asgari

Additive manufacturing in the modern world is progressing significantly, resulting in special applications in engineering sciences, medicine, and art. When the MIT university mixed the concept of time in the 3D printing process, time was considered as the fourth dimension. By combining the fourth dimension, the time, the smart materials made of additive manufacturing are able to a reaction to the external motivations (heat, voice, impact, etc) within a specified time. In the 4D printing process, the material configuration will be converted to a converter that will be exposed to external motivation such as heat, water, chemicals, electrical current and magnetic energy. It is expected that in the future, this technology will be widely used, requiring the application of various engineering disciplines, including mechanical engineering, in the fabrication and production of objects, because the overall perspective of the 4-D printing process is to make intelligent materials that are optimized using computational challenges and empirical knowledge. In this article, after reviewing the 3D printing and introducing smart materials, the issue of 4D printing has been investigated using this material. The mechanism, challenges, applications, and future of 4D printing has been discussed.

Ensuring the stability and integrity of underground gas storage salt caverns is a very complicated subject due to the non-linear and time-dependent behavior of rock salts under complicated thermal and mechanical loading conditions. For this reason, pressure and temperature fluctuations in the caverns and their surrounding strata must be integrated into the analysis and the numerical tools that are used for this purpose. LOCAS, a 2D axisymmetric finite-element code, dedicated to the stability analysis of underground salt spaces, was applied to assess the effects of various operating and geometrical parameters on the cavern behavior. In this paper, we aimed to give an overall assessment of the behavior of the salt caverns used for natural gas storage. In this work, some specific loading scenarios were considered first, followed by thorough parametric and sensitivity analyses to reveal the impacts of the geometrical parameters and operational parameters involved on the behavior of salt caverns using the modern stability criteria. The findings showed that the onset of dilation was more likely to happen within the first cavern life cycle when pressure dropped to the minimum level. As for the potential of tension occurrence in the surrounding rock, this is more likely to happen by increasing the number of operation cycles, especially in the upper one-third of the cavern wall. Finally, it was seen that the cavern depth and minimum cavern internal pressure had even more important influences than the others on the salt cavern behavior.

The majority of the power transformers failures are caused by the thermal stresses under abnormal operating conditions, such as harmonic loads. Therefore, it is of great interest to determine the temperature distribution inside the power transformers. In this paper, a new thermal equivalent circuit is presented by which the temperature in different regions of the transformer is estimated under harmonic loads. Also, the three-dimensional Finite Element (FE) Model of the power transformer is developed to calculate the power losses in each part of the transformer that are considered as the heat sources in the proposed equivalent circuit. The computed hotspot and average oil temperatures are compared with those obtained from IEEE Std C57.91 method, thereby the accuracy of the proposed method for calculating the temperature rise due to harmonic loads, is investigated. Finally, derating of the power transformer is discussed under harmonic loads.

The Internet of Things (IOT) is a new concept in the area of monitoring information transmission and remote control of things, existents and equipment that has been able to adapt itself with different industries and substructures easily. The information transmission with regard to the non-homogenous environment of internet of things has been a challengeable topic and use of routing methods by considering the limitations of processing, calculating, saving and communicating has been known as a necessary issue. Various algorithms with special applications have been already introduced in the domain of internet of things and wireless sensor networks that each one somehow has been successful in achieving the routing goals. Some proposed protocols in this field have used a tree structure for gathering the network information. These methods in selecting the parent or children of graph are affected by important challenges depending on the type of application. In this paper, at first, a general classification of advantages and defects of recent methods has been done in the domain of routing the internet of things and then a routing method service quality awareness in routing based on fuzzy system has been suggested. The results of simulations and assessment express that the suggested method in the tests of energy productivity, delay ratio and data delivery ratio have better performance than the recent methods.

