Challenges to the Future Development of Iran's Protected Areas System.

Since the 1950s, there has been a continuous increase in the number and coverage of protected areas (PAs) in Iran, and in total 253 PAs have been declared that cover 10.12 % of the country's area. This paper reviews literature addressing Iran's PAs, examines what is known about them, highlights the challenges and lessons learned, and identifies areas where more research is needed. The PA system in Iran is criticized because of (1) shortages of manpower, equipment, and financial resources; (2) de jure PAs that are often implemented as de facto reserves; (3) lack of national biodiversity indicators and objective monitoring processes; and (4) limited public participation and conflict between people over PAs. To improve, Iran's PAs system needs to be realistically supported by policies and planning instruments. In addition, the implementation of active management to restore habitat, increase education and awareness, shift practices towards the guidelines of international organizations, build capacity, and improve management and co-management by local communities needs to occur

An environmental approach to land classification for outdoor recreation

The importance of the Paddys River Catchment, A.C.T., for outdoor recreation has been discussed. The concept of recreation, the classification of recreational activities and conflict and compatibility arising between different recreational activities have been explained. Different approaches used to develop outdoor recreation capability classifications have been reviewed and a method for developing an outdoor recreation capability classification based on resource data has been suggested. The different physical, biological and cultural resources of the catchment have been inventoried, described and mapped. Then on the basis of these findings, the catchment was divided into environmental units, where each unit has a degree of uniformity with respect to its resource data. The outdoor recreation capability of each unit was subjectively evaluated. By numerical weighting, with or without consideration given to conflicts or compatibilities existing between outdoor recreational activities, the environmental units were ranked to form some outdoor recreation capability classifications. The methodology and application of the classification to the land use planning process have been discussed

Integrated Production And Quality Model Under Various Preventive Maintenance Policies

In this paper, we investigate the effect of various preventive maintenance policies on the joint optimisation of the economic production quantity (EPQ) and the economic design of control chart. This has been done for a deteriorating process where the incontrol period follows a general probability distribution with increasing hazard rate. In the proposed model, preventive maintenance (PM) activities reduce the shift rate of the system to the out-of-control state proportional to the PM level. For each policy, the model determines the EPQ, the optimal design of the control chart and the optimal preventive maintenance level. The effects of the three PM policies on EPQ and quality costs are illustrated using an example of a Weibull shock model with an increasing hazard rate

Integrated Production And Quality Model Under Various Preventive Maintenance Policies

In this paper, we investigate the effect of various preventive maintenance policies on the joint optimisation of the economic production quantity (EPQ) and the economic design of control chart. This has been done for a deteriorating process where the incontrol period follows a general probability distribution with increasing hazard rate. In the proposed model, preventive maintenance (PM) activities reduce the shift rate of the system to the out-of-control state proportional to the PM level. For each policy, the model determines the EPQ, the optimal design of the control chart and the optimal preventive maintenance level. The effects of the three PM policies on EPQ and quality costs are illustrated using an example of a Weibull shock model with an increasing hazard rate

An energy, exergy and economic modeling study based on utilizing waste heat energy of a C200 microturbine to power ORC, absorption chiller and desalination units

PhD ThesisThe motivation for this investigation into microturbine and desalination processes is the desire to combat problems caused by frequent high temperature conditions related to the spread of global warming. The small-scale power microturbine C200, designed by the Capstone Co., was chosen. Also, a single effect absorption chiller was employed in this study. The method of thermal vapor compression multi-effect distillation desalination was chosen as a potable water producer. Also, the organic Rankine cycle was powered by low-grade heat energy. Each model was simulated and investigated on a stand-alone basis under ISO conditions using off-design simulations. The ORC, absorption chiller and TVC-MED desalination process were separately driven with the same amount of fuel consumption into microturbine. All the base and proposed models were simulated by using a software package called IPSEpro. The economic accessibility and profitability of all the proposed models was examined. Integrating the microturbine with the ORC unit led to the generation of an extra 4.10% of electric power compared to that produced by the absorption chiller, and 7.80% for TVC-MED desalination. However, the lowest carbon emission rate for all models was achieved by using a microturbine with TVC-MED desalination with a reduction of 46.80%. Accordingly, the EUF of the TVC-MED desalination was 9.20% higher than when an absorption chiller was used, and 42.40% higher than when ORC was used. ORC gained the lowest EUF. The higher rate of exergetic efficiency was found when utilising the microturbine with the single effect absorption chiller with a value of 31.00%, as compared to ORC and TVC-MED, which registered rates of 23.11%, and 22.42% respectively. The results of economic study showed that, if the selling price was £0.023/kWh, then the profitability evaluation results would not be attractive for investment. However, if investment was made into a microturbine, then the electricity price could be set at £0.040/kWh or £0.060/kWh, resulting in a desirable economic feasibility for all combined models

Libyan cochlear implant programme: achievements, difficulties, and future goals

Cochlear implantation has become established worldwide as a safe and effective method of auditory rehabilitation of selected severely and profound deaf children and adults. Over 100,000 patients have received cochlear implants worldwide with the paediatric population proving to be the main beneficiaries. The Libyan cochlear implant programme was set up in 2004. Data relating to the patients who received cochlear implantation at Tripoli Medical Centre between October 2007 and February 2010 were analysed. Implant operations were performed on 37 patients. All patients received Med-El SONATATI100 devices. Thirty-four (91.9%) of these patients were children, whilst three (8.1%) were adults. Combined, congenital hearing loss (56.8%) and perinatal/neonatal (29.7%) were the two main aetiological factors in children. Seventeen patients (45.9%) had a positive family history of deafness. Sixteen patients (43.2%) were born to blood-related parents. The overall rate of minor and major complications was 16.2%, which is comparable to previous studies