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Showing 149 results for Asadi
Volume 22, Issue 5 (12-2022)
Abstract
Proper and timely maintenance of concrete pavement plays a decisive role in increasing the life of these pavements. Joint plain concrete pavement is a type of concrete pavement used for roads. One of the important parts of this type of pavement is the joints created in it. The use of joints to provide conditions for expansion and contraction in concrete pavements and thus reduce stresses due to changes in weather conditions (temperature and humidity), friction, and facilitate the manufacturing process. Due to the fact that the joint in the joint plain concrete pavements is a weakened area for the conduction of cracks from unforeseen areas of the concrete slab to it, the entry of water and other materials into it causes penetration into the underlying layers of the slab to prevent penetration. Joint Sealants are used in these areas. Hot applied bitumen sealant is one of the most common sealants used in joints, which is based on bitumen. One of the key factors in the longevity of concrete pavement is the proper functioning of the joint and joint sealant. The adhesion and cohesion failures are two main damage types in the hot-applied bituminous joint sealants in concrete pavement joints. The mentioned failures are caused by the contraction of concrete pavement under the temperature drop and fluctuation as well as vertical displacement due to passing traffic load. The failure in joint sealant causes elimination of water proofing feature in joints leading to penetration of water into the sublayers. Subsequently, the presence of water in sublayers results in pumping of water under the concrete slab, which leads to other failures types, such as faulting, blow up, corner break. The resealing of joint sealant is the commonly used approach to repair the joints, which takes considerable costs, times and environmental consequences. In recent years, induction heating has attracted substantial attentions among the pavement engineers for innovative applications, specifically for induced healing. The researchers used this method in asphalt mixtures to heal cracks and microcracks. To make the electromagnetic radiations more effective, they used bipolar additives such as activated carbon and carbon black to raise the temperature of the asphalt mixture and cover the cracks and microcracks. In this study, the induction heating and induced healing of asphalt binder was carried out in reaping the joint sealant and to recover the cohesion-adhesion failures. To this end, a new testing setup and frame were designed to conduct the tensile test on hot-applied bituminous joint sealant. First, the sealant bitumen was placed between two concrete blocks, and then the specimens were conditioned at low temperatures (i.e. -10 °C, -20 °C, and -30 °C). After conditioning, the tensile under a displacement controlled loading test was carried out until failure point of joint sealant. Subsequently, the broken joint sealants were exposed to the electromagnetic radiation in a microwave machine to heat and heal the joint sealant. Then, the tensile test was again conducted on the specimen until failure point. The results showed that induced healing can recover and heal the joint sealant experienced cohesion-adhesion under contraction loading. This observation indicates that the induced heating is a potential technique to repair the joint sealants in jointed concrete pavements.
Volume 22, Issue 10 (October 2022)
Abstract
The non-reproducibility of the measured results of a piece by reference laboratories is a problem that often causes differences of opinion in production workshops and doubts about the adjustment of production devices with the results provided by laboratories. In this paper, the effect of geometric parameters created by machining on the ability to measure control tools through statistical techniques of quality engineering is investigated, so that first a piece was subjected to drilling and machining, after measurements The exact diameter of the hole with geometric deviation was determined to be cylindrical error to 0.01 mm. Then it was examined with two common measuring systems of air gauge and coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and the capability of the instruments was calculated as follows through the mini-tab software. Capability of air gauge (Cg) in measuring the diameter of hole was 0.27 and capability of CMM device in controlling the said diameter was 0.28. After removing the scattering caused by geometric parameters to calculate the ability of measuring instruments, The power of the instruments was improved to 1.20 in the wind gauge and 1.05 in the CMM and finally, by removing or reducing the geometrical error of the work piece, the repeatability (VARIATION) and the ability of both measurement systems are improved to many times.
Volume 22, Issue 12 (December 2022)
Abstract
The concept of Zero Energy Building [5] has been introduced globally to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in the building sector. Renewable energy systems such as Solar Thermal collectors, Photovoltaic collectors, and Heat Pumps are used to implement ZEBs. This study proposes a Building Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal-Air Source Heat Pump (BIPVT-ASHP) to realize ZEB in a small-scale building. To evaluate the performance of the system, a BIPVT-ASHP hybrid system model was designed, and also the building load model was defined based on the actual building conditions. Then, the heating and cooling performance of the BIPVT-ASHP system was dynamically simulated for one year using TRNSYS software. Then the system was numerically evaluated from energy, economic and environmental perspectives. According to the results of this study, for this system, the initial non-renewable energy consumption was 1.29 kWh/m2 per year, which was less than the heating energy threshold for the ZEB, and the proposed system met well the ZEB conditions. In addition, it was shown that for a given area, photovoltaic/thermal technology leads to a further reduction in non-renewable primary energy consumption but less solar thermal energy production compared to traditional separate production using photovoltaic [2] collectors.
