Consumers’ Demands and Preferences for Organic Foods: A Survey Study in Mashhad, Iran

Agriculture has always been an important sector of the Iranian economy. For this reason, the investigation of consumers' demands and priorities in relation to organic products is our concern since no study has been conducted in this area in Iran. This paper aims to investigate consumers' knowledge concerning organic foodstuffs and the factors influencing consumption of organic product in the families of Mashhad so that some recommendations may finally be presented. In fact, while organic farming has been promoted as an environmentally-friendly approach and has been developed during the last few years in most developed countries, there is little emphasis placed on this in developing countries such as Iran. In order to identify consumer demand for organic foods, 180 respondents were interviewed by means of a questionnaire

Washback Effect of the University Entrance Examination on Iranian Pre-University English Language Teachers’ Curriculum Planning and Instruction

The impact of a test on teaching and learning is commonly referred to as the washback effect. In Iran, the university entrance exam (UEE) is assumed to exert a negative washback effect on language education. This study examined the nature and scope of the impact of the UEE on pre-university English teachers’ (PETs) teaching and curricular planning in six dimensions, that is, classroom activities and time arrangement, teaching methods, teaching materials, syllabus design, teaching contents, and classroom assessment. It also explored PETs’ expectations of the UEE. In this study, eight factors (independent variables) were studied under two subheadings: 1) teacher characteristics (teaching experience, educational background, professionalism, and gender) and 2) context characteristics (school type, school location, perceived students’ learning attitudes, and perceived external pressure). In the first phase, 220 subjects selected based on the proportional stratified random sampling responded to the questionnaires. The Cronbach alpha of the questionnaire was 0.97. In the second phase, eight purposively selected PETs participated in two focus group interviews. Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, t-test statistics, and stepwise regression were used to analyze the quantitative data from the survey questionnaires and a systematic note-based technique recommended by Krueger (2002) was used to analyze and interpret the qualitative data from the focus group interviews. The findings showed that PETs’ perceived professionalism in teaching (r = .388) and perceived students’ learning attitudes (r = .464) were positively and moderately associated with their perceptions of the impact of the UEE on their instruction and curricular planning. There was also a low positive relationship between teachers’ perceived professionalism in teaching and their expectations of the UEE (r = .229). Based on the results from the stepwise regression analysis, perceived students’ learning attitudes (21.2%), perceived external pressure in teaching (3.0%), and perceived professionalism in teaching (1.1%) can be used to reliably predict PETs’ perceptions of the impact of the UEE. Furthermore, perceived professionalism (.048%) and school location (.031%) can be used to reliably predict PETs’ expectations of the UEE. Almost all PETs, regardless of their teaching experience, educational background, gender, the school type, and the school location where they were teaching perceived the negative effect of the UEE similarly. The implication is that potentially influential factors such as teachers’ experience and educational background play a neutral role in adopting effective teaching techniques due to the washback phenomenon. Thus, if the UEE is not reformed to encourage English teachers to teach communicatively, spending millions of Rials on training and improving their level of knowledge at teacher training colleges and universities would be a great loss

Functional summary statistics for the Johnson-Mehl model

The Johnson-Mehl germination-growth model is a spatio-temporal point process model which among other things have been used for the description of neurotransmitters datasets. However, for such datasets parametric Johnson-Mehl models fitted by maximum likelihood have yet not been evaluated by means of functional summary statistics. This paper therefore invents four functional summary statistics adapted to the Johnson-Mehl model, with two of them based on the second-order properties and the other two on the nuclei-boundary distances for the associated Johnson-Mehl tessellation. The functional summary statistics theoretical properties are investigated, non-parametric estimators are suggested, and their usefulness for model checking is examined in a simulation study. The functional summary statistics are also used for checking fitted parametric Johnson-Mehl models for a neurotransmitters dataset. Key words: germination-growth process, model checking, neurotransmitters, pair correlation function, spatio-temporal point process, tessellation, typical cell.

