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Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a decision-making tool that assesses the environmental status, production activities, and processes during the useful life of a crop. It should be borne in mind that the LCA uses a variety of techniques for economic, social, and environmental estimates of crops, as well as their activities, processes, and the consumed energy efficiency.The present study evaluates the LCA in corn seed and corn stover production systems in Karaj by the use of two cropping systems: corn produced for seed only, without collecting corn stover (CRN) (seed corn production system) and corn produced to harvest stover (CSR) (corn stover production system). Which were investigated during the years of 2011-2016. Environmental indices were calculated for the CRN and CSR based on six impact categories under Karaj climatic conditions. The highest pollutant index, after resource depletion, was found in acidification impact category (0.90 and 0.34 for the CRN and CSR, respectively), followed by the highest environmental impacts for global warming or climate change impact categories (0.51 and 0.18 for the CRN and CSR, respectively). Therefore, it seems that different methods of farming system management can be utilized based on the use of low-input principles, such as using various organic inputs, planting nitrogen-fixing and perennial plants, the use of crop rotation, utilizing different planting patterns such as intercropping, minimum tillage, and decreased use of chemical inputs, to reduce the environmental impact of this production system, particularly the CRN, on fossil fuel depletion, acidification, and climate change impact categories, thereby reducing the shares of these environmental impacts.

Researches related to the evaluation of the effect of the inputs dates back to long ago in Iran. However, due to the diversity and scattering of the various experimental results, it is difficult to reach to a general conclusion. The present study has made use of meta-analysis to overcome such a problem thereby to blend and reanalyze the findings of independent experiments for achieving a single result. To do so, the scientific-research articles published by the researchers from 1996 up to 2017 inside the country concerning the effect of drought stress on the performance, height and number of bolls in cotton were explored. The extend impact of an each trait is the mean difference of the drought stress results compared with control. The diagrammatic results of the drought stress and performance impact sizes showed that all of the stress levels make significant differences in contrast to the evidence treatment (p < 0.001). Moreover, it was made clear in a contrastive investigation of the diagrammatic results of the height and drought stress impact size and the number of the bolls and drought stress impact sizes that there is a significant difference between the evidence treatment and the total mean, the evidence treatment and 41%-55% of the cultivation capacity and the evidence treatment and 25%-40% of the cultivation capacity. The results of the cumulative diagram of the effect of drought stress on performance, height and number of bolls indicated that the majority of the studies fall on the left side of the diagram which is indicative of the adverse effect of the drought stress on the related traits. In addition, the results of the funnel chart demonstrated that the studies performed in Iran on cotton and drought stress are not much precise (bias and low sample volume).

Research on the impact of inputs has a long history in the country; however, because of the dispersion and diversity in the results of various experiments, it is difficult to achieve a general conclusion. In this study, a meta-analysis approach has been used to overcome this problem in order to achieve a single result by integrating and re-analyzing the findings of independent experiments. For this purpose, scientific articles published by researchers of the country regarding the effect of salinity stress on cotton yield were investigated. Articles were selected so that, in their meta-analysis of data required to perform there. The data necessary for the implementation of the meta-analysis is present in them. The results of this study showed that from 1996 to 2017; 15 papers and thesis were published on the effects of salinity stress on yield, early maturing and number of bolls in upland cotton (Gossypiumhirsutum L.). With increasing salinity stress, yield and number of bolls decreased. The standardized values for salinity stress effect on cotton yield were significant in all five treatments (control via salinity, control via 2-3 dS m-1, control via 4-5 dS m-1, control via 6-7 dS m-1, control via 8-9 dS m-1) compared to control (P

In this descriptive-analytic study with data and images collected through library and virtual methods, a number of Shi’ah themed manuscripts of the Qazvin school have been introduced. The results of this study indicate that the stories derived from the Qur'an, events and teachings of Islam and Shi'ism, which explicitly or symbolically represent the truth and legitimacy of Shi'ism, constitute the main frame of these images. In addition, the important concepts and notions of Shi'ism such as the right of succession and Imamate of Prophet Ali (PBUH) chosen by God, the infallibility of the Shiite Imams, the belief in the miracles and wisdoms of the Imams; also the intercession of the Imams and the expression of the dignity and status of the Imams, are represented in these paintings. Artists who have created such works have been able to visualize coded and spiritual beliefs, narratives, and concepts by avoiding a realistic approach and by applying symbols, signs and visual and tangible arts; moreover, Shi’ah paintings are distinguished from religious paintings. They have also portrayed sacred figures and icons of Shi’ah Islam in a symbolic manner with the use of special decorative elements, emphasizing their unique and sacred status and directing the audience to their spiritual and intrinsic perfection.