Volume 23, Issue 2 (5-2023)
Abstract
Groundwater is an essential source of fresh water, which is less prone to pollution in comparison to surface water, and access to this valuable resource is affordable. These issues make groundwater a viable source during surface water shortages such as drought, especially in arid and semi-arid countries. In this research, the equation of contamination transport in groundwater is modeled by a novel dual discrete finite volume method (DDFVM). Using this numerical method, the contamination concentrations are obtained at the center and vertices of each element. This model has been applied to an unstructured triangular mesh that could be fitted to complex geometric boundaries. For the transient flow regimes, the flow equation has been coupled with the contaminant transport problem, and the results of the numerical model are validated with the model of Modflow. Finally, the flow and transport FV coupled model has been applied in a porous media with strong heterogeneity. The free-oscillation results for the two parameters of head and concentration demonstrate the stability of the model.
Volume 23, Issue 3 (Fall 2019)
Abstract
Introduction: Disaster occurrence undermines the basis of the place and one of its consequences is the rupture of place identity and attachments, followed by a variety of psychological and social anomalies. On the other hand, the community health is linked to its sense of identity. Contradictions become apparent when this need is distorted or overlooked in the reconstruction process. Considering the profound effects of disasters on the objective and subjective landscape of the residents, and its inevitable effects on place identity and attachment, the need to create solutions aimed at rehabilitating them during the period of reconstruction and within the framework of resilience theory as the broadest approach to dealing with disasters, is seen.
Methodology: The current research has an exploratory nature so Q Methodology with a combination of qualitative and quantitative approach has been used. In the qualitative stage, the combination of the Delphi method in three stages and the grounded theory were used to codify and extract concepts and categories. The concepts that were effective on the subject of the research were used in the formulation of closed questions of questionnaires in the form of propositions with a Likert scale of 0 to 9. Panel members included 17 experts from the faculty members of three universities in Tehran, Which were initially selected using non-random sampling method, and in the next step, a non-randomized network sampling was selected. Finally, the Q factor analysis was performed on the data. Based on the findings of the grounded theory method, 6 dimensions including, emotional-cognitive, functional, physical, semantic / historical, social and cultural and 62 indicators of place identity and attachment were identified. The findings were evaluated based on the eight criteria influencing the resilient dimensions of place such as continuity, distinction, self-esteem, self-efficacy, readiness, sustainability, creativity and flexibility. After the initial pilot by 5 experts, the most relevant target - content relationship with resiliency criteria were determined. In the next level after Q factor analyzing on the data, five schools of thought were identified among the experts. Then Shannon algorithm was used to determine the process of rehabilitating resilient dimensions of place identity and attachment.
Result and Discussion: Based on the findings, the experts identified five schools of thought including place-based cognitive-emotional connections; place as the resonance of individual and collective characteristics; providing opportunities by the features and spatial affordance of place; place as the body of values and contents; and place efficiency, which rehabilitate resilient dimensions of the place identity and attachment, and as a result adaptability to Changes caused by disasters. It was also found that according to the experts' view, place identity and attachment priority order are: emotional-cognitive, physical-functional, and ultimately cultural-social dimensions.
Conclusion: it seems that place distinction along with continuity, self-efficacy and sustainability of emotional-cognitive, functional, physical, cultural, social and semantic dimensions of place, enhances self-esteem in the place, sustain dimensions of place attachment, creativity, and innovate in place belonging, and therefore resilient place identity.
