► We identify the most effective variables on prediction in order of importance degree. ► We select the best combination of model inputs for predicting suspension load. ► We determine how many data ...is considered for training of ANN and SVM models.
In recent decades, development of artificial intelligence, as a predictor for hydrological phenomenon, has created a great change in predictions. This paper investigates the abilities of Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models to predict daily suspended sediment load (SSL) in Doiraj River, located in the west part of Iran. An 11-year data (1994–2004) was applied for predicting SSL. Streamflow and rainfall were used as the model inputs and SSL as the model output. The best input of SVM and ANN models was identified using combination of Gamma Test and Genetic Algorithm (GT–GA). Its results accuracy was compared with the results of conventional correlation coefficient analysis between input and output variables and the best combination was identified. Also, the present study explores Gamma Test to identify the length of the training dataset. Finally, in order to predict SSL, we used the nu-SVR (using the four kernels including linear, polynomial, sigmoid and Radial Basis Function (RBF)) and ANN models (based on BFGS algorithm and Conjugate algorithm). The reliability of SVM and ANN models were evaluated based on performance criteria such as Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Efficiency Index (EI) and correlation coefficient (R2). The obtained results show that ANN models and nu-SVR model using Gamma Test for input selection has better performance than regression combination. Also, the performance BFGS-ANN model were better than other models with RMSE value and R2 equal to 0.34 (ton) and 0.99, respectively. The nu-SVR model with RBF kernel has more capability in prediction of SSL than the other kernels (RMSE=0.96 (ton) and R2=0.98). In addition, the results show M-test can be used as a new method to determine the number of required data for network training for creating a smooth model by nu-SVR and ANN models.
This detailed history of explores Rome’s interaction with its Persian neighbour and enemy from the first century BC to the third century AD. Peter Edwell takes the innovative approach in treating the ...area in regional terms, giving more nuanced interpretations than are available in broader treatments of the Roman Near East.
Introduction 1. Rome on the Euphrates and in Mesopotamia ca. 65 BC to AD 165 2. Rome and Palmyra ca. 65 BC to AD 165 3. The Province of Mesopotamia and the Division of Syria under the Severans 4. Roman Military Organisation of the Middle Euphrates, Palmyra and Mesopotamia ca. AD 200–257 5. Conflict Between Rome and Sasanian Persia Involving the Middle Euphrates and Mesopotamia 6. Palmyra and Rome: AD 260–72
•Work force is mentioned as the most important factor of production.•Employment is considered as an effective factor in social issues.•Allocation of water resources leads to the maximization of ...created jobs.•PSO applied to determine the optimum amount of water allocated to each area.•The applied method improved economic benefits (incomes).
In many discussions, work force is mentioned as the most important factor of production. Principally, work force is a factor which can compensate for the physical and material limitations and shortcomings of other factors to a large extent which can help increase the production level. On the other hand, employment is considered as an effective factor in social issues. The goal of the present research is the allocation of water resources so as to maximize the number of jobs created in the industry and agriculture sectors. An objective that has attracted the attention of policy makers involved in water supply and distribution is the maximization of the interests of beneficiaries and consumers in case of certain policies adopted. The present model applies the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm in order to determine the optimum amount of water allocated to each water-demanding sector, area under cultivation, agricultural production, employment in the agriculture sector, industrial production and employment in the industry sector. Based on the results obtained from this research, by optimally allocating water resources in the central desert region of Iran, 1096 jobs can be created in the industry and agriculture sectors, which constitutes an improvement of about 13% relative to the previous situation (non-optimal water utilization). It is also worth mentioning that by optimizing the employment factor as a social parameter, the other areas such as the economic sector are influenced as well. For example, in this investigation, the resulting economic benefits (incomes) have improved from 73 billion Rials at baseline employment figures to 112 billion Rials in the case of optimized employment condition. Therefore, it is necessary to change the inter-sector and intra-sector water allocation models in this region, because this change not only leads to more jobs in this area, but also causes an improvement in the region’s economic conditions.
Las negociaciones entre Irán y las Grandes Potencias en la denominada “cuestión nuclear” han llegado a un punto casi muerto debido a una “crisis de confianza” entre las partes involucradas por lo que ...las expectativas de cada encuentro son cada vez más bajas desde los primeros acercamientos en 2005. Pero más allá de la confianza que uno u otro actor se pueda tener, el fracaso de las negociaciones responde más al posible desequilibrio de poder que un Irán nuclear pueda ocasionar no solo en el Golfo Pérsico sino también en todo Oriente Medio, minando los intereses de las potencias extraterritoriales en dichas zonas. Revisar puntualmente estos intereses es el objeto de este artículo.AbstractTalks between Great Powers and Iran in the so-called “nuclear issue” have turned an impasse. The failure of this process is attributed to a crisis of confidence between involved parties which has caused low expectations in each meeting since 2005 up to now. But we think that this failure responds more to the breaking balance of power in Middle East and Persian Gulf regions than a simple lack of trust in each other. This imbalance can come with a nuclear Iran which would affect the interest of extraterritorial states in those zones. So, the purpose of this paper will be clarifying these issues.
