PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN SELECTED ECO COUNTRIES

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an inter-governmental organization comprising Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and several countries of the Commonwealth of Independent states (CIS) including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The agricultural sector has remained a major contributor to the national economies of the ECO member countries. According to FAO estimates, in 2002 agriculture generated 25.2 percent of GDP and employed 42 percent of the economically-active population in the ECO region. Livestock production in the ECO countries is predominately based on traditional systems. The amount of livestock products in ECO was about 6,000,000 metric tons (Mt) during the study period. Most of this production belonged to Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, but most red meat, skins and honey is produced by CIS countries. This paper looks at the performance of livestock production and export of Iran and CIS countries within the ECO region and examines the comparative advantage indices for these countries. The data from 1992-2002 is supplied by the FAO (2004). Changes in Iran's production and export structure were compared with CIS producers. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to identify the comparative advantage of Iranian livestock production and export in comparison with CIS countries; (2) to discuss the reasons for changes in comparative advantage over time. The research results show that past trade and production policies, and the economic behavior of producers and exporters, have been such that they could manage neither appropriate and timely responses to world demand, nor proper adaptation to market niches.Comparative advantage indices, livestock production and export, Iran, CIS countries, ECO region

Iran’s poultry meat export status in the Middle East region

Agriculture is literally a matter of life and death in the developing world. Ninety-six per cent of the world’s farmers – approximately 1.3 billion people – live in developing countries. In the rural areas of the developing world, close to 900 million people live on less than $1 a day.The Doha mandate encouraged the hope that dumping of subsidised exports from rich countries would finally be brought to an end, that market access for developing countries would be improved,and that developing countries would continue to be permitted to use tariffs and other border measures as part of their rural development strategies. In the Middle East,agriculture is the largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product and foreign exchange,and is the second largest employer.Yet despite its economic importance it is largely overlooked in the development of new technologies and in the allocation of trained human resources. Agriculture in the Middle East focuses on new ways to improve food production, the challenges of a largely arid land, and managing limited agricultural resources.Agriculture is one of the oldest income sources in Iran. Close to one-third of the working population are engaged in agriculture and related industries such as poultry farming.Agriculture plays a significant role in the Iranian economy. At now agriculture account for an average of 27.8 percent of the GDP, and employ 26.1 percent of the labor force.Also agricultural products account for 47 percent of non-oil exports.Poultry species play important roles in the livelihood of human beings throughout the world both in ways that are quantifiable economically and in others that cannot and are therefore not captured in economic indices such as national GDP estimates.Poultry meat contribute directly to food security because there are no taboos against their consumption.With regard to F.A.O annual reports(2004) ,Iran has been rated 1st producer and also 1st exporter of poultry meat in the Middle East region. Capital stock in this industry consists of Breeding Farms (lines) ,Grand Parents(GP), Parent stock (PS), Broilers, Slaughter-Houses and dependant industries of governmental and private sectors is 4000 Billions Rials (5 Billions$). The current production is related to 70% of production units potential ,so with regard to remained considerable potential,it is necessary to make of them in an optimum rate. Therefore poultry products exports particularly poultry meat can be used for increasing of income and development for poultry industry. The objective of this paper was to study the dynamics on comparative advantage of Iran’s poultry meat export in the Middle East market.Poultry meat,export,Revealed comparative advantage,iran,middle east

PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN SELECTED ECO COUNTRIES

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an inter-governmental organization comprising Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and several countries of the Commonwealth of Independent states (CIS) including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The agricultural sector has remained a major contributor to the national economies of the ECO member countries. According to FAO estimates, in 2002 agriculture generated 25.2 percent of GDP and employed 42 percent of the economically-active population in the ECO region. Livestock production in the ECO countries is predominately based on traditional systems. The amount of livestock products in ECO was about 6,000,000 metric tons (Mt) during the study period. Most of this production belonged to Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, but most red meat, skins and honey is produced by CIS countries. This paper looks at the performance of livestock production and export of Iran and CIS countries within the ECO region and examines the comparative advantage indices for these countries. The data from 1992-2002 is supplied by the FAO (2004). Changes in Iran's production and export structure were compared with CIS producers. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to identify the comparative advantage of Iranian livestock production and export in comparison with CIS countries; (2) to discuss the reasons for changes in comparative advantage over time. The research results show that past trade and production policies, and the economic behavior of producers and exporters, have been such that they could manage neither appropriate and timely responses to world demand, nor proper adaptation to market niches

