Showing 596 results for ebrahim
Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract
In semiotics, the denotative relationship is established between the three aspects of the sign, the object, and the interpretation of the same sign, and symbolic processes find endless meanings and this relationship classifies the symbolic, indexical and iconic species. Proverbs are taken from the context of a linguistic community that form multiple meanings and show gender construction. with semiotic studies, the significations of the opposition between man and woman in proverbs can be investigated. In this article, the concept of gender in proverbs of Tati language is investigated with Peirce's semiotic model in order to evaluate and analyze the reflection of their linguistic elements in all kinds of signs. Based on the result, Tati proverbs are mostly in the form of symbolic signs. The highest frequency is objectification and then otherness. The symbolic contrast between male and female gender and the discourse order and hierarchical position of this concept in the form of ideas of superiority/inferiority, value/worthless, human/animal, authoritarianism/weakening, center/periphery, self/other, norm/abnormal, friend/ Enemy and Dominant/Dominant have been classified and conceptualized. This opposition represents the idea of the otherness of the female gender and the superiority of the male gender over it as a dominant discourse. Based on this, the gender structure of this concept can be shaped in relation to the language type of Tat tribes of Northern Khorasan.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract
As a trigger to communication, motivation still includes undiscovered aspects which require further investigation. Hence, considering the newly proposed dual continuum model of motivation, this study investigated the relationships among willingness to communicate (WTC), active/passive motivation, and foreign language achievement (FLA) among 216 high school English as a foreign language (EFL) learners. The modified version of the active/passive motivation scale (APMS) was revalidated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed significant relationships among active/passive motivation, L2WTC, and FLA. Additionally, six models were proposed for the prediction of learners’ L2WTC and FLA. The findings indicated that socio-cultural and sensory-perceptual active motivation as well as cognitive and sensory-perceptual passive motivation significantly predict learners’ L2WTC, while only cognitive active motivation predicts FLA. Furthermore, passive motivation predicts FLA in all sub-constructs. Finally, active motivation is a negative predictor of FLA if mediated by L2WTC. Overall, the study highlights the importance of passive as well as active motivation in promoting WTC and improving FLA among EFL learners.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract
The historical novels The Golden Falcon and The Flares of the City of Otrar narrate the life of Jalal al-Din Khwarazmshah. Unlike ancient historical texts in which the simple and predictable process of action by the central actor of the hero takes place, in these works, by creating active and anti-active characters, the actions deviated from their main stream, leading to the actions of deviation, substitution, action error and ... have become. The purpose of this research is to investigate how actions deviate within the narrative and damage such as action error, action change or even action collapse. For this purpose, the theory of action-discourse system of Greimas has been used to examine the action narratives related to the character of Jalal al-Din in the two historical novels The Golden Falcon and The Flares of the City of Otrar. In The Golden Falcon's novel, the deviation of action is seen as the transformation of action and the destruction of action by actors; A place where efforts have been made to reach Jalal al-Din's valuable object and save his life. In this novel, according to the value object "Beloved" and "Homeland" Jalal al-Din is depicted as a "lover" and "patriot". In The Flares of the City of Otrar, deviation of action can be seen as transformation of action and replacement of action. Most of the characters in the story and Jalal al-Din himself play the role of antagonists and try to distance Jalal al-Din from his valuable object and destroy him.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract
The present research aimed to investigate the effect of multilingualism on learning English as a third language, focusing on foreign language anxiety (FLA) and foreign language enjoyment (FLE). A sample of 353 Iranian bilingual and multilingual EFL learners participated in the study by completing self-report scales measuring FLA and FLE. As for the qualitative phase, a number of 15 EFL learners took part in semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that multilingual participants reported lower levels of FLA and higher levels of FLE than their bilingual counterparts. The results of the qualitative data also supported the findings of quantitative phase, suggesting that multilingualism can have a substantial impact on reducing FLA and enhancing FLE when learning a foreign language. The study highlights the potential benefits of multilingualism for language learners and might have significant implications for theory and practice.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract
Waitance is a cognitive and psychological concept that reflects the tendency to anticipate the occurrence of good or bad events without the need for effort or specific activity in Iranian culture. The aim of this qualitative and applied research is to examine the waitance cultuling in light of the conceptual model of cultuling analysis in Iranian culture. To this end, 435 individuals were asked in April 2024 to express their views on sentences that represent the cultural aspects of waitance through semi-structured interviews. The results showed this cultural aspect is used with high frequency in both public and private formal and informal settings among individuals with informal relationships, by both genders, and more by middle-aged and elderly individuals and individuals from lower and middle social classes. Individuals with tones such as friendly and intimate, hopeful, desperate and hopeless, caring, angry, serious, humorous, and pragmatic use this cultural aspect with goals such as attracting attention, providing hope and comfort, encouraging patience, avoiding responsibility, seeking comfort, advising, referring problems to higher authorities, and so on. This mentioned cultural aspect, with high frequency and positive/negative emotions, indicates patterns of low trust, collectivism, short-term planning, idealism, and high waitance among Iranians. By analyzing these linguistic utterances, individuals can be made aware of the hidden culture within them and take steps toward euculturing and understanding the flawed genes of society.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted at the time of publication 2024)
Abstract
Semiotics, with its phenomenological turn, provides the basis for re-projecting lost dimensions of meaning such as presence, perceptual-sensory flow, and the body. French semiotician Eric Landowski also proposes linguistic systems of adaptation and coincidence in a different way from Grimas. The Resāle-y-Mūmūsīyāh by Ehsan Abdipour, in which the linguistic actions of the actors create an interactive situation in which we witness the transformation of discursive spaces into each other and one event into another. These successive becomings are formed in the context of language and through perceptual-sensory and bodily processes. The issue is how the process of generating meaning in the context of language and the processes of transition from language to discourse are realized. In this research, the mechanisms of meaning production are investigated from the perspective of Landofsky's phenomenology in the context of adaptation, coincidence, programmatic and persuasive linguistic systems. Also, the phenomenological manifestations of the body are examined and analyzed by relying on the linguistic and discourse systems of this story. The aim of the research is to apply Landowski's phenomenological model in analyzing the linguistic structures of the story. The research question is also how does the main character of the story live in the world and which linguistic and discursive systems are seen in this story? The result shows that the systems of planning and persuasion force the main character of the story to accept certain requirements, but the systems of adaptation and coincidence create a lived experience for her.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of irrigation strategies including sustained deficit irrigation (SDI) and partial root-zone drying (PRD) on the growth, physiology, and photosynthesis of strawberry plants in order to maximize crop productivity while maintaining water resources. This experiment has four irrigation strategies (FI: control (full irrigation volume), PRD1 (full irrigation volume), PRD2 (50% of FI), and SDI (50% of FI) and two fertilizer strengths (EC1 and EC2) with four replicates per treatment. Gas exchange, leaf chlorophyll index, stomatal conductance (gs), and maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (F'v/F'm) were assessed on three occasions throughout the experimental duration in order to monitor the impact of different irrigation strategies on photosynthesis. Yield water use efficiency, as well as TSS (total soluble solids) and TA (total titratable acidity), two fruit quality-related parameters, were also measured. In the final stage, PRD2-EC2 photosystem II efficiency was 9% higher than SDI-EC2. Also, the PRD strategy effectively influenced and regulated the adjustment of stomatal conductance (gs). In diluted fertilizer (EC2), yield WUE of PRD1 and SDI performed 15% and 30.7% lower than FI-EC2. However, PRD2-EC2 treatment increased 72.5% more than the control. Our observations of leaf and fruit deficiencies showed that the PRD strategy had long-term benefits for the plant and reduced water consumption. However, to establish a sustainable irrigation strategy, the nutrient solution must be adjusted to control growth and photosynthesis attributes.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the effects of energy levels and sources on growth performance, antibody titers, and the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in broilers exposed to heat stress. 