Iran National Science Foundation

ABSTRACT Digital transformation, recognised as a core approach in advancing modern technologies, demands a cohesive and precise technological policy framework. This study emphasises the conceptualisation of digital transformation within the Technological Innovation System (TIS) framework, aiming to delineate its boundaries and analyze it as a unified construct. Subsequently, it recommends tailored policy instruments to facilitate digital transformation in the upstream oil and gas sector. By employing TIS functions and lifecycle tools, this research redefines the concept of digital transformation, mapping out specific policy objectives for each phase of the TIS lifecycle (emergence, growth, and maturity). Additionally, leveraging the Delphi method and incorporating the insights of industry experts in oil and gas, this study identifies suitable policy instruments for each lifecycle phase to enhance effective technology policymaking. The findings contribute not only by designing policy tools for the advancement of digital technologies in the upstream oil and gas sector but also by offering a framework for developing digital transformation policy packages in other sectors, aiding science and technology policymakers in crafting informed strategies.

ObjectiveInfertility and reproductive medicine are complex fields that rely on the collaboration of diverse healthcare professionals. The study aimed to assess the effect of interprofessional education in the infertility and reproductive field on interprofessional professionalism (IPP) behavior and self-efficacy regarding interprofessional communication and collaboration of team members.MethodThe quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, affiliated with Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from 2023 to 2024. Participants included a diverse group of healthcare professionals such as nurses, surgical nurses, midwives, fellows (gynecologists who participated in a reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship program), and senior Ph.D. candidates in reproductive biology. They were divided into an intervention group (n = 22) and a control group (n = 20). The intervention group utilized a case-based learning approach within small interprofessional groups, fostering collaborative learning. The control group followed a traditional education program, including lectures and uni-professional group discussions. Interprofessional Professionalism Assessment (IPA), conducted by two independent evaluators, assessed participants’ interprofessional professionalism behaviors in real-world situations. Attitudes towards self-efficacy in interprofessional communication were evaluated through self-report questionnaires. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics (mean, SD, percentage, frequency), ANCOVA, and Partial Eta Squared to determine the effect size.ResultsThe comparison of Interprofessional Professionalism behavior scores between the intervention and control groups revealed a significant educational effect, with a Partial Eta Squared value of 0.283. The IPP behavior scores for the intervention group were 79.04 ± 5.65, indicating a higher score of IPP compared to the control group’s score of 70.40 ± 8.31. (P < 0.05). The scores for attitudes toward self-efficacy in the intervention group were 100.18 ± 14.08, reflecting a slightly higher level of self-efficacy compared with the control group’s score of 97.55 ± 4.38. (P > 0.05)ConclusionInfertility services require collaboration among various healthcare professionals throughout different stages of the treatment process. The present study revealed a significant educational effect of interprofessional education. The intervention group showed marked improvements in behavior across three key areas: communication, excellence, and respect. These findings underscore the importance of integrating interprofessional education into both continuing education and formal educational programs within reproductive and infertility courses. This approach fosters a culture of cooperation and enhances interprofessional professionalism capabilities in infertility services.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12909-025-07720-8.

