Publication Date: 2021
Environmental Earth Sciences (18666280)80(23)
The Gavkhouni Playa is located in the lowlands of the Esfahan Plain, Central Iranian Plateau. The history of late Pleistocene to Holocene sedimentary evolution, and paleo-geomorphology and paleogeography of the Playa were investigated in this study. To cover the playa area 16 intact sediment cores, at a maximum depth of 11.30 m were collected by a hand-auger. These undisturbed cores were analyzed to identify their facies based on macroscopic features such as texture, structure, composition of evaporite minerals, color, and organic materials. The analysis was run on the vertical and spatial distribution of sedimentary facies and surrounding areas for two different zones, herein. The findings indicate eight facies within five main sedimentary environments including aeolian, playa, lake, delta, and river. The chronological control is provided by the Carbon-14 Accelerator Mass-Spectrometric (14C AMS) method. According to the result of 14C dating, the sedimentation rate is 0.4 mm/year and 0.25 mm/year in the western and eastern parts, respectively. The studies on the sub-surface facies reveal that the investigation area was subjected to wet and dry periods over the last 30 ka cal BP. Four dry periods were identified in 11,600, 8200, 4200, and 1000 cal BP, and one wet period in 3500 cal BP. It is assumed that the eastern and northern parts of the area had conditions like that to today, at least for the last 1000 years. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Publication Date: 2017
Remote Sensing (20724292)9(11)
This study aimed to statistically and hydrologically assess the performance of the four latest and widely used satellite-gauge combined precipitation estimates (SGPEs), namely CRT (CMORPH CRT), BLD (CMORPH BLD), CDR (PERSIANN CDR), 3B42 (TMPA 3B42 version 7) over the upper yellow river basins (UYRB) in china during 2001-2012 time period. The performances of the SGPEs were compared with the Chinese Meteorological Administration (CMA) datasets using the hydrologic model called Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) which is known as a land surface hydrologic model. Results indicated that irrespective of the slight underestimation in the western mountains and overestimation in the southeast, the four SGPEs could generally captured the spatial distribution of precipitation well. Although 3B42 exhibited a better performance in capturing the spatial distribution of daily average precipitation, BLD agreed best with CMA in the time series of watershed average precipitation, which resulted in BLD having a comparable performance to the CMA in the long-term hydrological simulations. Moreover, the potential for disastrous heavy rain mainly occurs in southeastern corner of the basin, and CRT and BLD comparisons showed to be closer to the CMA in the distribution of extreme precipitation events while 3B42 and CDR overestimated the extreme precipitation especially over the southeast of UYRB region. Therefore, CRT and BLD were able to match the high peak discharges very well for the wet seasons, while 3B42 and CDR overrated the high peak discharges. In addition, the four SGPEs performed well for the 2005 flood event but exhibited poorly when tested for the 2012 flood event. Results indicate that the application of the four SGPEs should be used with caution in simulating massive flood events over UYRB region. © 2017 by the authors.
Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data can improve the ability to map and monitor forested wetlands. Forested wetland maps were developed using multiple incidence angle ENVISAT ASAR (C-HH) for the Tuckahoe River Watershed, Maryland. These maps were compared with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Survey Geographic Database (SSURGO) maps. Radar derived wetland maps and NWI maps showed a high level of agreement (88%). The radar derived wetland maps and SSURGO demonstrated a lower level of agreement (54%), primarily due to a greater estimate of hydric soils by SSURGO than forested wetlands by the SAR derived maps. © 2008 IEEE.
Publication Date: 2007
Journal of Environmental Management (03014797)84(3)pp. 336-346
Hillslope vegetated buffers are recommended to prevent water pollution from agricultural runoff. However, models to predict the efficacy of different grass buffer designs are lacking. The objective of this work was to develop and test a mechanistic model of coupled surface and subsurface flow and transport of bacteria and a conservative tracer on hillslopes. The testing should indicate what level of complexity and observation density might be needed to capture essential processes in the model. We combined the three-dimensional FEMWATER model of saturated-unsaturated subsurface flow with the Saint-Venant model for runoff. The model was tested with data on rainfall-induced fecal coliforms (FC) and bromide (Br) transport from manure applied at vegetated and bare 6-m long plots. The calibration of water retention parameters was unnecessary, and the same manure release parameters could be used both for simulations of Br and FC. Surface straining rates were similar for Br and bacteria. Simulations of Br and FC concentrations were least successful for the funnels closest to the source. This could be related to the finger-like flow of the manure from the strip along the bare slopes, to the transport of Br and FC with manure colloids that became strained at the grass slope, and to the presence of micro-ponds at the grassed slope. The two-dimensional model abstraction of the actual 3D transport worked well for flux-averaged concentrations. The model developed in this work is suitable to simulate surface and subsurface transport of agricultural contaminants on hillslopes and to evaluate efficiency of grass strip buffers, especially when lateral subsurface flow is important.
