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Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract

In the current research, based on the descriptive-analytical method, the phonological and morphological changes of Persian loanwords in the process of localization, as well as the influence and impact of the Persian language on the Ottoman Turkish language, have been studied. For this purpose, by referring to all the dictionaries, the dictionary of definitions and allusions, thematic dictionaries and encyclopedias that were written during the period of the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia, the data required for this research, which were about 6000 Persian loanwords, were collected and examined. In this research, using Excel software and with the help of computer, the percentage and frequency of occurrence of common processes in the field of phonology and morphology have been determined. The results of the research show that among phonetic and phonological processes including vowel harmony, phonetic over differentiation, assimilation, metathesis, insertion, omitition, lenition, and weakening; Vowel harmony, which is one of the prominent features of Turkish as an agglutinating language, has the highest frequency. In the morphological field where the processes of composition and derivation were examined, derivation has the most frequency. Despite the different typological characteristics of the Persian and Turkish languages, the relationship between these two languages ​​has been extensive and its consequences have been remarkably one-sided, the consequence of which is the existence of many Persian words in the Ottoman Turkish language.
 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract


 
One of the outstanding language features in free Nima's poems is his characteristic and distinctive syntax. Nima named this linguistic characteristic as "morphological and syntactic combinations". Examining Nima's syntactic combinations shows that these combinations have functions in Nima's poetry, and one of these functions is its role in creating the music of the poem. Since the syntactic combinations releted to adjectives have a high frequency in Nima's poetry , this article after explaining the types of syntactic combinations of Nima in adjectives; such as the expansion of the adjective, putting a distance between the adjective and the adjective, the use of the adjective as a substitute for the adjective, etc., it expresses its function in creating the music of Nima's poetry and concludes that through his syntactic combinations, especially about the adjective, Nima tried to make the natural music that the words It matches the feeling and theme of the poem.

Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract

Given the status of English as the world lingua franca, speakers of many world languages are increasingly coming into contact with the language and incorporate features of the English language into their own native languages. The influence has been made more diffusive by the emergence of and rapid growth in technological innovations, especially the social media. Persian has borrowed a variety of English lexical words, prompting this study to explore a set of such borrowed words that have been integrated into the Persian language. These loanwords were subsequently combined with the host grammatical elements to create innovative compound verbs. In the majority of instances, the borrowed English constituents in these verbs have distinctly different meanings from their original English counterparts. This research examines the type of the semantic change that has occurred in the English words after they were borrowed into Persian and how frequent each type of change is. Hollmann's (2009) taxonomy of semantic change was utilized to achieve the purposes of this research. The results revealed that the most frequent semantic shift was through metaphor, with semantic narrowing and pejoration being the second and third most frequent types of semantic change. The least frequent types of semantic change were metonymy, broadening, and melioration.
 


Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract

In this study, the effect of poison to salinity were exposed on gill tissue of common carp (C. carpio). Based on this, 250 common carp fry with an average weight of 21±2g were distributed in four treatments each with three repetitions including: salinity zero, 4 ppt, 8 ppt and 12 ppt, were distributed for a period of 7 d. then one group was placed for 4 d in exposure to pesticide with an acute concentration of 150 ppm chlorpyrifos with formulation of 40.8% EC and the second group was placed for 7 d in the with sub-acute concentration of 15 ppm chlorpyrifos. Histopathology of Gill tissue showed that the poison and salinity have such injuries as epithelial hypertrophy, lamellar aneurism, secondary connecting adjacent blades, distal hyperplasia, epithelial lifting, leukocyte infilt and hyperplasia. Gill histopathological result showed that at high concentrations, Epithelial hypertrophy, Distal hyperplasia and Lamellar fusion, versus harm in low concentrations to form Lamellar aneurism, Epithelial lifting and the Leukocyte infilt. Therefore, these pathological indicators can be used as biomarkers.


Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted for Publication 2024)
Abstract

Aim and Introduction
Achieving sustained and long-term economic growth necessitates the optimal allocation and utilization of resources at the national level. This goal relies heavily on the existence of efficient financial markets, particularly well-functioning and extensive capital markets. Numerous macroeconomic variables can influence the level of risk associated with shareholder rights, corporate cash flows, and adjusted discount rates. Additionally, changes in economic conditions can alter both the quantity and nature of investment opportunities.
However, establishing a fixed and consistent relationship between macroeconomic variables and stock price indices remains challenging. The complex and dynamic nature of financial markets makes it difficult to identify a method that accurately reflects economic conditions and captures the most critical influencing variables. Therefore, this study employs machine learning models to identify the key macroeconomic factors affecting stock price indices.
Methodology
Feature selection is one of the most common and crucial techniques in data preprocessing and serves as an essential component of machine learning. This study employs feature selection models to identify the most relevant predictors of the stock price index. The models utilized include the random forest method and regularized linear regression. To examine the nature of the relationships between variables, the jointness method was applied. Additionally, the mutual information analysis was conducted to assess the influence of key variables over different decades, enabling a deeper understanding of how the impact of macroeconomic factors on stock prices has evolved over time.
Findings
The study analyzed the impact of selected macroeconomic variables on stock price indices, focusing on the Tehran Stock Exchange. The findings from the Random Forest (RF) and Regularized Linear Regression (RLR) models indicate that exchange rates, financial development, inflation, economic growth, trade openness, and global uncertainty significantly influence Iran’s stock price index. The results demonstrate that global uncertainty, interest rates, and trade openness exert negative effects on stock prices, whereas the other variables positively influence stock prices.
The jointness method was employed to analyze the relationships between these variables, further confirming their significance. Moreover, the Mutual Information method was used to examine how the influence of these key variables varied across different decades.
Discussion and Conclusion
Among the variables examined, exchange rates, financial development, inflation, economic growth, trade openness, and global uncertainty emerged as the most significant factors influencing Iran’s stock price index. This finding is not surprising, given Iran’s historical experience with significant exchange rate fluctuations and persistent inflationary pressures. Global uncertainty has consistently influenced domestic markets in Iran due to political and economic instability. Previous research has highlighted the complex relationship between exchange rate fluctuations and stock price indices (Ratanapakorn & Sharma, 2007). Scholars have argued that the relationship between stock prices and exchange rates can significantly affect monetary and fiscal policy, as a recessionary stock market can reduce overall demand and impact broader economic performance.
Extensive research has also investigated the relationship between inflation and stock prices, identifying inflation as a significant factor affecting stock indices

(Boudoukh & Richardson, 1993; Fama & Schwert, 1977; Jaffe & Mandelker, 1976) . While some studies have reported a positive correlation between inflation and stock prices, others have found a negative relationship.
Moreover, trade openness has been recognized as a key factor influencing stock market fluctuations. Open economies are more vulnerable to external shocks due to increased global risk-sharing among markets. Although some studies have not found conclusive evidence of a direct effect between trade openness and stock prices, trade openness remains one of the influential factors (Nickmansh, 2016).
Stock prices reflect the present value of future cash flows, which are subject to two main effects: cash flow changes driven by increased production and interest rates, which serve as a discount factor. Stock prices tend to decline when expected cash flows decrease or interest rates rise. The level of actual economic activity directly influences cash flows, as higher economic activity generally leads to increased cash flow. Among the various indicators used to predict commodity markets, real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is considered the most comprehensive measure of economic activity (Yuhasin, 2011; Christopher et al., 2006).


mouseout="msoCommentHide('_com_1')" onmouseover="msoCommentShow('_anchor_1','_com_1')">Finally, global uncertainty plays a significant role in shaping the internal economic environment of countries, making it an important global macroeconomic variable that influences the performance of publicly traded companies on the stock exchange.
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Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the use of different levels of syntactic architecture in written personal and fictional narratives in both Persian and English across three discourse communities, namely Persian native speakers, English native speakers, and Iranian EFL learners. To this end, the participants of the study were selected based on convenience sampling and were asked to write one of their happiest memories. Also, an English fable from Aseop's fables and a Persian story, chosen based on comparative literature and having the similar plot, were given to them to read and write whatever they remembered; there was no limit on the number of words and paragraphs. To analyze the data, the Berman and Nir-Sagiv's (2009) model was followed. The findings showed that in fictional narratives written by both Persian and English native speakers, isotaxis, asymmetric parataxis, complement (CMP), and parataxis levels were frequently employed; however, personal narratives in Persian were dominantly isotactic, paratactic, and asymmetric paratactic, CMP, while isotactic, hypotactic, and paratactic levels were frequent in English written personal narratives. Also, after receiving explicit instruction on different types of English sentences, the use of adverbial and relative clauses (hypotaxis level) increased in Iranian EFL learners' written narratives. It can be concluded that explicit teaching of syntactic levels enabled EFL learners to arrange their sentences correctly to express their intended meaning. Teachers can benefit from the results to gain a more comprehensive understanding of narrative connectivity and help EFL learners elaborate clause linkage in their written narrative tasks.
 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract

This study aims to investigate the representation of gender and intercultural competence in the images and texts of 15 Iranian secondary school English coursebooks, published over six decades. Gender representation was investigated using the framework proposed by Dahmardeh and Kim (2020), and the scale developed by Solhaug and Kristensen (2020) was used as the criteria for investigating intercultural competence. The data were coded and counted using manifest content analysis. The results showed that Iranian English coursebooks mentioned males and females unequally in their texts across different decades, with one gender being represented more in each decade. Regarding gender representation in the images, males were represented more than females in almost all decades. The representation of males and females in the books published in the 1970s was almost equal, followed by extreme and sudden changes in gender representation in the 1980s. However, the books published in and after the 2000s presented a balanced picture of males and females. The coursebooks dealt with intercultural competence in their texts and images very rarely, limiting this concept to religious issues and neglecting other aspects. In fact, the coursebooks addressed only one category out of the 11 categories. Finally, the study ends with implications for coursebook authors, materials designers, teachers, students, and teacher trainers.

Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract

Despite the abundance of research on the language teachers’ pedagogical knowledge base (PKB), there is a scarcity of studies probing into the teachers’ individual differences and how they relate to the teachers’ instructional effectiveness. To address this gap, we investigated the association of language teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and their instructional efficacy, shedding light on the similarities and differences in the knowledge base of the teachers. Through administering a context-specific self-efficacy test, eight teachers were selected based on their scores and put into two groups. Afterwards, a 90-minute instructional session of each teacher was video-recorded and later used in a stimulated-recall interview with the teacher. The verbal reports were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic content analysis to identify the teachers’ pedagogical thoughts. The results indicated significant differences between the groups, with the high efficacy group reporting an average of 4.18 thoughts-per-minute in contrast to 2.85 thoughts-per-minute reported by the low efficacy group. Five of the dominant knowledge categories were common between the two groups, though with varying frequencies and ranking. The findings offer implications for attending to the construct of self-efficacy and its sources in teacher professional development, as well as the socio-cognitive and emotional side of teacher preparation and development.

Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract

This study employs thematic map clustering and social network analysis (SNA) to analyze global Agri-startup trends, utilizing bibliometric data from the Scopus database. The research identifies key contributors, collaboration networks, and key thematic clusters that drive innovation in the agricultural sector. Findings reveal a significant upward trend in Agri-startup research, with sustainability, entrepreneurship, and technology integration emerging as central themes. The study highlights the critical roles of prominent regions, institutions, and journals in shaping the field, underscoring the importance of precision agriculture and digital technologies in advancing agriculture. These insights offer actionable recommendations for stakeholders to foster innovation, promote sustainable development, and address global agricultural challenges and enhance food security, bridging academic research with practical applications in innovation ecosystems.


Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract

Poly- gamma- glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a natural polymer with diverse applications across multiple industries. However, its use in agriculture is limited due to high production costs. This study aimed to optimize the cost-effective production of γ-PGA through Solid-State Fermentation (SSF) using Bacillus velezensis UTB96, evaluate the concentration and molecular weight of γ-PGA suitable for agricultural applications, particularly in strawberry cultivation, and explore the impact of γ-PGA on extending the shelf-life of strawberry fruits during cold storage. Initially, the production of γ-PGA using SSF with B. velezensis UTB96 was investigated, along with an evaluation of the influence of physicochemical factors on the molecular weight of γ-PGA. Based on the results, three different molecular weights of γ-PGA were identified: 1156.43 kDa, 734.38 kDa, and 296.55 kDa. These were selected for greenhouse trials to assess their effectiveness in controlling gray mold on strawberry plants. The results showed that by utilizing agricultural wastes, including sesame flour, wheat straw, and banana peel in SSF methodology, γ-PGA could be produced at a rate of 70 g/kg of dry weight of the culture medium. Analyzing the impact of γ-PGA on reducing gray mold revealed that this compound could enhance the plant's defense. A significant increase in the activity of ascorbate peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) enzymes was observed, along with the production of polyphenolic compounds such as ellagic acid. Consequently, these mechanisms improved the plant's flexibility and tolerance to the fungus, helping to maintain the quality of the fruits during cold storage.