Porous biomaterials are known as one of the brand new materials which considering the specific mechanical properties such as hardness and density and enabling bone growth are considered for various applications of biological prostheses including bone replacement. It has been entrenched that porous biomaterials can be produced considering defined representative volume elements by recent developments in additive manufacturing using a 3D printer. In this research, a novel functionally graded porous material is introduced based on a new representative volume element. The theoretical solutions are developed to calculation of the mechanical properties including elastic modulus and yield stress of the orthotropic material. Furthermore, numerical modeling was performed using finite element software to validate the theoretical analysis results. The results show good agreement between the theoretical method and numerical modeling. The mechanical properties of each layer as well as the properties of the whole structure have been studied considering the three structures with different porosity. As the results show, the obtained properties of the proposed structures are suitable for the application of the bone implant. Finally, the effect of geometrical features changes of representative volume elements on the mechanical properties of the structures has been studied. The results show that these changes had a significant impact on the mechanical properties of the structure and the proper efficiency and distribution of the material properties for the considered applications can be achieved by correctly defining the geometrical features.

 Carbonates are an essential and prominent constituent of soil chemical properties particularly in arid and semiarid regions, in regards with soil productivity and conservation. The conventional techniques for assessing soil properties rely on direct laboratory measurements which are expensive, time consuming and labor intensive. Hence, it is required to develop fast and cost-efficient techniques for evaluation of mentioned parameters. The Koppen climatic classification generally categorizes Iran among the arid and semi-arid climates. About 90 % of its lands are arid or semiarid. According to Soil Survey Staff (2014), calcareous soils contain 5% or more volumes of inorganic carbon (or carbonate calcium equivalent), which are the prevailing formation in arid and semi-arid areas. These soils are typical of areas where minerals cannot be leached away from the soil profile due to low precipitation. Based on the reports of FAO.UNDP (1972), approximately 12% of soils all over the world and 65% in Iran are calcareous. Therefore, carbonate is a key component that physically and chemically influences soil properties, as well as its fertility and productivity. One of the fast, easy-to-use, cost-effective and non-destructive methods of soil analysis is the visible to near-infrared (Vis-NIR) and mid-infrared (mid-IR) spectroscopy, that can partly be employed for the optimization of traditional techniques. Therefore, the reflectance spectroscopy is considered as one of relatively inexpensive and fast techniques to evaluate these features. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the capability of the reflectance spectroscopy technique in Vis-NIR (250-2500 nm) and mid-IR (400-400 cm1-) ranges to estimate soil carbonates content as one of the key components affecting the physical and chemical properties of soils (especially in arid and semi-arid regions).

 The study area is located in Juneqan District, Chaharmohal and Bakhtiari Province, southwest of Iran. 272 soil samples were collected from a depth of 0-10 cm, air dried and passed through a 2 mm sieve. The carbonates value of each sample was determined by standard laboratory method. The spectral reflectance of soil samples was extracted in the Vis-NIR (250-2500 nm) and mid-IR (400-400 cm1-) ranges using a spectroradiometer FieldSpec 3 (ASD-Analytical Spectral Devices, Boulder Colorado, USA) and Nicolet 6700 Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA), respectively. In the next step, seven preprocessing methods included absorbance transformation (log [1/reflectance]) (Abs), multiplicative scatter correction (MSC), standard normal variate transformation (SNV), Savitzsky-Golay derivation (SGD), Continuum removal transformation (CR), Normalization in range <-1,>1 (Nor) and Detrend (Det), were performed over original spectra for correcting light scattering in reflectance measurements and data improvement before using data in calibration models. Afterward, The dataset (272 samples) for each spectra range was randomly divided in calibration (70%) and validation (30%) datasets. Four different calibration models were fitted over Vis-NIR and mid-IR spectra to develop carbonates prediction models including: Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF) and Gaussian Process Regression (GPR). The evaluation of soil predicting models was done according to the value of R2, RMSE and RPD. According to some researches, RPD values more than 2 shows that the models provide precise predictions, values of RPD between 1.4 and 2 are considered to be reasonably representative, and values less than 1.4 indicate poor predictive value.

 The carbonates content in studied samples ranged from 1 to 76% with an average value of 24.7%. Overall, carbonates content promoted increase of spectral reflectance intensity on several region of spectrum in both spectral ranges. The specific absorption wavelength in Vis-NIR spectra used to indicate the presence of soil carbonates was 2338 nm and in the mid-IR range were 714, 850, 870, 1796, and 2510 cm1. The results showed that the best performance of the used models in the Vis-NIR spectral range was related to the SVM model (R2=0.81, RMSE=5.36) and in the mid-IR range allocated to PLSR model (R2=0.86, RMSE=4.5). Both of these models showed great accuracy in carbonates estimating (RPD>2). Besides, the results showed that the mid-IR spectral range in the prediction of carbonates provided better performance than the Vis-NIR range. This can explained by the fact that the fundamental molecular vibrations of soil components occur in the mid-IR range, while only their overtones and combinations are detected in the Vis-NIR range.