Publication Date: 2005
Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (00012351)48(4)pp. 1377-1387
Conservation practices, such as buffers, are often installed to mitigate the effects of nutrients and sediment runoff from agricultural practices. The Riparian Ecosystem Management Model (REMM) was developed as process-based model to evaluate the fate of nutrients and sediment through a riparian buffer up to the edge of a stream. A one-at-a-time sensitivity analysis was performed on REMM to evaluate the effects that changing herbaceous buffer scenarios have on N, P, and sediment in surface and ground water. Vegetation characteristics such as rooting depth, LAI, and plant height, along with some physical buffer characteristics were varied within their "typical" range and compared to a "base case" scenario. Model outputs were not sensitive to plant height or LAI, but moderately sensitive to changes in SLA. Model outputs were only sensitive to rooting depth as roots became shallower in the soil profile. Sediment yield and dissolved nitrate in surface water were the most sensitive to changes in Manning's n, while other soil physical characteristics such as surface roughness, surface condition, and % bare soil had little to no effect on model outcomes. Dissolved surface nitrate, organic P, and dissolved subsurface nitrate were all moderately sensitive to changes in saturated hydraulic conductivity and the slope of the buffer. Results indicate that within the model, many vegetation characteristics do not directly play a role in the physical transport of nutrients and sediment in surface and subsurface water; therefore, utilizing REMM to evaluate effects of specific herbaceous plant types may have limited value unless specific leaf area or rooting depth are considered. It would be possible to model and perhaps achieve specific load reductions by modifying slope and other physical characteristics or by considering forest versus grass buffers.
Publication Date: 2005
Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (00012351)48(3)pp. 1055-1061
Land application of manure is recommended to recycle organic matter and nutrients, thus enhancing the soil quality and crop productivity. However, pathogens in manure may pose a human health risk if they reach potable or recreational water resources. The objective of this study was to observe and quantify the effects of vegetated filter strips (VFS) on surface and vertical transport of fecal coliform (FC) bacteria, surrogates for bacterial pathogens, released from surface-applied bovine manure. A two-sided lysimeter with 20% slope on both sides was constructed with a sandy loam soil on one side and a clay loam soil on the other. Each side of the lysimeter was divided into two subplots (6.0 x 6.4 m), one with grass and the other with bare soil. Plots were instrumented to collect runoff samples along a 6.0 m slope at three equidistant transects. Samples of runoff were also collected in a gutter at the edge of each plot. All plots were equipped with multi-sensor capacitance moisture probes to monitor water content through the soil profile. Bovine manure was applied at the top of each plot in a 30 cm strip. Rainfall was simulated at a 61 mm h -1 intensity using a portable rainfall simulator. Surface runoff rate was measured and water quality sampled periodically throughout the simulation. Soil samples were taken at incremental depths (0-60 cm) after each simulation. Runoff (as % of total rainfall) decreased from 93% to 12% in the bare vs. vegetated clay loam plots and from 61% to 2% in the bare vs. vegetated sandy loam plots. The reduced runoff from vegetated plots decreased the surface transport of FC while increasing its vertical transport. The amount of FC in runoff (as % of applied) decreased from 68% to 1% in the bare vs. vegetated clay loam plots and from 23% to non-detectable levels in the bare vs. vegetated sandy loam plots. These data indicate that VFS can reduce surface transport of FC, even for slopes as high as 20%, especially in soils with high infiltration (e.g., sandy loam).