450 one-day-old Ross chickens were assigned to six dietary treatments and five replicates in a completely randomized design. Chickens have received diets differentiated by main energy source (corn grain and soybean oil) and energy level (equal, 3 or 6% lower or higher than Ross 308 recommendation). Treatments were as follows: corn grain and equal as control (CON), corn grain, 3% lower (T1), corn grain, 6% lower (T2), corn grain and soybean oil, equal (T3), corn grain and soybean oil, 3% higher (T4), corn grain and soybean oil, 6% higher (T5). The room temperature was increased to 34 °C (6-h daily) from day 12 to 42 of age to induce heat stress. The highest corticosterone level was observed in the T1, T2, and T5 groups. The lowest antibody titers were observed in the T2 group and the highest expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines genes were in chickens receiving T5 diet. The highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) during the grower and finisher periods was observed in T2, and the lowest FCR was observed in T3 and T4 groups. It was recommended to feed Ross broiler chickens with a diet containing oil instead of a part of grain based on energy recommended by the strain recommendation.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract
Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedeman (Diptera: Tephritidae), is one of the most important pests of horticultural crops in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In this study, the developmental rate of Mediterranean fruit flies was studied at 10, 12, 15, 17, 20, 25, 27, 30, 32, and 35°C. The results showed a nonlinear relationship between temperatures and developmental rate. The best nonlinear models were Perfomance-1 and Performance-2 in the Mazandaran and Fars provinces, respectively. These models simulated the developmental rate of Mediterranean fruit flies accurately at temperatures ranging from 15 to 35 and 20 to 30°C, in Mazandaran and Fars provinces, respectively and the estimated optimal temperature of total immature stages was 31.94 and 31.8°C, respectively. The lower and upper temperature threshold the total immature stage in Mazandaran and Fars provinces were estimated at 11.23 and 13.15 °C, and 38.1 and 37.74 °C, respectively. The two linear models, the Ikemoto linear model showed better-fit data compared with the ordinary model.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (ARTICLES IN PRESS 2024)
Abstract
Due to their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, essential oils are used as natural preservatives. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and antimicrobial activity of emulsion and nanoemulsion forms of Salvia officinalis, Pimpinella anisum, Dracocephalum moldavica, and Syzygium aromaticum essential oils. The Agar well-diffusion assay results obtained from the experiment suggested that nanoemulsion of Dracocephalum moldavica essential oil had the maximum antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic microorganisms drawn in the experiment. The inhibition zone diameters of the nanoemulsion of this essential oil against Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus were 11.03, 11.82, 13.02, 13.13, 13.13, 13.62, and 14.10 mm, respectively. In contrast, the inhibition zone diameters of the emulsion form of this essential oil against S. dysenteriae, S. Typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, E. coli, and B. cereus were 9.66, 10.34, 10.84, 11.84, 11.34, 11.17, and 11.24 mm, respectively. The major components of Dracocephalum moldavica essential oil included geraniol (27.24%), geranial (10.75%), alpha-copaene (8.16%), alpha-pinene (7.37%), carvacrol (7.41%), limonene (6.86%), and nerol (6.45%). The nanoemulsion form of the essential oils investigated thus possessed a significantly greater antioxidant potential compared to their emulsion form. This study also demonstrated that the nanoemulsions exhibited significantly lower IC50 values compared to the emulsions. From the results, it was seen that the nanoemulsion form of Dracocephalum moldavica essential oil had the lowest IC50 and EC50 values of 22.17 µg/ml and 4.51 µg/ml, respectively.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted for Publication 2024)
Abstract
Aim and Introduction
After the global economic recession in 2008-2009, the discussion about countercyclical and procyclical fiscal policies and their effects on the economy began. Countercyclical fiscal policy is applied to reduce economic fluctuations by adjusting government spending and taxes against the business cycle. The aim of this policy is to stabilize the economy and flatten its fluctuations. On the contrary, procyclical fiscal policy strengthens economic fluctuations in the direction of business cycles. On the other hand, fiscal sustainability refers to the government's ability to maintain expenditures, income and public debt at a certain level in the long term without jeopardizing economic stability or facing a fiscal crisis. A sustainable fiscal policy ensures that the government's debt in the long run is at a level proportional to the size of the economy. The main questions of this research are as follows:
- Is Iran's fiscal policy countercyclical or procyclical?