 It seems that the reflectance spectroscopy technique can be considered as a precise substitute for the conventional methods of measuring carbonates, which are sometimes costly, time consuming and destructive. However, due to the spatial and temporal variability of soil properties as well as the huge variety of models and spectral preprocessing methods, it is necessary to examine the capability of this technique in other areas with other preprocessing methods and regression models.

The most important and expensive portion of basic study of onshore and offshore projects include the measurement of wave characteristics. In Iran, however, will not the data collected are solely applied for the calibration and verification of the numerical modeling. Analysis and interpretation of field data independently or in combination with numerical models determine the general state of oceanographic pparameters. The general pattern of waves, their origin, seasonal variation and statistical distribution of height, period and their direction particularly provides valuable information for management concerns and engineering purposes. In this article the wave field data from five stations along the northern coast of Oman sea in the one-year period is considered for processing, analysis and interpretation. The variation of wave pattern from the entrance of Oman sea to strait Hormuz along the northern coast of Oman sea is studied based on the field data. Moreover, the results are compared with the results of both the ISWM numerical model and the simulation of Hormozgan coastline waves. Prediction of wave pattern and their origin and the variation of wave energy throughout the Oman Sea coastline are from the advantages of this study.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a malignant blood disease with a particular chromosomal aberration and it is known as a common form of leukemia. Chromene family exhibit strong anti-cancer effects. Therefore, in this study, the effect of two derivatives of dihydro-pyrano [2, 3-g] chromene family is investigated on cell toxicity and apoptosis induction in K562 cancer cells and compared them with Peripheral Blood Mononuclear (PBMC) normal cells. The K562 cell line was cultured in the presence of the mentioned chromene derivatives at a concentration of 40-200µM for 24-72 hours. The effect of these compounds on growth and viability of K562 cell line and PBMC cells were studied via MTT assay and apoptosis induction was investigated by flow cytometry. The results showed that these chromene derivatives inhibit K562 cell line growth. Moreover, increasing the chromene concentration and the time of exposure to it increase the cell toxicity. Among these compounds, 4-No2pgC was known as a compound with high toxicity (IC50=129±2.75) and 4-MePgC recognized as a compound with low toxicity (IC50=214±3.42) after 72 hours exposure to the K562 cell line. Furthermore, the results of flow cytometry demonstrated the effect of apoptosis induction of these compounds on the K562 cell line. According to the obtained results from this research, chromene derivatives can induce apoptosis in the K562 cell line and these compounds have a less toxic effect on normal cells than cancer cells. In conclusion, these derivatives can be considered as a proper candidate for the treatment of leukemia.

Water is a vital source for both human and biological living. Today, water management and conservation, not only both in developing countries but also in and the developed countries ones, has is of great importance. In the traditional economy, water is not considered as a productive factor in the national accounts; however, but in reality, water is the primary factor in many direct and indirect goods and services. To evaluate the effect of growth in the added value of agriculture, industry and electricity sectors on the added value of water sector in the Mazandaran province, coefficients of ARDL model were estimated using the Micro fit software. The extended Dickey-Fuller unit root test was used for the statistical test of variables. The static test of variables showed that all variables were significant at the 95% confidence level and were also consistent with the theory. A 1% increase (decrease) in the added value of industry and electricity resulted in the increase of 0.54 % and 0.39 %, respectively, increase (decrease) in the added value of the water sector, respectively. Also, 1% increase (decrease) in the added value of the agricultural sector caused in a 0.54% increase (decrease) in the added value of the water sector. Industry and electricity sectors affected the added value of water sector more than agriculture. In the long-term, the growth of the added value of the industry sector had the greatest impact on the growth of the added value of water sector. Based on the results, controlling water use in agriculture, industry and electricity sectors increases increased the effects of the added value of these sectors on the added value of the water sector.

