Estimating the carrying capacity of tourism and the necessity of forest stands management (Case study: Darkesh forest, North Khorasan, Iran)

This study focuses on the carrying capacity estimation for Darkesh forest in Northeast Iran. Four factors were used for estimating the carrying capacity including tourist flows, size of the area, optimum space available for each tourist, and visiting time. Results showed that the physical carrying capacity was 2727 ha or 165 visitors day-1, while the real carrying capacity was 2719 ha or 132 visitors day-1. An average of 200 tourists per day visited the park during 2015, which was much higher than the estimated carrying capacity. Development of recreational uses in the study area would also affect the forest production and other benefits in long term. This study suggested that to prevent intense use of the forest area, a plan must be developed. On the other hand, the number of visitors has to be precisely calculated in order to maintain healthy forest stands and to secure the ecological benefits for future generations

Effects of initial spacing on some allometric characteristics of 12- year-old Quercus castaneifolia plantation in central Mazandaran, Iranian Caspian forests

The effects of initial spacing layout on some allometric characteristics of 12-year-old Quercus castaneifolia trees grown in Central Mazandaran, north of Iran were examined. Trees were planted in 5 different layouts (1×1, 1.5×1.5, 2×2.5, 2×3 and 4×4 m). Tree height, diameter at breast height, natural pruning height and the survival of trees were recorded in each sample plot. Tree basal area and H/D ratio and standing volume were calculated for all trees. The results of statistical analysis showed that increasing in spacing level from 1×1 to 4×4 significantly increased the average diameter at breast height from 6.93 to 12.42 cm and survival from 53% to 85%. The average tree basal area per ha decreased from 19.98 m^2 ha^-1 to 6.43 m^2 ha^-1 and H/D ratio from 151 to 77 when the distance between trees increased from 1 × 1 to 4 × 4 m. but spacing regime had no significant effect on tree height and natural pruning height. It can be concluded that on the basis of standing volume, H/D ratio and survival rate, the best plantation spacing in this research station was 2 m × 3 m. Statistically, about 95% of the changes in sediment yield was due to the effect of increased dry land farming area in the basin (R^2= 0.95, α < 0.05)

Cinnamomum tamala as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of major depressive disorder: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial with placebo control

Aim: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one the most common diseases in the world and about one-third to one-half of the patients don't respond to routine treatment. Thus, the role of alternative medicines, like herbal drugs, is important. The aim of this present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-week trial was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of Cinnamomum tamala as an adjuvant to sertraline in treatment of patients with MDD. Methods: In a randomized double-blind clinical trial, 50 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) based on DSM V, were assigned into two parallel groups to receive sertraline (100 mg twice a day) plus placebo or sertraline (100 mg twice a day) plus Cinnamomum tamala (500 mg daily) for 6 weeks. Patients were evaluated for response to treatment using the HAM-D score at baseline and at weeks 2, 4 and 6. The main outcome measure was to assess the efficacy of C. tamala in improving the MDD symptoms. Results: Forty-two patients completed the trial. Repeated-measure analysis of variance showed a significant effect for time � treatment interaction (Greenhouse-Geisser corrected: F = 5.12, df = 2.19, p-value = 0.006) in HAM-D score. There was significant improvement in HAM-D score of the C. tamala group compared with the placebo group from baseline to weeks 2, 4 and 6. Ps = 0.012, 0.008 and 0.009; respectively. The frequency of adverse effects was similar between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Cinnamomum tamala may be effective as an adjuvant agent in the treatment of MDD. © 2019 Elsevier Lt