Purpose: Universities are affected by the effects of technological changes and such changes affect the key functions of the university such as development and management of knowledge and human resource training. For this reason, it is necessary to identify the mega trends affecting future universities from the perspective of technological developments and analyze their effect on the economy of higher education. Technological developments on universities have an impact on the future of higher education in Iran in different dimensions. In this article, according to the scope of the research, while identifying the mega technological trends affecting the future of universities in Iran, the effects of these mega trends on the financing of public universities were examined. Finally it is necessary to identify the mega technological trends affecting universities in Iran, to identify the impact of these technologies in the future of higher education in different sectors, and to make appropriate policies. Technologies undoubtedly play a huge role in education now and in the future at all levels, a fact that has been especially strongly reinforced by the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic. These technological developments create opportunities and challenges for universities, which must be responded to in a scientific and policy-making process. In this research, two key research questions have been answered: Question 1: What are the mega trends affecting the future of universities in Iran related to the development of new technologies in the field of education? Question 2: What are the effects of identified mega trends on public universities in Iran in the field of financing? Methodology: A single case study methodology was used to carry out this research. The mentioned research is at the level of macro-policy making and is studied by public universities. In this research, based on the methodology of a case study through the study of literature, mega trends affecting the future of universities were identified from the perspective of technological developments. Then, based on previous studies, a series of evidence, events and statistics, as well as exploratory interviews with experts, the initial theoretical framework of the research, consisting of 15 mega trends, was presented. Next, the initial theoretical framework was verified using tools such as studying documents and previous studies, statistics and events, and interviewing 13 experts. The selection of experts was based on direct identification and the snowball method and continued until theoretical saturation was reached. Interviews with experts were coded and in the article some of the experts' points of view related to each mega trend are presented. One of the main steps of research is research validation. Four features including construct validity, internal validity, external validity and reliability were validated in single case study in this research. Findings: Based on previous studies, a series of evidences, events and statistics, as well as exploratory interviews, the initial theoretical framework of the research consisting of 3 sections and 15 mega trends was presented. In the following, the initial theoretical framework was examined based on the case study method and tools such as the study of previous documents and activities, statistics and events, and interviews with experts. Based on this, while revising the mentioned framework, the number of mega trends was reduced from 15 mega trends to 8 mega trends and 19 policy proposals were presented. The 8 mega trends presented in the final framework include mentoring, self-learning, interdisciplinary and skill-based training, blended learning, online and simulated laboratories, online tests, entering new sectors in education and global competition in attracting students. The results of the research show that the 8 mega trends caused by technological developments have a high effect on at least one method of financing in public universities, and it is necessary for policy makers, managers and researchers to understand the effects of these mega trends on the development of universities in Iran. Research limitations: It is suggested to use quantitative and qualitative methods to expand the scope of research from public universities and the financing sector to all kinds of universities and other higher education sectors. Also, universities have various dimensions (such as technological infrastructures and educational methods) that are affected by technological mega trends and it is necessary to investigate in the future researches. The issue of the effects of new technologies such as artificial intelligence is one of the topics of future research from the technical and managerial perspectives in higher education. In the end, it is suggested that the results of the mentioned research should be examined in different public universities with different levels of ability, and the specific characteristics of the universities. Practical implications: The results of this research can be used by policy makers, managers and researchers. Paying attention to multiple specializations in faculty members, employing lecturers from industry in universities, using new business models in public universities to realize continuous and short-term education, paying attention to new technologies such as artificial intelligence in teaching students, More use of self-learning methods, special attention to non-formal education, more serious attention to the needs of industry and society, allocation of funds by the government to equip classrooms with new educational technologies, changes in curricula based on flexibility and continuity, Creating new methods of online and virtual exams, creating virtual laboratories, paying attention to university marketing especially in attracting foreign students, using international infrastructure in the field of education and creating international consortia in holding training courses are among the practical suggestions of this research. Originality/value: In this research, the main goal is to identify the mega trends of technology and examine the impact of mega trends on the future of universities in Iran. Of course, in this research, the focus is on public universities and the financing system in Iran. These technological developments are presented in the context of new technologies such as digital transformation and have serious effects on the activities and performance of the university in the future. The research results are useful and valuable for various stakeholders of higher education, including policy makers and administrators. Also, providing original data from interviews with experts also adds to the value of the research.

