A framework for business model with strategic innovation in ICT firms: the importance of information

Purpose – What is a business model framework with the strategic innovation approach in the SMEs of ICT industry? What are the components of this model and the relations between them? Business model is a logical response to how a business can create value. Changing business environment means that business models are rapidly growing; accordingly, innovation is no longer optional. However, innovation is important in general, but the kind of innovation that is widely and directly dependent on business model will be quite critical for all parts of the organization. In fact, Business Model Innovation is an exquisite technic to create, deliver, and earn value by changing one or more components of a typical business model. Design/methodology/approach – The present paper focuses upon SMEs in ICT. Grounded Theory had used for this purpose with 15 interviews. Findings – Emerging market is the market in which commercial exchanges of a particular industry between the countries are relatively new but with great investment attractiveness and also a high potential to grow (such as Iran).Since the ICT industry of Iran is a leader industry, and the country itself is an emerging market, the main purpose of this study is to provide a framework for designing an innovative information-based business to help fledgling businesses development in ICT industry of Iran. Originality/value – The purpose for writing the article is to help accurate and distinct understanding of the business model concept and critical steps in designing an appropriate business model. The conducted studies that simultaneously dealt with the business model and strategic innovations are few and there was no research observed in Persian sources by the time the proposal was written

Structural performance of steel-concrete sandwich beams with carbon nanofiber reinforcement

Cementitious materials such as concrete are typically characterised as quasi-brittle with low tensile strength and low strain capacity, which hence affect the long-term durability of the structure. One of the most important issues in designing and maintaining massive concrete structures like offshore and nuclear power plants is concrete cracking, which is due to the low tensile strength of concrete. This can destroy the structural aesthetic and lead to deterioration of the structure. The addition of fibers to concrete has been proven to be a good mean to control its crack behaviour and maintain its ductility in tension. Further, since the discovery of carbon nanotubes/fibers (CNT/CNF), they have been also considered as efficient fibers for construction materials such as concrete. This study presents the structural performance of steel-concrete (SC) elements with a fiber reinforced concrete (FRC) core using both single and hybrid fibers (i.e. consisting of two types of fibers). For this study carbon nanofibers, and steel fibers which are conventionally used in practice, are used for the FRC. Static tests were conducted on eight SC beams with different concrete types. The paper reports on the experimental results obtained from four-point flexural loading of the SC beams. The study shows considerable improvement for both the strength and ductility of the tested specimens. The research laid the groundwork for additional in-depth studies on using carbon nanofiber reinforced concrete within structural members

Last-male sperm precedence in Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Olivier): observations in laboratory mating experiments with irradiated males

The Red PalmWeevil (RPW)Rhynchophorus ferrugineus(Olivier 1790) is an invasive pest from southeastern Asia and Melanesia that in the last 30 years has spread widely in the Middle East and Mediterranean Basin. Its stem-boring larvae cause great damage to several palm species of the Arecaceae family, many of which are economically important for agricultural and ornamental purposes. Therefore, great attention has recently been focused in studying this species to identify sustainable and effective eradication strategies, such as sterile insect technique (SIT). The rapid spread of RPW is associated with its high reproductive success. To evaluate the suitability of a SIT strategy, particular physiological and behavioral aspects of RPW reproduction, such as the presence of polyandry and post-copulatory sperm selection mechanisms, were investigated. To determine paternity of progeny from multiply mated females, double-crossing experiments were carried out confining individual females with either a wild-type male or a γ-irradiated male (Co-60). Fecundity and fertility of females were scored to evaluate post-copulatory sperm selection. Results showed that progeny were almost exclusively produced by the sperm of the second male, suggesting that a last-male sperm precedence is expressed at high levels in this species, and providing interesting insights for an area-wide RPW management strategy such as the SIT

Study on daily and reproduction activity of melon weevil, Acythopeus curvirostris persicus (Col.: Curculionidae), in Birjand, Iran

Melon weevil, Acytopeus curvirostris persicus Thompson, is one of the most important pests of melons that is spread in the Middle East countries. In this study, diurnal and seasonal locomotor and flight activity of melon weevil were investigated under field condition using bucket traps (baited with conspecifics male and cucumber fruit) and also mating behavior pattern and its effect on fecundity (under semifield conditions) and fertility (under laboratory conditions). The results showed that both males and females of melon weevil have distinct daily activity. Two activity peaks were observed at 7:00-9:00 am and 17:00-19:00 pm. Maximum flight activity was observed in the afternoon (14:00 hours) in field condition. Both sexes emerged in early cultivation season (late June) simultaneously and the number of captured weevil was the highest in early October (6.1 ± 2.6 weevils per week). Emerged adults from pupal cocoon mated after about eight days. Peak of mating occurred during 14:30-16:30 pm. Number of mating during lifetime of males (18.3 ± 3.4) was nearly two times greater than females (9.6 ± 2.2). The mean number of eggs laid during reproduction period in single and multiple mating were 29.2 ± 3.5 and 52.4 ± 6.2 eggs per female, respectively. Oviposition was maximum on 12 and 36 days after mating. Hatching rates of eggs in single and multiple mating were 85 ± 7% and 82.5 ± 9%, respectively. Multiple mating had no significant effect on fecundity and fertility. There was no relationship between mating frequency and temperature

Synthesis of CdO nanoparticles using direct chemical precipitation method: Fabrication of novel voltammetric sensor for square wave voltammetry determination of chlorpromazine in pharmaceutical samples

