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Showing 387 results for Process


Volume 0, Issue 0 (2-2024)
Abstract

Rhetorical questions are those that, according to time and local condition, have a function, beyond rhe gaining awareness and information. In addition to having an interrogative structure, these sentences imply another meaning as the secondary meaning. But in some cases, according to a special textual context, the existence of one or more weak implicit meaning or meanings between the semantic superstructure in rhetorical questions and main implicit meaning, can be proved and caught. These weak implicit meanings can neither be ignored nor be considered as the main secondary meaning. Based upon that, the problem which is stated in this research is that, with regarding to the possibility of catching such implicit meaning(s) from rhetorical questions , what is the nature and statuse of these additional implicit questions? And assuming acceptance of their existence, whether the production of meaning in rhetorical questions is still instantly? or according to the proposed theory in this research, the production meaning approach in rhetorical questions includes some processes and levels?
The approach of this research is analytic-applied approach and case study in some poems of prominant persian poets that there is a positinal stop in the structure of these poems. The results of this research reveals that , based on the author's prediction, the production of meaning in rhetorical questions has a process approach with three levels, in which, a second meaning layer is produced between superstructure and main implicit meaning (third semantic layer), that can be named as mediator semantic layer.

Volume 0, Issue 0 (2-2024)
Abstract

In the current research, based on the descriptive-analytical method, the phonological and morphological changes of Persian loanwords in the process of localization, as well as the influence and impact of the Persian language on the Ottoman Turkish language, have been studied. For this purpose, by referring to all the dictionaries, the dictionary of definitions and allusions, thematic dictionaries and encyclopedias that were written during the period of the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia, the data required for this research, which were about 6000 Persian loanwords, were collected and examined. In this research, using Excel software and with the help of computer, the percentage and frequency of occurrence of common processes in the field of phonology and morphology have been determined. The results of the research show that among phonetic and phonological processes including vowel harmony, phonetic over differentiation, assimilation, metathesis, insertion, omitition, lenition, and weakening; Vowel harmony, which is one of the prominent features of Turkish as an agglutinating language, has the highest frequency. In the morphological field where the processes of composition and derivation were examined, derivation has the most frequency. Despite the different typological characteristics of the Persian and Turkish languages, the relationship between these two languages ​​has been extensive and its consequences have been remarkably one-sided, the consequence of which is the existence of many Persian words in the Ottoman Turkish language.
 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (2-2024)
Abstract

Tense plays an important and determining role in human verbal communication; therefore, one of the things that should be addressed in language teaching is the discussion of time and ways to recognize it. Considering the role and importance of grammatical tense recognition in language learning and the lack of related research regarding Persian language learning, the purpose of the present research is to investigate the role of available cues in sentences to recognize grammatical tense by Chinese Persian learners of beginner and advanced levels; For this purpose, 49 Persian learners of Chinese language were selected by available sampling method and divided into two groups of Chinese language beginner (26) and advanced (23) based on the level determination test. The instruments used in this research were two tests in two stages; In the first stage, by using the sentence recognition test, the subjects marked the time of the sentences they heard in the answer sheet, and in the second stage, the same test was performed; with the difference that in this test, the sentences did not have time adverbs. The results of this research showed that the subjects of the beginner Chinese language meaningfully used lexical clues when recognizing the time of the sentence, and the subjects of the advanced level simultaneously used two lexical clues and present tense. Regarding the role of gender, the results showed that there is no significant relationship between gender and the ability to understand sentence time. The results of this research can be useful for language learners, teachers, and producers of educational content and also for test designers.
 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (2-2024)
Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of gender on the L1-L2 syntactic processing in balanced bilinguals who learned their L2 at the age of seven. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (ER-fMRI), Turkish-Persian balanced bilinguals (15 women and 15 men) performed an auditory grammaticality judgment task with an alternating language switching paradigm. Based on the Bilingual Dominance Scale, no significant difference was observed between the participants' proficiency in their L1 (Turkish) and L2 (Persian). Imaging results demonstrated strong neural similarity between men and women in two left-lateralized syntax-specific ROIs (Pars opercularis and posterior superior temporal gyrus), supporting the indistinguishable gender performance during L1-L2 syntactic processing. In addition, in EF-specific areas in right-hemisphere (planum temporale, supplementary motor area, superior parietal lobule and superior frontal gyrus), we did not observe differences in hemispheric recruitment by men and women, evidencing empirically for gender sameness in lateralization. Therefore, the present task and sample are not consistent with the previous claims that women show (a) superior language performance and (b) less lateralization. In general, our findings suggest that L1 and L2 syntactic processing in balanced bilinguals is not affected by the gender parameter.
 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (2-2024)
Abstract