PRODUCTION AND TRADE OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN SELECTED ECO COUNTRIES

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) is an inter-governmental organization comprising Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and several countries of the Commonwealth of Independent states (CIS) including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The agricultural sector has remained a major contributor to the national economies of the ECO member countries. According to FAO estimates, in 2002 agriculture generated 25.2 percent of GDP and employed 42 percent of the economically-active population in the ECO region. Livestock production in the ECO countries is predominately based on traditional systems. The amount of livestock products in ECO was about 6,000,000 metric tons (Mt) during the study period. Most of this production belonged to Turkey, Iran and Pakistan, but most red meat, skins and honey is produced by CIS countries. This paper looks at the performance of livestock production and export of Iran and CIS countries within the ECO region and examines the comparative advantage indices for these countries. The data from 1992-2002 is supplied by the FAO (2004). Changes in Iran's production and export structure were compared with CIS producers. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to identify the comparative advantage of Iranian livestock production and export in comparison with CIS countries; (2) to discuss the reasons for changes in comparative advantage over time. The research results show that past trade and production policies, and the economic behavior of producers and exporters, have been such that they could manage neither appropriate and timely responses to world demand, nor proper adaptation to market niches

A Survey of Factors Affecting Financing of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE)

The purpose of this research was to identify the factors affecting financing of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). The method of this study was to use the multiple regression model and panel data to test the hypotheses. The statistical population included 63 small and medium-sized companies admitted to the TSE, which were tested for the period of 2006 to 2021. The contribution was the use of market cap as a criterion for determining small and medium-sized companies. According to the findings, company size has a significant effect on internal financing. In addition, company size had a significant relationship with external financing through debt and share issuance. Also, there was a significant relationship between intangible assets and internal financing, while the ages of the small and medium sized enterprises did not have a significant relationship with external financing. It is suggested that small and medium-sized enterprises pay more attention to the significant variables for financing. Keywords: Financing, Debt, Equity, Intangible Assets, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises.   Introduction The primary focus of this study was to investigate the financing of the capital structure of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Iran. SMEs play a crucial role in the economies of both developed and developing countries. According to the theory posed by Schumacher, a renowned German economist, as presented in the book "Small is Beautiful", creating job opportunities in rural areas and small towns can be achieved by making modest investments to generate employment, utilizing relatively simple production methods and leveraging local resources to establish small industries. SMEs serve as the backbone of the developing world's economy (Memarnejad, 2019). In today's world, financing has become a significant concern for countries, whether they are developing or developed. A well-designed capital structure possesses the potential and capacity to adapt to changes in the surrounding environment and, in turn, influences its surroundings by generating appropriate returns. SMEs play a crucial role in poverty alleviation, wealth creation, and fostering greater participation of marginalized sections of society, such as youth and women, in the economic development of nations. The growth of these enterprises strengthens the democratic ethos and civil society, while also encouraging entrepreneurs to actively engage in the economic, political, and social fabric of their countries. In fact, in most nations, the majority of employment opportunities are generated by SMEs. For instance, in the 30 high-income countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, two-thirds of the total workforce can be attributed to SMEs (Memarnejad, 2019). This study aimed to highlight the significance and role of SMEs in Iran's economy. However, certain selection criteria were applied, such as: a) selecting companies with fiscal years ending in March and no changes in their fiscal year, b) encountering incomplete data for some companies, and c) excluding banks, financial institutions, and financial investment companies due to their distinct nature of operations. Consequently, the number of companies studied was reduced to 63. Therefore, caution should be exercised when generalizing the findings of this study to other entities within the industry under consideration. Moreover, it is important to note that financing is influenced by various macroeconomic factors, including the inflation rate, gross domestic product, interest rates on facilities, and exchange rates. However, these factors were not incorporated into this study, and consequently, might impact the results. Various factors, such as asset structure, age, profitability, growth, and industry, have been identified as key determinants that can significantly influence the capital structure (Hall, 2002). Indeed, a wide range of variables have been found to impact the choice of an appropriate capital structure (Chen, 2004; Çekrezi, 2013). Additionally, this study examined factors that could potentially affect both the capital structure and profitability of companies. Recognizing that the capital structure can impact the overall value of a company, it is crucial to investigate the factors that effectively and predictably influence it. Numerous authors have conducted studies in this area, leading to the development of theories, such as the static equilibrium theory, the pecking order theory, and the agency theory. The static equilibrium theory emphasizes the balance between the tax shield of interest rate and the costs associated with debt issuance. According to this theory, a company should strive to achieve an optimal level of debt that maximizes its profitability. When the value of the tax benefit exceeds the present value of the costs associated with debt issuance, the company is considered to be at an optimal equilibrium point. Therefore, a manager aiming to maximize shareholders' wealth should carefully select a level of debt for the company that ensures the resulting tax shield outweigh the current value