Showing 15 results for Homayouni
Volume 10, Issue 4 (1-2011)
Abstract
International trade expansion and export development have been the center of attention by the economists, policy makers and the cornerstone of planning in many countries of the world. Agricultural and industrial sectors are the crucial economic sectors in every country that have a parity role in preparing food for people and industrial inputs. This article using vector error correction models considers the simultaneous effect of economic policies on agricultural and industrial exports during the years 1971 to 2005. After testing the stationery, Johansen test was used for long run estimation. Results have shown that monetary policy has positive and significant effect on industrial and agricultural exports in short run, while interest rate and government expenditures have significant inverse and direct effect on industrial and agricultural exports respectively, and exchange rate policy has the same effect on industrial and agricultural export in long-run. Finally, the strength of each variable was investigated on export. It is recommended that increasing non oil export, the real value of interest rate is determined and by rising volume of money and then investing it and improving commodity supply, inflation will decrease and therefore non oil export will increase.
Volume 11, Issue 2 (Summer 2023)
Abstract
The problem of the research is that what is the characteristic aspect of Goethe's attitude towards nature and the depiction of nature in the works of German romantic painters? Therefore, the specific aspect of their attitude towards nature is analyzed in a descriptive-comparative way. Goethe, especially in his youth, in addition to the influence he received from Rousseau, Herder and the stormy and stress pre-romantic movement, had a more romantic attitude towards nature, and in general, nature for him, in his poems and some works, means the life of primitive societies, simplicity and untouchedness in front of civilization. (Rousseau), the spontaneity and immediacy of perception of nature of nature related to people's life and art, is beautiful nature and God, all of which are considered a kind of romantic perception of nature. Although he also defends classicism, Faust seems to be influenced by the visual point of view of romantic artists. This research comes to this conclusion from the study of Friedrich and Runge's attitude towards nature. It is more romantic. Friedrich moved from the conventionalistic symbolism of his early works to a more refined and poetic naturalism based on Goethe's mood and considered the perspective of the subject to nature in his paintings. Despite Goethe's advice, in his short life, Runge showed the romantic concept of "Hieroglyph of Nature" as an essential element of language and culture.
Volume 14, Issue 3 (10-2014)
Abstract
In this paper, a novel fuzzy connectionist system for incremental online learning and knowledge discovery called Population-based Automatic Fuzzy Neural Network (PAFuNN) is demonstrated in detail. PAFuNNs evolve out of incremental learning. New connections and neurons are created based on a population of samples while operating the system which has the advantage of controlling the number of neurons involved and leads to the low complexity of the network. Learning Automata is implemented in order to optimize the network parameters including sensitivity and error thresholds to enhance the performance of the entire system. Afterward, the proposed method is compared with Evolving Fuzzy Neural Network (EFuNN) as a general online learning machine on two case study datasets consisting of gas furnace and iris data for prediction and classification tasks leading to the thorough analysis of the effects of selecting appropriate automata. Less complex, more accurate and robust results are obtained for the proposed method in comparison with the EFuNN.
Volume 15, Issue 1 (Spring 2015 2015)
Abstract
On the factors affecting economic growth and per-capita income, the less attention has been paid to “population age structure”. We aim to investigate the effect of changes in population age structure on per capita income in Iran. To do this, we identify the most important effective channels according to review of literature. Then we design an empirical model that indicates the relationship between population age structure and per-capita income based on the neoclassical growth literature. In the next step we estimate and test the model in three specifications by Auto-Regressive Distributed Lags (ARDL) method during 1968-2010. The results indicate that the per capita income elasticity of labor supply (as the direct effectiveness channel of changes in population age structure on per capita income) is positive. In addition, indirect channels (which include savings, human capital and government spending) indicate that the per capita income elasticity with respect to an increase in share of population between the ages 15 to 64 is positive, and per capita income elasticity with respect to an increase in share of population below age 15 and above age 65 is negative.