Methodology: The current research has an exploratory nature so Q Methodology with a combination of qualitative and quantitative approach has been used. In the qualitative stage, the combination of the Delphi method in three stages and the grounded theory were used to codify and extract concepts and categories. The concepts that were effective on the subject of the research were used in the formulation of closed questions of questionnaires in the form of propositions with a Likert scale of 0 to 9. Panel members included 17 experts from the faculty members of three universities in Tehran, Which were initially selected using non-random sampling method, and in the next step, a non-randomized network sampling was selected. Finally, the Q factor analysis was performed on the data. Based on the findings of the grounded theory method, 6 dimensions including, emotional-cognitive, functional, physical, semantic / historical, social and cultural and 62 indicators of place identity and attachment were identified. The findings were evaluated based on the eight criteria influencing the resilient dimensions of place such as continuity, distinction, self-esteem, self-efficacy, readiness, sustainability, creativity and flexibility. After the initial pilot by 5 experts, the most relevant target - content relationship with resiliency criteria were determined. In the next level after Q factor analyzing on the data, five schools of thought were identified among the experts. Then Shannon algorithm was used to determine the process of rehabilitating resilient dimensions of place identity and attachment.
Result and Discussion: Based on the findings, the experts identified five schools of thought including place-based cognitive-emotional connections; place as the resonance of individual and collective characteristics; providing opportunities by the features and spatial affordance of place; place as the body of values and contents; and place efficiency, which rehabilitate resilient dimensions of the place identity and attachment, and as a result adaptability to Changes caused by disasters. It was also found that according to the experts' view, place identity and attachment priority order are: emotional-cognitive, physical-functional, and ultimately cultural-social dimensions.
Conclusion: it seems that place distinction along with continuity, self-efficacy and sustainability of emotional-cognitive, functional, physical, cultural, social and semantic dimensions of place, enhances self-esteem in the place, sustain dimensions of place attachment, creativity, and innovate in place belonging, and therefore resilient place identity.
Volume 23, Issue 4 (Winter 2019)
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Introduction
A large number of researches demonstrated that built environment attributes affect the walking and cycling for transportation (Ewing & Cervero, 2010; Bauman et al., 2012). Studies examining the potential effect of the built environment on physical activity have employed objective and/or perceived (self-report) measures to assess characteristics of the neighborhood environment. Findings illustrated people who live in neighborhoods with traditional or walkable designs report about 30 minutes more walking for transportation each week and more total physical activity, compared to those who live in neighborhoods with less walkable suburban designs (Frank, et al., 2006). Therefore, the association between the built environment and walking activity are complicated due to spatial heterogeneity, self-selection issues such as attitudes and perceptions on walking behavior, and methodological differences (Lee, et al., 2017). Some evidence shows that residents’ self-reports of their neighborhood environment may be less revealing than are objective assessments. However, other studies suggest that perceived neighborhood environment exerts a unique effect and may be a more telling indicator for individual health than objective neighborhood characteristics (Wen et al., 2006). So, the aim of this research is discovering the preferences of the residence towards the walkable spaces and explaining spatial association of the perceived and objective measures of neighborhood walkability in district of 4, 8 and 13 of Tehran.
Methodology
This research is a descriptive and exploratory research that has been conducted with quantitative research approach. In this regard, GIS software were used to mapping the neighborhood walkability criteria. Network analyst functions, also, was used in order to service area determination and accessibility to public services. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression were cooperatively employed with regard to reduce the set of variables and extract variables that explain the objective and perceived measures of neighborhoods walkability at a 95% confidence interval in Tehran metropolitan. In relation to perceived measure of neighborhoods walkability, we used the standard questionnaire developed by Saelens et al. (2002), as well as Cerin et al. (2006), has been developed as Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). The questionnaire has the following dimensions: Time taken to get from residence home to the nearest businesses or facilities, Access to services, Streets condition or quality in the neighborhood, Places for walking and cycling, Neighborhood surroundings, Safety from traffic, Safety from crime neighborhood satisfaction. In the present study for each neighborhood, walkability index, which is the sum of the standard Z score of four urban form metrics, is defined as a function of net residential density (ratio of the number of residential units to residential areas in each neighborhood per hectare), sum of the ratio of floor area of retail units to their parcels in each neighborhood, Land-use mix index (entropy coefficient) and street connectivity (Number of intersections with 3 or more legs per km2). Also, census data, land use and road layers and survey data were used. The statistical population of the present study is the population of all districts of the 22 districts of Tehran. The statistical samples which selected by purposeful method were 31 neighborhoods.