of the costs associated with debt creation (Rasiah & Kim, 2011). Another prominent theory of capital structure is the pecking order theory, initially proposed by Myers and Majluf. This theory suggests a preference for financing investment projects using internal funds, such as retained earnings (internal financing), rather than relying on external resources obtained through equity issuance and debt issuance. According to this theory, managers prioritize utilizing retained earnings for funding their projects. Once the accumulated earnings are depleted, they turn to debt issuance as a source of financial resources. Finally, when it becomes impractical to take on additional debt, they resort to share issuance to meet their financial needs (Rasiah & Kim, 2011). On the other hand, the agency theory posits that the optimal capital structure is achieved by minimizing the costs arising from conflicts of interest between stakeholders (Jensen and William, 1976). In this context, agency costs play a significant role in funding decisions due to the potential conflicts that may arise between shareholders and debt holders. The size of an enterprise has a profound impact on its capital structure (Rajan & Zingales, 1995; Titman & Wessels, 1988). Small firms, in particular, face unique challenges compared to larger businesses as they have often limited access to external sources of capital, such as debt. Consequently, they are compelled to make alternative financing decisions (Ang, 1991). This supports the notion that SMEs are more susceptible to financial difficulties and confront higher levels of uncertainty and risk compared to newer, smaller firms (Engel & Stiebale, 2013; Rosenbusch Brinckmann & Müller, 2013). Based on the proposed conceptual framework, the following hypotheses were put forth: Hypothesis 1: The size of small and medium-sized enterprises exhibits a significant relationship with internal financing. Hypothesis 2: The size of small and medium-sized enterprises demonstrates a significant relationship with external financing in the form of debt. Hypothesis 3: The size of small and medium-sized enterprises displays a significant relationship with external financing through equity issuance. Intangible assets possess the potential to create valuable knowledge-based competitive advantages, thereby fostering future growth (Barney, 1991; Hitt et al., 2001). However, these assets are often challenging to transfer to other businesses, making it difficult to secure external funding sources (Brierley, 2001; Revest and Sapio, 2012). Firms with intangible assets face a greater problem of asymmetric information as these assets are difficult to value. This, in turn, reduces their opportunities to obtain external financing (Clarysse et al., 2003; Harris et al., 1991). Based on the above, the following hypothesis was proposed: Hypothesis 4: Intangible assets exhibit a significant relationship with internal financing in small and medium-sized enterprises. The age of a company also plays a crucial role in determining its capital structure. Faulkender (2005) highlights an interesting point, suggesting that younger firms have less established track records and may not be as recognized by their more experienced competitors. Consequently, small and medium-sized enterprises often struggle to secure sufficient financial resources (Demirel & Parris, 2015). The pecking order theory further supports the notion that internal financing should be prioritized followed by debt financing (Myers & Majluf, 1984). Based on the aforementioned cases, the following hypotheses were proposed: Hypothesis 5: The age of small and medium-sized enterprises exhibits a significant relationship with external financing through equity issuance. Hypothesis 6: The age of small and medium-sized enterprises demonstrates a significant relationship with external financing in the form of debt.   Materials & Methods The aim of this study was to examine the impact of size, age, and intangible asset variables on the dependent funding variable. Additionally, control variables, such as the operating cash, operating income ratio, current account ratio, fixed asset ratio, and working capital, were included. This study was conducted through a literature review, analyzing relevant literature and employing descriptive and inferential analyses of the data. The statistical population for this study consisted of small and medium-sized collected listed in the Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). A sample of 63 companies was selected for the period of 2006-2021. The hypotheses were based on the models proposed by Neville & Lucy (2022) and Aghaei (2015). Regression analysis was employed to test the effect of factors on the models of internal financing, external financing, and ownership ratio. Three regression models were utilized and their definitions and methods of obtaining the variables were explained as follows: INTRNLit=β0+β1INTANGPERCit+β2CURRENTRATIOit+β3FIXEDASSETit+β4SIZEit+β5OPERATINGCASHTOINCOMEit+β6WORKINGCAPITALit+eit                                                                                                                                                                 Model (1) Model 2 was employed to test the hypotheses regarding the factors influencing external financing (debt). In this model, the following variables were considered: INTRNL is internal financing represented as a percentage of the total capital. It is calculated by dividing the capital increase from reserves, cash inflows, and current receivables by the total capital. INTANGPER is intangible asset ratio determined by dividing the value of intangible assets by the total assets listed on the balance sheet. CURRENTRATIO is current ratio calculated by dividing current assets by current liabilities. FIXEDASSETRATIO is fixed asset ratio obtained by dividing fixed assets by total assets. SIZE is size of the enterprises measured by using the logarithm of the book value of assets. OPERATINGCASHBYINCOME is the relationship between operating cash and operating profit calculated by dividing operating cash by operating profit. WORKINGCAPITAL is net working capital calculated as the difference between current assets and liabilities. These variables were analyzed in Model 2 to assess their impacts on external financing (debt) and test the hypotheses.   DEBTit=β0+β1AGEit+β2CURRENTRATIOit+β3FIXEDASSETit+β4SIZEit+β5OPERATINGCASHTOINCOMEit+β6WORKINGCAPITALit+eit                                                                                                                                                                                                 Model (2) In the above model, DEBT represents the proportion of total debt to total assets, indicating the extent to which the company is financed through debt. AGE refers to the age of the enterprises calculated based on the logarithm of the number of years of activity. In addition to these variables, other control variables, such as the capital ratio, current ratio, operating cash ratio, and working capital were included. Model 3 was developed to test and validate the assumptions regarding the factors influencing the ownership ratio. The aim of this model was to investigate the variables that contributed to determining the ownership structure of the sample enterprises.   