This study was conducted to assess the ability of the studied adsorbent, i.e. raw oak fruit hulls and the activated carbon prepared from oak fruit hull for removing the Methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solution. This study was conducted under various effective parameters, e.g., contact time, pH, MB concentration, adsorbent concentration. The optimum amount of each parameter was determined and the isotherm and kinetic studies were also carried out. The results revealed that the best results for MB removal efficiency are observed using the activated carbon prepared from oak fruit hulls. It was also observed that increasing the contact time, pH and adsorbent concentration provides better condition to enhance the dye removal efficiency and increasing the MB, hence reducing the removal efficiency. Furthermore, the results also clarified that the best models to describe the MB adsorption onto the raw oak fruit hulls and activated carbon are the Langmuir model 1 (R2=0.9971) and Langmuir 2 (R2=0.7631), respectively. In addition, the adsorption of MB onto the raw oak fruit hulls and activated carbon are better fitted to pseudo-second-order model and zero-order model, respectively. Finally, it can be concluded that the activated carbon prepared from the raw oak fruit hulls is more valuble than the raw oak fruit hull for removing the MB.

The viability, height, and vitality of Brant`s oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) seedlings from five different seeding techniques were studied in a completely randomized design in Ilam forests. The treatments included 1) seeding in holes with 50 cm depth and 40 cm diameter in the shelter of 50% UV resistant laces (shade treatment), 2) seeding in holes with 50 cm depth and 40 cm diameter and pouring down hummus and litters on sown seeds (litter treatment), 3) seeding in holes with 50 cm depth and 40 cm diameter and use of super-absorbent (super absorbent treatment), 4) seeding in holes with depth of 100 cm and a diameter of 60 cm (deep hole treatment), and finally 5) seeding at a depth of 5 cm from the soil surface (control treatment). Also, the relative light intensity in all holes was measured using a fisheye camera, and a regression model was obtained from the seeding survival rate. The results of the comparison of the mean (p < 0.01) indicated that the deep hole, super absorbent, shelter, and litter treatments showed a 134.5, 138.2, 178.6, and 243.3% increase in seedling viability, respectively. Furthermore, shelter and deep holes treatments revealed a 19.5% and 31% increase in seedling height, while litter and deep holes treatments had 18% and 31% increase of seeding vitality, respectively. The fitted regression model indicated a significant correlation (R2 = 0.73, p < 0.01) between viability and relative light percentage (except for the deep hole treatment). Results revealed that litter treatment can be recommended as the most suitable method for the oak seedling. However, further research is required in case of the shade and deep holes treatment, which showed the best survival performance prior to soil erosion and seedings mortality.

In this paper, a quaternion-based finite-time sliding mode attitude controller is designed for a spacecraft performing high-thrust orbital maneuvers, with cold gas thrusters as its actuators. The proposed controller results are compared with those of a quaternion feedback controller developed for the linearized spacecraft dynamics, in terms of settling time, steady-state error, number of thruster firings and their fuel usage. It is then proved that the sliding mode control has enough robustness against disturbances as well as a high accuracy in attitude tracking and also a low number of thruster firings. A 6 degree of freedom (DOF) total simulation, including spacecraft dynamics, guidance, navigation and control systems is also designed and the sliding mode controller performance in a sample transfer from an ecliptic orbit to a circular one is investigated. In order to solve the chattering problem caused mainly because of the discontinuity of sliding mode control algorithm and multiple switching on sliding surfaces, the sign function in the control input is replaced with a hyperbolic tangent function. Being aware of the advantages of sliding mode control method, using this algorithm in orbital transfers seems to be innovative and efficient.

In this paper, the behavior of energy absorption and maximum force of multi-walled and multi-cell tubes with different cross sections have been studied. Energy-absorption behavior has been simulated using finite element method in ABAQUS software. Numerical simulations with quasi-static load assumption for circle and square-shaped peripheral sections were performed. In the first step, the numerical results of applied force displacement curve caused by movement of the upper barrier have been compared with existing experimental results in different sources. In addition, the tube geometry has been changed to obtain better energy absorption. Then, several models of multi-cell sectins have been modeled. Using multi-cellular results indicating a high percentage of specific energy absorption, three types of adsorbents were designed with specified thickness parameters, vertex angle, tube spacing and number of cells. Using the design of experiments, the results of the simulation of these three absorbers were extracted with different parameters. The objective function equations are extracted from experimental design results according to the parameters considered using the response procedure method. Also, by using the genetic algorithm on the equations obtained by the response surface model, the optimal absorber characteristics were determined and correlated with the simulation results.

