment implementation in Iran
No full textBACKGROUND: Health technology assessment (HTA) is a critical tool for evidence-based decision-making in healthcare systems, yet its implementation in low- and middle-income countries such as Iran remains understudied. This study examines the political dynamics of HTA implementation in Iran, focussing on the roles, interests and interactions of key stakeholders. By addressing the gap in understanding the political challenges and opportunities associated with HTA implementation, this study aims to provide actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners. METHODS: A qualitative study design was employed, using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 19 stakeholders from 6 categories: interest groups, political leaders, donors, financial decision-makers, beneficiaries and bureaucracies. Participants were selected through purposive sampling to ensure representation across sectors. Data were analysed using thematic analysis, guided by the political analysis framework of Campos and Reich. The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist to ensure methodological rigour. RESULTS: The findings reveal significant barriers to HTA implementation in Iran, including limited political will, competing priorities, inter-agency coordination challenges and concerns about equity and access. Interest groups, such as physicians and pharmacists, expressed concerns about restricted clinical autonomy and limited access to innovative treatments. Political leaders emphasized the difficulty of prioritizing HTA amidst competing healthcare and economic issues, whilst donors highlighted the need for alignment with national priorities and long-term sustainability. Financial decision-makers acknowledged the potential of HTA to improve resource allocation but raised concerns about budgetary constraints. Beneficiaries stressed the importance of transparency and inclusion, and bureaucrats underscored the need for stronger leadership and capacity building. CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the importance of strong political leadership, stakeholder engagement and institutional capacity building for successful HTA implementation in Iran. Practical steps include strengthening inter-agency coordination mechanisms, ensuring transparent and inclusive decision-making processes, aligning donor support with national health priorities and investing in training programs to build technical capacity within government agencies. By addressing these challenges, policymakers can enhance the integration of HTA into the health system, ensuring efficient and equitable resource allocation
Challenges of using artificial intelligence in Iran's health system: a qualitative study
No full textBackground: Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare globally, enhancing diagnostics, treatment, and efficiency. However, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) like Iran face significant barriers to AI integration. Iran's health system, challenged by an aging population, increasing non-communicable diseases, and limited resources, could benefit from AI-driven, patient-centered care. Yet, its adoption remains limited. Understanding the barriers to AI implementation is critical for informed policymaking. Methods: This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 15 stakeholders from healthcare management, policymaking, and AI sectors in Iran, conducted between January and April 2025. Participants were selected purposively to represent government, academia, healthcare, and technology. Data were analyzed thematically using Braun and Clarke's framework. Rigor was ensured through member checking, triangulation, and adherence to qualitative research standards. Results: Five major barriers to AI adoption emerged: (1) organizational and structural limitations, including poor infrastructure and fragmented governance; (2) legal and policy challenges, marked by regulatory gaps and ethical concerns; (3) data-related issues such as low data quality, lack of standardization, and security risks; (4) shortage of skilled professionals and limited training opportunities; and (5) challenges in integrating AI into policymaking, including concerns about losing human oversight in decision-making. Conclusion: AI implementation in Iran's health system faces complex and interrelated challenges. Addressing these requires a coordinated strategy focused on legal reform, infrastructure investment, capacity building, and cultural adaptation. Balancing technological innovation with ethical and human-centered care is essential for successful and sustainable integration
Mapping the social networks of key actors in the development of health technology assessment in Iran