EQUITYit=β0+β1AGEit+β2WORKINGCAPITALit+β3CURRENTRATIOit+β4FIXEDASSETit+β5SIZEit+β6OPERATINGCASHTOINCOMEit +eit                                                                                                                                                                                 Model (3) EQUITY represents the shareholder ratio, which is calculated by dividing the total funding by the total capital. Selection of the dependent and independent variables was based on the study conducted by Neville and Lucy (2022).   Findings The data used in this study were combined at the enterprise-year level and econometric diagnostic tests were conducted. Based on the evidence, Hypothesis 1, which posited a significant relationship between the size of SMEs and internal financing, was confirmed. Additionally, Hypothesis 4, which suggested a significant relationship between intangible assets and internal financing, was also supported. The results of Model 1 can be observed in Table 1. Table 1: The results of estimating model 1 Variable Coefficient t statistic Significance level OPERATINGCASHTOREVENUE -0.73 -2.00 0.04 SIZE 0.03 3.01 0.00 WORKINGCAPITAL -4.18 -1.39 0.16 CURRENTRATIO -0.04 -1.13 0.25 FIXEDASSETRATIO -0.14 -0.94 0.34 INIBLETANGIBLEASSETRATIO 7.46 2.19 0.03 C -0.76 -2.34 0.02 AR(1) 0.01 0.47 0.63 F statistic probability 0.00 4.27   Durbin Watson statistics 2.39     Coefficient of Determination 0.58     Adjusted coefficient of determination 0.44       According to the Table 1, the coefficient of the variable of working capital is found to be significant at the given significance level, indicating a direct relationship with external financing (debt). On the other hand, the variables, such as size, operating cash ratio, current ratio, and fixed asset ratio, exhibit a significant and inverse relationship with external financing. Based on the evidence, Hypothesis 2, which suggested a significant relationship between the size of small and medium-sized enterprises and external financing (debt), was confirmed. However, Hypothesis 6, which proposed a significant relationship between the age of small and medium-sized enterprises and external financing (debt), was not supported. The results of Model 2 are presented in Table 2.     Table 2: The results of estimating Model 2 Variable Coefficient t statistic Significance level AGE 0.03 1.57 0.11 SIZE -0.24 -15.09 0.00 OPERATINGCASHTOINCOME -0.043 -2.40 0.01 CURRENTRATIO -0.07 -11.68 0.00 FIXED ASSETRATIO -0.14 -4.14 0.00 WORKINGCAPITAL 1.91 2.11 0.03 C -51.90 -1.53 0.12 AR(1) 0.74 21.90 0.00 F statistic probability 0.00 69.31   Durbin Watson statistics 2.11     Coefficient of Determination 0.89     Adjusted coefficient of determination 0.87       Based on the Table 2, the variables of size, fixed asset ratio, current ratio, and operating cash ratio are found to be significantly and positively associated with the ownership ratio, while the working capital ratio exhibits a significant and negative relationship. Based on the evidence, Hypothesis 3, which suggested a significant relationship between the size of small and medium-sized enterprises and external financing (proprietary rights), was confirmed. However, Hypothesis 5, which proposed a significant relationship between the age of SMEs and external financing (proprietary rights), was not supported. The results of Model 3 are presented in Table 3. Table 3: The results of Hypothesis Test Model 3 Variable Coefficient t statistic Significance level AGE -0.02 -0.24 0.80 SIZE 0.21 15.41 0.00 WORKING CAPITAL -2.00 -3.14 0.00 FIXED ASSET RATIO 0.15 4.45 0.00 CURRENT RATIO 0.07 12.42 0.00 OPERATING CASH TO INCOME 0.03 1.97 0.04 C 29.80 0.24 0.81 AR(1) 0.71 22.70 0.00 F statistic probability 0.00 0.01   Durbin Watson statistics 2.01     Coefficient of Determination 0.87     Adjusted coefficient of determination 0.85       Discussion & Conclusions The findings of this study supported the 1st and 3rd hypotheses, which suggested a positive and significant relationship between company size and the dependent variables of internal financing and ownership ratio, respectively. Conversely, company size exhibited a negative and significant relationship with debt, in line with the second hypothesis. Additionally, the results indicated a significant positive relationship between intangible assets and internal financing, aligning with the 4th hypothesis. These findings suggested that small and medium-sized companies relied more on internal financing and utilize less debt, which aligned with the pecking order theory. This is consistent with the study conducted by O'Brien (2003). Furthermore, the study did not find a significant relationship between the age of SMEs and internal and external financing (capital structure), contradicting the 5th hypothesis. In conclusion, the results of this study highlighted the importance of company size and intangible assets in determining the financing choices of SMEs. These findings contributed to our understanding of the capital structure decisions made by SMEs. Regarding the relationship between the size of small and medium-sized enterprises and their internal and external financing, the findings align with the studies conducted by Neville and Lucy (2022), Sunaina (2020), and Aghaei et al. (2014). However, the results differ from those of Ozkan (2001), which can be attributed to variations in the economic structure, such as inflation rate and exchange rate, of the countries. Furthermore, the results support the findings of Neville and Lucy (2022) and O'Brien (2003), regarding the relationship between intangible assets, such as ideas, intellectual property, brands, business methods, and internal financing. It was confirmed that companies with a higher proportion of intangible assets faced more challenges and barriers when seeking external financing, which is consistent with the hierarchical theory. Regarding the relationship between the age of small companies and external financing, specifically through debt and ownership rights, the findings of this study are consistent with the studies conducted by Gregory (2005), Neville and Lucy (2022), and Wasiuzzaman and Nurdin (2019). However, the results differ from the study conducted by Faulkner et al. (2006), which focused on credit limits and the distinction between the public debt market (bonds) and the private debt market (banks). In their study conducted in England, they found a negative relationship between debt and age of company. The disparity in findings could be attributed to the different economic structures of the countries. This variation highlighted the importance of considering the specific context and economic conditions when analyzing the relationship between company age and external financing