Publication Date: 1999
Journal of Plant Nutrition (01904167)22(10)pp. 1551-1566
Shallow rooting and susceptibility to drought are believed to be caused, at least in part, by strongly acidic (pH <5.5, 1:1 soil-water), aluminum (A1)-toxic subsoils. However, this hypothesis has not been clearly confirmed under field conditions. The A1 toxicity hypothesis was tested on a map unit of Matawan-Hammonton loam (0-2% slope) on unlimed and limed field plots (pH range 5.1 to 5.8) at Beltsville, MD, during 1994 to 1998. Aluminum-tolerant and sensitive pairs of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), wheat [Triticum aestivum (L.)], snap bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars were used as indicator plants. Eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.], cultivar 'Pete', reported to tolerate both chemical and physical stress factors in soils, was grown for comparison. Shoots of A1-sensitive 'Romano' snap beans showed a significant response to liming of the 0-15 cm surface layer, but those of A1-tolerant 'Dade' did not, indicating that A1 toxicity was a growth limiting factor in this acid soil at pH 5.1. Lime response of the A1-tolerant and sensitive cultivars of barley, wheat, and soybean were in the same direction but not significant at the 5% level. Aluminum-tolerant and sensitive cultivars did not differ in abilities to root in the 15-30 cm soil depth. Only 9 to 25% of total roots were in this layer, and 75 to 91% were in the 0-15 cm zone. No roots were found in the 30-45 cm zone which had a pH of 4.9. Soil bulk density values of 1.44 and 1.50 g cm-3 in the 15-30 and 30-45 cm zones, respectively, indicated that mechanical impedance was a primary root barrier. Results indicated that restricted shoot growth and shallow rooting of the A1-indicator plants studied in this acid soil were due to a combination of Al toxicity and high soil bulk density. Confounding of the two factors may have masked the expected response of indicator plants to A1. These two growth restricting factors likely occur in many, if not most acid, problem subsoils. Studies are needed to separate these factors and to develop plant genotypes that have tolerance to multiple abiotic stresses. Unlike the A1 indicator cultivars, eastern gamagrass showed high tolerance to acid, compact soils in the field and did not respond to lime applications (pH 5.1-5.8).
Publication Date: 1995
Weed Science (00431745)43(1)pp. 134-139
Publication Date: 1993
Journal of Environmental Quality (00472425)22(3)pp. 389-391
To meet the global needs of a growing population, both increased productivity and additional land may need to be dedicated to agriculture. However, to effectively evaluate the impact of new farming strategies and agricultural chemicals on the environment, a broad perspective is needed to prevent simply shifting pollution from one part of the hydrologic cycle to another. The loss of agricultural chemicals to the environment may include a combination of processes such as volatilization, runoff and leaching, each exhibiting considerable spatial and temporal dependency. Subsequent losses of agricultural chemicals to the environment may also be transported offsite,having a potential detrimental effect on the environment. This overview provides a brief introduction to the papers presented at a special USDAARS symposium entitled″Agricultural Water Quality Priorities, A Team Approach to Conserving Natural Resources″.
Publication Date: 1991
Soil Science (0038075X)152(5)pp. 333-339
A small core of intact soil provided information about the lateral transport and diminution of nitrate in the presence and absence of a carbon source capable of supporting microbial growth. The core (6.2 cm in diameter by 15 cm in length) was obtained by pushing a plastic cylinder horizontally into the wall of a trench excavated in a riparian zone where water moves laterally. Under conditions favorable for nitrate diminution, pulses of nitrate solution containing carbon were passed through the core and leached with water. Effluents were collected at fixed intervals and analyzed. Nitrate losses ranged from 4% to 72%, presumably via denitrification. Effluent nitrate concentrations and pore water velocities were entered into a model developed by Parker and van Genuchten for one-dimensional convective-dispersive solute transport and for solute decay and production. The model accounted for the experimentally determined transport and loss of nitrate (r2= 0.92–0.98). The model also provided values for dispersion coefficient, nitrate exclusion factor, and nitrate decay rate constant. Nitrate loss was reasonably accounted for by a decay rate constant (avg. = 2.75/day) that increased as observed nitrate loss increased from 53% to 72%. A sizable factor for anion exclusion and/or the presence of immobile-water regions was necessary to account for the rapid passage of nitrate through the soil core. Peclet numbers, which are inversely related to dispersion coefficient, were low. These low numbers and a retardation factor of less than 1 suggested that the flow through the soil core may have been heterogeneous. © 1991 Williams & Wilkins.
