maryam naeimi

It is necessary to determine the growth boundary of endemic plants in biodiversity studies and to prevent their destruction, as well as to preserve and reproduce these valuable species. The purpose of this research is to determine the paleolimit, the exclusive and medicinal species of Diplotaenia damavandica Mozaffarian, Hedge & Lamond due to the limitations created in the water resources of the habitat. This plant has been reported only in a limited area in the southeast of Damavand and is of interest due to the presence of special compounds that have therapeutic effects in some skin complications.

In order to study the quantitative status of the water feeding the Kezel pasture plant, the hydrograph of Garmsar, Firouzkoh, Damavand and Hamand-Absard aquifers was drawn for a period of 19 years using data from observation wells. The study of hydrological droughts in the region was calculated by the GRI drought index. The ancient boundary of the habitat and the ecological nest of this plant was investigated by collecting plant macrofossils from different geological layers of Madadi shales in three areas around the habitat and identifying and comparing them with the samples of the present age. The separation of palynomorphs from the surrounding sediments was done using the usual methods in palynology, and after preparing the required slides, they were studied with a Leitz light microscope (model SM-LUX-POL) and magnifications of 40 and 100. Palynomorphs were photographed using a 100 objective lens and using immersion oil by a Canon Power Shot A1100 digital camera.

  The findings of the present study showed that the water resources in the studied area have faced a sharp drop in the underground water level of -72.09 meters in recent years, as well as a decrease in the volume of aquifers of -1096.2 million cubic meters. The drought condition of the springs shows a severe trend. On the other hand, paleontological studies showed that in none of the studied palynological slides, D. damavandica pollen or samples similar to said pollen were found.

Despite recent declines in water availability, paleoecological evidence suggests that D. damavandica's distribution has remained relatively stable since the Tertiary geological period (third and fourth geological periods). This indicates that factors other than contemporary water scarcity may be limiting its distribution. Further studies using geological, hydrogeochemical, and geothermal approaches are recommended to definitively identify the primary factors controlling the plant's distribution within its current boundaries.

Desertification in arid and semi-arid areas is an invisible and very dangerous phenomenon, and if it continues, it leads to the destruction of the land and the loss of renewable natural resources. Several factors play an effective role in the occurrence of desertification in a region, among which the phenomenon of land subsidence can be mentioned. Land subsidence is a geological process that occurs in a long-term balance and coordination between human activities and the hydrogeological environment. Today, land subsidence caused by the extraction of underground water has become a global problem, and it can even be the site of other hazards and threaten the society. The challenge of establishing a balance between groundwater consumption and land subsidence control is essential for sustainable development and curbing desertification. In order to meet their needs, including agriculture, industry and drinking, human societies depend on underground water sources and provide the required water through underground water. These conditions have become more severe in Iran due to its location in the arid and semi-arid belt, along with the improper distribution of rainfall with excessive extraction of underground water. In Iran, this phenomenon has extensive ecological, economic, social and environmental consequences due to the multiplicity, extent and complexity of the environmental and human factors that cause desertification. Hence, the precise monitoring and analysis of the intensity of desertification is of great importance for risk assessment and risk assessment. Therefore, it is necessary to know the criteria and indicators effective in the occurrence of desertification in order to achieve a model that can monitor the intensity of desertification in order to manage and plan the desert areas correctly and on principles. For this purpose, the aim of this research is to evaluate the state of desertification by IMDPA model based on two criteria of underground water and subsidence in the Rafsanjan watershed located in the northwest of Kerman province.

In this research, two criteria of underground water and subsidence rate were used as key criteria to prepare the desertification intensity map. According to the available information and the goals of this research, the criteria of underground water were scored based on electrical conductivity indicators, sodium absorption ratio, and groundwater level drop. For the subsidence criterion, the subsidence rate index was used in the year 2014-2015. In the next stage, a weight between 1 and 4 was given to each index based on its effect on desertification. The weighting is linear and equal in proportion; So that value 1 is the best and value 4 is the worst weight. Zoning of the mentioned indicators was also done by geographic information system and interpolation methods. The subsidence criterion was evaluated using the subsidence map prepared from Sentinel 1 satellite images in the year 2014-2015. In the end, the final map of the desertification situation was obtained according to the IMDPA model and based on the geometric mean of the criteria.