Resistance Training improves Nerve Conduction and Arterial Stiffness in Older Adults with Diabetic Distal Symmetrical Polyneuropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Diabetes is the main cause of peripheral neuropathy where older patients are at increased risk of diabetic distal symmetrical polyneuropathy (DSPN) due to age-related nerve degeneration and vascular changes. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of resistance training on nerve conduction, measures of neuropathy and arterial stiffness in older patients with DSPN. In a randomized controlled trial, thirty-four older adults with type-2 diabetes and peripheral neuropathy were enrolled and randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group carried out circuit resistance training (1-3 rounds, 11 exercises, 10-15 reps, 50-60 of 1RM, 3 times per week) for 12 weeks. Measurements were performed at baseline and 48 h after the intervention. Measures of DSPN including Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI), Michigan diabetic neuropathy score (MDNS), motor nerve action potential amplitude (APA), sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity (NCV) improved following intervention (p<0.001, p = 0.001, p = 0.034, p = 0.001, and p = 0.001, respectively). Sensory APA did not change after the intervention (p = 0.139). Cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) improved in the experimental group compared with the control group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.033, respectively). In addition, HbA1C decreased following the 12-week resistance training program (p=0.002). Older adults with DSPN respond positively to resistance training by improved neuropathy symptoms, nerve conduction, arterial stiffness and glucose regulation. Resistance training offers a positive intervention that can abate the progression of DSPN in older adults