bjective (s): Food security is defined as the permanent access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food for all people in order to have an active and healthy life. To achieve sustainable food supply, quantification of food security at the household level is necessary. The main aim of this study were (i) quantitative analysis of food security in Marvdasht, Iran and (ii) Estimate the effect of milk, fruits and vegetables consumption on food security. Methods: We carried out a descriptive-survey to analyze food security status. In all 500 rural and urban households were randomly selected. The household food security was assessed by an 18-item Household Food Security questionnaire as recommended by USDA, and the correlation between variables was determined by Spearman test. Results: The results of this study showed that food insecurity in Marvdasht was 73.8 %. The findings also showed that the consumption of milk, fruit and vegetables were low. Conclusion: The study results suggest that food insecurity could be reduced with consumption of milk, fruits and vegetables.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the environmental impact assessment methods that has been developed on the basis of the production process. In the life cycle assessment, the imposed effects resulting from the production of a product, process or an activity have been investigated by identifying and quantifying energy, materials used and emissions into the environment. In this study, the environmental impacts of cradle-to-farm-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) for the conventional and organic cultivation methods of strawberry in Kurdistan province of Iran have been estimated. The preliminary data were collected from the farmers of the studied region during the growing season. The resulting impacts consisted of the following: Abiotic Depletion potential, Acidification potential, Eutrophication potential, Global Warming potential, Ozone Depletion potential, Human Toxicity potential, Freshwater and Marine Aquatic Ecotoxicity potential, Terrestrial Ecotoxicity potential, and Photochemical Oxidation potential, all of which were selected based on CML2baseline 2000 V2/world, 1995/characterization method. The functional unit in the present study revolved around one ton of strawberry. Assessing the impacts of the two scenarios indicated that in all impact categories, the environmental impacts of the Conventional cultivation method of strawberry are more than those of organic production system. The results signified that in the Conventional cultivation method, fertilizers and electricity had the most detrimental impacts on the environment.

Drug delivery across the skin is used for several millennia to ease gastrointestinal (GI) ailments in Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM). TPM topical remedies are generally being applied on the stomach, lower abdomen, lower back and liver to alleviate GI illnesses such as dyspepsia, gastritis, GI ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal worms and infections. The aim of the present study is to survey the topical GI remedies and plant species used as ingredients for these remedies in TPM. In addition, pharmacological activities of the mentioned plants have been discussed. For this, we searched major TPM textbooks to find plants used to cure GI problems in topical use. Additionally, scientific databases were searched to obtain pharmacological data supporting the use of TPM plants in GI diseases. Rosa × damascena, Pistacia lentiscus, Malus domestica, Olea europaea and Artemisia absinthium are among the most frequently mentioned ingredients of TPM remedies. β-asarone, amygdalin, boswellic acids, guggulsterone, crocin, crocetin, isomasticadienolic acid, and cyclotides are the most important phytochemicals present in TPM plants with GI-protective activities. Pharmacological studies demonstrated GI activities for TPM plants supporting their extensive traditional use. These plants play pivotal role in alleviating GI disorders through exhibiting numerous activities including antispasmodic, anti-ulcer, anti-secretory, anti-colitis, anti-diarrheal, antibacterial and anthelmintic properties. Several mechanisms underlie these activities including the alleviation of oxidative stress, exhibiting cytoprotective activity, down-regulation of the inflammatory cytokines, suppression of the cellular signaling pathways of inflammatory responses, improving re-epithelialization and angiogenesis, down-regulation of anti-angiogenic factors, blocking activity of acetylcholine, etc.

In order to develop a sustainability index (SI) for quantifying the sustainability of a wheat-cotton agroecosystem, a study was conducted in 2003 in the Khorassan province. Data of socio-economic, agronomic and ecological indicators were collected using 518 questionnaires. Results showed that only 18.6 percent of farmers gained the half or more of SI scores. The mean SI score was 44.0 which indicate that these agroecosystems are not sustainable. Results of this study are in consistent with other reports in other regions of the country. Livestock production, crop production, and water and irrigation indicators had the lowest score (6, 31, and 37, respectively). The backward stepwise regression analysis indicated that SI can be predicted from a linear combination of field size, wheat yield, crop residue management, crop income and education and extension services, while application of chemical fertilizers did not add to the prediction ability of SI. Results also showed that any progress in farmers’ education, economic viability, crop production management and water use efficiency could improve overall sustainability of these agroecosystems substantially.

Optimal cropping pattern of Maragheh-Bonab plain was determined in different decision priorities (from viewpoint of farmers and experts) and annually water availability scenarios [60, 80 and 100 MCM (million cubic meters)/year]. Goal programming model was applied to the optimization of cropping pattern with considering eight goals. In the optimal cropping pattern from viewpoint of farmers, water consumption was reduced compared to existing condition about 42%, 32%, and 3% at 60, 80, and 100 MCM/year scenarios, respectively. While, from viewpoint of experts, this reduction was about 55%, 32%, and 32% for 60, 80, and 100 MCM/year scenarios, respectively. At 60 MCM/year scenario, total net return was calculated lower than the existing cropping pattern about 11% and 45% from the viewpoint of farmers and experts, respectively. However, optimization at 80 and 100 MCM/year scenarios, increased total net return compared to existing condition about 14% and 24% from the viewpoint of farmers and 14% and 14% from the viewpoint of experts, respectively. In the optimal cropping patterns, despite lower water consumption, the amount of net return, economic water productivity, economic energy, and land productivity increased against a decrease in employment, global warming potential, and environmental impacts of pesticides in the whole area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although they are presented as a hypothesis, the authors discuss the historical events that have led to the rise of cryptocurrencies as a legitimate new asset class. They also discuss issues around cryptocurrency fundamentals as a means to explain the lack of sectors that exists for other asset classes such as equities or commodities. To address this issue, they propose a new methodology based on a hybrid approach between k-means and hierarchical clustering with alternative data gathered from web-scraping. The authors then reintroduce a couple of mathematical models, namely risk parity and momentum. Finally, they test their geopolitical hypothesis through a long-only strategy using risk parity and test their abstract sectorization through a long–short strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]