Volume 15, Issue 2 (summer 2015 2015)
Abstract
This study investigates the time-varying correlations among oil and coin prices, and exchange rate in Iran. Since investment is a key factor in economic growth and development, so the necessary funds should be provided and directed towards manufacturing and industrial sectors. In addition, understanding the relationships among financial variables allows to the investor to reduce overall portfolio risk without harming to the return on investment. In this paper we use monthly data of the oil and coin prices, and exchange rate in Iran over the period 1991:3 to 2011:2 and examine time-varying correlations using Dynamic Conditional Correlation - Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (DCC-GARCH) approach by G@RCH6 software. The analyses made in milieu of the world financial crisis (2008) show that the conditional correlations among assets are time-varying and world financial crisis causes significant changes in dynamic relationships among assets under study in Iran.
Volume 15, Issue 4 (September & October 2024)
Abstract
This research investigated the mediating role of language motivational self system in the relationship between epistemological beliefs and second language writing anxiety in students. The research method was correlation type using structural equation modeling. The statistical population of this research was made up of all the students of the second secondary school, 203 students were randomly selected and answered to Papi's self-motivation system questionnaires (2010), Cheng's second language writing anxiety (2004) and the short form of Schumer's epistemological beliefs questionnaire (1999). The results showed that epistemological beliefs have a direct effect on second language writing anxiety and the motivational self system of language has a direct effect on second language writing anxiety. Also, epistemological beliefs have an indirect effect on second language writing anxiety through the motivational self system of language. The research model was also confirmed and the result showed that the variable measurement models have a good fit and 45% of the variance of language writing anxiety is explained by cognitive variables. Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that there is a direct and indirect causal relationship between the variables of epistemological beliefs, language motivational self system and second language writing anxiety, and the mediating role of language motivational self system in the relationship between epistemological beliefs and second language writing anxiety were confirmed.
1. Introduction
Language is often seen as a key to gaining knowledge and empowerment. When learning a language, people can communicate on different levels and it allows them to understand and interpret the abstract concepts, feelings and thoughts of the people. Through learning a foreign language, a larger population is accessed, more knowledge is available, and the sharing of ideas becomes deeper and more diverse (Gollnick & Chin, 2009). Language leaning is a cognitive and social process and we learn it through interaction with others as well as conscious mental effort. This means that learners can play an active role in their learning through the use of learning strategies (Anugkakul, 2011). One of the important factors in learning a second language is anxiety. Anxiety can be an important variable that a language learner experiences while learning a foreign language. Anxiety is an integral part of human experience and nature. Anxiety is a vague feeling of uneasiness with apprehension that occurs in response to internal and external stimuli. Also, it may lead to cognitive, emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms (Baghiani Moghadam et al., 2015). McIntyre and Gardner (1994) described L2 anxiety as "feelings of tension and apprehension especially in L2 contexts, including speaking, listening, and writing." When learning a foreign language, these anxieties can affect students' performance in academic environments (Farsian et al., 2014). Language writing anxiety is one of the most important variables that plays an important role in second language learning. Second language writing anxiety is defined as a relatively stable tendency of anxiety related to second language writing that includes a variety of dysfunctional thoughts, increasing physiological arousal, and maladaptive behaviors (Cheng, 2004). Studies have shown that students’ writing performance is related to anxiety. In the language anxiety literature, there are two variables of epistemological beliefs and the motivational self-system of the second language playing a decisive role. Learners' beliefs about language learning are also very important (Fujiwara, 2015). In the last three decades, researchers have studied beliefs about knowledge and their impact on learning. These so-called epistemological beliefs include a complex system of beliefs. They not only affect academic performance and information processing, but also they interact with constructs such as achievement motivation (Oschatz, 2015). Students’ epistemological beliefs affect the application of learning strategies and their ability to understand academic texts in English (Allahi, 2018). Another factor affecting language anxiety is the motivational self-system of the second language. The second language motivational self-system model by Dornyei (2005) with three aspects of the self as the language self, the language ideal self, and the language learning experience was developed based on previous models and empirical evidence from psychological studies. Intrinsic motivation and different types of writing anxiety indicate English as a foreign language learners' evaluative judgments from teacher and peer feedback (Tsao et al., 2017). Motivation and self-reported English competences/skills had strong negative and significant correlations with English writing anxiety levels (Akbarov & Aydoghan, 2018). Therefore, this research investigated the relationship between epistemological beliefs and second language writing anxiety, mediated by the second language motivational self-system among students.