Iran’s poultry meat export status in the Middle East region

Agriculture is literally a matter of life and death in the developing world. Ninety-six per cent of the world’s farmers – approximately 1.3 billion people – live in developing countries. In the rural areas of the developing world, close to 900 million people live on less than $1 a day.The Doha mandate encouraged the hope that dumping of subsidised exports from rich countries would finally be brought to an end, that market access for developing countries would be improved,and that developing countries would continue to be permitted to use tariffs and other border measures as part of their rural development strategies. In the Middle East,agriculture is the largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product and foreign exchange,and is the second largest employer.Yet despite its economic importance it is largely overlooked in the development of new technologies and in the allocation of trained human resources. Agriculture in the Middle East focuses on new ways to improve food production, the challenges of a largely arid land, and managing limited agricultural resources.Agriculture is one of the oldest income sources in Iran. Close to one-third of the working population are engaged in agriculture and related industries such as poultry farming.Agriculture plays a significant role in the Iranian economy. At now agriculture account for an average of 27.8 percent of the GDP, and employ 26.1 percent of the labor force.Also agricultural products account for 47 percent of non-oil exports.Poultry species play important roles in the livelihood of human beings throughout the world both in ways that are quantifiable economically and in others that cannot and are therefore not captured in economic indices such as national GDP estimates.Poultry meat contribute directly to food security because there are no taboos against their consumption.With regard to F.A.O annual reports(2004) ,Iran has been rated 1st producer and also 1st exporter of poultry meat in the Middle East region. Capital stock in this industry consists of Breeding Farms (lines) ,Grand Parents(GP), Parent stock (PS), Broilers, Slaughter-Houses and dependant industries of governmental and private sectors is 4000 Billions Rials (5 Billions$). The current production is related to 70% of production units potential ,so with regard to remained considerable potential,it is necessary to make of them in an optimum rate. Therefore poultry products exports particularly poultry meat can be used for increasing of income and development for poultry industry. The objective of this paper was to study the dynamics on comparative advantage of Iran’s poultry meat export in the Middle East market

Iran’s poultry meat export status in the Middle East region

Agriculture is literally a matter of life and death in the developing world. Ninety-six per cent of the world’s farmers – approximately 1.3 billion people – live in developing countries. In the rural areas of the developing world, close to 900 million people live on less than $1 a day.The Doha mandate encouraged the hope that dumping of subsidised exports from rich countries would finally be brought to an end, that market access for developing countries would be improved,and that developing countries would continue to be permitted to use tariffs and other border measures as part of their rural development strategies. In the Middle East,agriculture is the largest contributor to the Gross Domestic Product and foreign exchange,and is the second largest employer.Yet despite its economic importance it is largely overlooked in the development of new technologies and in the allocation of trained human resources. Agriculture in the Middle East focuses on new ways to improve food production, the challenges of a largely arid land, and managing limited agricultural resources.Agriculture is one of the oldest income sources in Iran. Close to one-third of the working population are engaged in agriculture and related industries such as poultry farming.Agriculture plays a significant role in the Iranian economy. At now agriculture account for an average of 27.8 percent of the GDP, and employ 26.1 percent of the labor force.Also agricultural products account for 47 percent of non-oil exports.Poultry species play important roles in the livelihood of human beings throughout the world both in ways that are quantifiable economically and in others that cannot and are therefore not captured in economic indices such as national GDP estimates.Poultry meat contribute directly to food security because there are no taboos against their consumption.With regard to F.A.O annual reports(2004) ,Iran has been rated 1st producer and also 1st exporter of poultry meat in the Middle East region. Capital stock in this industry consists of Breeding Farms (lines) ,Grand Parents(GP), Parent stock (PS), Broilers, Slaughter-Houses and dependant industries of governmental and private sectors is 4000 Billions Rials (5 Billions$). The current production is related to 70% of production units potential ,so with regard to remained considerable potential,it is necessary to make of them in an optimum rate. Therefore poultry products exports particularly poultry meat can be used for increasing of income and development for poultry industry. The objective of this paper was to study the dynamics on comparative advantage of Iran’s poultry meat export in the Middle East market