 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract

Rural handwoven carpet weavers, particularly in the context of handmade silk carpet production, grapple with significant challenges concerning recognizing all stakeholders and establishing timely connections. These challenges have a substantial impact on the adoption of innovation in carpet production and the overall enhancement of productivity. This research was conducted to scrutinize the communication network of carpet weavers within the Knowledge and Innovation System (KIS) of handmade silk carpet production in rural areas. Data were gathered through interviews with 270 rural households in Zanjan province, specifically in the Tarom, Khodabandeh, and Zanjan counties, utilizing a structured questionnaire. Social Network Analysis (SNA) in UCINET was employed to examine the interactions among these actors, and graphical representations were created using Net Draw. The results revealed that the network's density varied across different levels, showing weakness in some cases, moderate strength in others, and strong connections in select instances. The connections of carpet weaving families with other actors within the KIS were predominantly localized. Among these families, those utilizing the home-based wage production method exhibited the most extensive interactions. The individuals designated as "FMs" (likely referring to family members) and "WNVKRs" (possibly local experts) demonstrated the highest degree of connection and influence within the network of weavers' interactions
 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted for Publication 2024)
Abstract

  Aim and Introduction
Financial markets have become one of the most attractive environments for investment in the modern era. Through the efficient allocation of capital, these markets exert a significant influence across various domains, including trade, education, employment, technology, and the broader economy. Financial markets are categorized into specific industries and sectors based on the characteristics of the goods and services produced. These unique features and industry-specific conditions influence productivity, which in turn affects returns.
Industry-level returns reflect a combination of financial and non-financial factors that shape stock market dynamics. Industry data offer critical insights into the sources of a country’s economic growth, particularly from an industrial standpoint. Furthermore, industries often act as a leading force in the stock market, as their performance is closely tied to macroeconomic fundamentals.
There are two primary approaches to investing in stocks and generating returns commensurate with risk: the fundamental approach and the technical approach. The fundamental approach is based on three key levels of analysis. The first is macroeconomic analysis, which considers variables such as gross domestic product, monetary policy, and the broader economic environment, along with their effects on the returns of various industries and sectors. The second is industry analysis, which evaluates the performance of companies within a specific industry based on the unique conditions and characteristics of that industry. The third is company analysis, which focuses on assessing a firm’s current operations and financial status to determine its intrinsic value and future potential. Therefore, industry-level analysis serves as a crucial component within the broader framework of fundamental investment analysis.
At the industry level, macroeconomic variables—especially government monetary policy—play a pivotal role. Monetary policy influences capital markets through four primary transmission channels: the exchange rate, interest rate, credit, and asset prices.
Methodology
To examine the research hypotheses regarding the impact of monetary policy on the returns of small and large industries from April 2010 to March 2024, this study employs the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimator on monthly data. A key advantage of this method is its capacity to handle both stationary and non-stationary variables, thereby overcoming issues related to cointegration and the limited power of unit root tests in long-term estimations.
The model used is a Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework, which enables the simultaneous estimation of short-term and long-term coefficients. In this framework, a long-run relationship is assumed between
Yt  and Xt , with fixed effects μi .
The error correction model is as follows:
yit=μi+iyi,t+βi'Xit+j=1p-1ωij*yi,t-j+j=0q-1δij*'Xi,t-j+…+εit                                           (1)  
The final equation is as follows:
yit=μi+iyi,t-1-θi'Xit+j=1p-1ωij*yi,t-j+j=0q-1δij*'Xi,t-j+…+εit                                        (2) 
In this study, the dependent variable is the industry return (IR) for small and large industries, and the key independent variable is Monetary Policy (MP)—measured via the Monetary Conditions Index based on principal component analysis. Additional control variables include Liquidity Volume (LV), Oil Price (OP), and the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Findings 
The results for long-term relationships reveal a positive and significant relationship between monetary policy and the return of small industries on the Tehran Stock Exchange, with an estimated coefficient of approximately 4.1%. However, no significant long-term relationship was found between monetary policy and the return of large industries.
In the short term, the error correction terms are estimated at -0.78 and -0.70 for small and large industries, respectively. This indicates that roughly 78% and 70% of the disequilibrium between the independent and dependent variables is corrected each period, guiding the system toward long-run equilibrium. In the first model (small industries), monetary policy has no immediate impact on returns. Conversely, in the second model (large industries), monetary policy exerts a significant short-term effect at the 5% level.
Conclusion
Government policies exert a profound influence on financial markets, with monetary policy playing a distinct and varying role across industries. Despite its importance, this differentiation has received limited attention in Iran. This study contributes to the literature by analyzing the differential effects of monetary policy on small and large industries, using the PMG model to estimate both short-term and long-term impacts on a monthly basis from April 2010 to March 2024.
The findings reveal that, in the long run, monetary policy exerts a positive and significant impact on the returns of small industries, whereas this effect is absent in large industries. In the short run, with the significance of the error correction term confirming the adjustment toward long-term equilibrium, the dynamics between the independent and dependent variables become balanced over time. Furthermore, the analysis indicates that monetary policy has no significant effect on small industries in the short term but demonstrates a positive and significant impact in the long term. In contrast, for large industries, monetary policy has no discernible effect in the long run but exerts a positive and significant influence in the short term.
These results confirm both the main and sub-hypotheses of the study, which posit that the effects of monetary policy vary between small and large industries and differ across time horizons. Consequently, investors are advised to consider firm size, as reflected in market value, when constructing their portfolios. Specifically, they should align their investment strategies with their time horizons—favoring small industries for long-term investments and large industries for short-term opportunities.
  


Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract

By studying the Qur'anic narratives, what is most visible is the amazing and elimination that includes a complete part of a story, even at a time. A pity that has been used not only in the Qur'anic stories, but also throughout the Qur'an as one of the highest literary and rhetorical manifestations of the Qur'an. This is one of the mechanisms and tools of the narrative or discourse silence process in which the signs of the narrative are eliminated and with their absence refers to the modules that the reader can rely on succession and companionship. And also from the intersection between the two and the use of brain capacity, fill those holes and gaps, thus fully view and receive the story. The important point in discourse silence is the interpretative and analytical aspect of narrative, and merely, such as the elimination of the classic rhetoric of the Nesith, which appeared in the form of metaphor, metaphor, permissible, and such equipment and to express aesthetics. In this article, we will first explain the silence of discourse in modern cognitive criticism, and then explain the narration of the life of Yusuf (AS) in the Holy Quran, based on the same validity and discourse. The result shows that discourse silence in this sura has been used in three types of structural, semantic and implicit, and with the systematic structure of the Qur'anic narrative structure, these vacuums are received and completed by the reader.
 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract

As new venture establishment has become a vital source of economic evolution and indispensable expediter for local development in current years, the ecosystem approach is considered as one of the practical solutions for reducing the gap between the economies of developed and developing regions. The concept of rural entrepreneurship ecosystems has attracted significant attention among practitioners, policymakers, and researchers during the past decade. However, the research concerning rural entrepreneurship ecosystem has been largely focused on empirics from developed regions. In order to explain the drivers of rural entrepreneurship ecosystem in a developing region, in this study, the data was collected from 103 rural entrepreneurship practitioners through a survey in northern area of Iran. The data was then analyzed using the exploratory factor analysis method. The research team considered the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem supporters in three pillars: policy-making, institution, and society. According to the results of exploratory factor analysis, each triple supporter pillar of the rural entrepreneurship ecosystem was divided into two components. The components extracted from the policy pillar included "rules and regulations" and "infrastructure." The components extracted from the institutional pillar included "networking and informing" as well as "services and support." In addition, "tendencies and characteristics of the people" and "financial participation" were assumed as the society components. These results were discussed and provided agenda for future practical and professional works.


Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract

Learning French as a foreign language presents unique challenges that may sometimes reduce students' motivation and academic performance. This study aimed to examine the relationship between cognitive and metacognitive strategies, mental vitality, and academic buoyancy among French language students. A mixed-method approach (quantitative and qualitative) was employed in two phases. In the quantitative phase, data were collected using standardized questionnaires on academic buoyancy, mental vitality, and cognitive and metacognitive strategies. The statistical population included all 61 French language students at Hakim Sabzevari University, who participated in the study through a census sampling method. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 French language professors from Iranian universities to explore their perspectives and experiences regarding academic buoyancy and its influencing factors. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, while qualitative data were examined through inductive content analysis. The quantitative findings revealed that the use of cognitive and metacognitive strategies, along with mental vitality, positively influenced students' academic buoyancy. Furthermore, qualitative results indicated that various factors, including social variables, family, educational emotions, learner goal-setting, learning strategies, cognitive functions, communication skills, cognitive and emotional skills, academic behavioral motivators, educational content, teacher-related personal variables, teaching skills and techniques, and the teacher's motivational approach, significantly impact students' academic buoyancy.
 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract

Raisins are a key export commodity due to their nutritional value and global demand. This study evaluates the worldwide raisin industry's competitive advantages and market structure using data from the International Trade Center (2004–2023). Employing Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA), Concentration Ratio (CR), Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), and Trade Competitiveness Index (TCI), the analysis identifies Turkey, the United States, Iran, and Chile as leading exporters, accounting for 64.5% of the market share. Results indicate an oligopolistic market structure with concentrated competition among a few nations. Turkey, the United States, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran exhibit strong RSCA values (near 1), reflecting expertise in raisin exports, while Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Argentina show high TCI scores, indicating robust competitiveness. The study highlights shifts in market dynamics, with emerging exporters like Afghanistan challenging traditional leaders. To enhance their global position, exporters should improve production efficiency, diversify markets, and invest in branding. These findings contribute to understanding trade competitiveness and market evolution in agricultural exports, offering strategic insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders.


 

Volume 0, Issue 2 (8-2011)
Abstract

Sediment-related environmental problems pose a serious threat to sustainable land management in many developing countries, including Iran. Information regarding sediment sources represents a key requirement from the management perspective since identification of sediment sources is a precursor to the design of effective sediment management and control strategies. The fingerprinting approach has increasingly been adopted as an alternative to assembling such information. A wide range of fingerprint properties has been used as a means of discriminating potential sediment sources. However, determining the ability of these properties is very important in the design of cost-effective catchment management strategies before each study. This contribution addresses the ability of two acid extractable metals (Co and Cr) that were used extensively in previous studies to be used to differentiate sediment sources. The results of the statistical analysis demonstrate that no single property is capable of classifying the source material samples into the correct source categories at the Amrovan drainage basins. In the case of the Atary drainage basin, Cr and Co were found in only 47.5 and 43.8% of the source material samples respectively. According to the result obtained, it is recommended that acid extractable metals for sediment sources differentiation in conjunction with the composite of other properties to improve sediment source discrimination.

Volume 0, Issue 2 (8-2011)
Abstract

Urmia Lake and its surroundng wetlands have been severely affected by recent droughts (1998–2003) and a considerable decrease in inflow has affected lake ecosystem components. Integrated ecosystem-based management is a useful managing tool for the wise use and biodiversity conservation of wetlands. In the process of developing an integrated ecosystem-based management model for Urmia Lake, the identification of key stakeholders is of primary importance. In this research, stakeholder analysis is used as an effective tool for establishing collaborative management in the Urmia Lake catchment in terms of the following parameters and objectives: almost all stakeholders receive multiple benefits from Urmia Lake, either directly or indirectly; almost all stakeholders also cause impacts on the lake ecosystem, many of which result from activities that take place in areas located within in the Urmia catchment but far from the lake. In general, the stakeholders who receive the most benefits seem to cause the lowest impact (for example, Environmental groups), while those who receive fewer benefits may have larger impacts (for example, water resource managers). Recognizing that all stakeholders affect the lake in one way or another is an important concept that promotes the ethic that future management of the Lake should regarded as a shared responsibility between all stakeholders.

Volume 0, Issue 3 (No. 2- 2008)
Abstract



Volume 1, Issue 1 (3-2012)
Abstract

Subterranean termites are one of the most important pests of buildings, historic monuments and agricultural crops in some parts of Iran. Using entomopathogenic fungi as microbial insecticides is usually a part of biological control and insect pest management. The pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (DEMI 001) isolated from Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver) was compared against two subterranean termites, Amitermes vilis (Hagen) and Microcerotermes gabrielis (Weidner) under laboratory conditions. Suspensions of the fungus spores at five concentrations of 101, 102, 103, 104, 106 spores ml-1 were prepared to define LC50 and LT50. To determine LC50 and LT50 of M. anisopliae, bioassays were carried out on worker casts of both termite species. LC50 values for A. vilis and M. gabrielis were 8.5 × 103 and 0.2 × 102 spores ml-1, respectively. LT50 value for M. gabrielis was shorter than that of A. vilis at all five concentrations tested. According to the results of the bioassay, M. anisopliae was more effective for controlling M. gabrielis than that for A. vilis.

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