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In 2023, the Australian Government issued ∼250,000 soil carbon credits following a measurement period characterised by high rainfall (Decile 10). The inferred soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration rates during this period, ranging from ∼2 to 8 t C ha−¹ yr−¹, significantly exceed rates reported in Australian scientific studies (∼0.1 to 1.2 t C ha−¹ yr−¹). Our analysis, incorporating SOC and biomass measurements alongside remote sensing of NDVI, reveals that these SOC gains were largely attributable to above-average rainfall rather than project interventions. Moreover, these gains were not sustained when rainfall returned to average levels, raising concerns about the durability of credited sequestration and its additionality beyond natural climatic variability. Our findings demonstrate that current safeguards within the Soil Carbon Method—such as withholding 25% of credits during the first measurement period—are likely insufficient to account for climatic variability. To strengthen the integrity of the carbon crediting system, we recommend extending the minimum measurement period for credit issuance to at least five years. Additionally, governments should establish science-based 'reasonable bounds' for expected long-term SOC gains from management practices to sense-check reported outcomes. These measures will ensure that credited SOC sequestration is more closely tied to management-driven outcomes rather than short-term climate-driven fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometriosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by the presence of ectopic endometrial tissue, immune cell dysfunction and abnormal cytokine secretion. In addition to immunological factors, genetic variations that influence endometriosis severity and cytokine expression levels play important roles in the pathogenesis of this disease. Interleukin‐12 (IL‐12), specifically its p40 subunit encoded by IL‐12B gene and the interleukin‐12 receptor β1 (IL‐12Rβ2) chain of its receptor, as well as interleukin‐27 (IL‐27) are important in the establishment of endometriosis. So, in this study, we measured IL‐12 and IL‐27 serum levels and investigated the possible links between IL‐12B rs3212227, IL‐12Rβ2 rs3790565 and IL‐27 rs153109 polymorphisms and the risk of developing endometriosis in a group of Iranian women. In this case‐control study, 162 endometriosis patients and 151 healthy women were included and tested for the aforementioned polymorphisms using the polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) technique. The enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was also used to measure IL‐12 and IL‐27 serum levels. Although there was no statistically significant association between the genotypes and alleles of the studied polymorphisms and the development of endometriosis in general, the AA genotype of IL‐12B rs3212227 showed a significant association with uterine endometriosis when compared to AC+CC genotypes (p =.04, CI = 0.270–0.988, OR = 0.517). Indeed, the AA genotype of the IL‐12B rs3212227 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) may be linked with a lower risk of developing uterine endometriosis. There was no significant difference in IL‐27 levels between the two studied groups (p =.49), and IL‐12 levels were undetectable in both groups. In conclusion, the AA genotype of IL‐12B rs3212227 might be associated with a decreased risk of uterine involvement in endometriosis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Given the importance of identifying the relationship between real exchange rate and trade balance in the elaboration and accurate implementation of trade policies in the agricultural sector, in this study, the effect of real exchange rate structural shocks on the balance of trade in Iranian agricultural sector was studied. Materials and Methods: In order to examine the systematic pattern of trade balance reaction to real exchange rate shock, Structural Vector Autoregressive method was used during the period (1992-2016). Findings: The results of the model estimation show that real exchange rate shocks initially and in the first year have a slight improvement in the agricultural trade balance. But in the second and third year after the shock, the agricultural sector trade balance worsens. Also, the effect of the shock of the real exchange rate has been fully adjusted since the sixth year onwards and the trade balance of the agricultural sector returns to its equilibrium trend. Therefore, exchange rate shocks and a sudden decline in the value of the national currency do not have a significant effect on the improvement of the long-term trend of the trade balance of the agricultural sector. Conclusion: It is suggested to improve the trade balance of the agricultural sector, instead of relying on the increase in competitiveness due to the increase in the exchange rate, attention should be paid to other influencing variables such as investment and production in the agricultural sector, transfer of knowledge and technology, and adjustment of restrictions caused by climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a natural phenomenon and the occurrence of this phenomenon is likely in all parts of the world. Drought depends on its severity and one of the its affected resources is vegetation and its conditions. This study