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Copyright of Journal of Middle Eastern Studies / Ortadoğu Etütleri is the property of Turkmen Cooperation & Cultural Foundation Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The primary purpose of this paper is to verify the basic assumptions according to the pecking order and Trade-off theory for the capital structure in listed firms on KSA, Iran, and the Iraq Stock Exchange of West Asian countries. The pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) were used to examine the relationships of the three countries for determinants of the capital structure from 2016 to 2020 for the data of non-financial companies. Finally, we obtained 116 Saudi, 82 Iranian, and 35 Iraqi companies. Our findings support capital structure theories of the pecking order theory better to describe the capital structure in KSA. This is a significant marker like these societies, yet we found some determinants of the capital structure consistent with trade-off theory in the context of Iran and Iraq. So, it can be said that the Islamic nature of these countries brings companies closer to issuing shares than using debt as a means of capital financing, as Muslims believe that the usury (Raba) comes from the interest of debt. Our results indicate that the growth opportunities have a positive relationship with LEV, but it is not significant for the three countries. This paper can give a unique picture of Islamic societies and how to get capital financing. Despite the tremendous economic challenges among the three countries, we found a remarkable similarity in the choice of pecking order theory for the capital structure; naturally, this paper is of interest to owners and managers who are trying to obtain an ideal capital structure to improve the fixed performance of the company. This is the first paper that examines the determinants of the capital structure in Islamic West Asian countries. It can be an essential reference for future studies in this field. Internationally, capital structure gives an excellent opportunity to understand the investment trends in these countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper probes the process of heritage production in documentary films with a specific focus on the documentary film Taq Kasra Wonder of Architecture (Akbarzadeh, Pejman. 2018. Taq Kasra Wonder of Architecture. Amsterdam: Persian Dutch Network. .), which tells the story of the pre-Islamic Persian/Iranian historical site of Taq Kasra (the Arch of Ctesiphon), presently located in Iraq. The paper situates the film within a broader context of documentaries about Persian edifices in the region and draws on primary interview material with the documentary maker Pejman Akbarzadeh. Through its analyses, the paper shows how, especially in the Iranian setting, a documentary film can engage and (re)produce heritage, and how, when compared to that setting, Taq Kasra exposes persistent aspects of cultural politics within the Islamic Republic since its establishment after the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and Saddam Hussein's policies. In doing so, it is argued that the film provides a mode of critical enquiry into heritage in current historical and political circumstances in Iran. The paper addresses a lacuna in both critical heritage and film studies, namely, the analysis and interpretation of the making of heritage in film and as film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important issues along the Iran-Iraq border (Kurdistan) is the Kulbari phenomenon. The phenomena have forced the inhabitants of these border regions, whether old or young, men or women, to some extent be involved. Problems of life and finances of this phenomenon cannot be ignored by any viewer. The present paper is an attempt to study the economic position of Kulbari's in the north-western border villages of Iran more specifically the border villages of Paveh. For the same purpose the library documentary and field study methods have been used. A questionnaire was prepared keeping the statistical population in mind, of which 113 questionnaires were answered. Results thus obtained shows that the most important parameter affecting the political dimension of the Kulbari phenomenon in the border villages is the communication policy between the two border states, the ideology, and strategies of the two border states, and the border policy. In the economic dimension, the most important parameter includes the supply of necessities of life, employment and unemployment in the border region, the absence of agricultural and pasture land; and in the geographical dimension the most important parameters affecting the stability of the Kulbari phenomenon is the development level of the border region relative to the center. Finally, the paper also provides some suggestions to solve the Kulbari issue in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper for the first time improved a Robust Multi-Output machine learning regression model for seismic hazard zoning of Turkey, Iraq and Iran using constructed 3-D shear-wave velocity (Vs), seismic tomography dataset model for the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the study area. The focus of this paper's opportunity is to develop a scientific framework leveraging machine learning that will ultimately provide the rapid and more complete characterization of earthquake properties. This work can be targeted at improving the seismic hazard zones system ability to detect and associate seismic signals, or at estimating other seismic characteristics (crust acceleration and crust energy) while traditionally, methods cannot monitor the earthquakes system. This work has derived some physical equations for extraction of many variables as inputs for our developed machine learning model based on a reliable understanding of the tomography data to physical variables by preparing huge dataset from different physical conditions of crust. We have extracted the velocity values of the shear waves from the original NETCDF file, which contains the S velocity values for every one km of the depths of the crust for the study area from one km down to the uppermost mantle beneath the Middle East. For the first time, this study calculated new seismic hazard parameter called Peak Crust Acceleration (PCA) for seismic hazard analysis by considering the transmitted initial seismic energy through the Earth's crust layers from hypocenter. All machine learning algorithms in this study wrote in python language using anaconda platform the open-source Individual Edition (Distribution). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High spatial and temporal resolution remote sensing data are becoming readily available. This has made the use of remote sensing to monitor and quantify spatiotemporal changes in surface waters feasible and efficient. In this paper, remote sensing techniques based on spectral indices were used to assess the changes in submerged areas and water storage in the Hawizeh marsh (south of Iraq) during the 2019 flood. Two water indices, the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and Normalized Difference Moisture Index (NDMI), were used for this purpose. Water indices have been frequently utilized to detect water bodies because of their particular spectral properties in the visible and infrared spectrum. Non-measured flood-related flows into the marsh have also been estimated by applying the water balance approach. The accuracy assessment of the water areas extracted by the remote sensing indices showed an acceptable degree of reliability, which reflected positively on the water inflow calculations. As the Hawizeh is a transboundary marsh shared by Iraq and Iran, remote sensing techniques allowed for the estimation of difficult-to-measure inflows from the Iranian side. The results of the water balance revealed that the inflows from the Iranian side to the marsh during the 5 months of the flood made up approximately 41.2% of the total water volume entering the marsh. The study demonstrated the feasibility of using uncomplicated water extraction methods that depend on remote sensing data to monitor hydrological changes in the Hawizeh wetland that lack sufficient data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the relationship between local host-tourist interaction, perceived service quality (PSQ), relationship quality (RQ), memorable tourism experience (MTE), and revisit intention in ecotourism based on social exchange theory. A questionnaire was sent through an online survey to the Iranian