Publication Date: 2020
Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics (07391102)(12)pp. 3462-3473
Inhibition of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is known to be a significantly effective strategy in cancer therapy. Here, pyrazolopyranopyrimidine derivatives were characterized as new Hsp90 inhibitors. The molecules’ key structure (ZINC02819805) was determined by utilizing a pharmacophore model virtual screening workflow. Structural optimization was then carried out on compound ZINC02819805, pyrazolopyranopyrimidine derivatives were designed and six chosen derivatives were synthesized. The inhibition of Hsp90 ATPase activity of synthesized compounds revealed that para methylphenyl derivative of pyrazolopyranopyrimidine (HM3) was the most potent inhibitor (IC50 = 5.5 µM). The anti-proliferative activity of this compound was evaluated against a panel of cell lines including MCF-7, HeLa and HUVEC (IC50 = 1.28 µM, IC50 = 1.74 µM and IC50 = 61.48 µM respectively) by MTT method. The western blot analysis of treated MCF-7 cells with compound HM3 showed that the expression level of Hsp70 and Her2 proteins changed. The high level of Hsp70 expression and low level of Her2 expression suggest that compound HM3 exhibits inhibitory effect on Hsp90. Finally, the key interactions between HM3 and Hsp90 protein were studied by molecular dynamics simulation and showed that compound HM3 was stable in Hsp90 active cite during 200 ns simulation. AbbreviationsHsp90 Heat shock protein 90MTT 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromideATP adenosine triphosphateMD molecular dynamics simulationRMSD root-mean-square deviationRMSF root-mean-square fluctuationRg gyration radiusm-SABNPs boehmite nanoparticles-supported sulfamic acid Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma. © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Publication Date: 2016
Research In Pharmaceutical Sciences (17355362)(3)pp. 187-199
p28 and NRC peptides are two anticancer peptides with various mechanisms have shown to be effective against breast cancer. Therefore, it seems that construction of a chimeric protein containing the two peptides might cause synergistic cytotoxic effects. However, since the two peptides bear opposite charges, production of a chimeric protein in which the two moieties do not intervene each other is difficult. In this study, our goal was to find a suitable peptide linker for the new chimeric protein in a manner that none of the peptides intervene the other's function. We selected some linkers with different characteristics and lengths and created a small library of the chimeric proteins harboring these linkers. Homology modeling and molecular dynamic simulation revealed that (PA)5 P and (EAAAK)3 linkers can separate the p28 and NRC peptides effectively. Thus, the chimeric protein linked with (PA)5 P or (EAAAK)3 linkers might show synergistic and stronger anticancer effects than the separate peptide moieties because they could exert their cytotoxic effects freely which is not influenced by the other part.
Publication Date: 2015
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy (03639045)(7)pp. 1137-1147
The aim of this study was to develop chitosan derivative polymeric micelles for co-delivery of paclitaxel (PTX) and α-tocopherol succinate (α-TS) to the cancer cells to improve the therapeutic efficiency and reduce side effects of PTX. In this study, amphiphilic tocopheryl succinate-grafted chitosan oligosaccharide was synthesized and physically loaded by PTX and α-TS with entrapment efficiency of 67.9% and 73.2%, respectively. Physical incorporation of α-TS into the micelles increased the hydrophobic interaction between PTX and the micelles core, which improved micelle stability, reduced the micelle size and also sustained the PTX release from the micelles. The mean particle size and zeta potential of αTS/PTX-loaded micelles were about 133 nm and 25.2 mV, respectively, and PTX release was completed during 6-9 d from the micelles. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of α-TS/PTX-loaded micelles against human ovarian cancer cell line cancer cell in vitro was higher than that of PTX-loaded micelles and the free drug solution. Half maximal inhibitory concentration values of PTX after 48-h exposure of the cells to the PTX-loaded micelles modified and unmodified with α-TS were 110 and 188 ng/ml, respectively. © 2014 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc. All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.