2. Method
The present research is an applied one. The data were collected cross-sectionally and analyzed descriptively, and correlational part was based on the method of structural equation modeling. The statistical population of this research consists of secondary school students of which 203 students were randomly selected as the sample. To collect data, Taguchi et al.,'s (2009) motivational self-system questionnaires, Schumer's (1990) epistemological beliefs, and Second Language Writing Anxiety, Cheng (2004) were used. For data analysis, descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation and inferential statistics of structural regression modeling were done using SPSS 24 and Amos 23 software.
3. Findings
The results show a significant correlation between the subscales of the language motivational self-system and epistemological beliefs with English writing anxiety. There was a significant negative relationship between the subscales of the motivational self-system of language and English language writing anxiety, and a significant positive relationship was observed between epistemological beliefs and English language writing anxiety. The paths of epistemological beliefs and motivational self-system of language also had a significant direct effect on English writing anxiety. Also, the indirect path of epistemological beliefs on English language writing anxiety was observed through the mediation of language motivational self-system, and in general, two variables had the predictive power (R2 = 0.45) of the English language writing anxiety variable, which was about %45. This endogenous variable can be explained by these variables.
4. Conclusion
The aim of this research was to investigate the structural relationship between epistemological beliefs and second language writing anxiety with the mediation of language motivational self-system among students. The results showed that epistemological beliefs had a direct effect on second language writing anxiety and an indirect effect on second language writing anxiety through the mediation of language motivational self-system. The findings are consistent with the results obtained by Papi (2010), Kyung (2017), Sadeghi (2022), and Zare et al., (2019). Writing, especially for second language learners, is a laborious and demanding activity, and at the same time, it is a skill that they must master in order to perform well at higher levels (Daud et al., 2005). Writing tasks are usually required in any field of study. However, writing is a very difficult skill and second language learners are afraid of doing that (Gupta, 1998). The concept of success in writing is related to self-expression, flow of ideas, external expectations, high self-confidence, and enjoyment of writing in a second language (Basturkmen & Lewis, 2002). L2 writing anxiety can be defined as "the avoidance of writing and situations which potentially require some writing along with the potential to evaluate that writing" (Hassan, 2001). Epistemological beliefs in the field of internal factors increase anxiety by forming inappropriate cognitive dimensions. Participants’ beliefs about these dimensions of knowledge may prevent the emergence of more complex epistemological beliefs in the domain of English language learning. Second language curriculum should focus on developing the use of language learning skills and appropriate cognitive strategies (e.g., critical thinking) to determine the most accurate sources of vocabulary knowledge in specific communicative contexts (Ziegler, 2014).
Dörnyei's (2009) language motivation system has been applied in various settings around the world to understand the motivation for learning languages. Some research studies have suggested that students should develop different forms of self-motivation at different organizational levels. In some language learners, the initial motivation to learn a language does not come from internal or external images and is more from a successful engagement with the actual process of language learning experience (Papi, 2010). Through recognizing and strengthening the variables of the ideal self, the ought to self, and learning experiences, the amount of individual effort in learning can be predicted (AttarSharqi & Akbari, 2018). Intrinsic motivation and different types of writing anxiety show English as foreign language learners' evaluative judgments from teacher and peer feedback (Tsao et al., 2017). Analysis of the causes of second language writing anxiety showed that language problems, insufficient writing practice, test anxiety, lack of knowledge, and low self-confidence in writing performance are the main sources of second language writing anxiety. Eckstein and Ferris (2018) recommend teaching second language writers to edit common patterns of errors and sensitizing students to the value of subtle and purposeful lexical variation in their writing. Teachers should look for more effective ways to reduce the anxiety that students feel when learning and writing English in order to support successful language learning experiences (Choi, 2013).