Results and discussion
Findings revealed that the gap between the objective and the perceived walkability, except the component of walking and cycling places, the rest of the studied dimensions, including the time of access to shops or stores, facilities, etc., access to services; neighborhood streets; neighborhood environment; perceived security of traffic and crime; and the satisfaction of the neighborhood in relation to subjective pedestrian assessment have a higher mean in neighborhoods with high objective walkability compared to those with low walkable neighborhoods. Research findings in regard to the people preferences about the walkable spaces are in line with other studies. Residents of our case study in connection with the issue of walking, as well as people from other parts of the world, prefer spaces with appropriate access to services, facilities and infrastructure needed for everyday life, and safe, attractive, lively and free of contamination and traffic environments as well as well-defined spaces for walking. The point that needs to be mentioned is the population density, the density of residential units, as well as the density of activities (commercial and service as well as offices or administrative activities). In most previous investigations, mainly in link to walking, built environment with urban sprawl form are compared to more compact cities or so-called smart cities with mixed and diverse land uses, and the result is typically that urban environments which have a dense and smart urban form that are high in density of population, activity and residential are reported proper for walking behavior. In this regard, although the urban form of the studied neighborhoods of this research compared to many previous case studies in terms of those variables, is still more compact, according to the participants’ opinion, they prefer to walkability of their residential spaces, neighborhoods that have diverse land uses (cloth stores, food markets, supermarkets, juices and ice cream shops, home appliances malls and etc.), as well as green and open spaces and environments that have more attractive facets.
Conclusion
In order to achieve the appropriate developmental model to increase the subjective and objective walkability of urban neighborhoods, some steps must be taken to increase the green and public open spaces and redistribute the land uses in accordance with the urban smart growth pattern, by through less dependence on the personal car usage, many challenges of Tehran metropolitan will reduce in line with sustainable development.
Introduction
A large number of researches demonstrated that built environment attributes affect the walking and cycling for transportation (Ewing & Cervero, 2010; Bauman et al., 2012). Studies examining the potential effect of the built environment on physical activity have employed objective and/or perceived (self-report) measures to assess characteristics of the neighborhood environment. Findings illustrated people who live in neighborhoods with traditional or walkable designs report about 30 minutes more walking for transportation each week and more total physical activity, compared to those who live in neighborhoods with less walkable suburban designs (Frank, et al., 2006). Therefore, the association between the built environment and walking activity are complicated due to spatial heterogeneity, self-selection issues such as attitudes and perceptions on walking behavior, and methodological differences (Lee, et al., 2017). Some evidence shows that residents’ self-reports of their neighborhood environment may be less revealing than are objective assessments. However, other studies suggest that perceived neighborhood environment exerts a unique effect and may be a more telling indicator for individual health than objective neighborhood characteristics (Wen et al., 2006). So, the aim of this research is discovering the preferences of the residence towards the walkable spaces and explaining spatial association of the perceived and objective measures of neighborhood walkability in district of 4, 8 and 13 of Tehran.
Methodology
This research is a descriptive and exploratory research that has been conducted with quantitative research approach. In this regard, GIS software were used to mapping the neighborhood walkability criteria. Network analyst functions, also, was used in order to service area determination and accessibility to public services. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression were cooperatively employed with regard to reduce the set of variables and extract variables that explain the objective and perceived measures of neighborhoods walkability at a 95% confidence interval in Tehran metropolitan. In relation to perceived measure of neighborhoods walkability, we used the standard questionnaire developed by Saelens et al. (2002), as well as Cerin et al. (2006), has been developed as Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). The questionnaire has the following dimensions: Time taken to get from residence home to the nearest businesses or facilities, Access to services, Streets condition or quality in the neighborhood, Places for walking and cycling, Neighborhood surroundings, Safety from traffic, Safety from crime neighborhood satisfaction. In the present study for each neighborhood, walkability index, which is the sum of the standard Z score of four urban form metrics, is defined as a function of net residential density (ratio of the number of residential units to residential areas in each neighborhood per hectare), sum of the ratio of floor area of retail units to their parcels in each neighborhood, Land-use mix index (entropy coefficient) and street connectivity (Number of intersections with 3 or more legs per km2). Also, census data, land use and road layers and survey data were used. The statistical population of the present study is the population of all districts of the 22 districts of Tehran. The statistical samples which selected by purposeful method were 31 neighborhoods.