Publication Date: 2013
Journal of Isfahan Medical School (10277595)(253)pp. 1508-1517
Background: Taxus baccata is known as a source of anticancer drug called taxol. This study was performed to confirm the consistency of results obtained by extraction of Taxanes by optimal solvent system using biological assessment. Methods: Three cell lines including MDA-MB-468, Hela and K562 were cultured in PRMI-1640 medium with 10% fetal bovine serum. Powder of aerial parts of Taxus baccata was extracted using 8 different solvent by maceration method. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was used to standardize the extracts according to taxol content. Cytotoxicity of different concentrations of extracts (acetone 20, 50 and 100%, ethanol 20, 50 and 100%, acetone dichloromethane (1-1), and pure methanol) was evaluated against cultured cells, using MTT assay. Findings: Acetone-dichloromrthane (1-1) then pure acetone extract were the most cytotoxic extracts. Meanwhile, between the three cell lines tested, the highest cytotoxic effect of the extracts was observed on K562 cells. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that among evaluated extracts, more cytotoxic effect wsa in acetone-dichloromethane (1-1) followed by pure acetone extract. Analysis of extracts showed that the highest amount of taxans has been extracted by acetone-dichloromethane or pure acetone solvent system. We can conclude that there is a direct correlation between the cytotoxic effect and amount of taxans.
Publication Date: 2011
Iranian Journal Of Pharmaceutical Research (17350328)(4)pp. 741-748
Sulfonamides are the first effective chemotherapeutic agents used for several years to cure or prevent systemic bacterial infections. In addition, this agents showed anti-carbonic anhydrase and cause cell cycle perturbation in the G1 phase, disruption of microtubule assembly, suppression of the transcription activator Nf-Y, angiogenesis and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). In recent years, novel synthesized sulfonamides have been introduced as antitumor, antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents. In this paper, the cytotoxic effects of 8 synthesized sulfonamides were investigated by MTT assay on HeLa, MDA-MD-468 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. Human cancer cells were cultured and passaged in RPMI-1640 medium. Cells incubated in 96-well plates in a concentration of 1 × 105 cells/mL for 24 h, and then logarithmic concentrations (0.1 μm, 1 μm, 10 μm, 100 μm, 1mM) of each drug were prepared, added to the plates and incubated for 72 h. Cell survival was then determined using ELISA plate reader in 540 nm applying MTT assay. All tested sulfonamides showed cytotoxic effect on HeLa and MCF-7 cells in the concentration range of 100-1000 μm. These sulfonamides were cytotoxic against MDA-MB-468 cell line at a concentration of 10-100 μm and reduced the cell survival less than 50%. According to the results calculated IC50's were as following: MDA-MB-468 < 30 μm; MCF-7 < 128 μm and HeLa < 360 μm. In conclusion, some tested sulfonamides had good cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cells, MDA-MB-468 and further investigations are needed to confirm their effects against other cells. © 2011 by School of Pharmacy.
Publication Date: 2007
Chemico-Biological Interactions (00092797)(3)pp. 184-192
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and PCB metabolites are highly lipophilic and accumulate easily in the lipid bilayer and fat deposits of the body. The molecular cytotoxic mechanisms of these metabolites are still not understood. The aim of the present study was to compare the cytotoxicity and toxicological properties of six dihydroxylated metabolites using isolated rat hepatocytes. All of the metabolites were more cytotoxic than 4-chlorobiphenyl (4-ClBP) and less cytotoxic than phenyl hydroquinone (PHQ). The order of cytotoxic effectiveness of catecholic metabolites expressed as LC50 (2 h) was 3′,4′-diCl-2,3-diOH-biphenyl > PHQ > 4′-Cl-2,5-diOH-biphenyl, 4′-Cl-2,3-diOH-biphenyl > 2′,5′-diCl-3,4-diOH-biphenyl > 2′,3′-diCl-3,4-diOH-biphenyl > 3′,4′-diCl-3,4-diOH-biphenyl > 4′Cl-3,4-diOH-biphenyl > 4′-Cl-biphenyl; showing that the positions of hydroxyl and chlorine groups were important for their hepatotoxicity and that the two 2,3-diOH congeners were the most cytotoxic. Cytotoxicity for 3,4-diOH metabolites correlated with the number and position of chlorine atoms with the more chlorine atoms being more