The average electrical conductivity measure in Rafsanjan watershed was 9351.4, which with a score of 4, is in a very severe desertification situation. Also, in terms of absorbable sodium, this watershed with an average of 12.28 and a score of 1, put it in a state of low desertification. In addition, according to the results of the groundwater quantity criterion based on the average level drop for the aquifer located in the Rafsanjan watershed, it was determined that the average drop of groundwater is about 54 cm with a score of 4, and is in a severe state of desertification. The subsidence of the aquifer located in the Rafsanjan watershed has varied from seven to less than one centimeter per year. Also, based on the average values, the average subsidence in the water year 1394-1395 in the region was in the low category with an average of -1.25 and a score of 1. Examining the areas with subsidence and the level of the drop in the underground water level showed that the drop in the underground water level can be considered as the main reason for the subsidence in the Rafsanjan aquifer. The overlap of three indicators of groundwater criteria, including: electrical conductivity, sodium absorption ratio and level drop, showed that 2.74, 59.07, 37.15 and 1.02 percent of Rafsanjan watershed are in low, medium, severe and There is a lot of desertification. Also, the overlap of the underground water and land subsidence criteria showed that the intensity of desertification is placed in three levels: low, moderate and severe, and the highest level corresponds to the moderate severity.

Rafsanjan watershed is one of the critical areas of subsidence. For this purpose, it is very important to evaluate land degradation caused by subsidence and drop in the underground water level in the Rafsanjan watershed. The results of this research confirm that according to the underground water criteria, the average electrical conductivity, absorbable sodium, and the drop in the water level of the region are in very severe, low, and severe desertification. In addition, in terms of the intensity of desertification from the point of view of water quality, the region is located in low, medium, severe and very severe classes. Finally, the intensity of desertification according to the two investigated criteria (underground water and subsidence) is placed in three levels: low, medium and severe, and the highest level is related to moderate severity. The results of this research will create a clear horizon for managers and planners of the natural resources sector, which will lead to a precise understanding of the criteria and indicators effective in the occurrence of desertification in the region. In addition, it is suggested to identify other effective factors in the region and introduce them to the desired model for accurate estimation of this phenomenon.

Degradation of the Earth's biodiversity has resulted in damage that in many cases is irreparable to humans. The purpose of the present study is to determine the boundaries and environment of the proprietary and medicinal species of Kozal Damavandi (Diplotaenia damavandica Mozaffarian, Hedge & Lamond). This plant has received a lot of attention due to the presence of special effective compounds that have therapeutic effects on most skin complications. For this purpose, a habitat map was first prepared with local visits and previous reports. Then, its environment including physiography, accompanying species, lithology, soil and water resources characteristics were studied. The results showed that this plant species grows at the altitude of 2400 to 3600 meters above sea level, with a slope of above 60% and an altitude of above 35ᵒ 40’. Lithological study of the habitat area in dense areas shows the thick green tuffs, Jeirood foundation, shale, and dark sandstone. Also, in terms of soil science, there were significant differences between the examined parameters of K, P, and SO4, while regarding the water resources the significant parameters are Cl and NO3. Investigating the deterioration of vegetation also showed that the highest coverage density in the region was in 2014. The results of the present study will be used to determine the limiting factors of the habitat and to investigate the possibility of the growth of this exclusive species.

 The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on the desire for divorce and forgiveness in betrayed women.

Methods and Materials:

 The research method was quasi-experimental with a control and experimental group design. The statistical population of this study consisted of betrayed women in Tehran who had visited counseling centers in 2022. Thirty betrayed couples were screened through observation and interviews, and 15 women were placed in the control group and 15 women in the experimental group based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The sample for this study was selected through convenience sampling. The participants in the experimental group received ACT for 8 weeks, with one 60-90 minute session per week, while the control group did not receive any specific intervention. Data were collected using questionnaires on the desire for divorce and forgiveness. Participants completed the questionnaires in both pre-test and post-test situations. Covariance analysis was used for data analysis.

 The findings showed that the mean scores of the variables of desire for divorce and forgiveness in the post-test of the experimental group were significantly different from the pre-test.

 Therefore, ACT affects the desire for divorce and forgiveness in betrayed women.

Groundwater, one of the most important sources of water supply, has faced a considerable decrease in quantity and quality in recent decades due to harvesting more than their natural recharge. Over-extraction of groundwater causes subsidence, soil salinity, reduction of the base flow of rivers due to the drying up of springs, the salinity of groundwater, and in a general view, land destruction and the creation and expansion of desert areas. Desertification is one factor that threaten human life, which causes the destruction of natural resources. Therefore, knowledge of desertification processes is important and necessary to reduce the severity of this phenomenon and prevent its spread by providing suitable management solutions and methods. The Iranian Model of Desertification Potential Assessment (IMDPA) is efficient to evaluate the intensity of desertification. In this model, nine key criteria including climate, land-geomorphology, soil, vegetation, economic-social, agricultural water, groundwater, erosion, and urban development technology are considered. According to the reports about the spread of desertification factors in the Maharloo-Bakhtegan watershed located in Fars province, the objective of the present study is to investigate the impact of the water table drop and variations in the groundwater quality and land subsidence in desertification and land degradation as well as to prepare relevant maps in the mentioned watershed.