A chemically modified electrode was constructed and applied to the electrooxidation of the chlorpromazine (CPZ). The oxidation peak potential of the CPZ at a surface of CdO/nanoparticles (NPs) ionic liquid carbon paste electrode (CdO/NPs/IL/CPE) appeared at 695 mV. The CdO/NPs were characterized with different methods such as transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction. Under optimized (pH 7.0), linear calibration curves were obtained in the range of 0.1–350 µM for CPZ, which shows adequate for the quantification in real samples. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of CPZ in both pharmaceutical and urine samples. © 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Quantitative and qualitative development of shrimp culture in Iran

Primary researches on aquaculture of endemic shrimp species carried out since 1984-5 by Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO) .After a decade, the condition for extension and development of shrimp culture in the country prepared. Despite huge investment of government for preparation and construction of shrimp sites, only small part of present potential in southern coast of the country is under production. About 18 different shrimp species inhabit in Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman, in which 4 species have larger size, and more abundant, and harvest commercially . Penaeus semisulcatus, Fenneropenaeus merguiensis and Metapenaeus affinis as commercial species distributed throughout of Persian Gulf from mouth of Arvand River in north- west to strait of Hormoz, and also some parts of Oman Sea. While Fenneropenaeus indicus distributed mainly in coastal area of Oman Sea. Shrimp culture begin in Iran by P.semisulcatus, continued by imported Penaeus monodon, and developed by using of F.indicus. After confront to slow growth and viral diseases in 2001 (Khouzestan province) and 2005 (Bushehr Province), at the same time I.F.R.O acquired the bio-technique for production of Litopenaeus vannamei, and hence the condition for introduction the new species to the shrimp culture industry provided. In accordance for development of shrimp culture, I.F.R.O carried out various research activities, and established specific research center for this purpose. Research projects regarding brood-stock management, breeding and larvae production, grow out, water management and disease identification and treatment have been carried, and induced considerable impacts on quantitative and qualitative development of shrimp culture in the country

Determination of biotechniqe and bionormative of breeding and culturing of Penaeus merguiensis de Man in Bushehr Area

To introduce the native commercial shrimp species to aquaculture industry, the Iranian Fisheries Research Organization conducted a project to investigate the possibility of reproduction and cultivation of the banana shrimp (Penaeus merguensis). The present work has been carried out from 21st March 2001 in two phase, reproduction and cultivation, in Iran Shrimp Research Center. The main objectives of this study was to find the possibility of reproduction and cultivation of banana shrimp with emphasis on its cost and benefit and to find if this species could be introduced to aquaculture industry in Iran. In this work, 42 brood stocks of banana shrimp caught in Jask waters and were transported to Bushehr. The shrimps were reproduced in aquaculture research station, and then cultivated in 0.4 ha ponds in Heleh region. Most of the broodstocks perished, due to long distance of Jask from Bushehr province, or had problem in hatching. Finally 8 of broodstock shrimps spawned. In 3 cases, the reared naplii larva suffered high mortality, but the other 5 spawner’s bread successfully. The post larvae were introduced to the shrimp ponds. The primary stocking was 360,000 larvae, introduced to each of two 4 m 3 tanks. The survival in both tanks for mysis stage was 83% but for PL stages, the survival was 5% for Tank 1 due to disease outbreak (until PL 24), and 62% for Tank 2. On 10 th June 2001 the PL 24 were stocked into the ponds but unfortunately due to adaptation problem, all of the shrimps perished. It seems that banana shrimp couldn’t to be adapted to the pond condition in Heleh region. On the basis of the results, the reproduction of the banana shrimps is achievable, but broodstocks needs to be transferred to reproduction areas as soon as possible to reduce stress on the shrimps. Our finding shows that the optimum conditions of salinity and temperature for growth of the reared banana shrimp in Heleh region is 33ppt and 30 °C, respectively

Study on effect of enriched Artemia with (HUFA) on reproductive parameters and comparing with current method (used marine worm) in Litopenaeus vannamei

Nowadays, the use of live food enrichment is very common in aquaculture and as a practical method introduced. Artemia a potential food source and quality is suitable, it will have used for feeding fish and crustaceans (shrimp). In this study, Artemia enriched with unsaturated fatty acids used for increase the sexual maturity of the white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). Thus, the young brood stocks transferred to Bandarga Research station. In order to achieve optimal weight, Brood stocks were feeding by food concentrate and food frozen fresh. In this study such as 3 treatments each with 3 replicates, which brood stocks were stocking in the fiberglass thank with density 2 to 3 (pieces/m^2). They were feeding with meals different including 1) squid , pen shale and marine polychaeta worm (Perinereis nuntia), 2) squid , pen shale and Artemia biomass "fransiscan", 3) squid , pen shale and Artemia biomass enriched with unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) SPARI SELCO solution after were eye ablation. The results showed that sexual maturity increased in the brood stocks fed with Artemia enriched which with significantly higher brood stocks fed with Artemia biomass and the marine worm (P 0.05). The other hand, histological studies showed that brood stocks fed with Artemia enriched than other two treatments contain were many mature follicles ready for ovulation. However, there was more absolute fecundity in the brood stocks fed with Artemia enriched, but don't found any significant differences in competition with other two treatments (P>0.05). In addition, during this period, measured and recorded all factors physicochemical water and environment daily. Following this study showed that if the Artemia enriched as part of the diet can both caused eliminate unsaturated fatty acid deficiency diet and improved ovarian development and increase sexual maturity brood stocks female in a short interval. Finally, the results analyzed with statistical software spss 9.0, one way ANOVA and Tukey test