The current research aims to investigate the universality of the language by examining the perception of Persian learners in recognition of subject position according to the theory of input processing and the principle of the first noun from this theory. The first noun principle indicates that language learners consider the noun or pronoun that comes at the beginning of the sentence as the subject of the sentence.The participants in this research are 70 Persian language learners at elementary (23 participants), intermediate (23 participants) and advanced (24 participants) levels in the Persian language learning center of Al-Zahra University. Using Friedman et al.'s (2004) executive method, this study has examined the principle of the first noun as a predictable path in the education of Persian learners. In this direction, a test has been designed on Google Forms, and Persian learners have participated in two different implementations of this test in a time interval of 5 months. In both of its implementations, this test included 15 sentences that the language learners had to connect to the related pictures after hearing the sentences. In order to characterize the perception of the participants from the position of the subject, 8 sentences in the second sentence were put into the passive form. The results of this study have shown that the change of sentences in the second implementation of the test caused an increase in errors in the response rate of language learners and this was reported higher in elementary language learners than in other groups.

Volume 0, Issue 0 (2-2024)
Abstract

This study examines the cognitive processes underlying the comprehension of second language idioms using two different visual instructional techniques, visual representation of literal meanings versus virtual meanings of each idiom’s visual representation. For this reason, two environments (positions) (PFL vs. PSL), two different terms (opaque vs. transparent), and two different sufficiency levels (intermediate vs. advanced) are considered, which involves common teaching methods that use dual coding theory as two different visual techniques with verbal support to teach different types of idioms. The statistical population were 67 second language learners and 63 foreign language learners who participated in this study. A term comprehension test was used before and after the training. The results of repeated measure variance analysis based on pretest-posttest comparisons showed that understanding of SL idioms is different according to the learning environment, teaching technique and the type of idiom. However, it sounds that the level of sufficiency doesn’t affect any group’s comprehension outcomes. The results show that in the SL environment, the figurative technique was more successful than the literal technique. While in the FL environment, using the literal technique compared to the figurative technique, got better scores for the language learner. PSL learners were better than PFL learners in learning terms with opaque meanings, while PFL learners performed better in learning terms with transparent meanings. The results of this investigation support the Dual Idiom Representation Model, which states that PSL learners activate their existing lexical entries and understand them figuratively, while PFL learners must analyze the idioms.

 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (1-2024)
Abstract

Nowadays, entrepreneurship and knowledge-based companies are highly considered. This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting Psychological Capital (PSyCap) in two groups of agricultural and non-agricultural knowledge-based companies from Science and Technology Park (STP) of Fars province, Iran. The population included the companies located in the STP incubators in Fars province. The data were collected from 238 participants (100 from agricultural and 138 from non-agricultural companies) as a sample through a questionnaire. Regarding the effect of services and facilites provided by STPs on the performance of companies at incubators, it is suggested that such services and facilities become more specialized and reinforced. In addition, it is emphasized to consider the necessity of educational and operational strategies in order to strengthen the entrepreneurial orientation, social capital, and PsyCap among members.