Maharloo-Bakhtegan watershed is one of the closed watersheds of Iran, which is a subcategory of the Central Plateau and has 27 study areas. A zoning map of the risk of water table drop was prepared using the related tables that classify the watershed area into four classes: low, medium, severe and very severe. In the same way, the data of quality degradation indicators of water resources including electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium surface absorption ratio (SAR) were classified; then, EC and SAR zoning layers were prepared. Then, the final desertification intensity map was obtained from the integration of maps of the intensity of qualitative and water table drop of groundwater resources, as well as the land subsidence map as a soil criterion. Finally, the zoning map of desertification intensity was prepared using the final risk classes of desertification.

The EC map showed that 37.2% of the watershed is in the low or insignificant class, 24.8% is in the medium class, 9.5% is in a severe class, and 28.5% of the watershed area is in the very severe class. So, it can have a significant effect on increasing the intensity of desertification. However, the zoning map of the SAR showed that more than 99% of the watershed area has a value less than 18 and is placed in the negligible or low class. The zoning of the water table drop also shows that 65.6% of the studied watershed is placed at the low or insignificant class, only 3% is in the medium class, 5.7% is in a severe class, and 25.7% is in the very severe class. The map of different levels of land subsidence showed that more than 97% of the watershed area either has no subsidence or is placed in a low and negligible level. The desertification intensity map also showed that 83% of the watershed area has low and moderate desertification intensity and 17% of the watershed area has severe and very severe desertification intensity. Therefore, the general situation of the watershed is not critical in terms of the intensity of desertification, but the areas with a moderate degree of destruction are subject to transition to extreme class due to the change of land uses that are expanding today as well as the increase of agricultural areas in the watershed.

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of the decrease and change in the quality of underground water and land subsidence in desertification and land degradation in Maharlu-Bakhtegan watershed. The results showed that the electrical conductivity factor of underground water can have a significant effect on the intensity of desertification. On the other hand, land subsidence index was not prioritized in determining the intensity of desertification. Also, the intensity of desertification in a major part of the watershed was in the low and medium classes, and with the change of current uses and the increase of the cultivated area, it is recommended to make the necessary plans to prevent the progress of the intensity of desertification in the mentioned areas. In this direction and considering the role of human activities in the drop of the underground water level, the quality drop of the underground water and finally the subsidence of the land, measures such as the preparation of technical guidelines for the use of underground water, the use of pressurized irrigation systems, the proper implementation of the balancing plan of the Ministry of Energy and the implementation Management plans are recommended to preserve the vegetation of forests and pastures and to modify the cultivation pattern. Also, the zoning maps of indicators and intensity of desertification prepared in this study can be used by experts to prepare the land and provide suggested solutions and apply appropriate management methods with the aim of preventing the expansion and advancement of saline and desert lands. Conducting research in the field of indicators and other factors affecting desertification, such as evaporative formations in the region, the gentle slope of the water table in the plain, the presence of semi-permeable or impermeable layers, the lack of underground water flow from upstream and the infiltration of salty water from salty rivers into the aquifers of the river in the watershed. Maharlo-Bakhtagan is also recommended.

Long-term monitoring as well as the impacts of climate change on sand dune mobility play a crucial role in reducing their adverse effects, including creating dusty days, potential risks of reduced air quality, and other environmental and health risks. The main objectives of this study were to investigate the dust phenomenon and its origin, to analyze the mobility status of sand dunes using two indicators, to determine the effect of climatic conditions on mobility, and also to predict the effects of changes in climate parameters on sand dunes mobility in the strategic area of ​​Sarakhs, located on the northeastern border of the country, for a period of 27 years. The results on the number of dusty days showed that the local dust events at Sarakhs station had a significant increasing trend. The results of sand dune mobility using Lancaster and modified Lancaster indices showed that there was a significant relationship at 99% level with dusty days, based on which the ability to use the modified Lancaster index in this area is raised. It can also be acknowledged that in the study region, increasing environmental drought coming with the mobility of sand dunes increases the risk of desertification. Also, the results of sand mobility sensitivity analysis showed that the combined effect of the frequency of erosive winds or the potential of sand transport and evapotranspiration has the greatest effect on reducing and increasing sand activity in the future.