Results and discussion
Findings revealed that the gap between the objective and the perceived walkability, except the component of walking and cycling places, the rest of the studied dimensions, including the time of access to shops or stores, facilities, etc., access to services; neighborhood streets; neighborhood environment; perceived security of traffic and crime; and the satisfaction of the neighborhood in relation to subjective pedestrian assessment have a higher mean in neighborhoods with high objective walkability compared to those with low walkable neighborhoods. Research findings in regard to the people preferences about the walkable spaces are in line with other studies. Residents of our case study in connection with the issue of walking, as well as people from other parts of the world, prefer spaces with appropriate access to services, facilities and infrastructure needed for everyday life, and safe, attractive, lively and free of contamination and traffic environments as well as well-defined spaces for walking. The point that needs to be mentioned is the population density, the density of residential units, as well as the density of activities (commercial and service as well as offices or administrative activities). In most previous investigations, mainly in link to walking, built environment with urban sprawl form are compared to more compact cities or so-called smart cities with mixed and diverse land uses, and the result is typically that urban environments which have a dense and smart urban form that are high in density of population, activity and residential are reported proper for walking behavior. In this regard, although the urban form of the studied neighborhoods of this research compared to many previous case studies in terms of those variables, is still more compact, according to the participants’ opinion, they prefer to walkability of their residential spaces, neighborhoods that have diverse land uses (cloth stores, food markets, supermarkets, juices and ice cream shops, home appliances malls and etc.), as well as green and open spaces and environments that have more attractive facets.
Conclusion
In order to achieve the appropriate developmental model to increase the subjective and objective walkability of urban neighborhoods, some steps must be taken to increase the green and public open spaces and redistribute the land uses in accordance with the urban smart growth pattern, by through less dependence on the personal car usage, many challenges of Tehran metropolitan will reduce in line with sustainable development.
Volume 23, Issue 4 (7-2021)
Abstract
Cultural methods such as crop fertilization can affect susceptibility of plants to herbivores by altering plant tissue nutrient. In this study, the life table parameters of the two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch were determined under different chemical fertilizer regimes on resistant bean cultivar (var. Parastoo) under laboratory conditions at 25±1°C, 60±5% RH and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) hour. Treatments included 30, 60, and 100% of the recommended level of urea, ammonium nitrate, and potassium sulfate fertilizers. According to the obtained results, the longest preadult development time was related to individuals reared on the fertilized bean with potassium sulfate 60%, while the shortest period was related to those on 30% ammonium nitrate and 60%urea. The mean fecundity of the individuals reared on fertilized beans with different concentrations of ammonium nitrate (especially 60% ammonium nitrate) were significantly higher than the other fertilizers. The highest and lowest values of intrinsic rate of increase (r) were obtained on beans fertilized with 60% ammonium nitrate and 100%potassium sulfate, respectively. In addition, the values of net Reproductive rate (R0) and the Gross Reproductive Rate (GRR) of TSSM reared on bean fertilized with 60% ammonium nitrate were significantly higher than the other fertilizer treatments. Our findings may provide important information in the design of a comprehensive program for integrated soil fertility management and subsequently integrated management of TSSM in bean fields.
Volume 23, Issue 5 (9-2021)
Abstract
Optimum cropping pattern increases productivity where input resources are limited. An optimized cropping pattern was developed for a region in Moghan Plain, located in the northwestern Iran, to help water supplier in pre-season decision making on water and land allocation. AquaCrop simulation model was calibrated and executed for yield predictions for 11 different crops and 13 diverse soil types. Evaluation of AquaCrop model showed great robustness for a broad range of crops, even for the crops like canola and alfalfa that were undefined for the model. The precise generated crop water functions revealed the ideal conditions for water allocation by considering the impact of the existing limitation in monthly water availability on optimum cropping pattern without imposing any manipulation. Optimum cropping pattern based on water productivity (OCPWP) was identified by LINGO software. Integrating AquaCrop model and LINGO optimization problem solver created a Decision Support System (DSS) for technical analysis at the regional level. The created DSS is able to support the OCPWP in terms of the complex regional crop-mixture acreage. The ecological considerations introduced diverse winter crops to benefit from autumn precipitations. This strategy decreases irrigation requirement and saves some water for spring/summer high water-demanding crops like alfalfa and cotton, which generally enhances the system resiliency. The generated DSS revealed that 8,762 m3 water ha-1 was required for optimum cropping pattern, which is 8% lower than the maximum and 3% more than the average available water.
