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Urban growth boundaries are considered one of the key tools for controlling and managing the physical development of metropolitan areas. Uncontrolled and unplanned expansion in these regions has become a major challenge for urban and regional planners and managers, as this process leads to the destruction of agricultural lands and natural resources. The aim of this research is to simulate and assess future changes in growth boundaries in the Isfahan metropolitan area with the goal of preserving environmental resources and controlling physical expansion. In this regard, by adopting a positivist approach that follows an analytical and measurement-driven process, satellite imagery was utilized to assess changes in the physical expansion of the Isfahan metropolitan area. Artificial neural networks and machine learning algorithms were employed to predict the extent of future physical growth, and the projected growth boundaries were delineated. The research findings indicate that the Isfahan metropolitan area has experienced significant uncontrolled expansion, particularly in terms of physical development, over recent decades, and the reduction of agricultural and natural lands has become one of its major challenges. Based on the conducted simulations, the proposed growth boundaries can serve as an effective tool for managing and planning urban-regional development and preventing further degradation of natural resources and lands.

 

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The purpose of this research was to analyze the relationship between servant leadership and staff organizational commitment and its components. Statistical population of this study includes all of the official and contract employees in Esfahan welfare organization in the autumn 2010. Sampling method is simple random using random numbers table based on a list of selected employees. For collecting the data required and testing the assumptions two questionnaires were used: for measurement of organizational commitment a three components questionnaire of organizational commitment Allen & Meyer (1993) was used that includes 24 questions and the three components of organizational continuous, normative and emotional commitment. Reliability of this questionnaire based on Cronbach's Alpha was obtained as 0.763. For measuring servant leadership Gholi Pour's questionnaire (2009) was used which has 28 questions and four components of service, humility, altruism and trusty .The reliability of the questionnaire, using according to the Cronbach's alpha, was obtained as 0.948. Data obtained from the questionnaires was analyzed by using Pearson correlation and multi-variable regression analysis. The Results related to the simple correlation between the variables indicated that there is a significant relationship between servant leadership and organizational commitment among the employers in the Esfahan welfare organization (P < 0.01). Also, the results showed that there is a significant relationship between servant leadership and affective and normative commitments but not in continuous commitment.

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Garden city idea as an important idea had emerged on 19 century. Creating sustainable complexes and having more relationship with natural environment were the main goals which had been defined for this idea. This idea was established in urbanism literature by Howards' research about creating a balance between city and village living; whereas in east, Garden City as a pure idea has had a metaphysic meaning which is used to create earthy paradise since 16th century. Respect and reverence for water and trees is institutionalized in ancient civilizations of Iran. Iranian people respect trees and water, both separately and in composite forms as gardens, which have been a well-known cultural value both before and after Islam. The oldest Persian garden that have been discovered dates back to the Achaemenid Empire and the quadripartite gardens (charbagh) of Pasargadae. By studying about existent historic gardens, Persian Gardens are divided into different types. The way people use special physical and functional features could also be used as a scale of this division. In Persian Garden category, Garden City has been defined as a well-known model for designing particular gardens in city scale. According to this model, gardens have used sacred and soft spaces as a combination of hard and heavenly, for defining body structure and the development of the city textures. In advanced (pre- designed) samples, the entire city has been formed as a big garden; composed of a set of small gardens with many symbolic features, such as pavilions and water ponds, as seen in the Persian Charbagh Garden. During Safavid dynasty, Isfahan, as the largest Persian garden city, had been supported by a green major axis; which is the so called Charbagh that has been remained as a green heritage so far. Gardens and trees were the most important natural and architectural elements in Isfahan's cityscape at that period. These elements usually have been considered as the traditional identity of the garden city; hence their sustainability had a key role in preserving the structures. Therefore, Designers manufactured particular urban infrastructures to provide useful irrigation system. They had to construct the channels that branched off from the central river of Isfahan (Zayandehrood) and made the water accessible all around the city. First section of this paper is about Safavid Garden City origin. This subject was studied from the politics and governance points of views. In the following, Howard's Garden City origin has been studied. It has formed according to the special Utopias, which had relationships with that time's believes. In addition, some principles of Safavid Garden City have been compared to Howard's. The special study has been done about Intellectual origins which have influenced these Garden Cities creation. In conclusion, the comparison of Howard and Safavid Garden Cities shows that these ideas had been developed based on the worldview and vision of creative Iranians during Safavid dynasty and in 19th century. Moreover, the special methods of plantation, the quality of social relationships and economic similarities were the main differences between these two Garden Cities.

