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Article
Publication date: 5 May 2022

Ehsan Marzban, Armin Firoozpour and Mostafa Marzban

Energy systems are quickly in transition and their complexity has been dramatically increased. Although there are numerous studies and researches about future of energy in terms…

187

Abstract

Purpose

Energy systems are quickly in transition and their complexity has been dramatically increased. Although there are numerous studies and researches about future of energy in terms of technology or fuels, few studies have been done based on comprehensive socio-technical dimensions of energy systems’ futures. One key question to fill this gap is that how can we consider electricity as a sustainable common good/resource, beyond some conventional considerations related to public or private sector orientation? The purpose of this study is to find an acceptable answer for this question..

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the purpose of this study, after reviewing some relevant studies, key effective factors on the future of energy have been recognized in an expert panel and structurally analyzed by Micmac software based on cross-impact analyze method. Thereafter, four scenarios for transforming the electricity distribution from a monopoly good to a common resource have been developed and described based on scenario workshops method..

Findings

Four scenarios for transforming the electricity distribution from a monopoly good to a common resource have been developed and described. These scenarios include “spider grid,” “local grid,” “intermediate grid” and “off-grid.” Furthermore, different dimensions of electricity as a common good/resource have been investigated. As a result, the authors find out that common resource is a creatable concept that can be referred to some goods depending on certain conditions.

Originality/value

Electricity, like any other resource with common characteristics, can be considered and treated as a common resource, depending on the way we generate, share and distribute it, ownership and property rights, management and decision-making mechanisms, social participation processes and governance criteria.

Details

International Journal of Energy Sector Management, vol. 17 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1750-6220

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Article
Publication date: 11 September 2020

Armin Firoozpour, Ehsan Marzban and Ali Asghar Pourezzat

Thinking and deciding about the future of the city as a combination of complex and uncertain systems is extremely difficult. This complexity, uncertainty and difficulty will be…

207

Abstract

Purpose

Thinking and deciding about the future of the city as a combination of complex and uncertain systems is extremely difficult. This complexity, uncertainty and difficulty will be increased when our thoughts and decisions address the city’s long-term future. Considering these issues, the need for future thinking and alternate thinking in the process of urban management and planning becomes even more necessary. The purpose of this paper is to identify and explain the alternate futures of Tehran.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, this study have tried to study alternate future images of Tehran in an archetypal form of “growth, collapse, disciplined society and transformed society” using “Dator’s Four Generic Alternate Futures” method.

Findings

These alternate futures, after identifying their key trends and drivers, have been narrated in the form of four scenarios called: “capital business center,” “crossing the fate of ray,” “Tehran family” and “Tehran investigators.” Increasing the authority and responsibility of the local governance, modification of Tehran urban management model and development of voluntary cooperation and democratic participation, are among the policy recommendations made on the basis of these images.

Originality/value

Achieving these images in parallel with identifying the most important challenges and opportunities in alternate futures will provide the basis for policy-making in Tehran’s future urban governance. It can be a creative model for developing future images for other cities.

Details

foresight, vol. 23 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-6689

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Article
Publication date: 11 February 2019

Ehsan Zarei, Soghra Karimi, Soad Mahfoozpour and Sima Marzban

A quality management system (QMS) is defined as interacting activities, methods and procedures used to monitor, control and improve service quality. The purpose of this paper is…

357

Abstract

Purpose

A quality management system (QMS) is defined as interacting activities, methods and procedures used to monitor, control and improve service quality. The purpose of this paper is to describe the QMS status using the Quality Management System Index (QMSI) in hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti Medical Sciences University in Tehran, Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

In this cross-sectional study, 28 hospitals were investigated. A validated 46-item questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, independent student’s t-test and regression analysis.

Findings

The mean QMSI score was 18.4: 15.3 for public and 20.9 for non-public hospitals (p=0.001). The lowest (1.96) and the highest (2.14) scores related to “Quality policy documents” and “Quality monitoring by the board,” respectively. The difference between public and non-public hospitals was significant in all nine QMSI dimensions (p=0.001). The QMSI score was higher in non-public and small hospitals than in public and large ones (p=0.05).

Originality/value

Most QMS studies come from developed countries, and there is no systematic information about the mechanisms and processes involved in implementing QMS in developing countries like Iran. This is the first study on Iranian hospital QMS using a newly developed tool (QMSI), and results showed that QMS maturity in these hospitals was relatively good, but the non-public hospitals status (private and charity) was far better than public hospitals.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

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Article
Publication date: 8 July 2019

Davood Toghraie and Ehsan Shirani

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mixed convection of a two-phase water–aluminum oxide nanofluid in a cavity under a uniform magnetic field.

114

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mixed convection of a two-phase water–aluminum oxide nanofluid in a cavity under a uniform magnetic field.

Design/methodology/approach

The upper wall of the cavity is cold and the lower wall is warm. The effects of different values of Richardson number, Hartmann number, cavitation length and solid nanoparticles concentration on the flow and temperature field and heat transfer rate were evaluated. In this paper, the heat flux was assumed to be constant of 10 (W/m2) and the Reynolds number was assumed to be constant of 300 and the Hartmann number and the volume fraction of solid nanoparticles varied from 0 to 60 and 0 to 0.06, respectively. The Richardson number was considered to be 0.1, 1 and 5. Aspect ratios were 1, 1.5 and 2.