Volume 23, Issue 5 (May 2023)
Abstract
The non-reproducibility of the measured results of a work piece by reference laboratories is a problem that often causes differences of opinion in production workshops and doubts about the adjustment of production devices with the results provided by laboratories. In this paper, the effect of geometric parameters created by machining on the ability to measure control tools through statistical techniques of quality engineering is investigated, so that first a piece was subjected to drilling and machining, after measurements The exact diameter of the hole with geometric deviation was determined to be cylindrical error to 0.01 mm. Then it was examined with two common measuring systems of air gauge and coordinate measuring machine (CMM) and the capability of the instruments was calculated as follows through the mini-tab software. Capability of air gauge (Cg) in measuring the diameter of hole was 0.27 and capability of CMM device in controlling the said diameter was 0.28. After removing the scattering caused by geometric parameters to calculate the ability of measuring instruments, The power of the instruments was improved to 1.20 in the wind gauge and 1.05 in the CMM and finally, by removing or reducing the geometrical error of the work piece, It should be noted that in this study, after removing the error of workpiece the lack of repeatability in the air gauge increased from 74% to 16.66% and in the coordinate measuring machine (CMM) from 70.80% to 19.13%.
Volume 23, Issue 10 (October 2023)
Abstract
In this research, processing and 3D printing of PETG-ABS-
Volume 23, Issue 10 (October 2023)
Abstract
Smart materials can react to environmental changes like living organisms and adapt themselves to environmental conditions and changes such as changes in temperature, electric current, magnetic field, light, humidity, etc. Using 3D printing to process smart materials is a new approach known as 4D printing. In this research, processing, manufacturing and 3D printing of PETG-ABS in three weight percentages of 70/30, 50/50 and 30/70 were done. The results of SEM also confirmed the compatibility of these two polymers. In all PETG-ABS mixtures, a combination of sea-island and drop-matrix morphology was observed, and for the 30/70 and 30/70 blends, phase droplets dispersed in the matrix were clearly observed. The results of mechanical properties also showed that as the percentage of ABS in the mixture increases, the tensile strength increases and the elongation decreases. The results obtained from the shape memory test indicate the existence of the ability to program the shape memory property in 4D printing mixtures. As expected, the increase in the weight percentage of ABS was associated with the disorder in the recovery of the mixtures, so the mixture with 70% by weight of PETG and 30% by weight of ABS showed the most favorable shape memory properties.
Volume 24, Issue 1 (Spring 2021)
Abstract
Coronaviruses have four main types: alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Beta and gamma types cause respiratory illness in humans and animals. These viruses have spread various diseases in the last 26 years, and recently in Wuhan, China, a new disease that has spread around the world. Three of these important viruses are SARS, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2. They have a natural and moderate host in animals, especially bats. In case of SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to the gene sequence obtained from the virus, bats and penguins have been suspected as natural hosts. The virus is predicted to be transferred from bats to penguins and then mutated into humans. Due to the large number of viruses in the corona family, which affects many animals, a new type of virus is likely to spread again. And given experiences of SARS and SARS-CoV-2, the role of veterinarians in the live animals markets and livestock products markets should be reconsidered.
Volume 24, Issue 2 (Summer 2021)
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis (MSII) is described as a metabolic disorder resulting from an enzymatic failure causing from mutations in IDS gene, MPSII is divided into two forms; mild and severe. The first form does not affect intelligence and patients show no neurologic involvements, usually survive for the fourth decade of life. In patients with severe form, death mostly occurs due to neurologic involvement during the second decade of life. We reported a case, a 31-year-old patient, clinically suspicious to MPS II which was primarily diagnosed by the presence of the increased levels of dermatan and heparan sulfate in urine and I2S deficiency in plasma. Whole exome sequencing was utilized to detect the disease-causing variant in our patient. A de novo mutation (c.253G>A, (p.A85T) in exon 3 of the IDS gene was identified, which probably can describe the mild form of MPSII and clinical manifestations observed in the patient.