- Is Iran's fiscal policy sustainable?
- What is the effect of cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability on the Iranian economic growth?
- How is the mutual relationship between fiscal sustainability and cyclical fiscal policy in Iran?
Methodology
The evaluation of fiscal policy cyclicality and fiscal sustainability and their determinants have been previously researched. However, the effect of cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability on economic growth and their mutual relationship has not been covered. This research, has utilized Iran's 1970-2021 annual data and a state-space model with time-varying parameters and an autoregressive distributed lags model as well as Kalman filter method. Moreover, to evaluate Iran's cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability, the effect of cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability on economic growth have been investigated. The research also deals with the mutual effect between cyclical fiscal policy and fiscal sustainability in Iran.
Findings
In this research, in order to evaluate the cyclical behavior of Iran's fiscal policy and obtaining the index, a state-space model with time-varying parameters, is estimated in which the real GDP logarithm coefficient varies over time. Then, in order to assess Iran's fiscal sustainability and obtaining the index, a state-space model with time-varying parameters is estimated. Finally, an autoregressive distributed lags model is utilized to estimate the effect of cyclical fiscal policy index and fiscal sustainability index on economic growth, as well as estimating the mutual effect between cyclical fiscal policy index and fiscal sustainability index.
Discussion and Conclusion
The findings of this research show: First, Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index estimated in all years is positive and has not recorded a negative number in any year, which means that the fiscal policy implemented in Iran during the period 1970-2021, was procyclical. In other words, the fiscal policy implemented in Iran has increased the range of fluctuations of cycles and for this reason, it has made the Iranian economy vulnerable to the economic shocks. Second, the estimated Iran's fiscal sustainability index is negative in most years so that the average fiscal sustainability index in the entire period is -0.068. This indicates the unsustainability of Iran's fiscal policy in the period 1970-2021. The trend of the smoothed changes of the time-varying parameter related to the fiscal sustainability index is also downward, which means that Iran's fiscal sustainability has been weakening over time and has moved in the direction of unsustainability. Third, Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index has had a negative effect on economic growth. In other words, procyclical behavior of Iran's fiscal policy has slowed down the economic growth rate. Fourth, Iran's fiscal sustainability index has a negative and significant effect on economic growth. Based on the estimated fiscal sustainability index, unsustainability is evident within Iran's fiscal policy. Therefore, unsustainability of Iran's fiscal policy has weakened economic growth. Fifth, Iran's fiscal unsustainability has increased the procyclical behavior of fiscal policy and as a result, exacerbated the fluctuations of economic cycles. Sixth, the increasing Iran's cyclical fiscal policy index reduces the reaction of the primary balance to the government debt. In other words, the increase in the procyclical behavior of the fiscal policy weakens Iran's fiscal sustainability
Volume 0, Issue 0 (Articles accepted for Publication 2024)
Abstract
Aim and Introduction
Over the past few decades, the housing market has experienced recurrent boom-and-bust cycles and considerable price volatility. A significant portion of this volatility can be attributed to speculative activities. Speculators often purchase properties with the expectation of future price increases, which contributes to the formation of housing price bubble. These bubbles not only destabilize the economy but also lead to serious social consequences. As such, policymakers have consistently focused on identifying the determinants of speculative behavior and housing market bubbles. One of the government’s regulatory instruments in this domain is the transfer tax, intended to influence trader behavior and mitigate housing price bubbles. This study investigates the effect of transfer tax policies on the housing price bubble in Shiraz city.