Findings

Comparison of the results of this paper with the results of the numerical and experimental studies of other researchers showed a good correlation. The results were presented in the form of velocity and temperature profiles, stream and isotherm lines and Nusselt numbers. The results showed that by increasing the Hartmann number, the heat transfer rate decreases. An increase from 0 to 20 in Hartmann number results in a 20 per cent decrease in Nusselt numbers, and by increasing the Hartmann number from 20 to 40, a 16 per cent decrease is observed in Nusselt number. Accordingly, it is inferred that by increasing the Hartmann number, the reduction in the Nusselt number is decreased. As the Richardson number increased, the heat transfer rate and, consequently, the Nusselt number increased. Therefore, an increase in the Richardson number results in an increase of the Nusselt number, that is, an increase in Richardson number from 0.1 to 1 and from 1 to 5 results in 37 and 47 per cent increase in Nusselt number, respectively.

Originality/value

Even though there have been numerous investigations conducted on convection in cavities under various configurations and boundary conditions, relatively few studies are conducted for the case of nanofluid mixed convection in square lid-driven cavity under the effect of magnetic field using two-phase model.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

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Article
Publication date: 17 June 2019

Ehsan Gholamalizadeh, Farzad Pahlevanzadeh, Kamal Ghani, Arash Karimipour, Truong Khang Nguyen and Mohammad Reza Safaei

This study aims to numerically study the forced convection effects on a two-dimensional microchannel filled with a porous material containing the water/FMWCNT nanofluid. The upper…

310

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to numerically study the forced convection effects on a two-dimensional microchannel filled with a porous material containing the water/FMWCNT nanofluid. The upper and lower microchannel walls were fully insulated thermally along 15 per cent of their lengths at each end of the microchannel, with the in-between length being exposed to a constant temperature. The slip velocity boundary condition was applied along the microchannel walls.

Design/methodology/approach

The Navier–Stokes equations were discretized before being solved numerically via a FORTRAN computer code. The following ranges were considered for the studied parameters: slip factor (B) equal to 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1; Reynolds number (Re) between 10 and 100; solid nanoparticle mass fraction (ϕ) between 0.0012 and 0.0025; Darcy number (Da) between 0.001 and 0.1; and porosity factor (ε) between 0.4 and 0.9.

Findings

Increasing the Da caused a greater increase in the velocity profile than increasing Re, whereas increasing porosity did not affect the velocity profile growth at all.

Originality/value

This paper is the continuation of the authors’ previous studies. Using the water/FMWCNT nanofluid as the working fluid in microchannels is among the achievements of this study.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

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Article
Publication date: 9 October 2017

Sadegh Ahmadi Kashkoli, Ehsan Zarei, Abbas Daneshkohan and Soheila Khodakarim

Hospital responsiveness to the patient expectations of non-medical aspect of care can lead to patient satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship…

893

Abstract

Purpose

Hospital responsiveness to the patient expectations of non-medical aspect of care can lead to patient satisfaction. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the eight dimensions of responsiveness and overall patient satisfaction in public and private hospitals in Tehran, Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015. In all, 500 patients were selected by the convenient sampling method from two public and three private hospitals. All data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire consisted of 32 items to assess the responsiveness of hospitals across eight dimensions and four items to assess the level of overall patient satisfaction. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and multivariate regression was performed by SPSS 18.

Findings

The mean score of hospital responsiveness and patient satisfaction was 3.48±0.69 and 3.54±0.97 out of 5, respectively. Based on the regression analysis, around 65 percent of the variance in overall satisfaction can be explained by dimensions of responsiveness. Seven independent variables had a positive impact on patient satisfaction; the quality of basic amenities and respect for human dignity were the most powerful factors influencing overall patient satisfaction.

Originality/value

Hospital responsiveness had a strong effect on overall patient satisfaction. Health care facilities should consider including efforts to responsiveness improvement in their strategic plans. It is recommended that patients should be involved in their treatment processes and have the right to choose their physician.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 30 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

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Article
Publication date: 18 August 2022

Zeljko Vasko, Sinisa Berjan, Hamid El Bilali, Mohammad Sadegh Allahyari, Aleksandra Despotovic, Dajana Vukojević and Adriana Radosavac

The purpose of the research was to determine food consumer behaviour and attitudes towards food consumption and household food waste in Montenegro. Since the period of conducting…

264

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the research was to determine food consumer behaviour and attitudes towards food consumption and household food waste in Montenegro. Since the period of conducting the research coincided with the expansion of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Montenegro (10–14 weeks since its outbreak), the results of this research could indicate the emerging pandemic circumstances.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 529 consumers were surveyed online, and 514 questionnaires met the requirements of further statistical processing. Data were processed by methods of descriptive statistics and chi-square test of association between socio-economic characteristics of respondents and their attitudes, as well as cluster analysis.

Findings

The main findings of the research are (1) consumers in Montenegro are quite responsible for the use of food because they throw away a small part, both in quantity and value; (2) Montenegrin households still practice a traditional way of life with frequent preparation and consumption of food at home and use of leftovers; (3) consumers have confusing perceptions regarding date labels of industrially processed foods; (4) during the COVID-19 pandemic, 17.3% of consumers increased and 11.8% decreased the frequency of food purchases, while 20.7% increased and 5.1% decreased food waste.

Originality/value

The work is highly original and, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no other article that analysed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food wastage and food-related behaviours during the outbreak of the pandemic in Montenegro (May–June 2020). Therefore, the work fills a gap in research and knowledge and sets a baseline for future studies.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 125 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

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