No full textBackground: Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is vital for evidence-based policymaking and resource allocation. In Iran, HTA development involves diverse actors with varying levels of power, influence, and support. Understanding their interactions is key to strengthening HTA processes. Methods: We applied Social Network Analysis (SNA) to map relationships among 27 stakeholders identified through document review and expert interviews. Data were collected via an online questionnaire completed by 83 experts (response rate: 72.2%), assessing five dimensions: power, position, interest, influence, and support. Network metrics, including degree, closeness, betweenness, and eigenvector centrality, were analyzed using R Version 4.4.1. Results: The Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Food and Drug Administration, Insurance Organizations, and Parliament were perceived as the most influential actors. The Plan and Budget Organization (degree centrality 0.34) and National Institute of Health Research (0.26) emerged as key connectors with high bridging roles. Overall, the network exhibited low density (0.13) and limited clustering (0.11), indicating sparse connectivity. Peripheral actors, such as the Chamber of Commerce, were largely disconnected from the network. Conclusion: HTA development in Iran is shaped by a few central institutions, but weak connectivity and limited engagement of peripheral actors hinder collaboration. Strengthening stakeholder communication, enhancing inclusiveness, and securing sustainable funding are critical for more effective HTA implementation and evidence-informed health policy
ANALISIS ASPEK KEMASYARAKATAN MELALUI PEMIKIRAN A. SAMAD SAID DALAM NOVEL DAERAH ZENI DAN HUJAN PAGI
No full textAbstrak
Kajian ini dijalankan untuk menganalisis aspek kemasyarakatan melalui pemikiran oleh A. Samad Said dalam novel popular beliau yang bertajuk Daerah Zeni dan Hujan Pagi. Hal ini kerana aspek kemasyarakatan yang dibincangkan dalam novel oleh A. Samad Said dapat menggambarkan kekuatan pemikiran pengarang melalui kreativiti beliau yang dapat memberi sumber maklumat terkini kepada khalayak atau pembaca. Oleh itu, kajian ini juga dijalankan bertujuan mengenal pasti dan menganalisis aspek kemasyarakatan melalui pemikiran A. Samad Said dalam novel Daerah Zeni (1985) dan Hujan Pagi (1992). Di samping itu, reka bentuk kajian ini bersifat kualitatif melalui kaedah kepustakaan dan analisis kandungan teks. Selain itu, teori sosiologi dijadikan sebagai deduktif untuk memantapkan analisis perbincangan. Sebagai kesimpulannya, hasil dapatan kajian ini membuktikan bahawa A. Samad Said bijak mengutarakan cetusan idea dan kreativiti dalam usaha membincangkan isu semasa yang dapat diterima secara terbuka oleh masyarakat di dalam novel popular beliau.
Abstract
This study was conducted to analyze the aspects of society through the thinking by A. Samad Said in his popular novel titled Daerah Zeni and Hujan Pagi. This is because the societal aspects discussed in the novel by A. Samad Said can illustrate the strength of the author\u27s thinking through his creativity which can provide the latest sources of information to the audience or readers. Therefore, this study was also conducted by aiming at identifying and analyzing the aspects of society through the thinking by A. Samad Said in the novels Daerah Zeni (1985) and Hujan Pagi (1992). This study is qualitative in nature by using the library methods and text content analysis. In addition, sociological theory is used deductively to strengthen the analysis of the discussion. This study has proven that A. Samad Said has wisely expressed the spark of ideas and creativity in an effort to discuss current issues that can be openly accepted by the community in his popular novel.
 
Control-theoretic methods for biological networks
No full textFeedback is both a pillar of control theory and a pervasive principle of nature. For this reason, control-theoretic methods are powerful to analyse the dynamic behaviour of biological systems and mathematically explain their properties, as well as to engineer biological systems so that they perform a specific task by design. This paper illustrates the relevance of control-theoretic methods for biological systems. The first part gives an overview of biological control and of the versatile ways in which cells use feedback. By employing control-theoretic methods, the complexity of interlaced feedback loops in the cell can be revealed and explained, and layered feedback loops can be designed in the cell to induce the desired behaviours, such as oscillations, multi-stability and activity regulation. The second part is mainly devoted to modelling uncertainty in biology and understanding the robustness of biological phenomena due to their inherent structure. Important control-theoretic tools used in systems biology are surveyed. The third part is focused on tools for model discrimination in systems biology. A deeper understanding of molecular pathways and feedback loops, as well as qualitative information on biological networks, can be achieved by studying the “dynamic response phenotypes” that appear in temporal responses. Several applications to the analysis of biological systems are showcased.Accepted Author ManuscriptTeam Tamas Keviczk