In this paper, a nonlinear theoretical solution is proposed to simulate thermoelectric generators. A thermoelectric generator (TEG) setup was designed and constructed to measure the thermoelectric properties of a specified TEG, and, then, to validate the simulation results. The setup is composed of four bismuth telluride based TEGs, which are placed between an electrical heater and water cooled heatsinks to generate power as the result of the temperature difference. In the first section, the thermoelectricity phenomenon is introduced and governing equations are presented in order to develop the finite element solution by weighted residual Galerkin method. The FEM code is written in MATLAB software. In the second section, the designed and fabricated setup is explained and it is investigated how to perform the experiments. The TEG properties including the Seebeck coefficient and internal electrical resistance were measured, which are, then, used for setup simulation. First, the thermal-fluidic parameters including temperature and velocity distribution are obtained by simulation in Ansys-Fluent software. Then, the thermoelectricity simulation is performed by means of both the proposed finite element solution, and Ansys-Thermal electric software; so, the output voltage, power, and efficiency are calculated. The results indicate the accuracy of the modeling. Also, using the proposed finite element solution, the impact of the geometrical dimensions and temperature conditions on the TEG performance is investigated.

In this study, the method of releasing strains for calculating residual stresses in hole drilling process has been considered. For this purpose, a thick piece of cylindrical aluminum of 5 mm thickness has been investigated. Stepwise and high-speed drilling was performed in several successive steps, and released strains were recorded by a rosette strain gauge. The distribution of released strains in 3 forms of functions in the depth of the hole has been studied to transform strains to stresses, a linear function, a second-order function, and a third-order function. For each case, the longitudinal, tangential, shear stresses, principle stresses, and principle angles in the thickness of the piece were calculated and the results of the convergence analysis by the Tikhonov regularization were evaluated. In the end, the results are evaluated and compared for 3 modes. The results of the comparison of stresses and the degree of curves have shown that the third-order curve is more suitable for evaluation of released strains and using to transform them to residual stresses, and the magnitude of the error in the second-order curve is greater than the two other modes.

Next, we study the stability of this type of functional equation. Clearly, the function - holds in this type functional equation. Also, we prove Hyers-Ulam stability for this type functional equation in the β-Gaussian Banach space.

The distillation process is important process in the chemical industry and has wide application in industry. Distillation tower is used by chemical engineers as a popular tool to separate materials and is the most common method for separating materials. Keeping constant the product composition in the distillation column is very important from control perspective. Control of these complicated processes need intelligent methods to adopt the appropriate decision for control based on the behavior of the system. Between intelligent methods, fuzzy technique has superior response in complex systems control and so is used in this study. At first, a type-1fuzzy controller is designed for non-linear model of distillation tower. In design of this Fuzzy controller, genetic algorithm (GA) is used for optimization of fuzzy. It has been shown that the fuzzy controller is better than conventional PI one. Then the type-1 fuzzy controller has been replaced with type-2 fuzzy controller and to optimize the performance of fuzzy-2 control, its output gains is determined by GA and has been shown that the performance of type-2 is better than type-1 in various points of view. In this study, the MATLAB/SIMULINK software has been used for modeling and implementing the proposed methods.

The composition of several different materials is often used in structural components in order to optimize the responses of structures subjected to severe thermal and mechanical loads. Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are suitable to achieve this purpose in the case of pressure vessels. On the other hand these structures usually sustain cyclic loadings resulting in ratcheting and shakedown behavior. In this study the nonlinear kinematic hardening theories are used to evaluate the cyclic loading behavior of a thick walled FGM Cylinder under internal pressure. The power law volume fraction distribution of materials, geometry and mechanical load are assumed to be axisymmetric. The finite element method combined with a multi-layered approach is used to model the structure by ABAQUS software. The response of structure under cyclic loadings is considered. Fredrick & Armstrong nonlinear kinematic hardening theories based on different type of back stress numbers are used to predict the ratcheting and shakedown behavior of the structure. The effects of variation of materials distribution on cyclic behavior are also studied. The achieved results show that using functionally graded material leads to a more flexible design so that cyclic rupture can be improved by selecting a suitable material distribution profiles.