Volume 17, Issue 99 (May 2020)
Abstract
Background and Aim:
Oxidative stress factors are known to causes some metabolic disorders diseases. Therefore, preventing, or at least decreasing the amount of these factors may have a positive impact on prevention or improvement of the metabolic diseases. Recently, the herbal medicines are more considered due to more effectiveness. The present study was designed to evaluate anti-oxidant effect of sumac powder (Rhus coriaria L.).
Materials and Methods:
In the present study, special parts of the sumac plant, dried at room temperature and powdered using laboratory mill. All samples were solubilized in methanol, and four concentrations (12.5, 25, 40 ،50 µ/ml) were prepared and the antioxidant activity of sumac powder measured by DPPH at a wavelength of 517 nm. Finally, the IC50 of all samples and the standard were calculated and compared with standard.
Results:
The methanol extracts of all sumac doses showed dose-dependent potent antioxidant activity. The results indicated that brown sumac powder (IC50 = 14/912) has the higher antioxidant activity compared to red sumac powder (IC50 = 27/385), which was lower than vitamin C (IC50 = 6/708).
Conclusion:
Brown sumac powder has a stronger antioxidant effect than red sumac powder, which can be effective in improving the antioxidant defense of the body, so we advise to consume brown sumac.
Volume 18, Issue 1 (Spring 2018 2018)
Abstract
Natural resources generate the major part of national wealth in resource-rich developing countries. Based on economic theories, if natural resource rents are reinvested continuously in other forms of capital, such countries can benefit from these resources. Thus, examining the mechanism of how to rents affect economic growth through capital accumulation channels is of great importance. Because of the importance of management of resource rents in achieving sustainable growth and development in resource-rich countries, this paper investigates the impacts of resource rents on accumulation of four kinds of capital (foreign, physical, human and social capital) in Iran during 1970-2014. To this end, a simultaneous equations system consisting of various capital forms is designed, and estimated by using Seemingly Unrelated Regression estimator. According to the findings, resource rents have positive effects on accumulation of foreign, human and social capital in Iran. But it is of negative effect on accumulation of physical capital. The results show that physical capital is affected by natural resource rents more than other kinds of capital. This is because of unproductive government investments in physical capital, hence not only resource rents increase physical capital but also they affect physical capital negatively.
Volume 19, Issue 5 (9-2017)
Abstract
Irreversible changes in the physicochemical properties of bakery products after baking is called staling. One of the most important issues of nutritional and economic importance in the bakery industry is to delay staling. One way to postpone staling is to apply native plant and seed hydrocolloids, especially mucilages, which have high medicinal and nutritional value and low price. Therefore, in this study, the effects of different concentrations of psyllium seed mucilage (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1), marve mucilage (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 1) and the combination of both kinds of mucilage (up to 1%) on the physical, sensory and staling properties of sponge cake were investigated. In general, except when 1% of mucilage was used, the overall properties of sponge cake were always improved by hydrocolloid addition. The results showed that the addition of 0.25% marve combined with 0.25% psyllium significantly (P< 0.05) enhanced properties of sponge cakes (volume, overall acceptability, hardness and moisture during storage) compared with the control sample.
Volume 19, Issue 6 (11-2017)
Abstract
A major challenge currently facing the food industry is the need for increased nutritional value in foods. A feasible and nutritional method to achieve this aim in bakery products is the addition of prebiotics which makes possible the sale of more nutritional food with equal sensory features. The main aim of the present study was to assess the effects of oligofructose, inulin and oligofructose-enriched inulin on the features of prebiotic cake. In the control sample, the highest symmetry and volume was observed, along with the lowest apparent density and specific gravity. The crumb was observed to become less yellowish and more reddish when fructans were added, except during the addition of 2.5% oligofructose-enriched inulin. In the storage period of the product, the control sample had the highest hardness and least moisture. Samples with 2.5% inulin/oligofructose and 10% oligofructose/inulin demonstrated an increased level of protein, total fiber, and ash, respectively. The highest and the lowest scores in terms of sensory evaluation of the cakes (one day post-baking) were attained by the 2.5% oligofructose/inulin and 10% inulin, respectively.