Iran's Health System Transformation Plan: A SWOT analysis
Get PDFBackground: Societies are characterized by evolving health needs, which become more challenging throughout time, to which health system should respond. As such, a constant monitoring and a periodic review and reformation of healthcare systems are of fundamental importance to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare services delivery, equity, and sustainable funding. The establishment of President Rouhani's government in Iran, on May 5, 2014, the settlement of the new Ministry of Health and Medical Education administration (MoHME) and the need for change in the provision of healthcare services has led to the "Health System Transformation Plan" (HSTP). The aim of the current investigation was to critically evaluate the health transformation plan in Iran. Methods: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis enables to identify and assess the strengths and weaknesses within an organization or program, as well as the threats and opportunities outside the given organization or program. To identify SWOT of the HSTP in Iran, all articles concerning this program published in scholarly databases as well as in the gray literature were systematically searched. Subsequently, all factors identified at the first round were thematically classified into four categories and for reaching consensus on this classification, the list of points and factors was sent to 40 experts - policy- and decisionmakers, professors and academicians, health department workers, health activists, journalists. Results: Thirty-four subjects expressed comments on classification. Incorporating their suggestions, the SWOT analysis of Iran's HSTP was revised, finalized and then performed. Conclusion: HSTP in Iran, like many of the initiatives that have been recently introduced and not fully implemented, have various challenges, difficulties and pitfalls that health policymakers need to pay attention to. Interacting with criticisms, taking into account public opinion and strengthening the plan can make the project more effective, and it can be anticipated that in the future, better conditions in the health sector will be achieved. © Iran University of Medical Sciences
The economic burden of breast cancer in western Iran: a cross-sectional cost-of-illness study
No full textAbstract Background Breast cancer is a significant global health challenge, affecting millions annually and imposing a considerable burden on healthcare systems and economies worldwide. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the economic impact of breast cancer in Lorestan Province, western Iran. Methods A retrospective cost-of-illness analysis utilizing a cross-sectional design was performed from November 2023 to July 2024. Data were collected using patient medical records and telephonic interviews. Costs were categorized into direct medical costs, direct non-medical costs, and indirect costs. A bottom-up approach was employed for cost calculation from a societal viewpoint, with a prevalence-based analysis. Results The study analyzed 525 patients with an average age of 42.74 ± 11.75 years. The total economic burden of breast cancer was estimated at 10,275.07 per patient. Direct medical costs comprised 70.2% of the total expenses, primarily attributed to hospitalization, chemotherapy, and laboratory tests. Direct non-medical costs, including accommodation and transportation for patients and their companions, accounted for 12.5%. Indirect costs, largely stemming from productivity losses due to morbidity and mortality, represented 17.3% of the total burden. Conclusion Breast cancer imposes a substantial economic burden on patients and their families in Lorestan Province. Enhancing health insurance coverage, providing government subsidies for treatment, and improving healthcare infrastructure to offer advanced diagnostic and treatment options locally are critical steps to alleviate this burden. Early detection and prevention programs can facilitate earlier diagnosis and reduce treatment costs. Comprehensive policies addressing both medical and non-medical expenses are necessary to improve patients’ quality of life and lessen the financial challenges associated with breast cancer in Iran
The shadows of time in Nicholas Sparks's / Abang Moasili Abg Abd Samad
Get PDFThis study was carried out to explore The Shadows of Time in Nicholas Sparks's, The Rescue. The objective of this study was to find out how the author applied the concept in his book and thus, foreshadow the events that were to come at the end of the story. Based on the hypothesis that he aims at foreshadowing the event in his novel, a combination of qualitative analysis and close reading is used for the findings and discussion
„Fatwa als Mordaufruf – eine Medienanalyse von deutschsprachigen und ägyptischen Medienartikeln am Beispiel von Hamed Abdel-Samad