Učinci suplementacije kreatin monohidratom na oksidativno oštećenje dnk i peroksidaciju lipida izazvanu akutnim progresivnim testom opterećenja do otkaza u hrvača

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a seven-day creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation on oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation after incremental exercise to exhaustion in wrestlers. Thirty-one college-aged male wrestlers (age 19.52±2.75 years, body mass 79.24±16.13kg, height 173±6.49cm, and body fat 16.37±5.92%) volunteered to participate in this double-blind, placebo controlled study and were randomly placed into either the placebo (PL; 4×5 g•day-1 of maltodextrine powder; n=16) or the creatine monohydrate (CrM: 4×5 g•day-1 CrM, n=15) group. Prior and following the supplementation period, participants performed an incremental cycling ergometer test to exhaustion. Urine samples were collected before and after the supplementation period at before (Pre), after (Post) and 24 hours after (24h Post) the exercise tests to determine the oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation as measured by urinary excretion of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and 8-Isoprostane (8-iso PGF2α). Our finding demonstrates that the urinary 8-OHdG level significantly increased at 24h Post to exhaustion by 13.36% in CrM and 24.08% in PL before supplementation (p.05). In addition, urinary 8-OHdG concentrations at 24h Post significantly decreased by 32.65% in CrM group after supplementation compared with before supplementation. After supplementation, urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were significantly lower in CrM group compared with PL at 24h Post (p0,05). Koncentracije 8-OHdG iz urina uzetog 24 sata nakon testa značajno su niže (za 32,65%) u CrM grupi nakon suplementacije u odnosu na mjerenje prije suplementacije. Nakon suplementacije, koncentracije 8-OHdG u urinu su bile statistički značajno niže u CrM grupi u usporedbi s placebo grupom 24 sata nakon testa (p<0,05). Rezultati sugeriraju da suplementacija kreatin monohidratom može smanjiti akutno oksidativno oštećenje DNK izazvano vježbanjem do otkaza u hrvača

Evaluation of the growth and status of some nutrients in pistachio seedlings treated with phosphorus under different levels of irrigation water salinity

Purpose: Irrigation with saline water and poor quality and fertility of the soil are the most important factors limiting the growth, establishment, and yield of pistachio trees in many pistachio farming areas of Iran. In addition, phosphorus plays an important role in plant growth, especially under environmental stress conditions. Thus, the purpose of this experiment is to investigate the role of P use in improving the growth of pistachio seedlings at different levels of irrigation water salinity. Research method: A greenhouse study was conducted as a factorial combination based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The treatments include two levels of P [Control (P0) and 30 mg kg-1 soil (P1) as triple superphosphate] and three levels of irrigation water salinity (0, 5, and 10 dS m-1). Findings: Irrigation with saline water (10 dS.m-1) significantly decreased the shoot dry weight (94%), root dry weight (64%), leaf area (62%), plant height (35%), shoot and root P content (41% and 52%), shoot K content (40%) and shoot and root K/Na (85% and 28%) of pistachio seedlings. However, P application increased the growth parameters and the concentration of P and K elements in the pistachio seedlings shoot and root under water salinity stress. Research limitations: No limitations were encountered. Originality/Value: According to the results of this experiment, phosphorus application increased the growth of pistachio seedlings in saline condition. Therefore, according to soil and water salinity in pistachio farming areas of Iran, optimal nutrition with nutrients such as P can increase the tolerance of pistachio seedlings to salinity stress and their establishment