cytotoxic. The cytotoxic order of metabolites with two chlorine atoms being 2′,5′ > 2′,3′ > 3′,4′. Borneol, an uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) inhibitor, increased the cytotoxicity of all tested metabolites; suggesting that glucuronidation was a major mechanism of elimination of these compounds. On the other hand entacapone, a catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitor, only increased the cytotoxicity of 3′,4′-diCl-3,4-diOH-biphenyl, 3′,4′-diCl-2,3-diOH-biphenyl and 4′-Cl-2,3-diOH-biphenyl. Hepatocyte GSH was depleted (oxidized and conjugated) by these metabolites before cytotoxicity ensued in a similar order of effectiveness to their cytotoxicity with PHQ being the most effective. Hepatocyte mitochondrial membrane potential also decreased before cytotoxicity ensued with a similar order of effectiveness as their cytotoxicity. These results suggest that catecholic cytotoxicity can be attributed to mitochondrial toxicity and oxidative stress. Semiquinone or benzoquinone species were also important in the cytotoxicity of catecholic metabolites. © 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2021
Environmental Processes (21987505)8(3)pp. 1027-1045
This paper aims to find the possible relationships between winter precipitation (December, January, February; DJF) in Iran with three oceanic sources through the correlation wavelet analysis by applying the continuous wavelet transform (CWT), the cross–wavelet transform (XWT), and the wavelet transform coherence (WTC). The sources in the North Atlantic Ocean (30°W-70°W, 10°N-30°N), the South Pacific Ocean (80°W-120°W, 20°S-40°S) and the Indian Ocean (50°E-100°E, 10°S-40°S) were selected using Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC > 0.5) that can represent the possible relationships between Iran’s winter precipitations with the oceanic sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly. The monthly gridded precipitation and SST data with a 2.5° × 2.5° resolution were evaluated from 1984 to 2019 to achieve this goal. The XWT results of precipitation and SST anomaly showed that the 8–16 months period is the most effective and predominant period between the South Pacific Ocean and 81% of all the precipitation zones. WTC results for the North Atlantic Ocean and 72% of all the precipitation zones showed periods of 4–8 (36%) and 16–32 (36%) months as the dominant duration. Despite the proximity of the Indian Ocean to the precipitation zones, there is no significant causal relationship between them, based on the XWT results. However, due to Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), the 4–8 months period (45%) was seen between the Indian Ocean and some precipitation zones, based on WTC results. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Publication Date: 2023
Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing (09743006)51(6)pp. 1297-1307
Environmental changes such as ablation of ice and snow, drying of lakes, deforestation, desertification and urbanization may affect the thermal properties of the land surface, and hence, it affects the land surface temperature (LST). MODIS LST data, make it possible to investigate the variations in the frequency distribution of LST. In this research, 16 years of MODIS\Aqua LST data (2002–2022) have been analyzed using principal component analysis. This study shows that the frequency distribution of LST in Iran depends to a great extent on altitude and then depends on the terrain surface features. Lakes, river systems, sand dunes, deserts, woodlands, forests and metropolitan areas are among the terrain surface features that affect the frequency distribution of LST. Hence, analysis of the frequency distribution of LST may be considered as a tool for identifying the geographical boundaries of these terrain features. Additionally, it could be a robust tool for tracking the changes in the boundaries of such geographical phenomena over time. Frequency analysis of LST in Iran reveals many natural and anthropogenic environmental changes. For example, the analysis shows that the drying out of Zayanderud downstream and Urmia Lake is related to man-made changes in the upstream. The comparison of the interdecadal of LST shows that the frequency of LST has increased in some temperature categories and decreased in some other temperature categories. In general, the frequency shift of LST both during the day and at night has been toward higher temperatures. © 2023, Indian Society of Remote Sensing.