tries to present the relationship between vegetation cover and drought in northwest of Iran. To assess the effect of drought on vegetation, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Vegetation Condition Index (VCI) and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) were determined during 2002-2016 using remote sensing and several software including ArcGIS 10.3, ENVI, SPSS Statistics 17.0 and Microsoft Excel. At the first the correlations between NDVI and VCI were compared with SPI for each year then they were compared with SPI of the last year using MODIS sensor. Pearson correlation was used to calculate the correlation between the indices. The results showed that the correlations between NDVI and VCI with the SPI of same year are 0.568 and 0.481 respectively, and also the correlations between NDVI and VCI with the SPI of last year are 0.377 and 0.269, respectively. These results demonstrate that the correlations between NDVI and VCI with the SPI of same year are more than the SPI of next year also the correlation between NDVI and SPI in the same year is more than NDVI and SPI of the last year which indicate that the density vegetation of each year is directly related to the amount of rainfall of same year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid plasmonic waveguide provided high confinement of the propagating light and it is compatible with silicon on insulator technology. Graphene with unique optical properties has been used in optical modulator to give a high extinction ratio, broadband operation, and small footprint. In this paper, we used graphene as an absorber layer in a hybrid plasmonic waveguide structure to get sub-wavelength field confinement and better interaction between the graphene and the propagating light to reach maximum absorption of the graphene. We studied the effects of a different number (2–6) of the graphene layers on the extinction ratio, bandwidth, and energy consumption. The modulation extinction ratio is as high as 36 dB/μm and it has a flat response in a wide range of wavelength. The power consumption is about 14 fJ/bit. This modulator has a good response in all communication bands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraventricularhemorrhage (IVH) is one of thecommon morbidities among preterm neonates. In thepresentstudy, we set out to evaluate the efficacy of two prophylactic modalities (ibuprofen and indomethacin prophylaxis) for prevention of IVH in our local setting. A prospective study was carried out in Akbar-Abadi Hospital, Tehran-Iran (2013-2014). Ninety-six preterm neonates who cared in closed incubator entered the study. Neonates randomly assigned into 3 groups; control, oral indomethacin (0.2 mg/kg indomethacin daily for 3 days) and oral ibuprofen (10,5,5 mg/kg ibuprofen every 24 hours during 3) administration. For all subjects brain sonography examination was performed in 3rd day, first, 2nd week of life and when infants reached to 36 and 42 weeks of postmenstrual age. The IVH prevalence and the effectiveness of the drugs among groups were statistically assessed. Of all 93 subjects; 14 cases had IVH (15.1%). IVH was significantly more frequent in the controls than in other groups (P=0.049). Prophylactic treatment could significantly decrease the incidence of grade 3 or 4 IVH in experimental groups (P=0.008). There were no significant differences between the three experimental groups with respect to theincidence of GI bleeding, Oliguria, renal dysfunction or NEC (P.value>.05). This study demonstrates that low-dose prophylactic indomethacin and ibuprofen are equally associated with a reduction of IVH without any significant side effects like renal dysfunction, GI bleeding or NEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, efforts have been made to meet three objectives. Firstly, the researcher attempted to examine the extent of translatability of color idiomatic expressions in English- Persian and Persian- English texts. The next- was to explore the applied translation strategies in translation of color idiomatic expressions. The third aim was to find cultural similarities and differences between color idiomatic expressions in English and Persian. A number of 190 English and 90 Persian color idiomatic expressions along with their equivalents were gathered from monolingual dictionaries and as the next step their equivalents were detected from bilingual dictionaries. The analysis of data revealed that the following strategies were used in translating color idiomatic expressions: 1) using a non- idiomatic expression; 2) using an idiom of similar meaning and form; 3) using an idiom of similar meaning but dissimilar form; 4) literal translation; 5) paraphrasing and finally 6) loan translation. Moreover, the results of the study led us to conclude that an ideal translation strategy of translating an idiom by using another idiom in target language is not always possible. On the other hand, literal translation without considering its restrictions may lead to an awkward and unnatural translation. Then, the strategy of translating an idiom with a normal, non- idiomatic expression can be appropriate when there is no corresponding target language. Further results also revealed that there are many interesting cultural similarities and differences between color idiomatic expressions in English and Persian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]