Service Quality Evaluation and Ranking of Container Terminal Operators

Jafar SAYAREH,Sobhan Iranshahi,Neda Golfakhrabadi 한국해운물류학회 2016 The Asian journal of shipping and Logistics Vol.32 No.4

In the service industry, the regular assessment of service quality is considered as a means of promoting the quality of services. Container market is no exception, and the quality of providing service in a container terminal is of prime importance in attracting new customers and maintaining the existing ones. The main aim of present research is to evaluate the quality of service being offered at Shahid Rajaee Container Terminal (SRCT) in Bandar Abbas port. The evaluation process uses SERVQUAL model which is an appropriate tool for measuring the service quality, identifying and analyzing available gaps between service expectations and perceptions. Target population in this research includes customers of SRCT. The standard and customized questionnaires were distributed among 165 samples, out of which 127 (77%) were returned. For the purpose of data analyses, initially the reliability of SERVQUAL model was checked, and then paired sample t-test was performed to reveal any possible gap between expectations and perceptions of respondents. Finally, TOPSIS was used to rank the 9 main container service companies in the SRCT. The results indicated that there are significant gaps between customers’ expectations and perceptions in SRCT, in all five dimensions of services quality. Additionally, from weighing point of view, ‘Tangibles’ was the most important dimension, followed by ‘Reliability’, ‘Assurance’, ‘Responsiveness’ and ‘Empathy’. In addition, ‘Tangibles’ dimension had maximum gap and ‘Empathy’ dimension had minimum gap between customers’ expectations and perceptions. Finally, after ranking companies, BandarAbbas Aria Container Terminal (BACT) Company was ranked first among nine companies in satisfying customers’ expectations.

Hydrogen production: Perspectives, separation with special emphasis on kinetics of WGS reaction: A state-of-the-art review

Samrand Saeidi,Farhad Fazlollahi,Sara Najari,Davood Iranshahi,Ji rí Jaromír Klemeš,Larry L. Baxter 한국공업화학회 2017 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.49 No.-

Fossil fuel depletion, global warming, energy security, and climate change spur interest in commercialand environmentally friendly alternative fuels. Palladium-based catalytic membrane technologycurrently produces ultrapure hydrogen from fossil fuels. Palladium exhibits high permeability, selectivityfor hydrogen, and good surface properties. Properties of some palladium alloys enable the industrialproduction of hydrogen. Reaction rates and conversion depend on several parameters. This documentreviews kinetic expressions for the water–gas shift (WGS) reactions and WGS combined with Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (WGS–FTS) reactions at high and low temperatures along with the details of thecatalysts and operating conditions. The discussion includes mathematical reactor modeling.

Antigenotoxic Effects of Satureja hortensis L. on Rat Lymphocytes Exposed to Oxidative Stress

Fatemeh Mosaffa,Javad Behravan,Gholamreza Karimi,Mehrdad Iranshahi 대한약학회 2006 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.29 No.2

The protective properties of Satureja hortensis L. on the rat lymphocytes DNA lesions were tested. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy rats. DNA breaks and resistance to H2O2-induced damage were measured with the comet assay. Rat lymphocytes were incubated in S. hortensis ethanolic extract (SHE) (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/ mL), essential oil (SHEO)(0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 µL/mL), H2O2 (50, 100, and 200 µM), a combination of H2O2 (200 mM) with either SHE (1.0, 2.5 mg/mL) or SHEO (1.0, 2.5 µL/mL) at 4oC for 30 min, and the extent of DNA migration was measured using a single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions. Treatment of rat lymphocytes with SHE or SHEO resulted in significant reduction of H2O2-induced DNA damage compared to controls. SHE exhibited a significant (P<0.01) inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage at 2.5 mg/mL. SHEO (1.0 and 2.5 µL/mL) also showed significant inhibitory effects (P <0.01) on H2O2 induced chromosomal damage. In conclusion both the ethanolic extract and the essential oil of the plant reversed the oxidative damage to rat lymphocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Anti-cancer Properties of a Sesquiterpene Lactone-bearing Fraction from Artemisia khorassanica

Rabe, Shahrzad Taghizadeh,Emami, Seyed Ahmad,Iranshahi, Mehrdad,Rastin, Maryam,Tabasi, Nafise,Mahmoudi, Mahmoud Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.3

Background: Artemisia species are important medicinal plants throughout the world. The present in vitro study, using a sesquiterpene lactone-bearing fraction prepared from Artemisia khorassanica (SLAK), sought to investigate anti-cancer properties of this plant and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms for the effects. Materials and Methods: Anti-cancer potential was evaluated by toxicity against human melanoma and fibroblast cell lines. To explore the involved pathways, pattern of any cell death was determined using annexin-V/PI staining and also the expression of Bax and cytochrome c was investigated by Western blotting. Results: The results showed that SLAK selectively caused a concentration-related inhibition of proliferation of melanoma cells that was associated with remarkable increase in early events and over-expression of both Bax and cytochrome c. Conclusions: The current experiment indicates that Artemisia may have anti-cancer activity. We anticipate that the ingredients may be employed as therapeutic candidates for melanoma.