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Aims: Mosques are one of the essential elements of Iranian and Islamic cities that interact with the urban environment. The entrance is the first space in the mosque that the audience encounters. According to the spiritual concepts, this space provides the audience with the necessary preparation to enter the hierarchy. Light hierarchy is one of the hierarchical factors that effectively understand space and evoke emotions. Light is a supernatural element that can change a person's feelings in space. Therefore, the present study quantitatively compares and contrasts lighting components in the entrance space of four-aisled mosques.
Methods: In the theoretical section, the research variables have been explained by studying scientific sources. Then, by simulating mosques, the light indicators at the entrance of mosques in the Climate Studio plugin are analyzed.
Findings: Considering the results of simulation data analysis, the relationship between the entrance and the inner courtyard of the mosque, entrance decorations, materials, and lattice opening are factors determining the light hierarchy in mosque entrance spaces.
Conclusion: The two parts of separation from the urban space and connection to the courtyard space have the highest light intensity and the changes in light intensity along the route are according to the location of the mosque and the characteristics of the human eye.

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Mirbagheri. ,A. A ., PH.D.
Khoshhal . , T. , PH.D.
Shabanzadeh., M .
Abstract
 
Nahj-al-khaas compiled by Abu Mansour Ma’mar-ebn-Ahmad-ebn-Mohammad-ebn-Ziad Isfahani (died in 418) is a short and brief book written on mystical terms.
Compilation of the book is aimed at explaining "ahval" and "maghamat" levels to reveal Sufies’ situation or as he himself said “Sayerin ela Allah” and their ranks in each situation. 
Although the book doesn’t have the features of genuine glossary but it is regarded as one of the professional mystical glossaries as the author explained more than 120 mystical terms through a new method for its readers. Unfortunately this book is still unknown for many searchers although it is older than many of glossaries. 
Researchers have tired to make a study on lexicography method with these three criteria, determined by Yakov Malkiel on the book terminology, writer's viewpoint and the way for its information release.
 
 

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Aims: One of the challenges of today's world is the crisis of spirituality, which occurred mainly due to the focus of modernism on materialism and consumerism. In the last twenty years, the ideas of thinkers about spiritual architecture and urbanism have started. The purpose of this research is to understand the dimensions of the quality of spirituality and measure it in some urban spaces of Isfahan. 

Method: A simple review method was used to review the literature, a Delphi method and a semi-structured interview with elites and an in-depth interview with citizens were used to identify the characteristics of spiritual urban spaces. Interviews analysis with thematic analysis. 

Findings: The opinions of two groups of elites and citizens in order to rank 22 selected spaces of Isfahan city based on a Likert scale were analyzed using a questionnaire and Friedman's test to rank the perception of spirituality and variance analysis has been used to compare the perception of spirituality of different groups. 

Conclusion: The results show that the spiritual urban space is formed in a context based on religious or non-religious beliefs and each of these contexts lead to the formation of social and cultural identity in the city. Such spaces have different effects on people, which include a good relationship with God, himself, others, and nature. Also, based on the scores of two groups of professors and citizens, Jame Mosque has the highest score and Hassan Abad Bazaar has the lowest score for the level of spirituality in the urban spaces of Isfahan.