tourists who had chosen local accommodations in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey during the 2019–2020 and included both domestic and international destinations. A total of 406 valid questionnaires were obtained, and the proposed research model was tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results indicate that hedonic and functional interactions have a positive impact on RQ and PSQ. On the other hand, RQ and PSQ contribute significantly to memorable experiences and revisit intention. Drawing on a large sample of eco lodging guests, this paper sheds light on the relationships between host-tourist interaction and RQ and PSQ for motivating behavioral intentions like visiting again and memorable experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saudi-Iran relations have been continuously evolving, with regional and global implications. Though religious differences make up a large part of this relationship, it is not all. Multiethnicity, Arab versus Persian domination, and divergence of interests of regional and extra-regional players are also significant. The two regional heavyweights have driven the neighbouring states towards alliances of varying natures. It has repercussions for Pakistan due to its security, economic concerns, and religious and sectarian fault lines. Opportunely, the current political environment is developing prospects to rebuild relations. After unfinished rapprochement efforts by Pakistan, Iraq has recently made the latest endeavour of arbitration. This paper analyses the effects of Saudi-Iran contention on Pakistan and the scope and implications of the current rapprochement effort. Primarily, the qualitative method has been used, and it has been established that due to the complexities of a relationship, achieving peace is not as easy as it appears. Also, from Pakistan's perspective, escalation levels should ideally remain below the threshold of a dispute necessitating precise positions and above a minimum threshold of complete peace to keep Pakistan's security-related relevance. Therefore, diplomatic efforts should be limited to de-escalating conflicts rather than mediating them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of the delivered electrical power and the efficiency of power supply systems are the responsible of control centers without changing or adding new lines. This paper represents the process of developing the performance of the power transmission system (132 kV) network in Diyala province/Iraq. The most important developments in the network are focused on reducing the losses of real and reactive power, and reducing the power flow of transmission lines that loaded with electrical loads higher than its rated limits, and control on buses voltages in the network so that its value does not pass accepted values. In this paper, MATLAB Simulink software and the POWERWORLD software have been used for the analysis of the power system network allocated to study. The results of the model of the power system show the accomplishment and the fulfillment of the proposed SVC and TCSC on the set of objectives mentioned above to be developed in the power transmission system (132 kV) network of Diyala/Iraq. This paper focuses on the distribution FEEDER, Distribution Automation System, controlling and monitoring the distribution system and the FEEDERS. Currently, the supervisory and data acquisition (SCADA) system is mainly used at generation and transmission side (high voltage side) in TNB. The SCADA analyzes data from the electrical equipment at the substation, in TNB SCADA; it has no information about the electrical parameters directly from the distribution side. The purpose of this paper is to operate, monitor, activate and de-activate the feeder in order to operate with the help of Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) and control by programmable logic control (PLC) and simulation of this paper has been done by using Cx-one (Cx-supervisor and cx-programmer) program for implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study comparatively motivations for committing fraud in financial statements in two emerging markets including Iran and Iraq. Design/methodology/approach: The research is a descriptive survey and statistical population consists of independent auditors. The field survey and questionnaire were used for data collection. Findings: Findings can raise auditors' awareness of management fraud motivations. It can help regulators and authorities in both countries as well as other emerging markets for establishing suitable rules and regulation. Originality/value: This paper's contribution was in identifying and comparing management's motivations to commit financial reporting fraud in two emerging markets including Iraq and Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy-exporting countries have always been isolated when it comes to energy security since according to the traditional definition of energy security, it is believed that there are no energy security-associated problems in these countries. Over the recent years, exporting countries have encountered the issue of single-product economy on a much larger scale, due to large oil revenues; they are facing more and more problems in the field of energy security every day. In this regard, the present paper primarily identified the challenges and factors affecting energy security and sustainable development related to energy in these countries. Afterwards, this information was employed for the construction of a composite index to measure the energy security and sustainability in these countries using the fuzzy BWM method. This composite index was utilized for a period of 14 years in five energy-exporting countries, namely Iran, Iraq, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The results obtained herein were fully consistent with the process of the changes in energy security in the mentioned countries and indicated the weaknesses and obstacles of these countries in the field of oil and oil economy. The results of a 14-year evaluation of the composite index show that Saudi Arabia, followed by Russia, Iran, Iraq, and Venezuela, displays the best performance in the field of energy security and sustainability and has an ascending trend and significant progress in the index value. Although Russia is in second place, it represents a descending trend. Iran, which is in third place on the slope of changes, has a falling but gentler trend. Iraq has a rising trend in the index value despite being in fourth place. The lowest level of energy security belongs to Venezuela with a sharp descending trend and naturally the worst performance in the field of energy security and sustainability. Examining these obstacles, it was observed that the economic-technological issues were a heavier burden than the social and environmental ones. In the economic-technological sector, oil-free per capita GDP, the share of non-energy exports in total exports, and the share of investment in the energy sector in total investment were the biggest obstacles, indicating the urgent need to change macro policies, exit the single-product economy, and adopt policies to increase the value added and reduce the sale of raw energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The case of the Kurdish minority in Iran and Iraq highlights the importance of monitoring linguistic justice to assess a country's inclusiveness and political stability. The Kurdish language is significant for the Kurdish people in the Middle East as it represents their identity. However, it is not a uniform language and has different dialects or varieties, which are spoken in different regions of Kurdistan. The main dialects are Kurmanji and Sorani, with Kurmanji being spoken in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, and Sorani being spoken mainly in Iraq and Iran, where it is also the language of education in the Kurdistan region. This paper compares the strategies of language policy and planning in Iraq and in Iran to evaluate which one grants the higher level of linguistic justice to the Kurdish minority. While Iraq's federal approach has provided some linguistic rights based on a territoriality principle, it does not expand to all Kurdish varieties spoken in the region. In contrast, Iran's liberal laissez-faire diglossia policy appears more inclusive on paper, but it results in a much lower level of linguistic justice in practice. Policymakers need effective tools to address multilingualism and evaluate the effectiveness of language policies, which can create disadvantages for