Saeid Niazmardi, Amin Alizadeh Naeini, Saeid Homayouni, Abdolreza Safari, Farhad Samadzadegan,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (4-2013)
Abstract
Geographic information and analysis provide a wide range of data and techniques to monitor and manage natural resources. As an important case, in arid and semi-arid areas, water management is critical for both local governance and citizens. As a result, the estimation of water potential brought by snowmelt runoff and rainfalls seems to be very useful and important for these areas. Hydrological modeling needs vast knowledge about integrating all relating parameters. In this work, different data sources including the remote sensing observations, meteorological and geological data are integrated to supply spatially detailed inputs for Snowmelt Runoff Modeling in a watershed, located in Simin-Dasht basin in the northeast of Tehran, Iran. Because of high temporal frequency and suitable spatial coverage, MODIS optical images have been chosen to map snow cover. The MODIS 8-day snow map product with spatial resolution of 500m (MOD10A2.5) is used to compute the snow cover area. In addition, during the snowmelt period in 2006-2007, archived meteorological and geological data are used to provide snow runoff modeling (SRM) parameters and variables. Also Landsat ETM+ images with better spatial resolution (30m) and less temporal coverage (16 days) are used in 2007 snowmelt period to compare the model accuracy with same conditions. Evaluation of the runoff outputs in both of models reveals good agreement with real data that prove SRM capability in modeling basin’s daily and weekly runoff. Model accuracy shows better satisfactory of snow runoff modeling results within snow cover area derived from Landsat ETM+ data and MODIS snow product was less accurate in modeling. Although using MODIS model accuracy was less, but still it is recommended due to less further process and providing better temporal coverage during snowfall and snowmelt season. Future works in this criterion could be concentrated on SRM forecast improvement using fusion with other measurements or combining physical models.
Nastaran Saberi, Saeid Homayouni, Mahdi Motagh,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (4-2013)
Abstract
Geographic information and analysis provide a wide range of data and techniques to monitor and manage natural resources. As an important case, in arid and semi-arid areas, water management is critical for both local governance and citizens. As a result, the estimation of water potential brought by snowmelt runoff and rainfalls seems to be very useful and important for these areas. Hydrological modeling needs vast knowledge about integrating all relating parameters. In this work, different data sources including the remote sensing observations, meteorological and geological data are integrated to supply spatially detailed inputs for Snowmelt Runoff Modeling in a watershed, located in Simin-Dasht basin in the northeast of Tehran, Iran. Because of high temporal frequency and suitable spatial coverage, MODIS optical images have been chosen to map snow cover. The MODIS 8-day snow map product with spatial resolution of 500m (MOD10A2.5) is used to compute the snow cover area. In addition, during the snowmelt period in 2006-2007, archived meteorological and geological data are used to provide snow runoff modeling (SRM) parameters and variables. Also Landsat ETM+ images with better spatial resolution (30m) and less temporal coverage (16 days) are used in 2007 snowmelt period to compare the model accuracy with same conditions. Evaluation of the runoff outputs in both of models reveals good agreement with real data that prove SRM capability in modeling basin’s daily and weekly runoff. Model accuracy shows better satisfactory of snow runoff modeling results within snow cover area derived from Landsat ETM+ data and MODIS snow product was less accurate in modeling. Although using MODIS model accuracy was less, but still it is recommended due to less further process and providing better temporal coverage during snowfall and snowmelt season. Future works in this criterion could be concentrated on SRM forecast improvement using fusion with other measurements or combining physical models.
Volume 21, Issue 1 (spring 2021 2021)
Abstract
In this research, the impact of social capital through influencing the efficiency of government expenditure is investigated using three-stage least-squares model in Iran during 2005: Q1 to 2018: Q2. The effects of exchange rate, stock market index and oil revenues on non-performing loans of public and private sectors are also examined. Results suggest that given the increased efficiency of government expenditure, social capital has a significant negative impact on non-performing loans of public and private sectors. In addition, exchange rate has a significant negative impact on banking system’s receivables from public sector and a significant negative impact on banks’ receivables from private sector. Stock market index has no significant impact on non-performing loans of both public and private sector, since stock market is not liquid enough and has low share in financing businesses. Economic growth has also no significant impact on non-performing loans of both sectors, which can be explained by the impact of improvement in business environment and individuals’ purchasing power on their ability to repay their loans. Thus, by stabilizing economy (controlling the fluctuations of exchange-rate, stock market and so forth) and by improving social capital, it is expected that efficiency of government expenditure is increased and non-performing loans of both sectors is decreased.
Volume 21, Issue 152 (October 2024)
Abstract
Ultrafiltration is a technique used for concentration of milk in order to produce the cheese with more desirable physicochemical and nutritional properties. On the other hand, use of combined starter cultures for cheese production can led to improve the sensory characteristics and overall acceptability of final product. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of using different combinations of Lactobacillus helveticus (L. helveticus) and mesophilic starter culture (Lactobacillus lactis ssp. lactis and Lactobacillus lactis ssp. cremoris) on the volatile compounds and sensory characteristics of ultrafiltered white cheese during ripening. Five ultrafiltered white cheeses were produced using mesophilic starter culture and L. helveticus at different ratios (100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100) and kept in refrigerator (9 ± 0.1°C) for 90 days. The related analysis was performed on 1, 30, 60 and 90 days of ripening. The results revealed that an increase in L. helveticus ratio caused a significant increase in the Co2, ethanol, ethylene oxide and a significant decrease in the acetone (p<0.05). Regarding sensory properties, lower scores of body and texture, and higher scores of odor and flavor were assigned to the cheeses produced using higher ratios of L. helveticus (p<0.05). In conclusion, the use of combinations of mesophilic starter culture and L. helveticus at specific ratios (75:25 and 25:75) led to improve the volatile compounds in the final product and production an ultrafiltered cheese with desirable sensory characteristics.
Volume 21, Issue 154 (December 2024)
Abstract
The escalating demand for hydrocolloids exhibiting exceptional performance has encouraged the interest of researchers in identifying novel sources of these hydrocolloids. Encapsulation has emerged as a strategy to boost the survivability of probiotics in harsh environmental conditions, enabling these beneficial bacteria to be transported to the body in sufficient quantities to leverage their health-promoting effects. This study aimed to explore the viability of microencapsulating probiotic L. acidophilus using ammoniacum gum (AMG), enhancing it with nanoselenium, and ascertaining its survival rate in stressful conditions. AMG, extracted from the mucilage of the Dorema Ammonacum plant using solvent and alcohol precipitation, was employed in the study. Solutions comprising 1%, 5%, and 10% weight-volume of AMG were prepared, followed by the synthesis of selenium nanoparticles at a concentration of 1.5%. Bacterial cells with an average count of 6.85×1011 log CFU were then introduced into the suspension. Observations revealed a substantial increase in encapsulation efficiency, rising from 66% to 81% with the escalation of gum concentration. The survival rates under refrigerated conditions for 1%, 5%, and 10% concentrations of AMG were recorded at 62.43%, 72.37%, and 81.83%, respectively. In simulated stomach conditions, at the pH levels applied in this study, concentrations of 5% and 10% of AMG exhibited sustained live cell counts exceeding 7 log cfu g-1 after 3 hours of incubation. Additionally, after a 6-hour incubation in a 10 g L-1 bile solution, free cells exhibited a reduction of 5.93 log cfu g-1, whereas micro-encapsulated cells at concentrations of 1%, 5%, and 10% demonstrated reductions of only 3.93 log cfu g-1, 3.15 log cfu g-1, and 1.9 log cfu g-1, respectively. These findings underscore the excellent encapsulation properties of AMG, locating it as a promising candidate for integration into numerous food formulations with similar objectives.