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Fauna of Ichneumonidae of Isfahan province was studied in 2012. Specimens were collected using sweep net and Malaise trap on various plants from different places in Isfahan. Totally, 18 species belong to 16 genera and 7 subfamilies were collected and identified as: Anomalon cruentatum (Geoffroy, 1785) (Anomaloninae); Exetastes syriacus Schmiedeknecht, 1910 (Banchinae); Diplazon laetatorius (Fabricius, 1781), Enizemum ornatum (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus nigritarsus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Homotropus signatus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Promethes sulcator (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Syrphophilus bizonarius (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Diplazontinae); Anisobas cingulatellus Horstmann, 1997, Diadromus collaris (Gravenhorst, 1829), Heterischnus filiformis (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Spilothyrateles nuptatorius (Fabricius, 1793) (Ichneumoninae); Exochus castaniventris Brauns, 1896 (Metopiinae); Itoplectis alternans (Gravenhorst, 1829), Itoplectis tunetana (Schmiedeknecht, 1914), Pimpla spuria Gravenhorst, 1829 and Zaglyptus multicolor (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Pimplinae) and Aneuclis incidens (Thomson, 1889) (Tersilochinae). All species are new record for Isfahan province except for Exochus castaniventris and Heterischnus filiformis is newly recorded from Iran.

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Aims: Efficiency as a cultural index can be defined as the comfort resulting from the proper arrangement of components and the connection point between form and function; which plays an important role in adding quality to the space. Such an attitude to design; It is an attempt to obtain a model of valuable previous architecture to measure sustainability and discover the grammar of space in order to create works for the future of architecture.
Methods: The current research is a kind of documentary research, based on the use of data of valuable models of the past, which, by adopting a descriptive-analytical approach, analyzes the concept of efficiency in the structure of function and form in native Qajar houses of Isfahan.
Findings: Most of the massing has been done in the north (public spaces), west (service spaces), south (private spaces) and east (service spaces) fronts, respectively. Also, the data obtained from Ecotect software shows that the best direction in Isfahan city is between 17.5 degrees southwest and 22.5 degrees southeast. However, the frequency of Isfahan Orientation in the native Qajar houses of Isfahan is very low, and the emphasis is on the orientation in the north-south direction, and the southeast or southwest of it has not been given much attention.
Conclusion: The configuration of the space, the amount of received energy and the visual communication of the environment (sight) are among the indicators that affect the efficiency, which is understood by the way of massing, spatial relations and spatial proportions.

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  This study aims to investigate and compare some frequent phonological processes in Isfahani accent with that of standard Persian in the framework of optimality theory.  The methodological approach of the study is descriptive-analytical and the data collection was done through field study method. To do this, the conversation of Isfahani-native speakers, aged between 30 and 50, has been recorded for ten hours and then the data have been transcribed and classified. Through the analysis of the data in the framework of optimality theory, the top-ranked constraints in the hierarchy of constraints responsible for optimal candidates in Isfahani accent have been determined. Among the most significant phonological processes in this accent are devocalization, vowel harmony, and consonant and vowel dissimilation. The data analysis showed that the optimal candidates in Isfahani accent differ from that of standard Persian and in most cases, markedness constraints are responsible for optimal candidates in Isfahani. While in standard Persian, faithfulness constrains are top-ranked in the hierarchy of constraints.      