different linguistic groups and lead to social unease and discrimination. Linguistic justice is an important variable in language policy and planning, and its evaluation provides useful measures of a country's level of political stability and inclusion of minorities. Monitoring the degree of linguistic justice in a society can help policymakers reduce tensions inherent to multicultural states and promote policies that reduce discriminatory situations between different ethnolinguistic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Albian Mauddud Formation is a prolific reservoir in Kuwait and nearby countries such as Iraq and Iran but has received far less attention than the under‐ and overlying units (the Aptian Shu'aiba and Cenomanian Mishrif Formations). Detailed reservoir characterization studies of the formation are required to support field development and improved / enhanced oil recovery (EOR) programmes. In this study, 26 wells penetrating the Mauddud Formation within the Greater Burgan area of Kuwait (Burgan and neighbouring fields) were investigated, integrating the logging of 910 ft of core with petrographic investigations of 113 stained and impregnated thin sections. In the Greater Burgan area, the Mauddud Formation can be divided into a lower Clastic Member and an upper Carbonate Member which is the main focus of this paper. The primary objective of the study was to present a new characterization of this thin, heterogeneous carbonate reservoir by integrating facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy with a detailed petrographic investigation. A second objective was to identify the relative importance of depositional characteristics and diagenesis on the distribution of reservoir properties. Sandstones in the Clastic Member of the Mauddud Formation were deposited on a delta which passed laterally to the north and east into a carbonate platform. During subsequent regional flooding, increased carbonate production resulted in the development of a larger‐scale carbonate platform covering the entire study area. The Burgan field area was part of the proximal zone of this carbonate platform. A number of depositional environments were identified by integrating core and thin section data. These range from outer platform to mid‐ and inner platform, the latter including both high‐ and low‐energy settings (shoal, shoreline; and lagoonal respectively). Mud‐supported textures characteristic of low‐energy inner‐platform and mid‐ to outer‐platform settings are volumetrically dominant in the Mauddud Carbonate Member. Sequence stratigraphic analysis suggests that the Mauddud Carbonate Member is part of a major regressive phase (or highstand systems tract) of a third‐order sequence, with the regional‐scale K110 MFS positioned close to the transition with the underlying Clastic Member. Two 4th order transgressive – regressive (TR) cycles or sequences, M1 and M2, were identified within the Carbonate Member. The top‐Mauddud surface corresponds to a sequence boundary with long‐lasting subaerial exposure during the latest Albian and is characterized by both micro‐ and macroscopic karst features (calcite dissolution vugs and recrystallization in thin sections; and cavities in cores). This study demonstrates that the Burgan field area experienced significant uplift, with increased differential erosion and/or non‐deposition of the upper M2 TR cycle towards the southwest. Eogenetic marine and meteoric calcite cements partially fill macropores close to the tops of the TR cycles and remaining macropores were occluded by shallow‐burial calcite cements. Cementation by ferroan dolomite cement, which resulted from the increased overburden and associated chemical compaction, has almost entirely occluded residual macropores in the lower part of the Mauddud Carbonate Member, close to the underlying siliciclastic deposits of the Clastic Member. As a consequence, porosity is mostly preserved in the middle part of the Carbonate Member. The predominance of mud‐supported textures in these intervals together with the effects of diagenesis explain the widespread occurrence of microporosity within both micritic matrix and grains. In the Greater Burgan area, meteoric diagenesis associated with subaerial exposure(s) of the top‐Mauddud preserved and/or enhanced micrite microporosity. Plug porosity may reach 35% or more, but permeability does not exceed 100 mD. The Mauddud Carbonate Member in the Greater Burgan area is a thin, microporous reservoir, with a dual porosity component which is linked to karst alteration and not to tectonic fracturing. The distribution of reservoir properties results from a combination of primary depositional characteristics and a multiphase diagenetic overprint. This study will guide the future development of the Mauddud reservoir in the Greater Burgan area. It also demonstrates the importance of an integrated approach to constrain sub‐seismic heterogeneities in carbonate reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deconstructs how religious musical eulogies, as the most important discursive practices of Shi'a rituals (Ghaffari 2019), were used as "war songs" serving to construct the Iranian national identity during the 1980–1988 Iraq-Iran war. These musical practices (in)formed the wider ideological and persuasive rhetoric of Iranians. In this paper, I analyse the textual and musical features of the audio-recorded versions of ten well-known war songs. The Discourse-Historical Approach (Reisigl and Wodak 2016) is used to analyse the discursive strategies and persuasive rhetorical tools within the lyrics. I draw on Machin (2010), Machin and Richardson (2012) and van Leeuwen (1999) to analyse various features of voice and the modality of sounds. This paper concludes that, by reflecting the power of religious discourse in the non-religious and highly nationalistic occasion of war, Iranian war songs were inspired by the religious eulogies in encouraging the Iranian nation to attend the war fronts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is divided into two parts. First I argue for the existence of a death-conscious culture in Iran, traceable in religious and literary texts, and manifested strongly in the discourse following the Iran-Iraq war. I then look at how this culture influences articulations and experiences of depression as felt by Iranian patients. Adopting a phenomenological perspective and drawing on empirical data, I show how death-consciousness, as a point of cultural divergence between the UK and Iran, can be used to account for some of the phenomenologically significant cultural variations in the experience of depression. These include attitudes towards suicide, the significance of feelings of hopelessness, and the existence of a sense of absurdity among Iranian patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theories of civic culture and democratization have tended to ignore stateless nations like the Kurds. This brings up the question of what civic culture looks like for these groups and whether the status of statelessness has in - fluenced the civic culture of Kurds in Iran, Iraq, and Turkey. Analyzing the first merged large-N dataset including Kurds from Turkey, Iran, and Iraq, this paper shows that the last hundred years of Kurdish political movements have strongly influenced the civic culture of Kurds. Being Kurdish in Turkey, Iran, and Iraq has a significant effect on levels of political trust and support as well as the correlation of these indicators with levels of support for a democratic political system. Overall, this paper finds that being Kurdish has a strong positive effect on support for democracy versus autocracy in all three countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Igdir University Journal of Social Sciences / Iğdır Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Igdir University Journal of Social Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Al-Anbar Journal of Veterinary Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The geometry, kinematics and dynamics of fold‐and‐thrust belts are strongly influenced by the mechanical behaviour of the basal décollement. However, many fold‐and‐thrust belts also include mechanically weak lithologies such as evaporites and marls or mudstones at different levels within the shortened stratigraphy. The kinematics and dynamic evolution of these thrust belts are controlled by the mechanical behaviour both of the basal décollement and of the weak units embedded within the overlying stratigraphic succession. In the Zagros fold‐and‐thrust belt (ZFTB), the