سعید مهدوی

In order to investigate the effect of irrigation regimes and amounts of humic acid on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of peanuts, an experiment was conducted a split in a randomized complete block design. It was performed with three replications in the cropping years of 2018 and 2019 in Astana-Ashrafieh city of Guilan province. Experimental treatments included irrigation regime (rainfed and water requirement of 60, 80 and 100%) as the first factor and humic acid (without fertilizer, 3, 6 and 9 L.ha-1) as the second (secondary) factor. The results showed that the interaction of irrigation and humic acid on biological yield and pod and grain yield was significant. The highest grain yield was obtained in the irrigation treatment of 100 and 80% of water requirement and with the use of humic acid 9 L.ha-1 with an average of 2562 and 2526 kg.ha-1, respectively. Biological yield under 80 and 100% water requirement was 6714 and 6772 kg.ha-1, respectively. The highest biological yield was observed in different amounts of humic acid in treatments of 9 L.ha-1 at the amount of 7436 kg.ha-1. Pod yield in the treatment of 80 and 100% of water requirement were 2427 and 2435 kg.ha-1, respectively. The lowest and highest pod yields in different amounts of humic acid were in the treatments without fertilizer and 9 L.ha-1 with an average of 1453 and 2706 kg.ha-1, respectively. Treatment of 80% of plant water requirement and the amount of humic acid consumed at 9 L.ha-1 with an average of 745.5 kg.ha-1, had the highest rate compared to other treatments. According to the research results, the use of humic acid 9 L.ha-1 can be suggested by providing 80% of water requirement as suitable conditions for the study area.

In addition to reducing the consumption of various resources such as water, energy, and wood, paper recycling is constantly increasing in different countries due to less pollution. One of the major defects of the old corrugated container (OCC) is its relatively weak strength, which has limited its use in various sections of the packaging industry. In this study, the effect of using some additives was studied to improve the strengths of OCC to make the top liner of cartons in both wet and dry conditions. OCC was prepared from domestically produced cartons. To determine the performance and optimal amount of additives, corn cationic starch (at 1, 1.4 and, 2%), wet strength resin (at 1, 2 and, 3%), AKD (at 1, 2 and, 3%), and imported tea envelope recycled long fiber paper (at 10, 15 and, 20%) were separately used as additives based on the dry weight of OCC pulp. The handsheets made by laboratory sheet former with a basis weight of 120 g/m2 and then tensile, burst, and tear indices were measured at wet and dry conditions to compare the effect of additives. Also, water absorption was measured by the Cobb test on the test samples. The optimal level of each additive was determined based on the results, then handsheets made from optimal combination treatment including appropriate levels of all additives, and different properties of handsheets were statistically compared. The water absorption of handsheet was decreased by 90% compared to the control by adding AKD. This additive was able to decline the water absorption of handsheet made from OCC to about 20 g/m2 as the suitable range. The greatest increase of wet tensile strength of the handsheet was achieved using 3% wet strength resin compared to the control. The resin maintained the wet tensile, burst, and tear indices of the residual strength of handsheet by 25, 46, and 58%, respectively, compared to dry strengths so it has good performance. The results showed that by adding cationic corn starch and recycled long fiber paper, all the dry strengths of handsheet independently increased compared to the control. The optimal combination treatment was determined according to the independent use of additives in OCC pulp, including 1% cationic starch, 1% AKD, and 3% wet strength resin based on technical-economic considerations. There is no significant difference between dry tensile and burst strength of handsheet using this treatment and 20% recycled long fiber paper, which both means ranked statistically in the same group.  The use of 20% recycled long fiber paper of tea wrapper has significantly improved the dry strength of OCC pulp, but adding 1% cationic corn starch to OCC pulp caused a few increases of dry strength. The wet strength of handsheet was significantly improved by adding 3% wet strength resin whereas 1% AKD significantly decreased the water absorption of the OCC pulp to 14 g/m2. The optimal combination treatment of chemical additives including 1% cationic corn starch, 1% AKD, and 3% wet strength resin improved the wet and dry strength of handsheet made from OCC pulp that could be used for packaging products that should be kept in refrigerator and freezer.

The production of stone paper as a product with unique characteristics such as waterproofness, resistance to bursting and appropriate rupture, as well as due to the reduction of water consumption, energy and greenhouse gas emissions during the production process, is expanding. In this article, the characteristics, production process, applications, development process and general comparison of stone paper with paper are reviewed. Due to its advantages such as very low water absorption, good printability and lower cost, this product has been proposed as a competitive product with conventional cellulose papers in the packaging, printing and publishing industries, especially labels. However, due to the different structure of paper, mixing with it can cause problems in the normal paper recycling cycle. Higher density, lower tensile strength, degradability under sunlight and ultraviolet light and the presence of polyethylene, are the main disadvantages of stone paper, which poses challenges in the application of this product. Paper stone recycling and using biodegradable polymers and UV-resistant additives and arrangements to separate it from recycled paper, will provides the possibility to replace it with some more paper products. Knowing the appropriate applications of this new product and the target markets, considering the reasonable price of its raw materials and availability in Iran and unique features of this product seems essential. The justification and success of new investments in the production of stone papers from the economic, technical, marketing and environmental terms is due to the knowledge that it reduces the risk of wasting the country's capital and problems in the paper recycling industry.