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Iran is geographically located in the dry belt of the earth and this has led to a natural shortage of water. Isfahan province in the center of the country with a long-term average annual rainfall of about 150 mm is also severely limited water resources. Regardless of this, for about half a century, due to various reasons, water consumption in this province, which is mainly due to the establishment of large national industries and their chains, as well as agricultural development and population growth and urbanization, water consumption has increased greatly and lack the appropriateness of water resources and consumption has increased over time. Out of 35 plains of the province, 27 plains are forbidden or critically forbidden. Since no effective practical action has been taken to control this situation, various consumers have tried to compensate part of this mismatch by digging deep and semi-deep wells, both legally and illegally, using underground resources. The lack of replacement of groundwater aquifers and the continuous decline of their water level have caused the phenomenon of subsidence and their permanent destruction, so that even if there are sufficient water resources, these aquifers are no longer able to hold water. This causes the destruction of the most important foundation of the life in subsidence areas, which is the water sources, to be lost forever, which has many environmental, human and political consequences. Currently, subsidence threatens many parts of the province's infrastructure, such as national communication infrastructure such as Shahreza Road near Mahyar, Meshkat Road near Kashan, Bandar Abbas-Tehran Railway near Zavareh, Isfahan-Shiraz Railway near Mahyar and Marvdasht. Isfahan airport as well as other industrial, religious and historical infrastructures such as industrial towns of the province (Jafarabad industrial town of Kashan, Aran and Bidgol); Religious and tourist places (Imamzadeh Agha Ali Abbas, Naqsh Jahan Complex, and historical stairs of the province); Public places Naghsh 11 bsidence is spreading in almost all areas of Isfahan province, which threatens the survival of the province in various dimensions and it is necessary to think of serious practical measures in this area.

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Aims: Despite the vast global vaccination programs against the HBV infection, millions of people are chronic HBV carriers worldwide. The present study aimed to evaluate the distribution of different clinical forms of Hepatitis B infection among HBV infected patients to find the frequency of people at risk of developed liver diseases in Isfahan province.
Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 600 HBV infected patients admitted to Al-Zahra hospital in Isfahan from March 2017 to March 2018. Based on the virological markers, HBV infection in participants was categorized into four clinical forms including post-infection immunity, acute hepatitis, asymptomatic carrier state, and chronic active hepatitis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for screening HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and viral DNA in serum samples.
Findings: In this study, 308 (51.3%) females and 292 (47.7%) males with HBV infection and the mean age of 39 years were participated, of whom 189 (31.5%), 172 (28.7%), 138 (23%), and 101 (16.8%) participants were found to be in the post-infection immunity, acute hepatitis, asymptomatic carrier state (inactive carrier), and chronic active hepatitis forms of HBV infection, respectively.
Conclusion: The results of this study highlighted the high prevalence of asymptomatic carrier and chronic active hepatitis forms of HBV infection in 20-40 year old patients.  Extensive measurements are needed to determine the prevalence of these two mentioned forms of HBV infection in all provinces of Iran in order to control the economic and life burden of disease in people not covered by the infant vaccination programs in Iran.

 

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Background: This study was designed to investigate the frequency and tissue distribution of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) in turkeys with respiratory syndrome in Isfahan province.
Materials & Methods: Totally, samples were taken from the trachea, lung, air sac, infraorbital sinus, hock joint, blood of heart, brain, liver, spleen, intestine, and kidney of 30 turkey flocks. After DNA extraction, a 787 bp fragment of 16S rRNA gene of ORT was amplified.
Findings: The PCR results revealed that 53% of turkeys were infected by ORT. The results showed that although ORT was mainly found in the respiratory tract, it could be systemic and infect some other organs, including the joints, brain, liver, spleen, and blood of heart, but could not infect the intestines and kidneys.
Conclusion: Due to the lack of a clear pattern in tissue distribution of ORT among clinical samples, it seems that other factors play a role in ORT tissue distribution, such as dose, route, type of infection, and probably prevalent serotype.

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Professor Ebrahim Behad, emeritus professor of Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Isfahan Center, and professor at Islamic Azad University, Khorasgan branch passed away at the age of 85 on March 2021. Despite administrative responsibilities, he is the author of several books which some are references mostly for undergraduate students. His key role in holding two rounds of the Iranian Plant Protection Congress is memorable. Also, he published some peer-reviewed scientific articles and a lot of extension booklets and was involved in teaching and supervision the postgraduate students, mainly at the Isfahan University of Technology.