shortened sedimentary cover is between 7 and 12 km thick and mechanically weak lithologies compartmentalize the stratigraphic column at shallow and intermediate levels. In this paper, satellite, field and seismic data from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq are used to identify structures of different sizes and surface traces. The observations are used to underline the role of mechanically weak horizons within the Zagros stratigraphy and the decoupling of deformation both laterally and with depth in the belt. The decoupling between shallow and deeper structures observed in seismic profiles from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is also reported from field observations from the Iranian part of the Zagros fold‐and‐thrust belt, where folds with different surface traces occur. Decoupling between shallow and deep layers by incompetent lithologies at intermediate depths (e.g. marls, mudstones and evaporites) results in the formation of disharmonic folds. The geometry, size and location of such folds may differ between outcropping and subsurface structures. Decoupling may have a significant impact on hydrocarbon exploration in different parts of the Zagros fold‐and‐thrust belt due to potential offsets between outcropping and subsurface structures and their associated traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysing the navigation behaviour in a built environment without a particular destination is a complicated issue when simulating pedestrian behaviour. This navigation is called exploratory navigation. This paper aims to investigate the spatial characteristics of a built environment which affect exploratory navigation. It focuses on visibility graph analysis (VGA) and uses the artificial neural network (ANN) for predicting navigation behaviours of visitors in museums. The movement data of visitors in the Islamic Revolution and Iran-Iraq War Museum (IRIIWM) in Tehran, Iran are collected from an observational study. The neural network analyzes the movement features of visitors and produces one single route containing all important movement characteristics of actual visitors. The results show that the network chooses its next target based on spatial visibility, visual perception, distance to a particular section, direction change, visual connectivity, and visual integration. The turn patterns and visual attractors also affect exploratory navigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses peace education focusing on how place-based experiences and collective memories stimulate local mobilisation for refugees fleeing from war. The Arctic Migration Route, located above 69th degree north, became an alternative to dangerous boat trips on the Mediterranean Sea, for people seeking safety and protection in the fall of 2015. During a few months, over 5,500 people from 35 nations, mostly from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran came to a municipality in north Norway with 10,000 inhabitants. The paper demonstrates how global conflicts far away, have important local consequences across borders and huge distances. Interviews with local authorities, teachers, voluntary workers constitute the main empirical material. By combining theories of place-based experiences and collective memories with phenomenology of practice, geographical location, collective and cultural memories across generations, are analysed as important driving forces for the local mobilization to help refugees. This approach opens for a wider perspective on learning, showing how climate, culture and history have important role as material and sociocultural education in this arctic border region in the north of Norway. Based on empirical data from a small local school, the paper will document how a local community can find solutions to globally produced problems.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to cover the ownership structure as (institutional ownership and managerial ownership) influencing the cost of equity in emerging markets. Design/methodology/approach: The authors applied the regression model with the fixed-effect model in the data. Data collected from listed companies in the Iraq-Iran Stock Exchange during 2012-2017. Findings: The authors found a significant positive associated between institutional ownership and the cost of equity in the Iranian and Iraqi contexts. The results also reveal a significant negative associated between managerial ownership with the cost of equity in the Iranian and Iraqi contexts. This means that when managerial ownership is increased, the cost of equity will be reduced. These results support the role of inside ownership to enhance fixed performance by reducing the cost of equity. So, managerial ownership can be a substitute for all shareholders. Moreover, the results indicate a similarity in the impact of the ownership structure on the cost of equity in the Iraqi and Iranian context, this means the similar elements among west Asian countries. Research limitations/implications: Financial companies such as banks and investment companies were not listed due to the difference in the nature of their work with the other sectors in the Iranian and Iraqi stock exchanges. Moreover, the authors are heavily constrained as listed companies must continue during the study period to calculate the cost of equity. Therefore, the results are difficult to generalize widely. Practical implications: This international study will enable investors in, as well as local and international investors to take the appropriate investment decision-making in the capital markets in these countries (Iraq and Iran). Moreover, it contributes significantly to helping corporate governance bloggers in Iraq and Iran understand the role of the ownership structure in corporate governance. Originality/value: This is the first study of the interaction between institutional ownership, managerial ownership with the cost of equity in Iraq, the study will help complete the knowledge gap with developed markets. The results are important in future research because the authors believe that it is very important for the future to look at better for percentage levels of institutional and managerial ownership in the company ownership. Although the contribution is limited, it will provide a useful guide for more papers in other west Asian countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: One of the most important issues in public policy and welfare state is health care. Poor management leads to the waste of resources, including money, human resources, facilities, and equipment. Aims: This paper seeks to answer the question of which eastern Mediterranean countries are more effective in allocating their health resources, and does Iran, in relation to those countries, have an effective health system. Methods: This study examined technical efficiency among eastern Mediterranean countries in 2018. Data were extracted from Global Health Observatory data World Health Organization. We applied input-oriented Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) models to estimate efficiency scores. Inputs are Physicians density per 10,000 populations, Total hospital beds per 10,000 populations, Current expenditure on health, % of gross domestic product and outputs are infant survival rate and Life expectancy. Results: The most efficient health systems in the eastern Mediterranean were Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. The inefficient countries are Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Palestine and Saudi Arabia. Conclusions: Among the efficient countries, one category of high-entry countries such as Bahrain and Qatar with high input especially in health expenditure had higher output. The second group of countries with lower inputs such as Iran and Morocco has been able to produce similar output with other countries. Also, inefficiency in countries such as Saudi Arabia can be attributed to this with higher input such as health expenditure has lower output such life expectancy and infant survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social movements are considered by sociologists as agents of social change. They are not isolated entities but an outcome of prevailing circumstances and at, the same time, result from continuity with the historical roots. Moreover, the mobility of contemporary movements can only be shown in comparison with previous kind of collective actions. Two revolutionary movements within one century (Constitutional Revolution 1905-06 and Islamic Revolution1979), and eight years' Iran-Iraq war (1981-89) and globalization have significantly contributed to the evolution of distinctive nature of contemporary Iranian society. This makes it an interesting subject for research in general, and particularly the case of social movements and their transformation. The paper aims to give an overview of Iranian social movements from the constitutional movement to the recent Green movement of 2009. The intention is to find out, first, whether there was any continuity in social movements during this period; secondly, to investigate the differences of the recent Green movement from the previous social movements of modern-day Iran. An overview of social structure, the state-society relationship, causes of mobilization and the outcomes of each movement will be studied. Moreover, the complex relation between state and social movements that emerged overall will also be examined. The Touraine/Melucci model has been applied in Iranian milieu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Infection with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii is widely prevalent in animals and humans. In goats and sheep this infection has a high economic impact as it causes abortions and lamb losses. Although there are several studies reporting seroprevalence in small ruminants in Iran, molecular-based information is scarce. Purpose: This study aimed to screen caprine and ovine aborted fetuses for T. gondii infection by PCR and histopathology. Methods: Brains of 121 aborted fetuses (10 caprine and 111 ovine) were collected from different parts of the Kordestan province, bordering with Iraq. Gestational age and the general status of each fetus such as freshness, autolysis, mummification and presence of macroscopic lesions in the fetus and foetal membranes was recorded. Individual brain tissues of fetuses were subjected to nested-PCR targeting the B1 gene, and histopathological sections prepared from brains were examined microscopically. Results: PCR results revealed T. gondii-associated abortion in one caprine and nine ovine fetuses (8.3%). Microscopically, pathological lesions included non-purulent meningitis associated with gliosis, focal necrosis, and occasionally tissue cyst. Conclusion: This paper reports for the first time T. gondii-associated abortion in goats in Iran. As organs from aborted fetuses do not necessarily show lesions, molecular confirmation is the unique diagnostic method and should be used in situations of an abortion epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In September 2013 the Iranian authorities inaugurated the Holy Defense Museum (Muzeh-i Dafa'-i Moqaddas) in the capital Tehran that also hosts a Martyrs' Museum (Muzeh-i Shuhada) built in the early 1980s and later renovated. The new museum is part of a grandiose project to commemorate the sacrifice of Iranians during the war provoked by the Iraqi regime (1980–1988). The museum encompasses various aspects of the arts (visual, cinematic, photographic, literary, etc.) shaped to remember and celebrate the martyrs of that war. The 1979 Iranian Revolution and the following Iran-Iraq War produced an enormous amount of visual material; works produced during this crucial period that disrupted the balance of power, both regionally and internationally, constitute an important part of Iran's recent history. Visual materials produced in that period not only constitute a collective graphic memory of those traumatic years, they also revolutionized Iranian aesthetics. The Islamic Republic of Iran (hereafter IRI) establishment has a long experience in molding contemporary art for political purposes and the Holy Defense Museum represents the zenith of this imposing project. In this paper, I present an analytic and descriptive reading of the museum in light of my direct experience visiting the museum, and I explore its role in maintaining the collective memory of the Iran-Iraq conflict, in celebrating the revolution and in aestheticizing war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stachys kurdica, well adapted to live in sloping limestone crevices and steep screes, is distributed across particular routes in Southeast Turkey and North Iraq and also extends to Iran. This species belongs to the section Fragilicaulis and contains the following infraspecific taxa; var. kurdica and var. brevidens. These taxa share partly the same habitats and are distinguished by the calyx characters. Micromorphological studies of trichomes on the epidermal surface and nutlet surface by Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscopy and Light Microscopy have revealed non-glandular and glandular trichomes on the taxa. The nutlets were coloured from light to dark-brown, usually obovate, ventral sides flat, rooflike with rib, apex rounded, faintly granulate, wrinkly, glabrous and reticulate. Karyotypes of the taxa have been introduced for the first time to the scientific community and were obtained by the Image Analysis System. The karyotype analysis showed the taxa as diploid, with chromosome numbers of 2n = 34. In addition to these morphological characters, chromosomal and micromorphological differences further serve to distinguish the taxa. Therefore, this paper is the first study discussing together the morphological, micromorphological and karyotype structures of S. kurdica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reflective practice in TESOL is widely used in pre-service and in-service teacher education contexts and is regarded as beneficial for ongoing professional learning. While models of reflective language teaching vary, they all aim to improve classroom outcomes for teachers and students. A holistic approach to reflective practice includes teachers' beliefs, philosophies and the interaction of their teaching practices with moral and social issues outside the classroom as part of the self-reflective teaching process (Farrell, 2015; Larrivee, 2000). Reflecting on the teaching journey in this way can help teachers make sense of how individual beliefs about teaching interact with professional experiences, and how these interactions inform decisions in the classroom. The aim of this narrative paper is to describe the developmental process I went through during my first year as a teacher of beginner, refugee-background students in an adult migrant English language teaching program in Australia. Self-reflective data primarily sourced from teaching journals kept during my first year of teaching were analysed using Farrell's (2015) Framework for Reflecting on Practice. Following a brief introduction of the framework, its application to this current study is discussed. Findings highlight the important roles philosophy, theory, critical reflection and mentors played in my pedagogical decision-making and overall learning processes. The paper concludes with a discussion about implications for ESOL teachers, graduate students and educators in TESOL teacher education programs.

• The M w = 7.3 earthquake near the Iran-Iraq border in west Iran occurred in 12.11.2017. • Median, Kalman filter and NN were implemented to investigate TEC measurements. • Swarm data analysis identifies anomalies 8–11 days prior to the earthquake. • Climatological data analysis identifies anomalies that precede ionospheric anomalies. • The sequence of different anomalies confirms a bottom-up LAIC process. The M w = 7.3 earthquake near the Iran-Iraq border in west Iran (34.911°N, 45.959°E) occurred at 18:18:17 UTC (LT = UTC + 03:30), November 12, 2017 as the result of oblique-thrust faulting at mid-crustal depth (∼19 km). Median, Kalman filter and Neural Network, as three standard, classical and intelligent methods, have been implemented to investigate three months of GPS Total Electron Content (TEC) measurements and to detect the striking anomalous variations around the time and location of the mentioned earthquake. The first method detects unusual variations, 9 days before the event, between 21:00 and 22:00 UTC. The other two methods of Kalman filter and Neural Network detect another clear anomaly on 11 days preceding the earthquake at 16:00 UTC. These findings are two of the outstanding results of GPS-TEC precursor analysis. This paper also presents the results of Swarm satellites (Alpha, Bravo and Charlie) data analysis inside the Dobrovolsky area around the Iran earthquake epicenter during the period from 1 August to 30 November 2017. The time series and orbital analysis of six measured parameters including electron density, electron temperature, magnetic scalar and vectors (X, Y, Z) components indicate irregular variations between 8 and 11 