No full text„Fatwa heißt auf gut Deutsch Morddrohung" so lautet der Titel einer österreichischen Berichterstattung über den Mordaufruf gegen den deutsch-ägyptischen Autor Hamed Abdel- Samad, der von islamistischen Predigern 2013 in Kairo gegen ihn gerichtet wurde. Obwohl es sich bei einer Fatwa im islamischen Kontext um ein Rechtsgutachten bzw. eine Rechtsmeinung zu verschiedensten Thematiken handelt, assoziieren viele Menschen mit einer Fatwa Gewaltandrohungen bis hin zu einem Mordaufruf. Die Berichterstattungen in Österreich und Deutschland im Jahr 2013 erwähnten Fatwas generell primär in Gewaltkontexten, berichteten über erfundene Fatwas und nahmen eine Gleichsetzung von islamischen Rechtsgutachten und Mordaufrufen vor. Aufgrund dieser Voranalysen untersucht dieses Forschungsprojekt die Thematik Fatwa als Mordaufruf im Detail: Der Fokus der Betrachtungen liegt auf den Debatten um den deutschen Islamkritiker Hamed Abdel-Samad, über den im Juli 2013 von islamistischen Predigern in Ägypten eine Morddrohung aufgrund seiner kritischen Islamanalysen ausgesprochen worden ist. Viele deutschsprachige und ägyptische Medien berichteten mit unterschiedlichen Ansätzen über dieses Geschehnis. Im Kontext der vorliegenden Analyse wurde auf die Methodik der Inhaltsanalyse von Philipp Mayring sowie auf die Diskursanalyse von Siegfried Jäger zurückgegriffen und die Annahme übernommen, dass Mediendiskurse sowohl vermeintliche Wahrheiten in die Gesellschaft tragen und diese gleichzeitig kreieren. Sie prägen dadurch das Alltagsdenken der Menschen und bestimmen mit, was im Fall der vorliegenden Arbeit über die Thematik Fatwa als Mordaufruf gedacht und gesagt werden kann. Im ersten Schritt werden daher die Aussagen der Medienberichterstattungen dargelegt: An 76 Artikel deutsche und österreichische sowie 56 Artikel ägyptischer Berichterstattungen werden die Fragen gestellt, inwiefern der Mordaufruf und dessen Urheber dargestellt werden und welche thematischen Diskursverschränkungen auftreten. Durch eine kulturübergreifende Medienanalyse werden Parallelen und Unterschiede in der Berichterstattung im deutschsprachigen Raum und Ägypten offengelegt. Abschließend werden die Ergebnisse einer kritischen Gesamtanalyse unterzogen, in welcher auch Hauptprotagonisten wie Hamed Abdel- Samad und einer der ägyptischen Prediger, Abu Isḥāq al-Ḥuwainī, selbst zu Wort kommen.Fatwa as Death Threat – A media analysis of German speaking and Egyptian media articles using the example of Hamed Abdel-Samad
“In plain language, fatwa means death threat“ – reads the headline of an article by a German media outlet. The newspaper article addresses the death threats against the German-Egyptian author Hamed Abdel-Samad which have been issued by Islamist preachers in Cairo in 2013. Even though a fatwa is religious advice or an opinion on a certain topic (varying from religious matters to everyday life), it is widely assumed in Europe that a fatwa is predominantly or exclusively a call for violence. Media reports in Austria and Germany mainly depicted fatwas in 2013 in a violent context, reported upon fatwas that never occurred and equated fatwas with death threats, giving a distorted picture of fatwas and the Muslim community as their issuers and recipients. Due to these findings the following study aims to analyze the topic Fatwa as Death Threat in German, Austrian and Egyptian media outlets in detail. The focus of the media analysis is put on debates over the author and Islam critic Hamed Abdel-Samad, who was targeted by death threats in Egypt after a public lecture in 2013 in which he highlighted parallels between Islam and Fascism. Numerous newspapers and online platforms in Austria, Germany and Egypt reported about the incident from different and contradictory point of views. The research is conducted through the methodical framework of Philipp Mayring’s content analysis and Siegfried Jäger’s discourse analysis, the latter assuming that the power of media lies in the formation of the public opinion and is therefore responsible for the way in which reality is formed by ruling out alternative ways of thinking and talking. According to Jäger’s theory, media discourse has a significant impact on the public opinion about fatwas and as a consequence about Islam and the Muslim community. Through the analysis of 76 German and Austrian and 56 Egyptian articles, this research addresses the questions of how death threats, their issuers and recipients are portrayed in the media and which other discursive intersections can be found in the reporting. This is the first study to undertake an intercultural media analysis that highlights the differences and parallels in the media reporting about fatwa as death threats in Austria, Germany and Egypt. The critical examination of the results of the media analysis includes findings of interviews with protagonists in the discourse such as Hamed Abdel-Samad and Egyptian preacher Abu Isḥāq al- Ḥuwainī
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