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Iran has an arid climate which characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. Therefore, sunlight and its heating effects were important factors of Iranian architecture and gardens structural design. Textures and shapes were selected by architects to harness the light and supply a shadow in the summer.
Water is very important in this climate, both in the architectural design and longevity of gardens. In addition to water, the plants in Iran had been particularly significant. In ancient civilization of Iran, plants have had special position. Supernatural powers that had been in trees such as life-giving, young giving, productivity and Immortality made them sacred for Ancient Iranian people. However, attending to supernatural power of plants was the importance reason that people regarded to plants and made some symbols such as “Life Tree” has income. In Zoroastrian religion books, more values have said about Supernatural cost of plants. Plants have a special value in Zoroastrian Fire Temples, religious ceremony and routine life. Therefore, garden and gardening were sacred for Iranian. The term Zoroastrianism is, in general usage, essentially synonymous with Mazdaism, have discovered dependent on Achaemenids Empire (559–330 BC) and there were in Pasargad. In the Islam tradition the garden as Paradise is, perhaps, even stronger, since the Quran (the central religious text of Islam) describes Heaven as a garden. Islam was spread to the Persians, and reciprocally the Muslims adopted the Persian style of garden. Therefore garden has been invaluable to Iranians. Persian Garden includes some types which one them is Garden City.
Isfahan as the Capital of Safavid Dynasty has designed as a big garden according garden city model. Therefore, some solutions have used in urban design regarding Isfahan's arid climate. Safavid government followed the realization of cities ideal that rooted in Islamic beliefs and opinions. The investigations in historical perspective of Safavid cities indicates the importance of cities as the place for presence of symbols and signs. The Symbols which has remind as the ideological concepts, power of dominating government and also getting identity to the city.
During the history of Safavid urban design, there were some direct and wide streets (Charbagh) which were the main factors of development and improvement of cities among urban functional and symbolic elements. In historical background of Isfahan garden city is pointed to construction of street (Charbagh) which has attracted the European tourists attention and it will investigate in this article.
Initial section of this article is allocated to explain about historical background of Isfahan city in Safavid era and also Charbagh Street. Then this paper with emphasis on some historical documents and analytical studies, compares the Isfahan Charbagh Street with its similar sample in France (Champs-Elysées Street). The conclusion of this article indicates the similarity of Isfahan Charbagh Street and Champs-Elysées Street in some skeletal specifications and the way of formation. French Boulevards were constructed after Isfahan Charbagh in terms of time and they were formed after publishing itineraries and pictures of tourists from this place in Europe .

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Land use/cover change map production is one of the basic needs for environmental monitoring and management. Since the change maps are usually used in planning and decision-making, certainty and reliability of these maps can be very important in many applications. Unfortunately in many studies only probability values as obtained from MLC approach have been used for uncertainty estimation. Here a new approach has been developed which is based on the probability information as well as spatial parameters including distance, neighborhood, extent and the type of change. In this study, two Landsat TM images of Isfahan urban area provided in 1990 and 1998 have been co-registered using first order polynomial and nearest neighbor resampling approach. The registered images have been then classified to ten different land use/land cover classes using Maximum Likelihood Classification algorithm. Probabilistic measures generated by the MLC have been used for modeling uncertainty. Using different spatial analysis functions for modeling the change of agricultural areas to residential areas, the relevant spatial parameters have been extracted. Based on logistic regression approach, probabilistic parameters and spatial parameters have been integrated to generate a layer, which shows uncertainty of change of agricultural areas to residential areas. The Relative Operating Characteristics (ROC) index has been used for validation of the model and it has been estimated to be 0.9944, which is an indicative of very good model fitting. As a final conclusion, development of this model is suggested for quantitative evaluation of uncertainty in change detection.

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Detection of land use/cover changes in many different studies is one of the basic needs for environmental monitoring and management. Conversion of agricultural lands is one of the main issues related to urban planning. In this study an attempt has been made to study land use/cover changes through image processing techniques. Two landsat TM images of Isfahan area provided in 1990 and 1998 were atmospherically rectified and registered on each other. Images were then classified to ten different land use/cover classes using Bayesian classification algorithm. Training sites were generated using fuzzy logic approach. A post classification comparison approach was then used to create a change map. The results show a dramatic change on agricultural lands in this area during this period.

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