Publication Date: 2015
International Journal of Ecology and Development (discontinued) (09729984)30(3)pp. 43-54
Nowadays, due to the lack of land-use planning, cities are faced with numerous problems and failure. The most important result of the inappropriate distribution of land use is lack of social justice in the town and so it results citizens' discontent. The aim of this research is to investigate and evaluate the land use areas in Golestan using L.Q. and Topsis methods. According to the research data, the research type is quantitative and analytical and the research data collected from the master plan for the city Golestan. In this study, entropy Shannon was used to weight the data and L.Q. and Topsis were used for data analyze. The results of the research show that in region 1 the location quotient number of all land use except the religious-cultural, industrial and transportation land use is higher than the weight of the whole town land use. In region 2, the location quotient number of cultural, sports, educational, administrative, urban facilities and equipment, transportation and industrial land use is above 1 and the location quotient number of health, residential, green space and commercial and services land use is below 1. In region 3 the location quotient number of all land uses except residential, commercial and services and industrial land use is below1. The Topsis rate of Golestan land use shoes that the region 3 is the richest and the region 1 is The most deprived area of the city of Golestan. © 2015 IJED (CESER Publications).
Publication Date: 2021
Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series (17324254)51(51)pp. 25-34
The indices of housing serve as an important tool in planning for housing, in that they allow the parameters affecting housing to be recognised and any planning process to be facilitated. The purpose of the study is to investigate and to evaluate the housing situation in cities of Isfahan province. The study is applied and descriptive-analytic in terms of method. Thirty-nine indices were collected in the housing sector. Then the rate of prosperity and ranking of the cities were evaluated by TOPSIS method. Prosperity is defined here as an important index of housing that reflects the welfare of residents. The cities were then categorised into six levels of prosperity: Very important, Important, Partially important, Moderate, Poor and Very poor. The results from the study indicate an imbalance in the studied indices between the cities, and a clear disparity between the levels of prosperity in the cities, and the only city in the very prosperous group is Isfahan, with a rate of 0.813. © 2021 Maliheh Izadi et al., published by Sciendo 2021.
Publication Date: 2024
Sustainability (Switzerland) (20711050)16(12)
Despite growing interest in community-based ecotourism as a pathway to sustainable development, there is a critical lack of research on how localized configurations of marketing and policy factors shape ecolodge performance at the village level. This study addresses this gap by pioneering a comprehensive, contextually grounded analysis of the availability and desirability of key marketing and policy indicators across 25 rural villages in Iran’s culturally and ecologically rich Hawraman region. By employing an innovative mixed-methods approach blending statistical analysis, GIS spatial modeling, surveys, and interviews, the research reveals striking heterogeneity in ecolodge constraints and opportunities, even within a localized setting. Spatial analysis uncovers distance decay effects, with peripheral villages facing exacerbated accessibility deficits compared to centrally located ones. Substantial variations in marketing effectiveness and governance capacities underscore the inadequacy of one-size-fits-all tourism planning. The findings make a novel contribution by demonstrating the imperative for transitioning from monolithic interventions to hyper-localized, place-based strategies tailored to each village’s unique barrier and asset profiles. Embracing this paradigm shift promises to enhance the equity and sustainability of ecolodge tourism in rural contexts globally. The study provides an original methodological blueprint for harnessing multi-modal diagnostics to unpack complex tourism dynamics and catalyze transformative, community-centric solutions. © 2024 by the authors.