Methodology
This research employs an Agent-Based Model (ABM) to simulate the dynamic processes of the housing market and analyze the contributing factors to price bubble formation. The model incorporates four key agents active in the housing market: sellers, buyers (including both personal-consumption and speculative buyers), developers, and real estate agencies. Data and statistics up to the beginning of 1401 (2022) were incorporated into the model to forecast housing prices in Shiraz through 1409 (2030).
Three scenarios were tested by varying the proportion of speculative buyers—30%, 50%, and 70%—and applying different transfer tax rates of 1% and 5%. The simulation explores how these variables influence the magnitude and growth of the housing price bubble under different market conditions.
Results and Discussion
The findings reveal that, regardless of the proportion of speculative buyers, the implementation of transfer taxes can reduce the housing price bubble in Shiraz. However, the extent of this effect varies with market conditions. These results align with prior studies, such as Chen (2017) and Izadkhasthi et al. (2018), which found that transfer taxes can mitigate housing price volatility.
Proponents of transfer taxes argue that speculative activities drive housing price bubbles and that such taxes increase transaction costs, thereby reducing speculative trading and contributing to market stability. For instance, with a 70% speculative buyer share and a 5% tax rate, the housing price bubble decreased by approximately 25% between 1401 and 1409. In contrast, a 1% tax rate under the same market conditions led to a 22% reduction in the bubble. However, when only 30% of buyers were speculative, the tax had a comparatively more minor effect, indicating that the efficacy of the tax diminishes when fewer speculators are present.
Conclusion
The results suggest that increasing the transfer tax rate does not necessarily reduce the housing price bubble. In scenarios with 30%, 40%, and 50% speculative buyer presence, higher average tax rates did not result in a significant reduction in the housing bubble and, in some cases, slightly intensified it. This supports earlier warnings in financial economics literature—such as those by Schwert and Seguin (1993) – that excessive transaction taxes may deter informed traders, who play a vital role in maintaining market efficiency and price stability. Similarly, Friedman (1953) emphasized the stabilizing role of rational traders in financial markets.
According to the simulation results, Article 59 of Iran’s Direct Taxes Law, which stipulates a 5% transfer tax, may help reduce housing bubbles in Shiraz and potentially nationwide. However, the optimal tax rate should be adaptive and context-specific, considering the varying proportions of speculative and non-speculative market participants. Therefore, the government is advised to collect comprehensive data on the structure of the housing market, assess the share of speculative transactions, and adjust tax rates accordingly.
Moreover, since the transfer tax only applies to documented transactions, many informal or contract-based transactions—particularly those occurring prior to property completion—escape taxation. In such cases, builders may sell properties through promissory notes or undocumented agreements, which are difficult to track and tax. As a result, it is recommended that the government strengthen monitoring mechanisms for such transactions. This includes identifying and intercepting units exchanged informally or without official documentation to ensure both effective taxation and bubble control.
Volume 0, Issue 0 (9-2025)
Abstract
Mayetiola destructor (Say, 1817) originated in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East and is one of the most serious pests of wheat, rye and barley and more than 16 Poaceae wild species. Here, we report the occurrence of this species as an invasive pest for the first time in Iran. It was detected in wheat fields and rye in Qüshchï Pass, Urmia environ, West Azarbaijan province (September 2020) as well as in wheat fields in Bil-e Savar, Ardabil province (July 2024). The diagnostic characters and its life history as well as the photographs of the adult male and female, larvae, puparium, male genitalia and wing venation are provided. This is the second species from the genus Mayetiola that has been reported from Iran. To prevent the spread of this destructive pest in Iran, suitable management practices are urgently needed.
Volume 1, Issue 1 (3-2013)
Abstract
Aims: Adolescence is one the most precarious periods of life, concerning the drug abuse. The social cost of the drug abuse and injury among adolescents is extraordinary and requires intervention. The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is perhaps the most influential theory for prediction of social and health behaviors including drug abuse. This study aimed at designing and implementing a curriculum based on the TPB for preventing adolescents from drug abuse. Methods and Materials: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in Hamadan, west Iran. We recruited 140 male high school students from randomly selected schools: they were divided into experimental group, n = 70 and control group, n = 70. The experimental group received 20 hours educational program based on the TPB. The control group receives no intervention. Findings: Compared to the control group, experimental group have significantly elevated post test scores for attitude (19.07 vs. 15.28, p < .001), subjective norm (18.08 vs. 16.45, p < .001), perceived behavioral control (51.67 vs. 54.82, p < .001); and their intention to use drug significantly decreased(p = 0.082) Conclusions: The TPB-based educational program may be effective in prevention of substance abuse among adolescents.
