Internet Censorship in Iran: An Inside Look

Globally, Internet censorship is on the rise and Iran has been portrayed as one of the most critical cases. So far, however, no studies have investigated the issue from an inside look. To fill this literature gap, the present paper aims to provide an overview of Internet censorship in Iran, by assessing the Iranian perspective on Internet freedom, different aspects of the subject, as well as the domestic and foreign types of limitations clients face today. This study has shown that Iran’s current filtering policy is a lenient one pursuing Internet development and simultaneously providing protection against potential threats. The Iranian case also includes some global issues such as censorship imposed due to the U.S. sanctions. Specifically, the findings of this study revealed that the range and extent of restrictions imposed on the Iranians’ access to mobile applications by the U.S. are significantly more than those placed by the Iranian filtering regime

Template-free hierarchical trimetallic oxide photocatalyst derived from organically modified ZnCuCo layered double hydroxide

High-performance photocatalysts have considerable potential to address energy and environmental issues. In this study, dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) modified ZnCuCo layered double hydroxide (DBS-ZnCuCo LDH) microspheres were synthesized through the facile template-free hydrothermal method. Subsequently, ZnCuCo mixedmetal oxides (MMOs) with morphological features of the DBS modified LDH, enhanced surface area, increased light absorption and effective charge separation were prepared by the calcination of the as-synthesized LDH at 650 degrees C. Structural, morphological, and photoelectrochemical properties of ZnCuCo and DBS-ZnCuCo LDHs and the corresponding MMOs (ZnCuCo MMO1 and ZnCuCo MMO2) were investigated. SEM and TEM images revealed that DBS-ZnCuCo LDH and ZnCuCo MMO2 possess 3D flower-like hierarchical morphologies with interlaced petal-like nanosheets. Although ZnCuCo LDH was inactive for photocatalytic H-2 production under visible light irradiation, ZnCuCo MMO2 exhibited a high H2 production rate (3700 mu mol g(-1) h(-1)), benefiting from the synergy of the ZnO, CuO, and Co3O4. Furthermore, 95% sulfamethazine (SMZ) degradation was obtained after 60 min of photocatalysis, which is considerably higher than the degradation efficiency of ZnCuCo LDH (24%) and ZnCuCo MMO1 (58%). Based on the photoelectrochemical tests, Z-scheme and double charge transfer mechanisms were proposed to explain the enhanced photocatalytic H-2 production and degradation of SMZ. Scavenging tests revealed that O-2(center dot-) radicals were the main reactive species in the photodegradation of SMZ. A possible degradation pathway was proposed based on the detection of intermediate products.Peer reviewe

Photocatalytic degradation of antibiotic and hydrogen production using diatom-templated 3D WO3-x@mesoporous carbon nanohybrid under visible light irradiation

Synthesis of highly efficient 3D photocatalysts offers unique abilities for hydrogen production and chemical conversion to find a solution for energy shortage and environmental pollution issues. However, current strategies for production of ordered nanohybrid photocatalysts usually involve complex procedures and the use of expensive templates, which limit their practical applications. In this work, 3D WO3-x@mesoporous carbon photocatalyst was fabricated through one-pot evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) process using Cyclotella sp. as natural template. During heat-treatment, the precursor of carbon could partially reduce tungsten oxide under N-2 atmosphere leading to the embedding of WO3-x in conductive mesoporous carbon structure. The diatom templated WO3-x@mesoporous carbon (DTWO3-x@MC) nanohybrid exhibited high surface area (195.37 m(2) g(-1)) and narrowed band gap (2.67 eV). Integration of tungsten oxide with mesoporous carbon and formation of oxygen vacancies enhanced the absorption of visible light using DT-WO3-x@MC and limited the recombination of electron-hole pairs. 98.7% of cefazolin (CFZ) degradation efficiency and 85.5% of total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency were observed within 90 and 180 min under visible light irradiation, respectively. Scavenger quenching tests and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis demonstrated that O-2(center dot-) played a main role in photocatalysis. CFZ degradation pathway was proposed via identification of conversion intermediates using GC-MS analysis. Photocatalytic hydrogen production rates of the pure WO3 and the DT-WO3-x@MC nanohybrid were determined as 746 and 1851 mmol g(-1) h(-1), respectively. This study presented a way to develop a high-performance and stable photocatalyst using diatom frustules as natural template which works under practical conditions for environmental remediation and energy production. (C) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

The effects of human resource flexibility on human resources development

Human resources are the primary factor for development of competitiveness and innovation and reaching competitive advantage and they try to improve corporate capabilities through various characteristics such as value creation, scarcity and difficulty of imitation. This paper investigates the effect of human resource flexibility and its dimensions on human resource development and its dimensions. The survey was conducted using descriptive-correlation method that intended to describe how human resource flexibility was effective on human resource development. Questionnaire was tool of data collection. The statistical population included one hundred employees of the Electric Company in Ilam province, thus census method was used. Reliability of the questionnaire was measured via Cronbach's alpha equal to 0.96. The findings revealed that flexibility and its dimensions were effective on human resource development and dimensions of it. As a result, human resource flexibility should be considered for development of human resources and employees with the highest flexibility should be selected

Optimizirano određivanje lorazepama u humanom serumu visokotlačnom tekućinskom kromatografijom