Volume 0, Issue 0 (1-2024)
Abstract

 The transition of small-scale farmers from traditional production methods to contract farming (CF) 22 enhances the potential for increased profits. By offering higher profits to producers, contract farming encourages greater product diversity and provides the opportunity to grow more valuable products. The primary objective of this study is to identify what kind of contract farming model producers are likely to adopt for their continued production. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used as a methodology in the study. In the region, 70% of producers utilize female animals for fattening purposes. It was found that 73.2% of producers lack knowledge about contract farming. In production contracts, livestock operators prioritized price guarantees at 26.4%, cash prices at 24.8%, livestock supply at 21.2%, input support at 12.5%, 30 advance payments at 10.3%, and organized production at 4.8%. If contract farming is to be implemented in the region, policymakers should prioritize price guarantees in the model, ensuring that these guarantees are not set below the market price.
 

 

Volume 0, Issue 0 (8-2024)
Abstract

Mineral anions are among the most important toxic substances harmful to humans and animals even in low concentrations. Nitrate ions are considered important surface and groundwater pollutants for their high solubility in water. Nitrate is converted to nitrite and N-nitroso in the human body through certain reactions. N-nitroso combinations are considered carcinogenic and the primary cause of methemoglobinemia diseases. The existing nitrate in water resources is not easily separated for it is highly soluble and therefore the methods usually used for this purpose are very costly. Various methods can be used to remove or reduce the concentration of nitrate. Reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, electrocoagulation, ion exchange, and membrane processes are among the physicochemical methods of nitrate purification. Among the types of nitrate purification methods, biological processes with relatively high efficiency, the possibility of complete removal of the pollutant, and less harmful effects on the environment, are some of the most suitable options for the decomposition and removal of nitrate from water and groundwater. In a situation where the contaminated area is wide and it is not possible to pump water due to economic reasons or the large volume, treatment using in-situ methods will be a more suitable option. One of the types of in-situ biological treatment processes is the use of the permeable reactive bio-barrier (PRBB) method. PRBB is one of the novel and reliable methods used for in-situ groundwater remediation.  A PRBB is an emplacement of reactive media in the sub-surface designed to intercept a contaminated plume, provide a flow path through the reactive media, and transform the contaminant(s) into environmentally acceptable forms to attain remediation concentration goals down the gradient of the barrier. PRBB can degrade nitrate at a high rate under anaerobic conditions. In this research, different concentrations of four chemical substances including ZVI, nZVI, NaS2O3, and Na2S2O5 were used as Oxygen Capturing Compounds (OCC) in the removal of nitrate from polluted water in the PRBB process on a laboratory scale. Based on the obtained results, these substances affect the parameters of DO, pH, MLSS, turbidity, nitrate concentration, durability of DO, and ORP. After laboratory tests and taking into the opinion of experts, the qualitative effect of each parameter was calculated quantitatively and through the analytical hierarchy process (AHP), the best oxygen-capturing compound was selected. The results obtained from AHP (with an inconsistency ratio of 0.063), revealed that the priority of choosing OCC from three technical, economic, and environmental aspects is related to the concentrations of 750 mg/l ZVI, 240 mg/l Na2S2O3, 85 mg/l Na2S2O5 and 550 mg/l nZVI respectively. The concentration of 750 mg/l ZVI (the best OCC) during the experiments was able to reduce the DO from 7 to 0.05 mg/l in approximately 500 minutes and within the ideal range of the denitrification process (DO<0.05 mg/l). In addition, after the durability of DO tests, it was found that this substance has maintained its deoxygenation properties for longer than other used compounds. Also, based on the results, the concentration of 750 mg/l ZVI had a positive effect on the increase of MLSS and removal of nitrate. 