Publication Date: 2020
Science of the Total Environment (0048-9697)749
Since the early days of the COVID-19 crisis the scientific community has constantly been striving to shed light on various issues such as the mechanisms driving the spread of the virus, its environmental and socio-economic impacts, and necessary recovery and adaptation plans and policies. Given the high concentration of population and economic activities in cities, they are often hotspots of COVID-19 infections. Accordingly, many researchers are struggling to explore the dynamics of the pandemic in urban areas to understand impacts of COVID-19 on cities. In this study we seek to provide an overview of COVID-19 research related to cities by reviewing literature published during the first eight months after the first confirmed cases were reported in Wuhan, China. The main aims are to understand impacts of the pandemic on cities and to highlight major lessons that can be learned for post-COVID urban planning and design. Results show that, in terms of thematic focus, early research on the impacts of COVID-19 on cities is mainly related to four major themes, namely, (1) environmental quality, (2) socio-economic impacts, (3) management and governance, and (4) transportation and urban design. While this indicates a diverse research agenda, the first theme that covers issues related to air quality, meteorological parameters, and water quality is dominant, and the others are still relatively underexplored. Improvements in air and water quality in cities during lockdown periods highlight the significant environmental impacts of anthropogenic activities and provide a wake-up call to adopt environmentally friendly development pathways. The paper also provides other recommendations related to the socio-economic factors, urban management and governance, and transportation and urban design that can be used for post-COVID urban planning and design. Overall, existing knowledge shows that the COVID-19 crisis entails an excellent opportunity for planners and policy makers to take transformative actions towards creating cities that are more just, resilient, and sustainable. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2020
Planning Practice and Research (13600583)35(4)pp. 466-484
While there is a growing body of scholarship on regional competitiveness, little attention has been paid to the planning methods that can pursue this objective. Public planners are mainly relying on conventional methods that have come under increasing criticism. This study aims to introduce Meta-SWOT as a novel planning tool in urban and regional studies. Meta-SWOT provides competitive and realistic strategies for planners. It systematically tries to present strategies rooted in internal resources and capabilities while acknowledging the challenges posed by the external environment. Nevertheless, it has several limitations that should be considered when applying to urban and regional planning. © 2020, © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Publication Date: 2017
Event Management (15259951)21(1)pp. 119-129
The purpose of this study is to provide a new strategic plan for tourism development using the SOAR framework with a focus on the religious event of Muharram in the province of Yazd, Iran. Muharram ceremony is a religious event based on the culture and religion of Shia Muslims, which could introduce a tourist attraction in the form of an event to other countries. The SOAR framework is a strengths-based strategic planning matrix that focuses on strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results (SOAR). This framework is an alternative for SWOT analysis. Participants are asked to identify the most important strengths, opportunities, aspirations, and results after interviews, because SOAR uses a participatory approach to strategic planning. Finally, the measurable results of this research are to provide tourism with a comprehensive way of planning this ceremony, to improve facilities in and near tourist attractions, to attract public investment for the reconstruction of mosques and religious sites, and to hold exhibitions with a focus on Yazd tourism potentials like handicrafts, customs, and traditions. © 2017 Cognizant, LLC.
Publication Date: 2013
Environmental Modelling and Software (18736726)46pp. 208-218
With enhanced data availability, distributed watershed models for large areas with high spatial and temporal resolution are increasingly used to understand water budgets and examine effects of human activities and climate change/variability on water resources. Developing parallel computing software to improve calibration efficiency has received growing attention of the watershed modeling community as it is very time demanding to run iteratively complex models for calibration. In this research, we introduce a Python-based parallel computing package, PP-SWAT, for efficient calibration of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model. This software employs Python, MPI for Python (mpi4py) and OpenMPI to parallelize A Multi-method Genetically Adaptive Multi-objective Optimization Algorithm (AMALGAM), allowing for simultaneously addressing multiple objectives in calibrating SWAT. Test results on a Linux computer cluster showed that PP-SWAT can achieve a speedup of 45-109 depending on model complexity. Increasing the processor count beyond a certain threshold does not necessarily improve efficiency, because intensified resource competition may result in an I/O bottleneck. The efficiency achieved by PP-SWAT also makes it practical to implement multiple parameter adjustment schemes operating at different scales in affordable time, which helps provide SWAT users with a wider range of options of parameter sets to choose from for model(s) selection. PP-SWAT was not designed to address errors associated with other sources (e.g. model structure) and cautious supervision of its power should be exercised in order to attain physically meaningful calibration results. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2005
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (15205118)53(15)pp. 6040-6048
Climate and soil conditions in South Florida along with an extensive canal system facilitate movement of agricultural pesticides into surface waters. In a two-year study (2002-2004) of the currently used pesticides in South Florida, atrazine, endosulfan, metolachlor, chlorpyrifos, and chlorothalonil were the most frequently detected in the canals and in Biscayne Bay, with average concentrations of 16, 11, 9.0, 2.6, and 6.0 ng/L, respectively. Concentrations of atrazine and chlorpyrifos were highest near corn production. Chlorothalonil and endosulfan concentrations were highest near vegetable production, with no clear trend for metolachlor, which is used on multiple crops. Concentration data were used to calculate an aquatic life hazard potential for the planting period (November) versus the harvest period (March). This analysis indicated that a higher hazard potential occurs during harvest, primarily from the use of endosulfan. These data will also serve to document canal conditions prior to implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). © 2005 American Chemical Society.