•Sand ramps are in the form of both climbing and falling dunes.•These landforms were formed mostly in the past. However, they are still forming and developing.•Local winds have had a greater role in ...sediment transport.•Due to the short formation duration, no colluvial material, was traced amid their sediment.•Lithology and periglacier climate are the factors affected the formation of the sand ramps.
The purpose of this study is to examine the sand ramps in the margin of Ernan playa located in Yazd Province, central Iran. The region is marked with several sand ramps, many of which are not observable as they are buried under colluvial and alluvial sediments or dense vegetation. Field studies indicated at least 18 fairly large sand ramps in the region in the form of both climbing and falling dunes. These sand ramps were formed mostly in the past and are stable and inactive now. However, in some parts of the region in question, these landforms are still forming and developing. The results indicated that the sediment, especially those of the sand ramps on windward slopes, have large grains. Also, over 50 percent of the sediments generally have grains with a diameter of more than 1mm. The presence of such minerals as Alkali Feldspar, Plagioclase, Quartz, Biotite, Muscovite, Amphibole, and Apatite, respectively in terms of quantity and frequency, in the sand ramp sediments indicates that the origin of sand ramp sediments is the monzogranites of the eastern slope of Shirkouh Mountain with the same texture and frequency. The very fact that the above-mentioned minerals are intact, i.e. they have not been rounded or eroded, suggests that these sediments have not been displaced a lot. The study of the developing sand ramps proved that such structures form at the height of more than 2400m with two months of frost annually, over 100mm of precipitation (periglacier conditions), and granite outcrops. The reconstruction of the past climate conditions indicated that the temperature in the cold Quaternary glacial age was 13 degrees lower than present, with glacier and periglacier conditions dominating. Under such conditions, the region’s granites were extremely weathered, hence producing a large quantity of grain sediments. The surface run-offs or ice tongues drifted these sediments toward Lake Ernan (i.e. the present Ernan playa) and deposited them at its shoreline. After the lake and the main river dried up, southwest winds led the sediments of the lakeshore and the Tang-e-Chenar River upward to the top of the mountains, where sand ramps were, thus, formed. Due to the short formation duration and steady climate, no colluvial, alluvial material, or even soil (despite the large quantity of feldspars in the sand ramps) was traced amid the sediment layers of the sand ramps in the studied region. The only features traced there were slopes, alluvial debris and vegetation, indicating the dominance of warmer and moister climate as compared to the conditions at the time of formation. The directions of the past and developing sand ramps are similar but opposed to the prevailing and secondary wind of the region, indicating that it is the local winds which have formed those ramps.
Rock mass classification systems are used to estimate deformability modulus. This study offers a relationship to estimate deformability modulus using geomechanical rock parameters such as rock ...quality designation (RQD), Uniaxial Compressive strength test (UCS), joint condition (
J
c
), joint spacing (
J
s
), dynamic modulus (
E
dyn
), and groundwater condition (
W
c
). Dilatometer tests (DMTs) were performed on 88 samples taken from Khersan dam-II. Then, the collected data were analyzed using machine learning methods (MLM) and statistical methods. The analyses were performed using different types of MLM, i.e., Multivariate Non-Linear Regression (MNLR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Copula-based methods. These analyses revealed that the SVR model predicted the values of rock mass deformability modulus (
E
m
) with the determination coefficient (
R
2
) of 0.868. In comparison, the Copula-based and MNLR power methods predicted
E
m
with an
R
2
of 0.851 and 0.866, respectively. The cross-validation (CV) technique shows that SVR is the best-designed model for predicting
E
m
. Also, MLMs provided an alternative and effective way to predict
E
m
. Overall, the statistical analysis was an efficient tool for selecting the best parameters and correlations of data for
E
m
.