Antigenotoxic Effects of Satureja hortensis L. on Rat Lymphocytes Exposed to Oxidative Stress

Mosaffa Fatemeh,Behravan Javad,Karimi Gholamreza,Iranshahi Mehrdad The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea 2006 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.29 No.2

The protective properties of Satureja hortensis L. on the rat lymphocytes DNA lesions were tested. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy rats. DNA breaks and resistance to $H_{2}O_{2}$-induced damage were measured with the comet assay. Rat lymphocytes were incubated in S. hortensis ethanolic extract (SHE) (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/mL), essential oil (SHEO)(0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 ${mu}L/mL$), $H_{2}O_{2}$ (50, 100, and 200 ${\mu}M$), a combination of $H_{2}O_{2}$ (200 mM) with either SHE (1.0, 2.5 mg/mL) or SHEO (1.0, 2.5 ${\mu}L/mL$) at $4^{\circ}C$ for 30 min, and the extent of DNA migration was measured using a single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions. Treatment of rat lymphocytes with SHE or SHEO resulted in significant reduction of $H_{2}O_{2}$-induced DNA damage compared to controls. SHE exhibited a significant (P<0.01) inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage at 2.5 mg/mL. SHEO (1.0 and 2.5 ${\mu}L/mL$) also showed significant inhibitory effects (P<0.01) on $H_{2}O_{2}$ induced chromosomal damage. In conclusion both the ethanolic extract and the essential oil of the plant reversed the oxidative damage to rat lymphocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide.

Ferutinin, an Apoptosis Inducing Terpenoid from Ferula ovina

Matin, Maryam Moghaddam,Nakhaeizadeh, Hossein,Bahrami, Ahamd Reza,Iranshahi, Mehrdad,Arghiani, Nahid,Rassouli, Fatemeh Behnam Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.5

A current hurdle in cancer management is the intrinsic or acquired resistance of cancer cells to chemical agents that restricts the efficacy of therapeutic strategies. Accordingly, there is an increasing desire to discover new natural compounds with selective toxicity to combat malignancies. In present study, the cytotoxic and apoptosis-inducing activities of ferutinin, a terpenoid derivative from Ferula ovina, were investigated on human breast (MCF7) and bladder (TCC) cancer cells as well as normal fibroblasts (HFF3).The toxicity and DNA damage inducing effects of ferutinin were studied by MTT and comet assays, DAPI and PI staining and DNA laddering. The $IC_{50}$ values of ferutinin were identified and compared with routine prescribed drugs, doxorubicin and vincristine, by MTT test. Alkaline comet assay and DAPI staining revealed DNA damage due to ferutinin, which was significantly (p<0.001) higher in MCF7 and TCC than HFF3 cells. Apoptosis induction was evidenced by PI staining and DNA laddering. Our results suggest that ferutinin could be considered as an effective anticancer agent for future in vivo and clinical experiments.

Bracken-fern Extracts Induce Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Certain Cancer Cell Lines

Roudsari, Motahhareh Tourchi,Bahrami, Ahmad Reza,Dehghani, Hesam,Iranshahi, Mehrdad,Matin, Maryam Moghadam,Mahmoudi, Mahmud Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.12

Bracken fern [Pteridium aquilinem (L.) kuhn (Dennstaedtiaceae)] is one of the most common species on the planet. It has been consumed by humans and animals for centuries. Use by some human groups is because they believe bracken fern is good for health as plant medicine. However, it is also one of the few known plants that can cause tumors in farm animals. Many interested groups have focused their attention on bracken fern because of these interesting features. In order to evaluate the biological effects of exposure to this plant in cellular level, human cancer cell lines were treated with the fern dichloromethane extracts and the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects were studied. Anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effects were evaluated by cell count, MTT assay and flow cytometry methods with three different cancer cell lines, TCC, NTERA2, and MCF-7, and two normal cells, HDF1 and HFF3. Pro-apoptotic effects of the extracts were determined by DAPI staining and comet assay, on TCC cancer cells compared to the normal control cell lines. Cellular morphology was examined by light microscopy. Our present study showed that the extract caused DNA damage and apoptosis at high concentrations ($200{\mu}g/mL$) and also it may induce cell cycle arrest (G2/M phase) at mild concentrations (50 and $30{\mu}g/mL$) depending on the cell type and tumor origin. These results indicate that bracken fern extract is a potent source of anticancer compounds that could be utilized pharmaceutically.

Evaluation of the Efficiency of Chitosan Hydrogel Containing Berberis integerrima Root Extract on a Full-Thickness Skin Wound in a Rat Model

Maryam Hashemi,Fatemeh Kalalinia,Mobina Razi,Fatemeh Moameri,Bibi Sedigheh Fazly Bazzaz,Mehrdad Iranshahi,Jebrail Movaffagh 한국고분자학회 2022 Macromolecular Research Vol.30 No.8

Some species of the Berberidaceae family and natural biopolymer chitosan have good effects on wound healing. In this research, a new formulation of chitosan hydrogel containing alcoholic root extract of Berberis integerrima (Chi-BIE) was designed and evaluated for the treatment of full-thickness skin wounds in an animal model. Alcoholic extract of Berberis integerrima root (BIE) was prepared, and its total amount of berberine was determined using UV/visible spectroscopy. Chitosan gel containing 10 and 20% BIE was prepared, and their extract release profile was assayed. The antimicrobial activity of Chi-BIE was investigated by the minimum inhibitory concentration assay. Finally, the efficiency of Chi-BIE formulations on the full-thickness wound healing was physically and histologically evaluated in an animal model. BIE was successfully loaded into the chitosan hydrogel and showed a burst release of extract during the first 4 h (60%) followed by a sustained release. Formulation of BIE in chitosan hydrogel could increase the antimicrobial activity of chitosan and BIE alone against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilius, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Chi-20% BIE indicated more antimicrobial activity compared to Chi-10%BIE. Formulation of BIE in chitosan hydrogel could increase the wound healing effects of chitosan and BIE alone. Chi-20% BIE had a faster restorative effect than other treatment groups due to more formation of epithelial tissue and faster maturation of bud tissue. Based on the results of this study, the chitosan hydrogel containing BIE is proposed as a suitable dressing for wound-healing.