Volume 1, Issue 1 (5-2011)
Abstract

According to the resource based attitude, the capabilities of information systems improve firms’ performance and competitive advantages through three ways: 1) inside-outside capabilities, 2) outside-inside capabilities and 3) spanning capabilities. Because of the importance of systematic study on the relationship between these capabilities and firms’ performance this paper was aimed at investigating this relationship using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP). We utilized the FAHP because of existing several indices, complexity of decisions and uncertainties that are intrinsically involved in the evaluation of these capabilities. The results imply that among the criteria, return on sales and cost of sold goods are two key criteria that facilitate firms’ success. Moreover, inside-outside capabilities regard a good stimulus for improving firms’ performance. Then, firms’ internal capabilities are more important in responding to market than outside-inside capabilities.

Volume 1, Issue 2 (9-2011)
Abstract

Outsourcing means strategic use of other company's resources to accomplish business processes, which can be in the form of outsourcing or offshore outsourcing. One of the important risks of outsourcing projects is selecting an inappropriate contractor. Contractor selection process is very complex because of many and sometimes contradictive criteria. So it needs accurate investigations. The purpose of this research is to design a framework for selecting an appropriate contractor in outsourcing and offshore outsourcing and to specify the weight of each criterion. Method of data gathering is questionnaire which is distributed among internal and external managers and experts. This framework could be helpful for the managers of organizations in contractor selection decision making processes and causes risk reduction in these projects. The results showed that there are twenty important criteria in outsourcing and twenty four criteria in offshore outsourcing; some of them are contractor's innovation, financial stability and cultural adaptation. Keywords: Outsourcing, Offshore outsourcing, Contractor, Criteria, Capability.

Volume 1, Issue 2 (9-2020)
Abstract

The quality of urban spaces and the presence of residents are some of the primary issues of current urbanism, as the dominance of vehicles has diminished the commuting opportunity for different social groups and the liveliness of urban spaces. This is especially true for urban spaces where once acted as children’s playground and now have turned into vehicle routes, pushing their former function to the sides. In the dense landscape of district 10, with its insufficient open urban spaces, this issue is even more pronounced, doubling the need for creating urban spaces accommodating children. Tactical urbanism is a general term describing such urban interventions regarding different qualities (e.g. the scale of the project, provisional measures for reusing the unused potentials of cities, providing privileges and support, unofficial actions within legal bounds, or attention to and revitalizing abandoned spaces) and has been further extended in specific academic fields such as traffic engineering

Volume 1, Issue 2 (9-2020)
Abstract

Smart City Master Plan Smart cities, at the first stage had been defined as cities that adopt ICT in all aspect of urban spaces. However, during the last three decade,  the approach of urban initiatives turned into employing ICT as one of the main infrastructure of cities. Reviewing the literature around the phenomena of smart cities along with smart city projects experiences indicate the new generation of smart cities. Novel paradigms and concepts are emerging through the development of technology that directly affect urban initiatives. Therefore, the definition of smart cities have a dynamic character though to its integration with technology.
Accordingly, with the evolution of smart cities, urban planning, urban design and urban government had been affected ultimately, which result a new approach into smart cities and urban initiatives as adopting collaborative cities and intelligence cities.  Therefore, this research aim to review definitions of smart cities during the last years within academic literature along with urban projects experiences to explore the definition of new generation of smart cities. To do so, smart cities definition had been explore through academia and experiments and the new concepts emerged in the urban literature been clarified in order to shed the light on how urban design and planning have to reform in Iran to meet the new centuries requirements.