Pregnancy is important because maternal health and well‑being directly affects another person’s life. This study aimed to compare the effects of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) and physical activity (PA) on the general health of pregnant women.
This randomized clinical trial was conducted among 96 primiparous women enrolled in a prenatal clinic in Tehran (Iran) between May 3, 2013 and August 7, 2013. The participants were selected through convenience sampling over 3 weeks and randomly assigned to the PMR, PA, and control groups, comprising 32 participants each. Six participants did not complete the follow‑up measurement (N = 90). The PMR group underwent three sessions of 1.5–2 h in theoretical and practical training, and in the PMR group, training was given in groups of three to four persons. Both groups performed exercises at home for 8 weeks and recorded them in daily report sheets. The general health of all three groups was assessed before and after intervention by using the General Health Questionnaire‑28.
Differences in the mean (SD) general health scores obtained before and after intervention in the PMR, PA, and control groups were 15.63 (5.73), 19.11 (7.79), and 8.27 (2.14), respectively. One‑way analysis of variance test showed a significant difference between the three groups (F = 28.10; p As the study results confirm the positive effects of PMR and PA on the subscales of the general health of pregnant women, the two techniques are recommended to promote the general health of pregnant women.

The designs on Persian carpets include symbolic narratives, which have been beautifully depicted on the carpets by inspiration from the national myths. The fight between the dragon and Simorgh is one of these designs that are displayed in the form of "gereft-o-gir" (literally “captured and pinned,”). Each of these two myths has symbolic reflections; they refer to symbols of Ahura and Ahreman, good and evil, earth and heaven, life and death, and soul. The present article examines Iranian native myths by considering factors such as repetition, frequency, and originality. The findings of the research show the fight between the dragon and Simorgh which refers to the concepts of good and evil and the fight of Ahura and Ahreman. Also, the ritualistic approach is involved in the formation of this fight that in which the snake and the dragon (as the symbols of Ahreman) are in conflict with the Simorgh (as the symbol of Ahura).

Trivalent nitrogen compounds are almost tetrahedral so that the lone pair occupies one of the tetrahedral positions. This, in turn, causes the inversion of these tetrahedral molecules. In this study, N-inversion in N-phenylaziridines (without substituent and with a substituent group (F, Cl, Br, CN, NH2, NO2, OH, and Me) in both para and meta positions of the phenyl ring) was studiedby the Gaussian 09 program. The optimum geometric structures of initial and transition states were obtained using ab initio calculations at the MP2\6-31G* level of theory and in both the gas phase and CH2Cl2 solvent. The effects of the different substituent groups on kinetic parameters were studied and then Hammett curves were plottedthrough the Hammett equation. With respect to the obtained rate constants and Hammett curves, it can be concluded that the electron-withdrawing substituents increase the rate of inversion due to withdrawing of nitrogen lone pair towards themselves, and therefore, generating a stabilizing resonance current. Conversely, the electron-donating substituents decrease the rate of inversion. The transition state in an inversion of a  n-phenylaziridine molecule with para-substituted NO2 group has the lowest activation energy.

Wind erosion is considered a major global environmental problem. Dust storms from the migration of sand dunes can seriously damage civil, industrial, and agricultural areas and a method to stabilize these sand dunes is mulching. The present study investigates the feasibility of using organic wastes of Press mud and Dunder with clay for the production of environmentally-friendly mulches. Sandy soil from the Dejgah Region, Fars Province, has been used as bed treatment. The treatments have been prepared, using different ratios of the above mentioned materials and 250 ml of water has been added to the each mulch combination to be sprinkled on a plot of sand, 50 × 30 × 1 cm in size. The research has measured Mechanical parameters such as Compressive Resistance (CR), Abrasion Resistance (AR), and Impact Resistance (IR), created by mulches, along with Wind Erodibility (WE) of the treatments and has analyzed the resultant measured data by means of SPSS software. An increase in the fraction of organic wastes has significantly increased CR, IR, and AR values, thus reducing WE. Higher amounts of organic matter and clay increase the CR and the application of 100g Dunder plus 100g Clay has been considered the best composition of organic mulch for stabilization of sand dunes.