Volume 1, Issue 1 (4-2013)
Abstract
Comparative mythology partly is a one of the modern courses, which have been used broadly from the second mid-nineteenth century. On the one hand, the relation of this approach has become firm in the comparative literature, and fixed in the mythical critic, on the other. Though at first, the necessity recognition of world's nations myths was introduced widely and comparatively by the European’s and broad researches were done by them, especially in the field of European nations (Rome and Greek's) myths, but the extent of this approach in the Islamic nation's myths did not progress, except of some small and separated surveys on myth motives. In 2000 AD, Hossein Mojib Al-Mesri, by understanding this poverty research, in “Comparative research in Arab, Iran and Turk's myths”, took the first step in comparison of Iranian, Arabic and Turkish's myths. It is wonderful that, even after a decade, researches did not refer to this. Mojib Al-Mesri, in this comparative research, has studied every Iranian, Arabic and Turkish's myths in three separate parts. However, this book does not operate according to the twentieth century mythical critic approach, but in Iran's myths study, it exhibits modern conclusions and achievements in comparative mythology and in this way, compares unfamiliar Arabic and Turkish's myths with similar Iranian samples that have not been studied in any research so far. This paper has tried firstly to clarify the myth relation and functioning of mythology in comparative literature and then introduce Hossein Mojib Al-Mesri's achievements. Then in a more limited scope, it reviews his theories that he received from Iran's myths. In the end, it shows the existing common points between Persian myths with Arabic and Turkish samples in two sections of religious and historical myths. The purpose of this essay is revealing the potential capabilities of Islamic nations' myths. It also recommend the necessary changes, which must occur in one-sided and unilateral views of Iranian or Non Iranian mythologists.
Volume 1, Issue 2 (NO. 2- 2009)
Abstract
The identity of a society is a tool for distinguishing different nations from each other based on a common concept or predetermined concepts. The strong sense of identity can be considered as a social capital. In addition, social capital and social identity are the result of tangible social relationships, which are understandable by the society. They Also have strong affects on each other. With respect to this relationship, this paper verifies the relationship between identity and social capital. The data were gathered from the world values data of 70 countries according to the definitions of the variables. The results by logistic regression showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between social identity and social capital.
Volume 1, Issue 2 (6-2013)
Abstract
Aim: Tobacco use is one of the major causes of death worldwide and the most preventable risk factor of the coronary heart disease. The purpose of this study was to determine attitudes, risk perception and perceived vulnerability toward to water pipe (WP) smoking among male students in Zarandieh city of Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 400 male adolescents in 2011-2012. A multiple-stage sampling protocol was used. The participants completed a self-report questionnaire about demographics, knowledge, attitude and beliefs about WP smoking and their tobacco use background. Data were analyzed by SPSS16. Findings: The prevalence of WP smoking was 72 (18%). Also 50% of participants believed water pipe smoking is less harmful compared to cigarettes. The mean score of knowledge, attitude, and risk perception for non smokers was higher from smokers (knowledge 4.9±2.1, attitude 19.5±4.3 and risk perception 18.6±3.3 versus 3.4±1.5, 15.6±5.5 and 15.4±4.3 respectively), whereas smokers reported a fairly high level of perceived stress and depression (perceived vulnerability). Conclusion: Noticing the side effects of tobacco use and the high prevalence of incorrect perceived WP smoking beliefs among students, provision of educational programs for the correction of the beliefs of students regarding WP smoking is recommended.