The present research was designated to evaluate a rapid and sensitive method for determining low concentrations of the highly active drug lorazepam in serum. Isolation of the drug from biological fluid after addition of nordazepam as the internal standard was achieved using a simple liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane and the extracted compounds were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Chromatographic separation on a reversed phase column containing a stationary phase with low silanol activity resulted in a perfectly symmetrical peak with a tailing factor of 1.0. The limit of quantitation in serum is 2.5 ng mL-1 for both lorazepam and internal standard. The procedure is rapid and sensitive enough for determination of lorazepam in serum.U radu se vrednuje brza i osjetljiva metoda za određivanje niskih koncentracija lorazepama u serumu. Lorazepam je izoliran iz seruma ekstrakcijom diklormetanom, zajedno s nordazepamom, koji je upotrebljen kao interni standard i zatim određivan visokotlačnom tekućinskom kromatografijom. Kromatografskim razdjeljivanjem na reverzno-faznoj koloni sa stacionarnom fazom s niskom aktivnošću silanola dobiveni su potpuno simetrični signali faktorom završnog povlačenja 1,0. Granica određivanja u serumu je 2,5 ng mL-1 za lorazepam i interni standard. Metoda je brza i dovoljno osjetljiva za određivanje lorazepama u serumu

Synthesis of N-Doped Magnetic WO3–x@Mesoporous Carbon Using a Diatom Template and Plasma Modification : Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Activities

Synthesis of three-dimensional photocatalysts offers great potential for chemical conversion and hydrogen generation as appropriate solutions for environmental protection and energy shortage challenges. In this study, the magnetic WO3–x@mesoporous carbon (M-WO3–x@MC) was synthesized through the evaporation-induced self-assembly method applying diatom frustules as a natural template. Then, plasma modification was used to prepare the N-doped M-WO3–x@MC (NM-WO3–x@MC) with enhanced photocatalytic activity and durable performance. The WO3–x was embedded in the conductive MC, which was also partially reduced by the carbon precursor within the heat-treatment procedure. The obtained M-WO3–x@MC was treated by the plasma under an N2 atmosphere for the production of the final photocatalyst containing both the N-doped WO3–x and MC. As a result, the NM-WO3–x@MC had larger surface area (208.4 m2 g–1), narrower band gap (2.3 eV), more visible light harvesting, and confined electron–hole pairs recombination. The H2 generation rates of net WO3 nanorods and NM-WO3–x@MC nanocomposite were estimated as 532 and 2765 μmol g–1 h–1, respectively. Additionally, more than 90% of antibiotics (cephalexin, cefazolin and cephradine) degradation and 76% of total organic carbon elimination were obtained after 120 and 240 min of photocatalytic process under visible light irradiation. Eventually, more than eight intermediates were detected for each antibiotic degradation using the gas chromatography–mass spectrometer method, and based on the obtained results, the possible degradation pathways were suggested.Peer reviewe

A novel LMI-based robust model predictive control for DFIG-based wind energy conversion systems

summary:The optimal and reliable performance of doubly fed induction generator is essential for the efficient and optimal operation of wind energy conversion systems. This paper considers the nonlinear dynamic of a DFIG linked to a power grid and presents a new robust model predictive control technique of active and reactive power by the use of the linear matrix inequality in DFIG-based WECS. The control law is obtained through the LMI-based model predictive control that allows considering both economic and tracking factors by optimization of an objective function, constraints on control signal and states of system and effects of nonlinearities, generator parameter uncertainties and external disturbances. Robust stability in the face of bounded disturbances and generator uncertainty is shown using Lyapunov technique. Numerical simulations show that the proposed control method is able to meet the desired specification in active and reactive power control in the presence of varieties of wind speed and pitch angle

Service Quality in Iran’s Medical Tourism: Hospitals in Shiraz City

Introduction: Medical tourism is a main source of national income. Thus, evaluating the viewpoints of medical tourists about the quality of service provided by healthcare centers may be useful in planning to develop this industry. The present study aimed to measure the gap between medical tourists' expectations and perceptions of the quality of service offered by the hospitals in Shiraz using the SERVQUAL model. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 200 medical tourists referred to hospitals in the city of Shiraz which is located in the south of Iran. The subjects were selected randomly over the first 6 months of 2013. Data collection tools were a descriptive questionnaire and an adaptation of the SERVQUAL questionnaire. Results: The results showed that the mean age of medical tourists was 49.67 and most of them were from Oman. Overall, the patients' expectations exceeded their perceptions of the provided quality of service, and all gap mean scores were negative. The largest negative gap score pertained to reliability with an overall average of -0.59, followed by responsibility, assurance, tangibility, empathy, and access to care. Conclusion: The research findings can effectively help managers identify problems with the current quality of service and improve performance so as to increase the medical tourists' satisfaction level. Also, highlighting the most important service attributes, which are highly attractive to patients, will help authorities improve their operation performance and develop innovative ideas on both strategic and tactical levels

The Effectiveness of Emotional Regulation Training on Aggression and Coping Styles of Methamphetamine Substance Abusers

Background and Aim: In recent years, drug addiction has become a widespread phenomenon among different social groups with other characteristics. The present study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of emotional regulation training on aggression and coping styles of methamphetamine addicts. Materials and Methods: The present study population is all methamphetamine addicts in Varamin city. The research sample of 30 people with methamphetamine addicts was selected from the addiction treatment clinic by available sampling and randomly allocated into two experimental and control groups. The emotion regulation protocol was trained in the experimental group during the 12 sessions, but the control group did not receive any training. To measure the variables, Bass and Perry Aggression Questionnaire (1992) and Andler and Parker’s (1990) Coping Style Questionnaire were used in pre-test and post-test. Results: At the end of the sessions, data were analyzed using a covariance test. The results showed that emotional regulation training effectively decreases aggression, improves task-oriented and emotion-oriented coping styles, and reduces the avoidant coping style in methamphetamine addicts. Conclusion: Due to the proliferation of social damage, such as methamphetamine addiction, experts in this field need to master new and effective ways of regulating emotions to help these patients prevent relapse to using the drug