days prior to the occurrence of the earthquake. Since the variations of the solar and geomagnetic indices follow a normal behaviour during the whole period of the observed ionospheric anomalies between 8 and 11 days before the earthquake, it can be concluded that multi-precursors analysis has an important role to acknowledge the seismo-LAI (Lithospheric-Atmospheric-Ionospheric) anomalies associated to strong earthquakes such as this case. Furthermore, some physical and chemical atmospheric parameters from a climatological database are investigated and some interesting anomalies above two standard deviations prior to the earthquake are found. This paper shows not only anomalies in atmosphere and ionosphere but also a contemporary analysis of different data sources to detect the possible Lithosphere Atmosphere Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For centuries, the tradition of veiling and public silence repressed the Iranian women both physically and verbally. These conventions stipulated that women's physique should be concealed and their voice, emotion and concern remain unexpressed. Although Iranian women have always played crucial and representative roles in various political and historical eras, the tendency to trivialize and neglect their roles and movements has been rife. This affected Persian literature as well; women were either totally excluded or were marginalized and mentioned very briefly in literature. The Iranian women had challenged these conventions, ventured into the public, and voiced their thoughts and concerns through literature but they were again marginalized and their literature was overlooked due to possessing traditional masculine styles of writing. This sentiment gradually disappeared with the emergence of women authors whose literary works had a different style than men's writings. These writings brought women from the periphery to the center as well. Since then, Iranian women authors have been producing literature to protest against patriarchy and traditional discriminatory policies. They have also been active writers in what now can be regarded as the formerly male-dominated genres that deal with nationalism such as war literature. 'One Woman's War: Da' (2014) is one such work. Drawing upon and reviving Cixous' notion of ecriture feminine, this paper explores how Da, a state-sponsored war memoir, constructs feminine writing that challenges patrilineal culture and highlights women's roles in nation-building projects like the Iran-Iraq war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a blistering chemical warfare agent that was used during the World War I and in the Iraq–Iran conflict. The aim of this paper is to discuss and critically review the published results of experiments on the treatment of SM poisoning based on our clinical and research experience. The victims must remove from the contaminated zone immediately. The best solution for decontamination is large amounts of water, using neutral soap and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite. Severely intoxicated patients should be treated according to advanced life support protocols and intensive care therapy for respiratory disorders and the chemical burn. Sodium thiosulfate infusion (100–500 mg/kg/min) should be started up to 60 min after SM exposure. However, N-acetyle cysteine (NAC) is recommended, none of them acts as specific or effective antidote. The important protective and conservative treatment of SM-induced pulmonary injuries include humidified oxygen, bronchodilators, NAC as muculytic, rehydration, mechanical ventilation, appropriate antibiotics and respiratory physiotherapy as clinically indicated. Treatment of acute SM ocular lesions start with topical antibiotics; preferably sulfacetamide eye drop, continue with lubricants, and artificial tears. Treatment for cutaneous injuries include: moist dressing; preferably with silver sulfadiazine cream, analgesic, anti-pruritic, physically debridement, debridase, Laser debridement, followed by skin autologous split-thickness therapy as clinically indicated. The new suggested medications and therapeutic approaches include: anti-inflammatory agents, Niacinamide, Silibinin, Calmodulin antagonists, Clobetasol, full-thickness skin grafting for skin injuries; Doxycycline; Bevacizumab, and Colchicine for ocular injuries. Recommended compounds based on animal studies include Niacinamide, Aprotinin, des-aspartate-angiotensin-I, Gamma-glutamyltransferase, vitamin E, and vitamin D. In vitro studies revealed that Dimethylthiourea, L-nitroarginine, Methyl-ester, Sodium pyruvate, Butylated hydroxyanisole, ethacrynic acid, and macrolide antibiotics are effective. However, none of them, except macrolide antibiotics have been proved clinically. Avoidance of inappropriate polypharmacy is advisable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thomisid spider species, Thomisus unidentatus Dippenaar-Schoeman & van Harten, 2007 was previously reported from Yemen, Iraq and Iran. In this paper, we report male of this crab spider from India. A detailed taxonomic description of the male is provided here along with comments on taxonomic variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting appropriate climate change scenarios is crucial, as it influences the outcomes of climate change impact studies. Several storylines could be used to investigate the sensitivity of water resource schemes to weather variability and improve policymakers' adaptation strategies. This study proposes a comprehensive and generic methodology for assessing the future climate change impact on semi-arid and arid zones at the basin scale by comparing delta perturbation scenarios to the outcomes of seven collections of GCMs (general circulation models). The findings indicate that the two scenarios predicted nearly identical declines in average reservoir discharges over a monthly timescale. Consequently, their maximum values are almost similar. The projected decrease in the streamflow for the period 2080–2099 is approximately 48%—the same as the ratio from the delta perturbation scenario of Future16 (a 30% precipitation decrease and a 30% potential evapotranspiration increase). Furthermore, delta perturbation scenarios allow the impacts of model sensitivity to climate change to be clearly identified in relation to GCM scenarios. Delta perturbation scenarios allow for an extensive collection of possible climate changes at the regional scale. In addition, delta perturbation scenarios are simpler to create and use; therefore, they might complement GCM scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Mentha longifolia L. is a perennial plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family that has a wide distribution in the world. M. longifolia has many applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its terpenoid and phenolic compounds. The phytochemical profile and biological activity of plants are affected by their genetics and habitat conditions. In the present study, the content, constituents and antifungal activity of the essential oil extracted from 20 accessions of M. longifolia collected from different regions of Iran and Iraq countries were evaluated. Results: The essential oil content of the accessions varied between 1.54 ± 0.09% (in the Divandarreh accession) to 5.49 ± 0.12% (in the Khabat accession). Twenty-seven compounds were identified in the essential oils of the studied accessions, which accounted for 85.5-99.61% of the essential oil. The type and amount of dominant compounds in the essential oil were different depending on the accession. Cluster analysis of accessions based on essential oil compounds grouped them into three clusters. The first cluster included Baziyan, Boukan, Sarouchavah, Taghtagh, Darbandikhan, Isiveh and Harir. The second cluster included Khabat, Kounamasi, Soni and Mahabad, and other accessions were included in the third cluster. Significant correlations were observed between the essential oil content and components with the climatic and soil conditions of the habitats. The M. longifolia essential oil indicated antifungal activity against Fusarium solani in both methods used. In all studied accessions, the fumigation method compared to the contact method was more able to control mycelia growth. In both methods, the inhibition percentage of essential oil on mycelia growth increased with an increase in essential oil concentration. Significant correlations were found between the essential oil components and the inhibition percentage of mycelium growth. Conclusion: The studied M. longifolia