Volume 24, Issue 2 (6-2024)
Abstract
Human civilizations have always depended on freshwater to form, develop and fulfillment of various needs. With increasing urbanization, not only has the need for freshwater not diminished, but also some new technologies and industries have increased water consumption, and the pollution of water sources has increased significantly. Since groundwater resources are far from surface pollution and have their natural remediation ability, protection and remediation have not been given sufficient and appropriate attention. This issue and the overexploitation of aquifers have resulted in the quantitative and qualitative balance of groundwater resources being unsustainable. These issues show that further research is needed on various aspects of groundwater remediation. By developing the equations for water movement in porous media and analyzing them, it is possible to simulate groundwater flow. In this study, the double-well pumping system has been investigated analytically as one of the effective methods for aquifer remediation. In this system, pumping wells provide a return to natural conditions by draining polluted water and preventing it from spreading in the aquifer. For this purpose, the equations of the groundwater potential function and the stream function were determined for two pumping wells near a permanent stream. In other words, the real part of the complex potential equation represents the potential function and its imaginary part specifies the stream function; using the image well theory, the effect of the stream was also applied in the problem relations. By determining the coordinates of the stagnation points, the capture zone of the multi-well system was delineated in various configurations and the amount of stream withdrawal was also calculated. The capture zone describes the behavior and capability of the multi-well system by indicating the capture domain of discharge wells for different distances and different pumping rates. Three configurations of the remediation system are presented for two types of critical pumping rates. Under these conditions, it is possible to control the capture zone without intercepting the stream boundary and creating gaps in the extraction region at different distances of the wells with certain pumping rates. At the first critical pumping rate, the capture zone of the double-well system is tangent to the permanent stream boundary, and at a pumping rate below this threshold, groundwater pollution does not reach the surface waters. At the second critical pumping rate, capture zones of two wells merge together. Indeed, in discharges less than this critical rate, there is a distance (gap) between capture zones of the wells and pollution can enter the surface water through this gap. Also, the distance between two wells was determined in the state that both types of critical pumping rate are equal. This case shows a state of capture zone whose boundary is tangent to the stream boundary, and the capture zones of two wells are merged together. In the mentioned state, the dimensionless distance between two pumping wells (the distance between the two wells divided by their distance from the stream boundary) and the dimensionless critical pumping rate are equal to 2×0.58 and 0.33, respectively.
Volume 24, Issue 4 (10-2024)
Abstract
Due the limitations and lack of access to fresh water resources, groundwater is recognized as an important source. In this research, a novel method called Dual Discrete Finite Volume (DDFV) has been developed for modeling flow and contaminant transport in saturated and unsaturated porous media. In this method, structured and unstructured grids have been used to handle complex geometries. Flow and contaminant transport equations have been accurately modeled for each triangular element in the grid. This modeling process yields contaminant concentrations at the center and vertices of each element. First, the flow equation in an unsaturated medium has been solved. Parameters such as moisture content and hydraulic head have been calculated. Then, based on the obtained results, the water velocity in the soil was estimated. Finally, the contamination equation in an unsaturated medium was extracted, and the concentration values at the vertices of each element were calculated. This model has been validated for transient flow conditions with high accuracy. By comparing the two-dimensional case with the one-dimensional case, it was determined that there are no numerical oscillations in the two-dimensional case.
Volume 24, Issue 6 (11-2022)
Abstract
Although it has some benefits, short-term farmland rental transactions have had negative consequences such as excessive use of water, overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and farmland degradation. Why are landowners more engaged in short-term land rental contracts and less involved in longer rental contracts, that are more associated with incentives to invest and sustainably use farmland? Based on a post positivist worldview, the present study has chosen a quantitative approach and used a survey strategy to explore factors affecting the participation of landholders in longer farmland rental markets. Using multi-stage sampling, 250 landholders in Razan County who had rented their land, at least once in the past five years, were selected. The study indicated that the landholders' motivations to rent out their farmlands changed by their place of residence (rural/urban). The identified barriers and drivers that require policy attention broadly focus on the security of farmland property rights, competence of tenants and kinship contracts, high risk and profitability of farming activities, and capital constraints in rural areas.
Volume 25, Issue 2 (2-2023)
Abstract
The genetic evaluation of dairy bulls is based on their daughters’ production, type traits, and fertility. It is unknown how the different number of days open of the daughters of a bull influences its Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and ranking in the population. The present study aimed to examine the effect of days open on milk production of Holstein dairy cows and the ranking of the bulls according to their predicted breeding values. A total number of 706,653 test day records of the first parity of 78,517 Iranian Holstein cows in 448 herds during 1991 to 2016 were used. The daughters of the same bulls were allocated into nine groups of days open, the differences of which were 21 days. Data were analyzed using a random regression model and predicted the breeding values of bulls. The effect of herd-year-season on milk yield were significant (P≤ 0.001). The heritability of 270 days milk for the first to ninth groups were estimated to be 0.24(±0.04), 0.26(±0.02), 0.23(±0.02), 0.21(±0.03), 0.18(±0.03), 0.19(±0.04), 0.16(±0.05), 0.17(±0.05) and 0.11(±0.04), respectively. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient of predicted breeding value of the same sires in different groups were 0.60-0.75 (P≤ 0.01). The results showed a negative relation between the number of days open and the predicted breeding value of bulls. It can be concluded that the number of days open affects the prediction of breeding value and ranking of the sires and it should be corrected for, while predicting the breeding value of sires.