Proper management and planning to prevent the decline of groundwater levels, requires knowledge of the factors, indicators and criteria for changes in groundwater levels in areas affected by this phenomenon. Therefore, in order to be aware of the status of groundwater level fluctuations, it is necessary to conduct detailed studies in order to plan, operate and maintain water resources development plans and to predict and warn in time of drought periods. For this purpose, in the present study, the trend of groundwater changes in aquifers of Mahidasht study area in Kermanshah province in a statistical period of 35 years ending in 1396 was investigated. Then, the impact of droughts on the trend of groundwater level changes was analyzed using PDSI, GRI and SDI drought indices as well as changes in irrigated and rainfed arable lands. According to the results, the highest groundwater level is in the southeast and is about 1531m. Groundwater level changes in Mahidasht plain are generally declining and the groundwater level has dropped by 24.78m during the study period. Also, the results of low correlation between climatic and groundwater drought indices showed that the cause of water level decline in plain aquifers due to irregular impressions and management. Although Mahidasht aquifer has been selected as a case study in this article, the proposed method can be used in other areas to improve the protection and management of water resources.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of climate change on the occurrence of dust in Ghazvin province. In order to study climate fluctuations, average rainfall parameters, relative humidity, potential evapotranspiration, temperature, relative humidity, average wind speed and wind speeds greater than 6 m / s in the period 2006-2016 were considered and the number of dusty days was extracted according to the dust phenomenon codes (06 to 09, 30 to 35, and 98)and calculated on a monthly, seasonal and annual scales. The trend of changes in climatic parameters and the number of dusty days were investigated using Mann-Kendall test and the relationship them between was investigated using Pearson correlation coefficient. The results showed that wind speeds of more than 6 m / s in most study scales had a significant decreasing trend (Z> -1.96). A similar trend was observed for mean air temperature and potential evapotranspiration in October. The trend of changes in dusty days was shown to be significant for internal events in summer and for extranal events in spring. However, no significant changes were observed in other parameters. The results also showed that local dusty days with a slope of 0.08 and days with extenal scource dust with a slope of 0.68 in the statistical period have increased. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a strong and significant relationship between the increase in mean maximum temperature with the number of days with local dust in winter and also between the average speed of spring surface winds with the number of dusty days during this period (r=0.67; p-value≤ 0.0.5).

Climatic components are the vital factors influencing the dust event. It was believed that changes in climate parameters play a crucial role in the occurrence of dust events. Former studies have shown that temperature, rainfall, and wind speed contribute to poor vegetation, providing requirements of dust events. Long-term dust data indicated that climate has a profound effect on dust events and the occurrence of dust storms compared to the desertification process (Zhang and Anastasio, 2003). Monitoring Iran’s meteorological data indicates changes in precipitation and temperature in the last two decades (Rezaei and Ghasemieh, 2019). Alterations in the amount and pattern of rainfall and rising temperature can initiate the changes that cause natural hazards, including dust storms. Hence, in the present study, the trend of changes in climatic parameters in Khorasan Razavi province has been investigated. Note that the climatic parameters are consisting of rainfall, average temperature, wind speed, and frequency of erosive winds.

 According to the objectives of the present study, the monthly precipitation, temperature, and wind speed of seven synoptic stations including, Mashhad, Sabzevar, Sarakhs, Neishabour, Torbat Heydariyeh, Kashmar, and Quchan, were obtained from the meteorological organization of Khorasan Razavi from 1990 to 2016. Hourly dust codes also were extracted to detect the number of dusty days in the study period. The relationship between climatic parameters of precipitation, temperature, wind speed, and erosive wind frequency was inspected by the Pearson correlation coefficient for each station. Later, the trend of dust events and climatic parameters was analyzed using the Mann-Kendall trend test.

 Results of dust codes indicated the local origin for the highest frequency of dusty days. Even though Sarakhs and Mashhad stations had the highest dusty days, Quchan and Kashmar had the lowest one in the study region. The Mann- Kendall test pointed out an increase in temperature for all study stations except Neishabour. Meanwhile, the precipitation had a downward trend in the Mashhad, Kashmar, Sabzevar, Torbat Heydariyeh, and Sarakhs stations and an increasing trend in the Neishabour and Quchan. Raising the frequency of the erosive wind in Quchan, Kashmar, Sabzevar, Sarakhs, and Neishabour stations during the study period could also be stated. In most of the stations (except Mashhad and Neishabour) upward tendency in the number of dusty days is consistent with other researchers such as Mehrshahiand Nekounam (2009) in Sabzevar, Boochani, and Fazeli (2011) in Ilam, Shahsavani et al. (2011) in Khuzestan stated. Hence, the decreasing tendency of dusty days in Mashhad and Neishabour is also in line with Rafiei et al. (2015) in Yazd, Semnan, Kashan, Ramsar, and several other stations. The falling trend of wind speed in Mashhad station can be reflected as the main reason for the reduction of dust events. In addition, the rising tendency of precipitation and possible decline of drought in Neishabour can be considered as the main reasons for the decrease in the number of dusty days. To understand the effect of climatic factors on the occurrence and intensification of dust events, the relationship between the number of dusty days and climatic parameters was determined. The results of correlation analysis between dust events and climatic parameters showed that the temperature directly affects the dust events in all stations except Mashhad. The positive correlation between temperature and dust events was stated in other studies (Bahrami et al., 2013; Amgalan et al., 2017). The correlation coefficient between dust event and precipitation showed a negative relationship between them which was significant at 95% level in Sarakhs station. Other studies (Ali et al., 2016; Broomandi et al., 2017; Amgalan et al., 2017) have also indicated the inverse effect of precipitation on dust events, which is following the findings of this study. The results of correlation analysis between the number of dusty days and wind speed and the frequency of erosive wind showed that the enormous influence on dust events is wind speed. While, at Neishabour station, there is a significant negative relationship between dust and wind speed. Indeed, the inverse relationship between dust and wind speed indicates that with increasing wind speed, the dust emission does not increase and another factor reduces the effect of wind speed. As Kimura (2012) reported the impact of vegetation on reducing the wind speed impact on the dust occurrence.

 It was proven that the number of dusty days is in line with the variations of the climatic parameters. The decrease in rainfall, increase in temperature, and wind speed has been accompanied by an increase in dusty days in the region. In general, correlation analysis of dusty days and climatic parameters in Khorasan Razavi province indicated that wind speed and the frequency of erosive wind have considerable influence on dust events. However, the effect of wind speed on dust events at the Neishabour station reflected the significance of vegetation cover on reducing the transfer of soil particles.

One of the most important reasons for the raising of flood damage in recent years has been ‎inefficient urban development, which unfortunately has sometimes been done with the advice of ‎professional consultants and in the form of urban planning system. The present study analyzes a ‎large amount of information in the fields of geotechnics, environmental management and ‎environmental geotechnics and with the aim of reducing flood damage in the form of landslides, ‎subsidence, pollution and soil degradation in the field. The country's natural resources appear to ‎have attempted to formulate arguments, draw conclusions, and provide solutions from an ‎environmental geotechnical perspective. Studies have shown that, from an environmental ‎geotechnical point of view, the neglected position of studying the geotechnical properties of soils ‎in site selection and EIA of urban development has led to an intensification of flood damage. ‎Accordingly, carrying out any development within the framework of standard environmental and ‎military laws in accordance with the conditions of the region and climate will be the main ‎solution in flood control and management by observing the norms related to environmental ‎geotechnics. Few studies show that EIA can be an effective step in reducing environmental ‎degradation by investigating the interaction effects of soil mechanical properties and ‎development activities. Consequently, the entry of experts in the field of environmental ‎geotechnics; by a view to environmental protection and management, is recommended to review ‎or define new criteria and indicators in the regulations of the Environmental Protection ‎Organization.‎

Increased waste production due to population growth and improper landfilling is one of the most significant problems in urban communities. Environmental impact assessment is one of the tools that has been introduced to predict and reduce the destructive and harmful effects of construction projects. Therefore, in the present study, the impacts of unprincipled exploitation of Quchan’s landfill on the environment (EIA) was assessed using existing reports and satellite images, field studies, and considering the influential factors of environmental geotechnics in Iranian matrix. Analyzing the Iranian matrix shows that the number of effects and consequences of the negative algebraic mean is equal to 3 and 5, respectively. However, the negative effect and consequence less than -3.1 in the column and row are related to leveling and ground preparation, bed rupture and wall stability, respectively. More investigation on geotechnical parameters indicated that the factor of safety (FS) of gravel walls needs improvement. It was shown that in Quchan’s landfill, in case of excavation with a slope of less than 35 degrees and excavation height of about 4 meters, the existing trenches will not slip. Therefore, the necessary modification and improvement is necessary for the wall retaining and appropriate results and solutions have been provided to improve the conditions.

In recent decades, dust storms have intensified due to climate changes, including drought and human interventions. In addition to removing soil particles, dust brings storms bring about severe economic, social, and health problems. Due to its strategic conditions – including its status as an industrial and agricultural hub and the province hosting more than 29 million Iranian and international pilgrims, especially during the seasons and months with specific holidays – should be prioritized in the examination of dust storm frequency. The purpose of this study was to examine and track the frequency of dust storms and analyze the effect of climactic changes on them through the investigation of drought trend as well as the trend of changes in the land surface coverage percentage during the statistical analysis period. The results of counting the dust codes showed that dust storms with local origin had the highest frequency. According to the monthly analysis, Sarakhs and Mashhad stations had the most dust phenomena, with the most dusty days in the study area during summer and spring seasons, especially June and July months. The results of regression analysis of drought index and the monthly local dusty days indicated the existence of a significant, positive relationship between dust increase and drought intensity in Mashhad and Sarakhs stations during the statistical period of 27 years at 99 percent confidence interval. Finally, in the light of the results obtained from the examination of the land surface changes, it is recommended that land use plans be used along with short-term methods of soil stabilization in order to reduce the economic damages and preserve people’s health against dust during busy months and seasons so as to achieve the goals of long-term methods.

Water resources management is essential in countries, such as Iran, with arid and semi-arid climates due to global climate change and population growth. Knowledge of hydrogeological droughts and effective factors on groundwater drawdown is essential in providing management solutions for these vital resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the trend of groundwater variations and assessment of groundwater shortage in the Karkheh Watershed using the SPEI, SDI and GRI drought indices in an eleven -year statistical period (2006-2017). The results indicated that in most of the study areas, there was a correlation between the SPEI and SDI indices. The mean values of the GRI index in the study area of Karkheh watershed area show weak drought for the Sanghar, Nahavand, Sahneh, Hersam, Khorramabad, Tuyserkan, Asadabad, Malayer, Biston-Dinavar, Mian Rahan and Hassanabad-Qala-e-Shian areas. A more severe drought with the drought indices of -1.08, -1.13, -1.21, -1.23, -1.25, -1.31 and -1.35 was determined for Chaghloundi, Kuhdasht, Kangavar, Islamabad Gharb, Ravansar-Sanjabi, Kermanshah and Mahidasht respectively. These indicates a decrease in the water level elevation and an increase in the depth to the groundwater in these areas. The GRI drought index is more visible during the ten-year statistical period in the east, west and center of the Karkheh Catchment Area; while in the last years of this period, the central areas of the catchment had been affected by more severe droughts, which may be confirmed by the SPI zoning map. Although in most cases climatic drought, and consequently hydrological drought had caused the depletion of groundwater level in the basin, the results of comparison between the two types of drought indicated the effectiveness of other factors such as exploitation of the groundwater resources. Therefore, it is necessary to establish an integrated management for the sustainability of groundwater resources, especially in the agricultural sector, as well as reforming the management of traditional groundwater abstraction systems, before meteorological droughts and subsequent surface water shortages affect groundwater levels.

Drought as one of the natural disasters has a major impact on parts of an ecosystem. Although it cannot be prevented, its negative effects can be mitigated by some measures. Considering the high importance of groundwater resources in the country, the study of hydrogeological droughts and factors affecting groundwater drawdown is essential for the management of these vital resources. In order to investigate the impact of droughts on each other, the groundwater level variations and evaluation of the groundwater drought in Karun watershed were analyzed using GRI and SDI drought indices over a ten-year statistical period (2008-2018). The results showed a correlation between GRI and SDI indices in most regions of the study areas. Although in some cases, the impact of hydrological drought on groundwater is delayed by 6 months to one year. Low correlation between two hydrological and groundwater drought indices and the high correlation between GRI and groundwater abstraction indicated that drawdown in the aquifers cannot be the sole cause of drought, rather, in some cases, excessive abstraction is more effective. Overall, the GRI indices are more obvious in the southeast and west of the Karun watershed during the ten-year statistical period. In the final years of this period the northern side of the basin has also been affected by more severe droughts, which also has a correlation with the values of the SDI indices.

Recently, Khuzestan province has been faced by dust storms with a higher mass concentrations and longer durations. Providing the water needed to irrigate the seedlings is one of the basic needs. The potential for runoff production at dust sources has been evaluated in the present paper. For this purpose, the volume and depth of runoff were determined based on the area's hydrologic soil group, vegetation cover and land use layers using the US Soil Conservation Organization (SCS-CN) method at the unit level of the studied areas.The results showed that most of the dust centers with an area of 643300 hectares are covered by barren lands with low vegetation and an area of 522,300 hectares is also included in the hydrological soil group C and D. The calculations derived from the amount of runoff generated in the dust center showed that in South East Dust Center of Ahvaz in the November to January quarter per hectare respectively 80, 120 and 95 cubic meters of water can be extracted. It is possible to produce runoff in the Omidieh-Hindijan dust center in December and January from about 60 to a maximum of 160 cubic meters per hectare, in Hoor Al-Azim-Khorramshahr dust center from 30 to about 80 cubic meters per hectare in the second half of the year and in the place of planting projects that the necessary arrangements must be made to manage the use of this possibility).

Wind erosion and sand dunes mobility has adverse environmental consequences. Identification of factors affecting sand dunes mobility and predicting their future status is essential to control the desertification process. Therefore, in the present study, the mobility of flowing sands in the southeast of Qazvin province has been studied and analyzed. For this purpose, hourly wind speed data, dust phenomenon code, rainfall and temperature of Buin Zahra station were used for the statistical period of 2006-2006. Rainfall and temperature data were used to calculate the rate of evapotranspiration Thornthwaite method. After calculating the percentage of erosive winds and aridity index, by using Lancaster index, the mobility of flowing sand in the southeast of Qazvin province was investigated and analyzed. Sensitivity analysis test was used to predict the effect of climate change on mobility of sand dunes. Results showed that sand dunes mobility was inactive in previous years and activated in recent years. Examining the relationship between the number of dusty days and the Lancaster index using two-variable linear regression showed that there was no strong and significant relationship in the study period between these two parameters, while a significant relationship between Lancaster index and aridity index. These results indicate that 42% of the changes in the Lancaster index were due to changes of the aridity index. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that if the average of the wind speed and evapotranspiration rate increased by 30% in future, or amount of precipitation decreased by 30%, the status of the sand dunes mobility would change from inactive to active and crossing this threshold could be the reforming of wind erosion activities in the area.

Sand dunes are one of the most important and sensitive wind erosion susceptible landforms whose activity varies depending on the severity of the impact of various climatic and terrestrial factors. Long-term monitoring of these factors, along with the mobility status of sand sands in different areas, can have a significant effect on reducing their adverse effects. One of the sensitive areas of wind erosion in northwest of Iran is sand dunes around Manjil city which is considered as a study area in the present study. The main objectives of this study are to investigate the effect of climatic conditions on the mobility of sand flows in this region as well as to predict the effects of climate change on the mobility of sand flows in Manjil. Hourly data related to climatic elements and dust events were used. The results showed that during the period of 1994-1996, the changes of dusty days and the mobility index of the sand flows in this downward region and the relationship between them were positive and significant. Also in the years 1995 to 1999, 2006 and 2008, Manjil has been in extreme danger of desertification and has declined sharply over time. The results also showed that on an annual scale, more than 90% of local winds were flowing at a speed of more than 11 m / s with the dominant northern direction in the study area. Based on the results of the sensitivity analysis, it was found that if the frequency of erosive winds or potential evapotranspiration decreased by at least 10% in the future, the Lancaster index would decrease from 249.9 to 194.6 and their fully active status would decrease. The situation will be more stable. It is also predicted that if these two climatic parameters are reduced by 30% simultaneously, the hills will remain active unless these factors are reduced to 40% simultaneously.

Climate change and human activities, including dams, are keywords in water resources management that directly affect water ‎exchanges between surface and groundwater resources. The purpose of this study is to determine the ‎contribution of human activities (dam construction) and climate change (hydrological drought) ‎on the water resources of the Karun River. For this purpose, the study area of Gotvand-Aghili was selected. By analyzing ‎the Iranian matrix, the effects of dam construction on water resources were determined. ‎The results showed that there are 6 and 4 negative effects ‎in the column and row respectively. However, the matrix shows that the consequence and impact of tourism development and ‎recreational activity and surface water quality are less than -3.1. Continuously, to determine the contribution of climate change in ‎water resources, hydrological and hydrogeological drought indices were calculated over ‎an 11-year statistical period. The results of comparing the electrical conductivity in the sampled points show a significant increase that was consistent with the ‎results of the Iranian matrix. Comparison of SDI and GRI indices shows that from ‎‎2012 to 2015, there was no hydrological and hydrogeological drought in the region, ‎and based on this, part of the aquifer decline can be considered as a result of the ‎construction of the Gotvand Olya Dam. ‎

in this research, the 80S bioactive glass with different Ca/P ratios was prepared by the sol-gel route. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to study the apatite structure and shape. According to the results, the 78SiO2–17P2O5–5CaO bioglass showed a higher rate of crys-talline hydroxyapatite (HA) on its surface in comparison with the other bioglasses. After 3 days of immersion in the SBF solution, spherical apatite was formed on the 78SiO2–17P2O5–5CaO surface, which demonstrated high bioactivity. A statistically significant promotion in proliferation and differentiation of G292 osteoblastic cells was also observed. Regarding its optimal cell viability and bioactivity, the 78SiO2–17P2O5–5CaO bioactive glass could be offered as a promising candidate for bone tissue applications.

Oil pollution in the pipelines transporting petroleum products is an inevitable consequence of population growth and industrialization of communities. In addition to negative environmental effects such as groundwater and soil contamination, it causes changes in the geotechnical properties of local soil. Changes in soil engineering properties can lead to soil rupture and poor performance of transmission lines. Therefore, this study intended to assess the effects of the oil pipeline in the north of Iran on the environment using environmental geotechnic parameters during operation. By analyzing the Iranian matrix, it was found that there were 5 negative effects and consequences in the row and column. The consequences in the column were related to the diversion of the river, creating dams, and spinning, while in the row, these were related to landslides and soil contamination. The results of laboratory studies to investigate the effect of soil contamination on geotechnical parameters showed that the uniaxial strength of samples is decreased by 22%. In addition, the analysis of soil rupture by PLAXIS software showed that by changing the angle of the reinforcements from 20 to 23 degrees, the slope reliability of the soil decreases to less than the minimum reliability in the regulations. Finally, it was suggested that in order to reduce the negative effects and consequences of the projects, the pipelines should not be crossed through forested and sloping areas as much as possible.

The most important structural factor that contributes to desertification is the appearance of salt domes. Due to its solubility and also the effect it can have on the quality of water and soil resources in the surrounding areas, its study is of special importance in agricultural projects and natural resources because it will reduce soil fertility and expand deserts. In this study, it has been tried to determine the quality of surface and groundwater and also to study the factors of geology, morphology, salt dynamics, and tectonic fractures around the Dashti salt dome and its relationship in desertification. The thickness of the salt column in the Dashti salt dome has been estimated at approximately 2,800 meters, and salt glaciers are affected by the topography of the dome (northeastern-southwest) from both sides and laid on the surrounding rocks. For this reason, low sediment is constantly threatened with contamination. Examining the dynamics of the dome, it was found that the balance between the amount of supply and the lack of salt in the desired salt dome is always established and plays an active and permanent role in the expansion of the desert around it. The flow of groundwater in the aquifers of the region is mainly controlled by the permeability of tectonic joints and faults around the dome and confirms the effect of the dome on the salinity of groundwater. Close activity to the surface of the Dashti salt diapir before the orogeny of Zagros is an important and fundamental factor in the destruction of the Kangan anticline soils and the expansion of desertification.