accessions showed significant differences in terms of the essential oil content and components. Differences in phytochemical profile of accessions can be due to their genetic or habitat conditions. The distance of the accessions in the cluster was not in accordance with their geographical distance, which indicates the more important role of genetic factors compared to habitat conditions in separating accessions. The antifungal activity of essential oils was strongly influenced by the essential oil quality and concentration, as well as the application method. Determining and introducing the elite accession in this study can be different depending on the breeder's aims, such as essential oil content, desired chemical composition, or antifungal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Every day, either by accident or illness, there are numerous situations in which the safety of individuals, families or communities is endangered. >2000 children worldwide die every day as a result of unintentional injuries. The majority of risks influencing a cardiac arrest in a school are related to physical activity, such as participating in sports or having an airway obstruction or trauma event. In the United States and Europe, one million people experience cardiac arrests annually. The aim of this study was to assess the basic school teachers' practices regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation at basic schools in Erbil City. Methods: A cross suctional study was carried out. To assess the practices of basic school teachers regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The study was conducted from January 20,2021 to May 15, 2022. This study was conducted in basic schools in Erbil city according to six municipalities. The sample size was 470 teachers. The observational check list technique was used to assess cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance. Results: The majority of them were female (74%), more than half of them have a diploma (52.3%), the majority of age group were between 37-48 years old which represents 51%, the mean age was (43.85±8.27), most of the teachers were married (86.4%), the majority of them did not a training course (86.4%). Several teachers use tradition at media (9.6%) and social media (44.7). A lot of barriers were faced teachers to prevent participation in training courses were not found in professional training course The majority of the schoolteachers had poor levels of practice (51.1%) regarding the performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Conclusion: The majority of schoolteachers had poor levels of practice regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation. There was a significant association between the performance of CPR and some socio-demographic variables like age group, gender, years of experience, and desire to attend CPR training course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the long-standing conflict over Kurdish self-determination as it played out in three cases of negotiations conducted between the governments of Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, and the representatives of Kurdish movements from the 1970s onwards. Drawing on conflict and negotiations studies, the paper seeks to explain (a) why efforts at negotiating the conflict in question have not been successful and (b) what reasons account for this failure. To this end, the study first conceptualizes the Kurdish question as a constitutive conflict of self-determination grounded in a dynamic contest between direct rule and self-rule. Second, it systematically links the failure of negotiations to the absence of substantive commitments by the states involved, the lack of collective action on the part of the Kurdish actors, and negative third-party involvement. The objective is to provide a theoretically guided and empirically informed conceptual approach to the failed politics of negotiating the Kurdish self-determination conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Political leaders' discourse plays a significant role in directing the public opinion during crises. Hence, this study analyzed 71 speeches delivered by Hassan Rouhani, President of Iran (2013-2021), during the first and the second waves of COVID-19 pandemic (February 20 till August 30, 2020) as the most critical period of the pandemic attack. This study drew upon Lakoff & Johnson's (1980) Conceptual Metaphor Theory as its theoretical background, and the analysis of the speeches was comprised of metaphor identification using the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) and metaphor interpretation. The findings of the study reveal employment of metaphorical representations of coronavirus as a discursive strategy to deal with the situation. The main metaphorical representation of coronavirus was framing public cooperation and national solidarity during the COVID-19 pandemic as participating in a war. As argued in this paper, the employed metaphors not only remained loyal to general war features, but they also entailed a specific sociocultural image of war for the Iranian people based on their experience and memories of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war. Finally, this study recommends for future studies to include the specific sociocultural context and historical background of the addressed audience. This provides further insight into what metaphors specifically mean to the addressed audience, which is beyond general metaphor use. This study is hoped to be a small step towards bringing into spotlight the significance of sociocultural aspects and historical background as necessary information to provide in-depth insights into what makes metaphors effective communicative tools to specific audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the 2017 Demographic Survey of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, older Iraqi censuses, the 2016 Census of Iran, and reports on displacement in Iraq, we expose the male deficit in the 1958–1962 birth cohort of Iraqi Kurdistan over time, probe its origins, and illustrate its effects on the rest of the population while relating these to the historical context of the exodus of the Kurdish resistance in Iraq to Iran in 1975. In addition to heightened mortality, a number of families appear to have sent some of their teenage sons to Iran to avoid their involvement in the conflict as fighters, victims, or both. Their absence has enabled the remaining males of the 1958–1962 cohort to enjoy an advantageous position in the marriage and labor markets, while their corresponding mating partners, the females of the 1963–1967 cohort, were the first generation of Iraqi Kurdish females to pursue education and employment en masse. Illustrating the effect of conflict over demographic structure, we highlight the need for further research into two interrelated aspects: the strategies of mothers to keep their male offspring safe via selective out‐migration during conflict, and the resulting emancipation of females due to postconflict male shortage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The Zagros orogenic belt is a major mountain system located in southwestern Iran and extending into northeastern Iraq and southeastern Turkey. It was formed as a result of the Late Paleogene-Early Neogene Arabian-Eurasian continental collision, where its proto-basin was impacted by the tectonic evolution during the Proto-Tethys and Paleo-Tethys development. The entire evolution history can be summarized through an integrated model of three Wilson cycles. This paper aims to provide an understanding of the complexities of plate motions that led to the evolution of the Zagros Fold-and-Thrust Belt, by integrating the time and space evolution of supercontinents. A comprehensive review of the Arabian plate tectonics suggests three main tectonic stages, including a period of rifting from the Late Cambrian to Carboniferous, a period of ocean closure during the Late Triassic and Jurassic, and a final collision during the Cenozoic. These tectonic evolution stages encompassed multiple episodes of basin uplifting and subsidence, marked by wide-spread fault reactivation and fold deformation. Three styles of deformation were identified and characterized, including thin-skinned, thick-skinned, and basement deformation. The closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean resulted in compressional tectonics that reactivated dormant faults, and emplaced gypsum-salt sedimentary caprock. The genetic analysis concurrently proposes a scientific framework for the