Volume 1, Issue 2 (7-2023)
Abstract

In the Magnetically Assisted Chemical Separation (MACS) process, tiny ferromagnetic particles coated with solvent extractant are used to selectively separate radionuclides and hazardous metals from aqueous waste streams. The contaminant-loaded particles are then recovered from the waste solutions using a magnetic field. In the present study, Cyanex272 or C272 (bis (2,4,4-trimethylpentyl) phosphinic acid) coated magnetic particles are being evaluated for the possible application in the extraction of Uranium (VI) from nuclear waste streams. The uptake behaviour of U(VI) from nitric acid solutions was investigated by batch studies.
Adsorption of uranium (VI) from aqueous solution onto adsorbent was investigated in a batch system. Adsorption isotherm and adsorption kinetic studies of uranium (VI) onto nanoparticles coated Cyanex272 were carried out in a batch system. The factors influencing uranium (VI) adsorption were investigated and described in detail, as a function of the parameters such as initial pH value, contact time, adsorbent mass, and initial uranium (VI) concentration. Magnetically Assisted Chemical Separation (MACS) process adsorbent showed best results for the fast adsorption of U (VI) from aqueous solution at aqueous phase acidity value of 0.5 molar. In addition, more than 80% of U (VI) was removed within the first 2 hours, and the time required to achieve the adsorption equilibrium was only 140 minutes. Langmuir and Frendlich adsorption models were used for the mathematical description of the adsorption equilibrium. Equilibrium data agreed very well with the Langmuir model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 48 mg.g-1. Adsorption kinetics data were tested using pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intra-particle diffusion models. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, indicating that the chemical adsorption was the rate-limiting step.
 

Volume 1, Issue 4 (12-2012)
Abstract

In recent times issues such as competition, technological complexities, specialization of tasks and cost increases causes organizations to reconsider their managerial models and to turn to new strategies for reaching competitive advantage. Two such strategies are concentration on core capabilities and the transfer of some activities to external organizations (outsourcing). In line with these trends banks in order to give appropriate services to customers, decrease costs, upgrade service quality, improve performance, increase flexibility, gain access to new skills and technologies and focus on key capabilities, outsource some of their activities. Although outsourcing can have advantages for organizations, it has risks which must be effectively managed. The purpose of this research is to identify these risks and investigate their impact on business process outsourcing of banks.  Tejarat bank of Iran was selected as a case study. The data gathering tool of this paper was a questionnaire that was distributed among the experts in the field and managers of Tejarat bank. The results show that among identified risks, strategic risks were rejected and the three risks of financial failure, performance and social-psychological kind were accepted as being valid by experts. It was further identified that performance risks have the highest importance among other risks of business process outsourcing.

Volume 2, Issue 1 (3-2014)
Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the most appropriate tree species planted in the same ecological condition considering different variables at Darabkola forest, Mazandran Province. For this purpose, the success of planted species (maple, walnut, oak, pine, ash and elm) was assessed according to ninecriteria (soil nitrogen, soil phosphorus, soil potassium, leaf nitrogen, leaf phosphorus, leaf potassium, growth of diameter at breast, diameter at breast, H/D: height/diameter at breast height ratio). Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to assess forest stands based on multiple criteria. Results showed that the maximum local priority of average annual growth, and leaf and soil nitrogenwere observed in pine stands, while the highest levels of phosphorus, potassium, and DBH were recorded for maple plantation. The calculated overall priority showed that based on concerning criteria, pine stand had higher growth and nutritional potential compare to the other stands, while other stands ranked as maple> elm> walnut>oak> ash. In conclusion, our findings from AHP suggested that the growth rate and nutrition ofpine and maple stands had more appropriate condition and efficiency than other stands and therefore found suitable for plantingin the study area.