Depression and circadian rhythm disruptions are non-cognitive neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) that can appear at any stage of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) continuum. Evidence suggests that NPS are linked to AD pathophysiology and hippocampal dysfunction. To examine structural white matter (WM) connectivity and its association with gray matter (GM) atrophy and to identify specific AD-related neural networks linked to NPS in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Ninety-six older adults participants were divided into three groups based on the Global Depression Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Clinical Dementia Rating, and Mini-Mental Status Examination. Twelve individuals with MCI and NPS (MCI+) and 49 without NPS (MCI-) were classified, along with 35 age and gender-matched healthy individuals. Voxel-based morphometry and tract-based spatial statistics were employed to identify structural and microstructural alterations. Network-based statistics analyzed structural WM connectivity differences between MCI groups and healthy controls. Significant structural WM connectivity and GM loss were exclusively observed in MCI+ individuals compared to controls. The hippocampus, amygdala, and sensory cortex showed GM atrophy (p < 0.05), while the thalamus, pallidum, putamen, caudate, hippocampus, and sensory and frontal cortices exhibited structural WM connectivity loss (p < 0.01). These data indicate early limbic system involvement even without GM atrophy. Structural WM connectivity loss within the Papez circuit may precede and potentially predict GM atrophy in the temporal lobe of individuals with MCI+. These findings highlight the importance of investigating structural WM alterations in the prodromal phase of AD, which may inform diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in early AD.

PurposeThis study aims to develop and apply a process model for prioritizing and selecting basic research projects in developing countries.Design/methodology/approachBasic research is mainly funded by governments and since, unlike technological research, it does not have clear business goals, its prioritization is one of the complicated issues in formulating science and technology policy. Adopting a design science research methodology, the authors chose a general framework for project portfolio selection as an appropriate artifact for solving this problem. By customizing it for two specific features of this study, i.e. national scale of the problem and the basic nature of research proposals, the authors developed the proposed framework for solving the problem of priority setting.FindingsThe process for selecting basic research proposals consists of several steps, which can be categorized into eight steps including strategic decisions, preparation, pre-screening, evaluating individual proposals, screening, portfolio selection and monitoring. This study emphasizes the necessity of defining goals that can be evaluated for the national basic research portfolio, as a key strategic decision. Evaluating individual proposals is a peer-review-based process. In contrast, portfolio selection is done through a zero-one linear programming model. The validity of the proposed framework has been confirmed based on the data obtained from the Iran National Science Foundation.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, in this research, for the first time, a mathematical model for prioritizing basic research at the national level has been presented, which effectively contributes to policymaking regarding the development of an optimum national research portfolio.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302938.].

BackgroundThere is little economic evidence on different modalities among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in Iran. This study aimed to assess the cost-utility of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) among ESRD patients in Iran.MethodsFrom the health system perspective and with a 10-year time horizon, we conducted a cost-utility analysis based on a Markov model to compare three strategies of PD and HD [the second scenario (30% PD, 70% HD), the third scenario (50% PD, 50% HD) and the fourth scenario (70% PD, 30% HD)] among ESRD patients with the current situation (PD, 3% vs. HD, 97%) as the basic scenario (the first scenario) in Iran. Cost data for PD, HD and kidney transplantation were extracted from the medical records of 720 patients in the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) database. The Iranian version of the EQ-5D-5 L questionnaire was filled out through direct interview with 518 patients with ESRD to obtain health utility values. Other variables such as transition probabilities and survival rates were extracted from the literature. To examine the uncertainty in all variables included in the study, a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) was performed. TreeAge Pro 2020 software was used for data analysis.Findings: Our analysis indicated that the average 10-year costs associated with the first scenario (S1), the second scenario (S2), the third scenario (S3) and the fourth scenario (S4) were 4750.5, 4846.8, 4918.2, and 4989.6 million Iranian Rial (IRR), respectively. The corresponding average quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) per patient were 2.68, 2.72, 2.75 and 2.78, respectively. The ICER for S2, S3 and S4 scenarios was estimated at 2268.2, 2266.7 and 2266.7 per a QALY gained, respectively. The analysis showed that at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of 3,000,000,000 IRR (2.5 times the GDP per capita), the fourth scenario had a 63% probability of being cost-effective compared to the other scenarios.ConclusionOur study demonstrated that the fourth scenario (70% PD vs. 30% HD) compared to the current situation (3% PD vs. 97% HD) among patients with ESKD is cost-effective at a threshold of 2.5 times the GDP per capita (US$4100 in 2022). Despite the high cost of PD, due to its greater effectiveness, it is recommended that policymakers pursue a strategy to increase the use of PD among ESRD patients.