characterization of structural deformation in similar convergent plate systems globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Trichomonas tenax is a protozoan which participates in the human oral microflora. It is considered as a potential paradontopathogen. This microorganism is also reported in the respiratory tract. We aimed to analyze the available literature about the prevalence of Trichomonas tenax in the population affected by periodontal disease. Materials and Methods: Searching the Scopus, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases with the keywords: "Trichomonas tenax" and "periodontal diseases" was able to identify several systematic reviews and original articles up until July 2023. All studies with patients suffering from periodontal disease, which mentioned the year of publication, the country, specified the detection methods, and included the total number of tested samples as well as the percentage of those infected with Trichomonas tenax were included. Irrelevant articles were excluded. Results: We found 137 studies, but only 64 studies about the distribution of Trichomonas tenax in patients with gum disease underwent qualitative analysis. The highest number of studies have been conducted in Iran, Poland and Iraq. Different methods have been used to detect the unicellular organism, each with a different specificity and sensitivity. Conclusions: Interest in Trichomonas tenax has grown considerably since 2000. Because of its association with periodontal disease, Trichomonas tenax's role in the inflammatory process should not be overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Countermapping the conflict between hydrological interventions and women's water literacy in the Khuzestan Region since the mid-twentieth century, this essay reveals the violent nature of hydrological paternalism across times and political regimes. Under the androcentric realm of colonial representations, resource development projects, Western modernizing missions, state violence, and financial strangulation by international economic sanctions, the multifaceted nature of women's resistance against territorial dispossessions and the violence unleashed on women and waterbodies is at the center of the current struggles for social and environmental justice. Demystifying these historical entanglements makes the case for the rematriation of rivers as a necessary step in the transborder and crosscultural process of decolonization and feminist liberation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) is one of the medicinal plants of Anacardiaceae family and widely used as a spice in Iran and Arab countries. Rhus coriaria var. zebaria is a small tree or large shrub, wildly growing in Iraq and described as a new variety with special characteristics. These increase the importance of studying sumac in these areas. Here, the phytochemical variations and the antibacterial activity of 50 accessions of this variety from five different climatic conditions was evaluated in order to identify the best accession to use and the best area for its cultivation. This is the most comprehensive study on this plant. Essential oil compounds were identified using GC–MS method and according to the results, Z, E-2,13-octadecadien, caryophyllene oxide, 2,4-decadienal, E-caryophyllene and nonanoic acid were among the main compounds. Also, the variety is a rich source of minerals including K, Ca, Mg, Na, P, and N. Sumac fruit extract from Akre Xerds had the highest anthocyanin and the lowest amount was from Kavilca region. The radical scavenging effect of extract from Dostic area in the concentration of 400 µg/mL is closer to the effect of ascorbic acid. The largest inhibition was found in the sumac extracted oil of Xasto Zhere area against S. aureus in compared with penicillin and amoxicillin and enrofloxacin antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using flashbacks, Bizhan Najdi's "A Plant in Quarantine" tells the story of the central character called Taher, an Iranian boy, who has been quarantined in a hospital due to abnormal spread of skin rashes after a military service physician took off a lock from the back of his right shoulder. Immediately, Taher came down with a contagious skin disease called hereditary fear by the rural doctor. This short story brings the past and present together in a peculiar manner, providing an overview of present condition actuated by past events revolving around the Tudeh Party, an Iranian Marxist political party, and the Iran-Iraq War. The analysis of this relationship and the possibility of Taher's hereditary fear is the main focus of the paper, which can account for the role of history in this short story. For such an end, the analysis is carried out at the two levels of writer and story. The writer's disturbed memories, which are related to fear and violence in Iran's contemporary history, and the conditions of their emergence are explored so that the roots of the protagonist's inherent fear might be discernible. The findings of the paper show that the unpleasant presence of the main character's ancestral past is the cause of his predicament, introducing past as an active agent of the present.

Objectives: The prevalence of self-immolation is significantly higher in some Middle Eastern and Central Asian Islamic countries than in Western countries. Self-immolation typically occurs among females and can be either an attempt at suicide or an act of protest. This systematic review examined the drivers and consequences of self-immolation in Asian Islamic countries from the perspective of those affected by it, including survivors, family and health care staff in order to understand its higher prevalence in these countries.Method: A systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted in June 2018, using five electronic databases: PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, Scopus and PsycINFO. Of the 236 papers identified, seven met the inclusion criteria. Authors independently rated the reporting of included qualitative studies and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.Results: The drivers of self-immolation included marital and familial conflict, male-dominated culture, mental health disorders and economic and social factors. Survivors chose self-immolation in order to express their sense of a lack of control and mostly utilised this method due to its accessibility. The consequences of self-immolation were social isolation, regret, and physical and psychological impacts.Conclusions: The reasons for self-immolation, its prevalence and the demographics of those who choose this means vary significantly between Asian Islamic and Western countries. This review confirmed the impact of culture, tradition, and societal structures and relationships on people's decisions to self-immolate. Education about the consequences of self-immolation may reduce the use of this method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The urgent need for rational use of water resources and the intense competition among most of the riparian countries with respect to the use of shared water sources have raised the importance of examining the contribution of base flow to total stream flow. This paper examines the Diyala transboundary river basin shared between Iraq and Iran. Daily unregulated flow records during the hydrologic years between 1955 and 1982 were considered at the upstream flow gauging station and daily unimpaired flow time series during the water years between 1931 and 1961 were examined at the most downstream hydrometric station. Two digital filtering algorithms and the flow duration curve method were applied to extract the base flow time series and compute its signature to total river flow. A generic methodology, which incorporates the flow duration curve method within digital filtering algorithms, has been introduced to obtain the filter parameter α in the filtering algorithms, and obtain the base flow contribution with a high level of confidence. Findings revealed that the base flow proportion is 38 % for the upper sub-basin and 31 % for the upper and middle combined sub-basins. The computed base flow signatures using the incorporated approach have very strong correlation coefficients of around 0.985. The driest year had the highest annual base flow index. The base flow index values started to increase in April and climbed to a peak by the end of May. A gradual decline between August and September was observed. The proposed methodology should be applied to unregulated watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]