Background & aim: The health of milk and its products is of great importance due to its high nutritional value. This nutrient medium is contaminated by microbial agents. Brucellosis is considered one ...of the most important zoonotic diseases and is endemic in the Middle East countries and has been reported in human and livestock populations in different parts of Iran. Brucellosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by a microorganism of the genus Brucella and transmitted through unpasteurized milk and dairy products. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of contamination of milk and traditional dairy products with Brucella bacteria by PCR method, Mamasani district, Fars province, south of Iran. Methods: In the present cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in 2021, 200 samples of traditional dairy products including 50 samples of raw milk, 50 samples of yogurt, 50 samples of cheese and 50 samples of butter from livestock farms in rural areas and inner-city shops of Mamasani district were collected and transferred to the microbiology laboratory. In order to identify the possible type of Brucella bacteria in the samples, the culture medium containing the supplement was used to prevent the growth of other pathogens. DNA of samples was extracted by DNp kit. In order to optimize the PCR test, the DNA sample was extracted from the standard strain of bacteria by boiling method and (cat: DN 811530) DNG. In each reaction, template DNA, primers (Bru and Low Bru Up), magnesium chloride, dNT and Taq DNA polymerase enzyme were used according to the instructions. The second step reaction was optimized with the same values. In the second step, instead of template DNA, the product of the first round was used. Second stage primers include Bru Up, Bru In primers. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software and chi-square statistical test. Results: The results of the present study indicated that 1.86%, 2.8%, 0.3% and 0% of raw milk, cheese, yogurt and butter samples were infected with Brucella melitensis bacteria, respectively. The optimized PCR test had a very high specificity, as a result it did not react with any of the studied DNAs except Brucella DNA. Conclusion: Although contact with animals and products infected with Brucella bacteria are known as the most important factors of brucellosis, but then again the climatic conditions and the type of animal farming and the eating behavior of the people in the way of using animal products as well as the pathogen species in each geographical area are the factors that determine the pattern of the disease. It displays the incidence of disease in different societies. The obtained results indicated that despite the measures taken to prevent Brucellosis disease, there was still a possibility of contamination of dairy products with Brucella bacteria.
•Several playa surfaces have developed on geomorphic surfaces of Urmia Playa Lake.•Erodible fraction varied between 40% and 90% among playa surfaces.•Playa surface type was a determining factor in ...its resilience to wind erosion.•Abandoned agricultural lands had the highest erodible fraction.•Salt crusts and clay flats were more resilience against wind erosion.
Despite the great extent of Urmia Playa Lake (UPL), researchers have rarely ever studied the development of playa surfaces and their vulnerability to dust emission. Therefore, we aimed the current research to study the formation of UPL surfaces and how their physicochemical, mineralogical and geomorphological characteristics affect their susceptibility to wind erosion. An area of 41 km2 was chosen including lands from UPL and adjacent Agricultural Lands (AL). Different playa surfaces were identified on different geomorphic surfaces and mapped using Landsat images. Later, 75 soil samples from depth of 0–5 cm of different map units were collected and subjected to physicochemical analysis. Soil Erodible Fraction (EF) was also measured as an index for the wind erodibility of the examined soil surfaces. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis of soil samples from three playa surfaces with significantly different EF values were also conducted. Major reasons for the development of different playa surfaces were found to be basically related to geomorphic surfaces on which they have developed, size and mineralogical composition of the sediments as well as the landscape position and depth to the groundwater. Statistical analysis of EF of different playa surfaces and AL showed that Salt Crusts (SC) had the lowest mean EF value due to the formation of a thin layer of salt on its surface as it has developed on low stand geomorphic surface being fine-textured by nature and rich in Na, Mg and Cl ions. Abandoned Agricultural lands (AA) and AL had the highest mean EF values. High sand content of soils with anthropogenic origin along with conventional tillage practices resulting in soil organic matter loss and over grazing were the major reasons of their high EF. Therefore, these surfaces need to be monitored carefully and to be of high priority of conservation and dust control programs in the region.
New species and new records of Palaearctic Campopleginae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) are reported in this paper: Porizon dahaka Vas, sp. nov. is described from Iran, with a complementary ...modification to the identification key of the genus; seven Western Palaearctic species, namely Bathyplectes rufigaster Horstmann, Casinaria paramorionella Riedel, Diadegma mediterraneum (Constantineanu), Diadegma neomajale Horstmann, Diadegma tamariscator (Aubert), Eriborus obscuripes Horstmann, and Hyposoter fitchii (Bridgman) are reported for the first time from the Eastern Palaearctic region (Iran); four species already known from the Eastern Palaearctic region, namely Diadegma aculeatum (Bridgman), Diadegma elegans Dbar, Dusona stragifex (Frster), and Meloboris pektusana Vas, are reported for the first time from Iran, the latter with the complementary description of the hitherto unknown male. Additionally, further data are provided on the distribution of Lemophagus eburnipes Vas, a species recently described from Iran.