Volume 1, Issue 2 (6-2013)
Abstract
Aim: Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact (SSC) between mother and her newborn, specifically when it is conducted immediately after birth, have been recognized for more than 40 years. To determine why SSC is not conducted, the present study considers the opinions of the labor working midwifes about the reinforcing factors in SSC immediately after birth in Tehran's hospitals in 2012-2013. Methods: In this descriptive study, we have employed the reinforcing factors of the phase 3 of PRECEDE-PROCEED model. The samples consisted of 292 midwifes who were responsible for delivery or for newborns immediately after birth in 18 hospitals of Tehran. The sampling was firstly performed using stratified and then simple random manner. They were classified into educational, social security, and private hospitals. Data collection instrument was a self-developed questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics, social support and midwifes' motivation to conduct the reinforcing factors in the SCC at birth. It was derived from a qualitative study. Internal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Data analysis was conducted through applying the SPSS version 18. Findings: The results show that 93.8% of midwifes had a good idea about social support of the midwifes with Cronbach's alpha 0.744 and 96.6% of them believed in the Midwifes ' motivation in skin contact effects with Cronbach's 0.773. Conclusions: The midwives believed in the key role of reinforcing factors such as social support and their own motivation in successful and standard SSC. Therefore, further studies are suggested on exploring the opinions of pediatric, obstetrics and anesthesia specialists, midwives, mothers and their husbands concerning the SSC.
Volume 1, Issue 2 (10-2013)
Abstract
The present work is a comparative study of Aristotelian and narrative dramas with reference to “Oedipus Rex” by Sophocles and “Mother Courage and Her Children” by Bertolt Brecht. The basics of Aristotelian drama come from Aristotle’s Poetics, which was considered as an undisputed tradition in drama until the eighteenth century. The aim of this dramatic tradition is catharsis, which is achieved through pity, fear and empathy in the audience. Among the other main principles of Aristotelian drama are the observance of the three units: dramatic climax and peripetia, and the first and the last moments of excitement.
The narrative drama is based on Bertolt Brecht's non-Aristotelian theories in drama. Brecht believes that we must create a critical distance from daily events through alienation so that the audience can reconsider them and develop a critical view. The duality of the actor's role, the inconsistency between the actor's thought and action, time leaps, musical interruptions of the story, strong lightening on the stage, a half-empty stage with a half open curtain, the use of titles at the beginning of the scenes, and putting placards that free the audience from illusions are some of the alienation techniques used in Mother Courage and Her Children.
Aristotelian drama emphasizes the unity of sequences and coherence of events, and considers the play as a whole, which aims at involving the audience wholeheartedly and making the audience identifies himself with the hero of the play. In contrast, narrative drama is a montage of single scenes,
which causes pauses in the play. In this type of drama, the audiences, because of frequent interruptions, does not get involved in the play, gets distance from the scenes, and is persuaded to critically view the play, present solutions, and make decisions. In sum, the fundamental difference between these two types of drama lies in the effect they have on the audience. In this work, an attempt has been made to discuss the major difference between Aristotelian and narrative dramas with a number of examples taken from Oedipus Rex and Mother Courage and Her Children.
Volume 1, Issue 2 (12-2015)
Abstract
From 2009 to 2012, 16 species of Curculionidae (Coleoptera) from the subfamily Lixinae were collected on 17 species of food plants in Iranian rangelands. Identified species belong to seven genera in the tribes Lixini and Cleonini. The host plants from which they were collected were in the families Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Apiaceae, Campanulaceae, Brassicaceae and Zygophyllaceae. Of the 16 species that we captured, two (Lixus subfarinosus Desbrochers, 1893 and Larinus remissus Faust, 1889) represent the first records from Iran. These new data also extend the known ranges of several species (Larinus fucatus Faust, 1894, Larinus grisescens Gyllenhal, 1835, Microlarinus rhinocylloides Hochhuth, 1847 and Bangasternus planifrons (Brulle, 1832) in Iran. The distribution of beetles and their associated host plants are presented and ecological notes on each species are provided.