The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) on Perceived Stress and Body Mass Index in Overweight Women

Introduction: Being overweight is a serious threat to women's health, imposing enormous costs on the individual, national and global levels. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based eating awareness training on perceived stress and body mass index in overweight women in Tehran. Methods: The research design is experimental with pre-posttest and control group. The statistical population consisted of all women referring to health center in Niavaran, Tehran in the first trimester of 2019 due to being overweight. They were replaced randomly. Mindfulness group training was conducted in 8 sessions once a week. Before and after the intervention, participants completed a perceived stress scale and their BMI was calculated. Results: Results of covariance analysis showed that mindfulness training significantly decreased perceived stress (p<0.05) and also significantly decreased body mass index in the experimental group compared to the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Given these findings, it can be said that in addition to the usual therapeutic treatments for overweight, psychological training for women can play an effective role in their health beliefs and behaviors.Declaration of Interest: NoneKey words: Perceived stress, Mindfulness approach, Overweight women

Inclusion Matrices and Chains

Given integers $t$, $k$, and $v$ such that $0\leq t\leq k\leq v$, let $W_{tk}(v)$ be the inclusion matrix of $t$-subsets vs. $k$-subsets of a $v$-set. We modify slightly the concept of standard tableau to study the notion of rank of a finite set of positive integers which was introduced by Frankl. Utilizing this, a decomposition of the poset $2^{[v]}$ into symmetric skipless chains is given. Based on this decomposition, we construct an inclusion matrix, denoted by $W_{\bar{t}k}(v)$, which is row-equivalent to $W_{tk}(v)$. Its Smith normal form is determined. As applications, Wilson's diagonal form of $W_{tk}(v)$ is obtained as well as a new proof of the well known theorem on the necessary and sufficient conditions for existence of integral solutions of the system $W_{tk}\bf{x}=\bf{b}$ due to Wilson. Finally we present anotherinclusion matrix with similar properties to those of $W_{\bar{t}k}(v)$ which is in some way equivalent to $W_{tk}(v)$.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of ascorbic acid from fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds and evaluation its extracts in free radical scavenging

The main objective of this study was to compare ultrasound assisted extraction with soxhlet extraction method as control in the extraction ascorbic acid of fennel seeds. Treatment conditions were performed using soxhlet method (240 min at 85 °C) and ultrasound treatment (20 kHz, 39, 64 and 96 W/cm2, 40 and 60 °C), for 15, 30 and 45 min. No significant differences were observed for total soluble solids among the samples studied. A similar trend was observed for both the amount of ascorbic acid extract and its ability to DPPH free radical scavenging. The greatest amount of ascorbic acid obtained in 15 minutes sonication (96 W/cm2 at 60 °C), with equivalent of 1.73 mg/ml fennel seeds extraction. There was a significant difference between soxhlet and ultrasound method, which caused an increase of 69.94 mg/ml ascorbic acid in the extraction compared to the soxhlet. The highest percentage of hydrogen peroxide scavenging was observed in 15 min sonication (96 W/cm2 at 60 °C) equivalent to 74.13% without any significant difference with soxhlet method (6.93% increase in free radical). The highest percentage of DPPH free radical scavenging was observed in 15 min sonication (96 W/cm2 at 60 °C) equivalent to 98.88% without any significant difference with soxhlet method (0.18% increase in free radical). The results of the present study demonstrate that ultrasound assisted extraction is an alternative affordable for yield extraction compared to soxhlet method

Investigating the Impact of Dissuasive Factors of the Fuel and Oil Products Smuggling in the Customs of Iran

The huge difference in the price of Iran's fuel across borders due to national subsidies to oil products and the fuel crisis in neighboring countries has caused smuggling of heavy goods to account for the highest rates of trafficking in goods from inside the country. Increasing fuel trafficking from the borders of the country is due to the huge difference in fuel prices in Iran with neighboring countries. In addition to the severe blows that the smuggling of these drugs causes on the economy of the region and the country, it leads to a false crisis and its dangers. Different perceptions of existing laws are different and various from the laws on similar issues, including the problems faced by the judiciary and government departments in counteracting the violations of fuel products. This study, considering the shortcomings and shortcomings of the smuggling of gas in the Iranian customs as well as the manner in which services are provided by customs, is to investigate the deterrent factors of smuggling fuel and oil products. For this purpose, a research was carried out at the customs level of the Mahirood border zone. Keywords: Smuggling, Iran Customs, Border Areas, Oil Products, Customs Rules. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/9-12-08 Publication date:June 30th 201

Soil Erosion Control in Drylands

This book focuses on drylands such as arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas where they form the main part of ecosystems, e.g., in Iran, but also around the world. Mismanagement and improper exploitation of these areas lead to more degradation day by day. Besides an introduction to the role and importance of vegetation cover in conserving soil against wind and water erosion, this book gives a scope of appropriate techniques and methods for vegetation establishment and maintenance, indicators for suitable plants selection for soil conservation, and soil erosion prevention and combat. It provides methods of soil erosion prevention and combating through the application of plants, using bioengineering systems for soil erosion control and the role of agroforestry in soil erosion prevention. This book can be helpful to those with an interest in countries with similar climates to Iran. In particular, this includes Dubai, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan