seyed hossein mousavi

Since firefighting in high-rise buildings requires special equipment and expertise and is associated with many risks for residents and rescuers; the firefighting of these buildings has become one of the safety problems in megacities. Therefore, this study was conducted to identifying and ranking of critical factors affecting on fire safety in high-rise buildings in city of Karaj using the ANP-DEMATEL integrated approach.

In this descriptive study, six criteria including: 'firefighting regulations', 'fire safety training', 'policies and equipments management', 'review of previous incidents', 'attitudes of contractors in design and construction', as well as the 'speed of rescue operations' and 32 sub-criterias were identified from the similar studies and their screened using the Delphi technique. Then the criteria and sub-criteria of each criterion were subjected to pair wise comparisons and weighting. The internal relationships between the criteria were determined using DEMATEL technique; also, the final prioritization and weighting of the results were done using ANP and DEMATEL via the Super Decisions software. In so doing, 10 experts of Karaj Fire Protection Organization were selected in a non-probabilistic way to respond.

Based on the results obtained, 'speed of rescue operations' criterion with a final weight of 0.222 had assigned the first priority among the others. On the other hand, 'policies and equipments management' criterion, as the most influential criterion, has had the most interaction with other criterias. Also, the 'attitudes of contractors in design and construction' criterion was recognized as the most effective criterion. This is despite the fact that 'not using low-quality and cheap materials with the aim of more profit' sub-criterion with a final weight of 0.061 had the first priority among the sub-criterias.

In conclusion, it can be acknowledged that in order to increase the speed of operations, it is better to have enough fire stations in different parts of the city, and at the same time, special routes for traffic in crowded city centers should be considered for fire engines. At the same time, it is necessary to use the latest equipment and technologies in the world regarding the fire extinguishing of high-rise buildings and make sufficient investment in this regard. At the same time, there should be sufficient supervision in the construction stages, including the design and use of fire-resistant materials.

Iran is located in the dry belt of the earth and its rainfall is one third of the global average. Therefore, proper management of water resources is necessary, especially in the agricultural sector. For this purpose, in 2022, a research was conducted with the aim of investigating the effect of several soil amendments in Khorram Abad region, in the research farm of Lorestan University. The experiment was factorial with a randomized complete block design in three replications. Treatments were irrigation water at 4 levels of I1=100%, I2=80%, I3=60%, and I4=40% of the water requirement and different soil moisture amendments including vermicompost (C) 6 t/ha, biochar (B) 1.5 t/ha, superabsorbent (S) 63 kg/ha, and organic mulch (M) 7.5 t/ha and the control treatment (I). Results showed that the highest productivity, biological yield, and plant height were related to I1-C treatment, which were 126.71 t/ha, 46.27 t/ha and 2.35 meters, respectively. The highest water productivity and biological productivity at the probability level of 5% was I2-C, which was calculated as 16.79 kg of fresh fodder/m3 of irrigation water and 5.9 kg of dry matter/m3 water. In general, vermicompost and biochar also increased the fresh and biological yield, height, and water productivity of corn. The use of mulch in 100% and 80% treatments had better effect, but with the increase in water stress (i.e. I3 and I4), effect of mulch decreased (5.3% and 1% relative to the control). Superabsorbent in I100, I80, I60 treatments showed lower effect (9.3%,7.2%, 3% less fresh weight than the control, respectively). However, with increasing stress, I4 had better results (7.6% higher fresh yield than the control). Therefore, in Khorram Abad region, the amount of 6 t/ha of vermicompost and 80% of the water requirement applied by drip tape irrigation for fodder corn is recommended to increase the production rate while saving 20% of water consumption.

In order to investigate the effects of deficit irrigation and organic mulch on wet matter, dry matter, plant height, wet yield productivity, dry yield productivity and leaf area of corn forage (SC. 704) in Khorramabad region, an experiment based on the factorial experiment with a basic design of randomized complete blocks with three replications was conducted. The first factor of the experiment consisted of four levels of irrigation (100, 80, 60 and 40% of water requirements) and the second factor included three levels of organic mulch (no mulch (control), using 7.5 ton/hectare and 15 ton/hectare mulch). In this research, drip irrigation system (Tape) was applied and class A evaporation pan was used to determine the water requirement of the plant. The results showed that the mutual effects of deficit irrigation and organic mulch were significant at the 5% probability level. The maximum amount of wet matter (99.05 ton/ha), dry matter (31.15 ton/ha), plant height (2.38 m) and leaf area (7511cm2) were observed in the treatment of 100% water requirement and using mulch (15 ton/ha) which increased by 24.7%, 18.03%, 5.8% and 48.38% respectively compared to the control treatment. The maximum amount of water productivity for wet and dry matters were 14.56 and 4.57 kg/m3 which were obtained in the treatment of 80% water requirement and using mulch (15 ton/ha). The minimum amount of water productivity for wet and dry matters were 10.09 and 3.35 kg/m3 which were obtained in the treatment of 100% water requirement without using mulch.  Thus, in this region, irrigation based on 80% water requirement and using mulch (15 ton/ha) may cause improvement in corn forage yield.

Measuring preservative concentrations in food is crucial due to their potential health implications. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a reliable and validated analytical method for monitoring. This study focuses on the validation of a simple, sensitive and precise analytical approach using HPLC-DAD to concurrently assess sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate. The validation process resulted in exceptional outcomes, demonstrating strong linearity (R2 > 0.999), precision (RSD < 5%), and accuracy (recovery values ranging from 90.77% to 100.55%). Additionally, the method exhibited low limits of detection and quantification (0.8 and 2.65 mg L-1 for sodium benzoate, and 0.14 and 0.47 mg L-1 for potassium sorbate, respectively). The effectiveness of the validated method on different food metrics was shown by analyzing 110 samples of Olivier salad, dairy products and ketchup sauce from Mashhad, Iran. Comparison of the results with Iran's national standards revealed that the preservative concentrations in most samples were within the acceptable limits set by Iranian regulations.

Considering the significant increase in apoptosis in the elderly, which is related to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of aerobic exercise on some factors of apoptosis in elderly men was investigated.

This research was conducted using a semi-experimental method with 30 healthy elderly men aged 60 to 75 years. who voluntarily participated in this research project and were randomly divided into two experimental (15 people) and control (15 people) groups. The experimental group participated in aerobic exercises for 8 weeks (three sessions of 1 hour per week) based on the special recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for the elderly. The control group did not have any physical activity during this period. Serum caspase-8, P53 and IGF-1 were measured by ELISA method. Dependent t-test and independent t-test were used to check the intra-group and inter-group differences of variables. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20 software and the significance level was considered p≤0.05 in all steps.

The results showed that eight weeks of aerobic exercise increased the serum levels of caspase 8(P=0.0001) and decreased the serum levels of P53(P=0.0001) and IGF-1(insulin-like growth factor) (P=0.0001).

According to the findings of the present research, it seems that eight weeks of aerobic exercise significantly increases the serum levels of caspase 8 and decreases the serum levels of P53 and IGF-1 in elderly men. According to these results, more research is needed in this field.

Earthquake is a natural disaster severely affecting the societies’ health, hygiene, and welfare as such the most effective method to respond to its damages is to develop a readiness plan. This study aimed to discover thematic patterns and co‑author relationships extracted from relevant publications to plan an earthquake response.

This descriptive–analytical study adopted the scientometric approach and used word co‑occurrence and social network analysis. The published articles indexed in PubMed were retrieved from 1970 to 2021 using a combination of keywords “earthquake and response.” The data were analyzed in VOSviewer, UCINET, and NetDraw software.

The following six thematic clusters with a social map were extracted: Initial response of the healthcare system, response to probabilistic risks after the hazard, response to mental health and community resilience, response to public health, response to post‑traumatic stress disorders, and staff’s response to the needs assessment and continuity of diagnostic treatment services. Moreover, social network analysis revealed the great impact of Japanese and Chinese authors and institutes.

The present study detected many gaps in the literature on earthquake response, which can contribute to developing a general framework to prepare integrated healthcare earthquake response plans to promote the performance of this system.

Due to the severity of the earthquake, it may need immediate treatment and transfer of the injured people to advanced medical centers, as well as dispatch of the expert team and specialized health equipment to the accident‑affected area. Aerial emergency is an important responsibility of the health care system in this situation. The study aimed to extract the prehospital emergency challenges of Iran aerial operations emergency in response to the earthquake.

The study was qualitative content analysis with conventional approach. Sampling was done in a purposive method and data were collected through semi‑structured interview. The panel involved consists of 26 health professionals in medical emergencies. Recorded interviews were transcribed into written and then conventional content analysis was used to derive coding categories directly from the text data.

Content analysis is provided 97 initial codes, 20 subcategories and 4 main categories including challenges of “response assessment,” “support,” ”pre‑hospital staff‑management,” and “response operation,” respectively.

The results showed that the necessity to assess the affected area, staffing, and management actions, including integrated operations command and the development of a dedicated response plan, as well as the use of strategies inter‑organizational coordination in the response phase to earthquake. This study also emphasized that providing standard equipment, support actions, and strengthening communication infrastructure, and updating the aerial emergency system should be considered as one of the priorities of the emergency organization of Iran to provide a desired response to the earthquake.

Poultry, like many animals, uses enzymes for the digestion of feed. To overcome the undesirable effects of deleterious factors and improve digestion of feed, enzymes are used as supplements in feed formulation. Supplementation of feed with definite enzymes enhances its nutritive value, thereby increasing the effectiveness of digestion. Enzymes are the most important and useful additives in the animal feed industry. Xylanases are widely used in the animal feed industry. Pretreatment of animal feed with xylanases increases the nutritional value and digestion in ruminants. In this study, metagenomic data of bovine rumen were explored and then a thermostable xylanase gene was identified using TAXyl software and named PersiXyn9. The laboratory tests were carried out to determine the enzymatic activity. Protein expression was done in E. coli (BL21) and a Nickel column was used for protein purification. The biochemical parameters of the enzyme showed the optimal activity at 50℃, and the optimum pH of 6. Kinetic values, Km and Vmax, for this enzyme were calculated to be 1.18 mg/ml and 206.78 μmol min-1mg-1 respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the activity of the enzyme on poultry feed at 50℃ represent the high efficiency of the xylanase as an additive in the poultry feed industry.

Nowadays, high-level aminoglycosides and ampicillin resistant Enterococcus species are among the most common causes of nosocomial infections. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of high-level resistance to aminoglycosides and ampicillin among clinical isolates of Enterococcus species in Ardabil, Iran.

In this cross–sectional study, a total of 111 Enterococcus species were collected from different clinical specimens between 2013 and 2015. Enterococcus species were identified using standard phenotypic and genotypic methods. BHI agar screen and agar dilution methods were used for detection of high-level gentamicin and streptomycin resistance (HLGR and HLSR) and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ampicillin, respectively.

Of 111 clinical isolates, 59 (53.2%) and 25 (22.5%) isolates were E. faecalis and E. faecium, respectively, based on the PCR results. Totally, 60.3% and 56.7% of isolates were HLGR and HLSR, respectively, as well as 51.35% were HLGR plus HLSR. Among HLGR isolates, 36 (61.01%), 18 (72%) and 13 (48.14%) were E. faecium, E. faecalis and non-faecalis non-faecium species, respectively. Among HLSR isolates, 33 (55.93%), 16 (64%) and 14 (51.85%) were E. faecalis, E. faecium and non-faecalis non-faecium species, respectively. All HLGR isolates contained aac(6´)Ie-aph(2″)Ia gene. Overall, the prevalence of high-level ampicillin resistance among Enterococcus species was 17.1%. For E. faecalis, E. faecium and non-faecalis non-faecium species, ampicillin resistance rates were as follows: 11 (40.74%), 7 (28%) and 1 (1.69%), respectively. For aminoglycoside antibiotics, the resistance rate was significantly higher in E. faecium isolates and for ampicillin it was higher in E. faecalis isolates.

The frequency of high-level aminoglycoside resistant enterococcal isolates in our hospital was high and significant ampicillin resistance was noticed. This would require routine testing of enterococcal isolates for HLAR and ampicillin susceptibility.

INTRODUCTION: Emotional intelligence (EI) and self‑efficacy are important factors that lead to success in work, life, and education. Various studies assessed the relationship between EI and well‑being, performance, and self‑efficacy in educational levels, but this topic has been rarely assessed in the occupational and administrative environments. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between EI and self‑efficacy among administrative staffs of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. METHODS: The study employed a descriptive‑correlational design and was conducted in six deputies supervised by the Kerman University of Medical Sciences in 2019, and 275 participants were selected using a census method. The research data were collected using the Goleman’s EI framework with a reliability coefficient of α = 0.87 and Sherer General Self‑Efficacy Scale with a reliability coefficient of α = 0.78. Data analysis was performed through Kolmogorov–Smirnov, analysis of variance, Tukey, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient techniques at P < 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The mean score of EI was 98.8 ± 11.1 and the mean score of self‑efficacy was 60 ± 7.17. There was a significant positive relationship between the scores of EI and self‑efficacy. In addition, the findings indicated a positive significant correlation between self‑efficacy with self‑awareness, self‑regulation, and social skills. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study confirm that EI has positive relationships with administrative personnel’s self‑efficacy. Therefore, implications of the findings can help in the selection, training, counseling, and retention of administrative personnel to the improvement of medical sciences universities’ occupational performance.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most common cause of death among patients with end‑stage renal disease especially whom under hemodialysis (HD). Stromal cell‑derived factor‑1 (SDF‑1) and its receptor CXC chemokine receptor type‑4 (CXCR4) could contribute to CVD. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the association between SDF‑1 and CXCR4 with CVD and its related risk factors in patients under HD.

Sixty patients under HD and 29 healthy subjects were recruited in the study. The serum levels and relative messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of SDF‑1 and CXCR4 were measured using enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay and real‑time polymerase chain reaction in patients and controls, respectively. CVD history of the patients was obtained.

Twenty patients (33.3%) had a history of CVD. The mean levels of serum and relative mRNA expressions of SDF‑1 and CXCR4 were higher in patients than controls and also in patients with a history of CVD than patients without it. The serum levels and relative expressions of SDF‑1 and CXCR4 were positively correlated with blood urea nitrogen, parathyroid hormone, and high‑sensitivity C‑reactive protein and inversely correlated with hemoglobin. The history of CVD was the independent predictor of serum levels of SDF‑1 and CXCR4 and also relative mRNA expression of CXCR4.

The higher levels of serum and relative mRNA expressions of SDF‑1 and CXCR4 were associated with CVD in patients under HD. Furthermore, SDF‑1 and CXCR4 were associated with several traditional and uremia-related CVD risk factors in such patients.

Research has shown that the type of attentional instructions plays a vital role in performance and learning of various skills, including balance skills and postural control. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of internal and external (close & far) attentional focus on the static and dynamic balance of chemical veterans with movement impairment.

This research is quasi-experimental. The subjects were 30 chemical veterans with movement impairment who were referred to a military hospital in Tehran in 2017 were selected using Krejcie & Morgan sampling method and participated in the study. Test assignments included stork (static balance) and a balance beam test (dynamic balance), which was performed 12 times for both states of balance and 4 states (internal focus, far external attention, close external attention, and control).

The results of variance analysis with repeated measurements (ANOVA) showed that the participants in both circumferences of external (close & far) attentional focus (P=0.001) had a better static and dynamic balance than the internal and control conditions. 

The finding of the present study supports constrained-action hypothesis and explicit processing hypothesis and shows that focusing on the effects of movement in the environment improves the motor's performance of chemical veterans with movement impairment in the static and dynamic balance task.

Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major are the causative agents of Anthroponotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) and Zoonotic Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ZCL) in various areas of Iran, respectively. Yazd province is one of the endemic centers of ZCL. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and predict the effects of the climate change on the potential scattering of the vector and reservoir species of ZCL disease in Yazd province, as one of the endemic centers of ZCL in Iran in the present (1950-2000) and prospective time (2030).

According to the findings of prior studies conducted in Yazd province, the data related to the vectors and reservoir of the ZCL were collected and recorded in the databank. ArcGIS 10.3 and MaxEnt software were used to estimate the suitable ecological niches using 19 variables. In this study, Beijing Climate Center Climate System Model and scenario of  Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 were applied with respect to 2030 horizon.

According to results of Jackknife test, the climate variables of Bio8 & Bio6 for the current period, and climate variables of Bio8 & Bio7 for the future (2030) produced the most effects on the distribution of vector and reservoir species in Yazd province. These results indicated that temperature had the greatest impact on the vector’s distribution in the present and future. Currently, eastern and central areas of the province are more likely to receive most of the vector and reservoir species. It is anticipated that in the future, we will observe an increase in the presence of vector in the western districts and reservoirs in the northern and central regions of the province. 

Climate conditions provide suitable habitats for easy transfer of ZCL disease in Yazd province. This research confirmed that suitable climatic conditions for the vector and reservoir will be expanded in coming years in comparison with the current period.

The present research aimed to compare and follow-up the effect of 8-week corrective exercises with and without the myofascial release on functional kyphosis deformity in young adults. It was a randomized controlled trial in the university laboratory. Forty-five male students suffering from abnormal hyperkyphosis deformity (kyphosis of more than 42°) were selected and randomly assigned to three groups: corrective exercises, combinational exercises (corrective and myofascial release), and control. The Mean±SD age, height, and weight of the study sample were 22.12±2.88 years, 175.44±6.80 cm, and 71.21±7.31 kg, respectively. The study groups did the exercises for 8 weeks, under the direct observation of the researchers. The kyphosis angle of the participants was measured using a flexible ruler, at the baseline, post-test, and follow-up (4 weeks after the end of the exercises) stages. The collected data were analyzed with repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) tests. After 8 weeks of exercises, the degree of kyphosis in the post-test and follow-up stages was significantly lower than that in the pre-test, in both training groups. The results of the ANCOVA test demonstrated that the thoracic kyphosis degree in the combinational exercises group was significantly lower than that of the corrective exercises group (P≤0.05), in the post-test and follow-up stages. According to the results, the corrective exercises program in combination with the myofascial release is more effective than the corrective exercises alone, in correcting the thoracic kyphosis deformity.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the antioxidative effect of metformin (MTF) on bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced hepatic disorder and histological damage in rats. The rats were divided into 4 groups including sham control (SC), BDL alone (BDL surgery), MTF1 (BDL surgery and administration of 250 mg/kg of MFM) and MTF2 (BDL surgery and administration of 500 mg/kg of MTF). After BDL, the animals treated with MTF by gavage for 10 days. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, biochemical analysis and oxidative stress markers were assayed to determine histological alterations, liver functions, and oxidant/antioxidant status. Hepatotoxicity was verified by remarkable increase in plasma levels of aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase activity and liver histology 10 days after the BDL surgery. Our finding showed that treatment with MTF markedly reduced plasma alkaline phosphatase and alleviated liver injury indices (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, BDL caused a considerable increase in the protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde content (P ≤ 0.05). However, MTF reduces oxidative stress by constraining the protein oxidation and lipid peroxidation, and increases antioxidant reserve by increasing the ferric reducing ability of plasma and reducing glutathione levels. MTF exerts antioxidative effects in the liver fibrosis and may represent a hepato-protective effect when given to rats with BDL-induced hepatic injury.

Attention to productivity in universities and the variables in this process can be effective in promoting the skills of university administrators. So the purpose of this study is to determine the challenges that administrators in open and distance universities encounter and then provide remedial strategies in these universities according to the findings.

This is a descriptive-correlational study. The statistical population includes all administrators of open and distance universities in Tehran in the academic year of 2017. The sample size is 246 who were selected through available sampling. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS and Lisrel software.

The results of study show that there are some factors that are the causes of challenges in the productivity of managers. These factors include: the low level of job doing quality, inefficiency of organizational structures, the weakness of administrative system, the lack of meritocracy in management, the lack of trust between managers and employees, lack of proper and up-to-date training on productivity, lack of long-term vision in management, lack of clarity of missions in the organization, lack of employee’s morality, and reducing the employee’s participation system within the organization.

This model can provide a boost to the efficiency of open and distance university managers. This model should improve the quality level of doing things, operationalize inefficacy of organizational structure, weak management systems, lack of merit in management in open and distance universities. All distance and virtual universities, such as medical science, state, Azad, scientific-practical, and nonprofit universities can benefit the results of this study

In this work, an efficient photocatalyst based on β-cyclodextrin-glycine-modified TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-Gly-βCD NPs) was successfully synthesized. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared TiO2-Gly-βCD was tested on the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) dyes. The enhanced surface properties of TiO2-Gly-βCD photocatalyst generated excellent photocatalytic performance for the photocatalytic degradation of dyes in aqueous solution. These were strongly attributed to the presence of the functional hydroxyl groups and the inner cores of the hydrophobic cavity in β-CD to form inclusion complexes with organic molecules. As compared to the pure TiO2 and TiO2 modified by Gly, the dye degradation rate under UV irradiation was considerably enhanced by TiO2/Gly/βCD as a photocatalyst. In addition, the sonocatalytic degradation of dyes was investigated, and it was found that the ultrasonic waves slightly enhanced the degradation time of dyes. The results indicated that the first-order kinetic model well describes the degradation of MB and MO dyes by TiO2-Gly-βCD. Furthermore, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) values were determined for real industrial wastewater and treated wastewater.

The purpose of this research is to recognize the effect of knowledge and literacy on mothers’ attitude about their teenagers’ social training. In the present research the comparative-casual and measurable method is used and the mentioned society includes all of the mothers who had participated in a literacy campaign courses such as preliminary, complementary and conclusive and have the teenagers who were from 12to 16years old. The instruments of research are made of researcher’s questionnaire. This questionnaire is distributed between the sample people of research in 1385. These people include mothers who had cooperated with performing the questionnaire and were chosen with the cluster sampling method; and the number of them has been 345 in each 3courses. For analyzing the collected information, used the correlation of coefficient Pearson, one factor analysis of variance, Khido and Tukey’s following test and obtained results showed that there is a direct relation between knowledge and literacy about teenagers’ social training(P<./.1). The achievement of increasing new-literacy mothers’ knowledge is consists of applying information and obtaining knowledge for training children. The process of applying mothers’ knowledge for training children means that knowledge has changed the aspects of attitude about their training’s function and also the attitudes is affected on mothers’ function for training of their children.

Managed lanes have important role in promoting passenger mobility with higher speed and reliability. High occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV) provide priority treatments for public transportation and are steps toward designing and operating facilities to promote ridesharing and bus using, not just providing space for single-occupant vehicles. On the other hand, evaluation of the performance of Bus Rapid Transit systems (BRT) in Tehran highways indicates the inefficiency of exclusive lane dedicated to buses. In order to transfer more passengers instead of more vehicles, can be used combination of BRT and HOV in highways. For this purpose, one of the congested highways in peak hours which has standards of implementation of the HOV lanes was selected as pilot project and after the simulation of various scenarios, the optimum scenario of authorized users, and stations along the route is proposed.

The first months of 2011 were witnessing the arrival of the new wave of Middle East movements to Syria, a phenomenon which disturbed the relatively calm Syrian society. So far, therehas not been any consensus among political analysts with regards to the root causes of the Syrian crisis, unlike Tunisian and Egyptian cases. While some analysts call this phenomenon asocial riot, others call it revolution or even a soft regime change. However, the Syrian case like many other Middle Eastern cases where the showcase of social creativities were present with the help of internal as well as external factors in the post cold war era, and of which some have been exploited by the Western actors, is worth to be investigated in terms of the specifics of its internal as well as external contributors. This paper tries to review first of all the social and structural elements which have paved the way to the emergence of the new wave of people's protest in Syria. Then, it will touch upon the measures taken by the Syrian Government in order to overcome the crisis and pacify the social environment. Finally, the paper discusses about the policy response consequences and the fact that how it may contribute to the obstacles and difficulties that the Syrian Government faces with.

The water rich, fertile and strategic region of Golan is the only region which is located in beyond green line border (1948 border) and still occupied by the Zionist regime. It was occupied in 1967 and the battle to free it in 1973 was not successful. From that time on, withdrawal from this region has been an issue betweenSyriaand the Zionist regime. This paper studies the place of theGolan Heightsin security of the Zionist regime in terms of strategic location, water sources and population. The purpose of the current paper is identification of the above factors in security of the Zionist regime. Can withdrawal from this region serve security of this regime as it was the case by the treaty between the regime andEgypt,Jordanand the Palestinian Autonomous Authority or the advantages of this region will make withdrawal costly for the Zionist regime?

While the US– Syria summit conference failed to contribute to peace negotiations betweenSyriaandIsraelin 2000, the official negotiations restarted indirectly inTurkeyin the Spring of 2008. Since May 19, up to 23 December of 2008, six rounds of negotiations took place and after a short interval, with the Israeli attack onGazathe negotiations stopped unilaterally bySyria. Given the Syrian role as the balancer in the region and as the aim of these negotiations is liberation of theGolan Heights, it is important to consider the trend of negotiations and predict the future. Therefore, the paper aims to survey and consider the foundations and trends as well as complexities of negotiations and finally illustration of the possible impacts of the negotiations on the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In this paper, the security arrangements and models in thePersian Gulfis discussed from the beginning of its security system along with its triple dimensions. However, it is mentioned that theories of Dependency and Imperialism do not suffice to explain those arrangements and therefore, paying due regard to the dichotomy derived from Realism and Liberalism is needed. In this way, while considering the approaches of theUSAand theUK, the two interventionist power in the region, the author is addressing different understandings of security arrangements by all the actors involved. This paper concludes with the discussion of possible opportunities and options forIranto evolve this system.

Due to the fact that Israel grants serious attention on securing its interests in the Middle East, its military buildup and presence have increased over time, which deems it necessary to analyse the different aspects of its security threats in the area. The present article while stressing a direct relationship between Israeli interests and its actions in the region, emphasizes that the expansionism exercised is related to the survival of the Israeli state.The questions raised and answered in this article are: what are the new security threats of Israel? Can these threats destabilize the political balance of the region?In order to analyze the new threats, the military structure of Israel is evaluated in this article.