Considering the importance of groundwater resources in the country, the study of hydrogeological droughts and effective factors on groundwater drawdown is essential to provide management solutions of these vital resources. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the trend of groundwater variations and assessment of groundwater drought in the Zohreh- Jarrahi watershed using SDI and GRI drought indices in a ten-year statistical period (2006-2016). The results show that in most study areas, there is a correlation between GRI and SDI indices. However, in some cases, the effect of hydrological drought on groundwater was shown with the delay of 6 months to one year. In general, the GRI drought index is more prominent during the ten-year statistical period in the center and around the west of the Zohreh- Jarrahi watershed and in particular the Imamzadeh Jafar study area. Moreover, in the final years of statistical period, the study areas in the southeastern part of the region have also been affected by droughts which are also correlated with SDI values. In the year 2015- 2016, the groundwater of the Leishter study area, according to the GRI index, has a severe drought with a value of 1.60, and according to this indicator, the average drought in the same year with a value of 1.42 in the Fahlian study area occurred. Although, in most cases, the occurrence of climate drought and consequently hydrological droughts caused a groundwater drawdown in the watershed area, but the results of the comparison between the two types of drought indicate that other factors such as excessive groundwater withdrawal are also effective.

Dust, considered as one of the important causes of land degradation, covers extensive areas of the west part of Khorasan Razavi Province. Much of the dust can be stabilized with a type of vegetation, which depends on climatic factors mainly wind power and rainfall. Changes in these two factors affect other factors such as temperature, evaporation, relative humidity, which lead to drought and can have serious consequences for man and environment. The present study aims at the climatic factors affecting dust in the west of Khorasan Razavi Province. At first, yearly as well as monthly data were prepared for the meteorological stations, and then the relationships among the number of dusty days, climatic factors and drought index (SPI) were investigated. Moreover, drought severity index (DSI) was calculated to study the frequency and intensity of dust, and the regression coefficients of the indices were obtained. The investigation of the trend of climatic changes in almost three decades in the western cities of Khorasan Razavi indicated that the conditions were favorable for increasing dust. Additionally, the results showed that a significant positive correlation between the increase of dust and DSI on one hand and the days with horizontal visibility less than 200 m.

Male infertility is one of the most important subjects in medical sciences. It can cause private, social, and economic problems. Idiopathic male infertility is a situation where abnormal sperm parameters are created due to no specific cause and without definite standard treatment. Some herbal antioxidants can improve semen quality and assist infertile patients. We here report a case with idiopathic infertility who had been trying to have a child for 4 years, but he failed. A 33-year-old non-smoker, overweight man referral from urologist due to idiopathic infertility to the traditional medicine clinic. He had been trying to have a child for 4 years, and the first three years received antioxidant supplements but he was unsuccessful. Alpinia officinarum (Lesser galangal) rhizome in powder form was prepared and administered to the patient for three months. After the intervention, all the semen parameters were improved. A. officinarum has a high amount of galangin that has antioxidant effects. In this study, we showed that the spouse of an idiopathic infertile male becomes pregnant after receiving A. officinarum rhizome

Hair loss is a common problem among more than half of the world's population. The present study aimed to review and assess the etiologies, symptoms and basics of its treatment according to Persian medicine (PM). The main PM books including the Canon of Medicine, Zakhireh Kharazmshahi, Moalejat-e Aghili, Exir-e A’zam, Teb-e Akbari and Makhzan al-adviyah were searched and the related content on hair loss have been extracted. According to PM textbooks, the causes of hair loss can be divided into four categories: skin and hair nutrition disorders (low quality and quantity of nutrients, basal metabolism disorder, circulation of nutrients and skin absorption), skin pore problems (dilation and obstruction), inflammation, and environmental damage. To differentiate the above causes, several symptoms such as hair strand diameters, greasy or dry hair, the scalp condition at the affected area and general symptoms such as weakness and exhaustion were considered. In modern medicine sources, several causes are mentioned to be involved in the process of hair loss including nutritional disorders and anemia, hormonal disorders like thyroid problems, genetics and environmental factors. Applying topical oils of Myrtle, Emblic myrobalan, Myrobalan, Acacia, Oak gall, Lotus, and Violet, as well as the mucilage of marshmallow, common mallow, Psyllium and also labdanum along with nutrition correction and consumption of nutritious foods such as almond, currant and walnut based on the type of hair loss have been recommended. Considering that the causes of hair loss in PM and modern medicine are similar, it seems that therapeutic recommendations of PM provide a suitable ground for future studies.