Aims: By assessing the users’ satisfaction with prosthesis and prosthetic services, it is possible to modify the service providing structure and increase satisfaction with the delivery of services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the users’ satisfaction with prosthesis and prosthetic services in Tehran.
Instrument and materials: In this descriptive study with scrolling method, 388 users referred to Method Co. in Tehran, including those who received prosthesis and used the prosthetic services, were selected by census sampling method from the beginning of December 2014 to the end of January 2015. To assess the users’ satisfaction with prosthesis and its services, the standard Orthotics Prosthetics Users Survey (OPUS) and telephone interview technique were used. The data were analyzed by SPSS 23 software, using Pearson correlation, ANOVA, t-test, independent sample t-test, and Scheffe's post hoc test.
Findings: The satisfaction level with device was 45.5% and the satisfaction level with service was 66.2%. The satisfaction with device was assessed at a low level and the satisfaction with services was assessed at a high level. The highest level of satisfaction with device and services was in the illiterate group. Satisfaction with services among 5 groups showed a significant difference (p=0.001).
Users’ satisfaction with prosthetic services is more than their satisfaction with prosthesis. Users are not highly satisfied with the device (prosthesis), while their satisfaction level is relatively high with services that relates to human performance engaged in communication and customer-oriented principles. The higher the education levels of the users, the lower the levels of satisfaction with the device.

Determination of physical propertiesof agricultural products is essentialto analyzetheir behaviorduringprocessing operationssuch asmoving, peeling, cleaning, sorting,dryingand storage.Note that the design of the above-mentioned devices in addition to planting, growing and harvest implements without taking into account these properties will not lead to optimal results. In this research, the effects ofgrain moisture content(at levels of 10, 14and18percent)andkind of varietiesonthe physical propertiesof two varietiesofricepaddygrain, namely RezaJoo andDomSiyahwere investigated.In order to analyze the data, a factorial experimentwas used ina completely randomized designandmeans comparison were done byusing Duncan's multiple-range test (α = 1%).Based on the results, byincreasingthe moisturecontent, with the exception of the sphericity coefficient, otherphysical propertiessuch as length, width, thickness, geometrical diameter, arithmeticdiameter, surface,volumeandthe gravitypropertiessuch asbulkdensity, truedensity, porosity and1000 grainmassincreasedwhilethe kind of varietydid not have asignificant effect ontheseproperties.

One of the most important factors in a sampling and integrated pest management program is to know the population density and spatial pattern of the insects, especially the invasive ones such as Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) that cause a serious problem in tomato cultivation. Therefore, population density and spatial distribution pattern of T. absoluta was determined in Varamin region (Tehran, Iran) during two growing seasons of 2015 and 2016 on seven tomato cultivars ('Primo Early', 'Rio Grande', 'Cal JN3', 'Petomech', 'Early Urbana Y', 'Super Strain B', and 'Super 2270'). The T. absoluta density was estimated as active mines (with live larvae) and inactive mines (without live larvae) per plant, which, summed together, resulted in the total infestation (total mines per plant). In 2015, the highest mean number of total mines made by T. absoluta was on 'Cal JN3' (21.82 mines plant-1) and the lowest mean was on 'Early Urbana Y' (11.08 mines plant-1). In 2016, the highest and lowest mean population density of T. absoluta was observed on 'Cal JN3' (14.44 larvae plant-1) and 'Super Strain B' (4.60 larvae plant-1), respectively. The spatial distribution pattern of T. absoluta was determined by using Morisita's coefficient, Taylor's power law, and Iwao's patchiness regression method as well as dispersion index of variance-to-mean-ratio. The dispersion index indicated the aggregated pattern of spatial distribution in all tomato cultivars during both years. Taylor's and Iwao's models showed aggregated pattern of distribution on Primo Early' and 'Early Urbana Y', respectively, in 2015 and on 'Super 2270' in 2016. But, on the rest of cultivars, the pattern was determined random. Also, Morisita's coefficient revealed a random distribution pattern for T. absoluta in all of the sampling dates. The smallest optimum sample sizes were estimated with Taylor's coefficients. These results revealed that tomato cultivars affected the population density and spatial distribution pattern of T. absoluta. The coefficients of the spatial pattern can be used for improving the sampling program to estimate the population density of T. absoluta accurately.