Volume 25, Issue 2 (2-2023)
Abstract
One way to better appreciate the value of rangelands with the purpose of developing better policies and make sustainable use of these resources is to determine the monetary valuation of the ecosystem services of these rangelands. Thus, the present study aimed to estimate the economic values of provisioning and regulating services of Rig Ishaqabad Rangeland in Kerman Province, Iran. To this end, samples of the soil and vegetation cover of the region were taken. Following conduction of various experiments, the type and texture of the soil and its content of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium nutrients, the soil erosion coefficient, and the amount of carbon absorption for each vegetation type were determined. Then, the monetary values of forage production, carbon absorption, oxygen production, soil production, nutrient absorption, and erosion prevention were estimated using the Revealed Preference Approach. According to the findings, in 2019, the total economic value of the rangeland's services was USD 0.54 million; and the values of provisioning and regulating services were USD 260,102.85 and 283,841.77, respectively. In addition, the economic value of vegetation types of Artemisia sieberi-Denderostellera lessertii (Ar si-De Le), Denderostellera lessertii- Peganum harmala (De le-Pe ha), Cousinia congesta (Co co), Calligonum polygonoides- Astragalus sp (Capo- As sp), Artemisia Sieberi-Peganum harmala (Ar si-Pe ha) were USD 115,466.42, 159,045.6, 54,815.14, 85,220.66, and 129,396.78, respectively. Based on the results, the De le-Pe ha vegetation type was of the highest value with a value of 49.07 US dollars per hectare. The calculated monetary values can be a useful tool in determining the long-term rental rate of this rangeland and determine the amount of investment to preserve or restore it.
Somayyeh Asadi Tashvigh, Rahmat Abbasnejad Seresti,
Volume 27, Issue 4 (10-2020)
Volume 27, Issue 4 (10-2020)
Abstract
The Central Plateau of Iran, which has been called by various names until now, has special place in terms of Archaeological developments from the fifth millennium BC to the beginning of the third millennium BC. Archaeological evidence indicates the desolation, destruction, displacement, moving, and formation of sites during that period. Despite the dominance of this situation in the field of settlement, the analysis of pottery data in the first place, followed by architecture, metallurgy, and burial, indicates that there was an ongoing cultural continuity. The sites in the area did not have high sustainablity due to environmental factors. Therefore, the analysis of relevant data based on chaos and complexity theories as well as the general theory indicates that the communities in the region followed a particular pattern from the Transitional Cholcolithic to the Early Bronze Age 1. They would survive with a movement. While the continuity of social life was guaranteed by the abandonment of one site and the formation of a new one, technological, architectural, and economic revolution took place at the new site. It is often observed that this life continuity was accompanied by technological developments and innovations. In fact, the aforementioned societies did not collapse but leaving a site ensured their social and economic life. In the Central Plateau of Iran, we encounter with communities that have pursued the process of endogenous development while at the same time expanding inter-regional communication.
Iran Seyyed Kamal Asadi Ojaei, Iran Rahmat Abbasnejad Seresti,
Volume 30, Issue 2 (3-2023)
Volume 30, Issue 2 (3-2023)
Abstract
Neolithic and food production from domesticated species has been one of the most important topics discussed and studied about prehistoric archaeology. Since the 1920s, or even much earlier, archaeologists tried to explain this great event that changed human life after millions of years of hunting-gathering. During these years, various theories based on technological, environmental, economic and sustenance, demographic, social, and evolutionary and, in recent decades, ideological, have been proposed by researchers. Some believe that Neolithic and food production is not an absolute and sudden process, but a long-term process, from knowing and choosing of species, management, and domestication of interdependence; this process is called Neolithization. The Neolithization process is not just the adoption of a new way of life due to environmental and demographic changes, but the beginning of human mental and worldviews changes. In this period, human manifests new behaviors, including rituals, which can be seen in burials, handicrafts, and architecture. Placing animal horns (domestic/wild) in the architectural space is one of these ritual behaviors. This symbolic behavior has been found in Fertile Crescent sites, from the Levant in the westernmost to Iran’s easternmost borders. Some researchers believe that this behavior is to gain authority, while some believe that humans tried to use these ways to control the wild in their inner domestic world. In this research, the authors have tried to analyze this type of behavior from the perspective of Neolithization ideological theories.