Volume 2, Issue 2 (10-2012)
Abstract

Due to increasing global pressure on the environment caused by human interventions, the studies on interaction of traditional building and their components with nature has been increased. These studies attempt to identify natural building design and determine how to use them in the climatic design of today's architectural design. Building performance simulation enables the examination of the effectiveness of innovative energy efficiency measures and control strategies. Daylighting is an effective approach to allow architectural design and construction practice to have a more flexible design of building facade, and to enhance a more energy-efficient and greener building development. Energy savings resulting from daylighting not only would mean low electric-lighting and reduced-peak electrical demands, but also it means reduced cooling loads and the potential for smaller heating, ventilating and air-conditioning. The absorbed solar radiation acts to raise the surface temperatures and consequently the temperature of the adjacent air layers. This has a significant effect on the generated thermal conditions, which is, in turn, reflected on the thermal behavior of the surrounding habitable spaces. In tropical areas, especially in warm humid areas, the need for shade and air ventilation are most important factors used for the provision of thermal comfort. In climatical and morphological studies of dezful historical context, great appliance of shade and ventilation can be seen. Among the hundreds of ways to do this, one of them is using khavoon (brick work) that creates shadow on the inner and outer walls and increase visual richness of the environment. This paper attempts to understand patterns of the brick khavoon in the way they were used; and to evaluate their shadows. These patterns became 3D using schetchup software and their shadow have been prepared at different hours of day and different directions. The amount of shadow has been calculated and analyzed by the image processing, IMAGEJ software. It seems that such patterns, in different orientation, increase amount of shadow (2.5 - 4.5 times). Given the size of the hourly solar radiation on the walls in each direction, the best direction of using this patterns can be identified.

Volume 2, Issue 2 (10-2012)
Abstract

Earthquake is one of the major natural hazards which specifically makes cities of developing countries more vulnerable to probable earthquakes in comparison to developed countries. Tehran as the biggest and most populated city of Iran due to the active faults in the vicinity of it and its high population and constructional density has great vulnerability to probable earthquakes. The territory of Accessibility Network has a significant role in earthquake vulnerability reduction, so if the Accessibility Network can be ordered according to standard principal of urban planning, the vulnerability can be decreased. To obtain this purpose the environmental assessment is the basis element and there are lots of different methods and techniques. Present paper with emphasis to the studies in the observed field(Located in the 6th district of Tehran Municipality) and the presented conceptual framework, which is a composition of Analytical Hierarchy Process, Fuzzy logic, Network Analyst and Probability Function; analyses the probable vulnerability due to relevant factors to Accessibility Network in the case of earthquake.  The proposed model represents an explicit and intelligible frame based on the available information for the earthquake vulnerability assessment due to access base criteria. Using this model provides a proper and scientific basis for the accurate perception of access to these vital centers during and after probable earthquakes. The outgoing in the mode of map, chart and graph illustrate the resultant condition of parcels in the studied area. The produced vulnerability map can be used in site selections of these centers and vulnerability reduction programs by relevant organs such as Crisis Management Center, Emergency centers, Fire stations, Municipalities and etc.

Volume 2, Issue 2 (7-2011)
Abstract

This research has tried to define a new approach to translator’s role as intercultural mediator supported by the theories of Sapir and Whorf in anthropologies to find a right perception of interactional relation between language and cultural, which affects translator’s understanding of the reality. To achieve this, a Meta model was proposed that could help the mediator/translator to realize consciously the cultural reality hidden in the text in order to create a meaningful text, which is closer to the main concept of the source text.

Volume 2, Issue 2 (6-2014)
Abstract

This research conducted in order to prioritize the effective criteria on development of medicinal plants cultivation in North Khorasan Province using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Delphi methods. For this purpose, a list of effective factors offered to delphi group. Analysis of delphi process showed that among 23 offered factors 19 factors, had greater impact on development of medicinal plants cultivation. Hierarchy tree was drawn through grouping of 19 factors into four criteria including economic, promotional-educational services, cultural-social and supportive policies factors. The pair wise comparison questionnaires were then distributed among relevant researchers and experts of the province to get their opinions about the priority of criteria and sub- criteria. The questionnaires were analyzed using Expert Choice software. The result revealed that economic criterion with respective weight of 0.406 had the most impact among four criteria affecting the development of medicinal plants cultivation. The supportive policies (respective weight of 0.275), educational-extension services (respective weight of 0.193) and cultural-social factors (respective weight of 0.125) received the maximum towards the minimum priorities, respectively. The results of synthesis process showed that among the 19 factors, the guaranteed purchase and establishing of pilot fields of medicinal plants, farmers' awareness of comparative advantage of medicinal plants, and the development of processing industries had the maximum towards minimum impacts on development of medicinal plants cultivation.

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