Paper recycling currently is considered one of the most important solutions for the environmental and sustainable production of paper products. In addition to reducing the consumption of various resources such as water, energy, and virgin fibers using this process, the paper recycling rate is continuously increasing in different countries due to less pollution. Most of the recycled paper is usually used to produce packaging paper and board. Paper and paperboard should not only possess dry-strength, but also must be able to provide the required strength at wet condition for the packaging of products that need to be kept in the cold and freezer condition. For this purpose, different procedures such as refining and additives can be used. This research investigates the independent effect of each factor as well their interaction effect in order to improve the characteristics of office deinked pulp (DIP) for producing packaging paperboard.

DIP was obtained from Latif Paper Company. After refining the pulp to SR = 30, additives including cationic corn starch (at the levels of 1, 1.4, 2, and 3w%), wet strength resin (at the levels of 1, 2, and 3w%), and AKD (at the levels of 1, 2, and 3w%) were separately added to the pulp suspension based on the dry weight of pulp in order to manufacture handsheets with the basic weight of 120 g/m2. In order to compare and determine the effect of optimum treatment of the additives on the treated pulp, tests i.e. water absorption, tensile strength, burst and tear strength of the handsheets, as well as wet strength retention and absolute wet strength retention were measured. The relative retention strength was measured after determining the independent effect of each treatment on the tensile strength, burst, and tear strength of handsheets in both wet and dry conditions. The effect of optimal combination treatment on the characteristics of handsheets was investigated and compared, when the optimal values of each independent treatment were determined.

The independent effect of refining on the strength of handsheets made from DIP is statistically significant in the dry conditions. The results indicated that using 2w% cationic corn starch in the refined pulp could induce better performance in the term of increasing the strength of handsheets in dry conditions, specifically the tear strength, compared to the independent refining factor. Using wet strength resin and AKD also represented a significant increase in the strength of handsheets in the wet conditions and also a significant decrease in the water absorption compared to the control sample, respectively. Using of refining and optimal combination treatment of additives including 2w% cationic corn starch, 3w% wet strength resin, and 1w% AKD simultaneously caused a significant improvement in the wet and dry strength, and water absorption of handsheets.

All the properties of the handsheets were improved with the applying of optimal combination treatment including the refining of DIP and adding additives at the same time compared to the control sample, so it could be used for the packaging of products that should be stored in the refrigerator and freezer. The strengths of handsheets in the dry conditions are superior compared to the standard strength of bleached kraft paper according to the Iran national standard no. 2875 except for tear strength. The measurement of absolute relative retention wet strength demonstrated that the performance of the combination treatment is very suitable compared to other previous research reports. The combination treatment significantly has reduced the paper water absorption by 22 g/m2, which is suitable for paper storage in the freezer.

 In this study, black poplar (Populus nigra) cut from Zanjan province was used in two age groups of 18 and 38- year-old. Timbers with thicknesses of 4, 5 and 6 cm were prepared from each age group. The prepared timbers were modified during the heat treatment process (Thermowood) at a constant temperature of 212 °C. Experimental samples were obtained from the surface and middle depth of heat-treated timbers. Heat-treated and control wood samples were subjected to accelerated weathering for 150 hours. Color lightness (L*), color difference (ΔΕ*) and water droplet contact angle were measured for heat-treated and control samples before and after weathering. In order to investigation of the wettability content, the method of measuring the contact angle of the water drop - static according to the ASTM D 5946 standard was used. In general, before weathering, the brightness of the heat-treated samples decreased compared to the control sample, but after weathering, the color lightness of the control samples decreased and the color lightness of the heat-treated samples increased. Also, the content of color difference of samples after weathering compared to before weathering showed a significant decrease statistically. Heat treatment increased the contact angle of water droplets of the samples 60.31% and the contact angle of water droplets of the heat-treated and control samples increased significantly after weathering compared to before weathering.

The purpose of this study is to identify and explain the main factors measuring agility in the mining industry as the most important non-oil industry in the country. This research is an applied research in terms of purpose and a combined research in terms of method. The statistical population of the research in the qualitative and quantitative sections includes the experts, intellectuals and scholars of the country's mining industry. The methods of data collection are questionnaires and surveys. In the qualitative section, first, through finding related research articles by the meta-combination method, 124 sources are selected and 16 criteria for measuring agility are identified. These include communications (information technology), customer orientation, coordinated planning, staff skills development, process integration, customer satisfaction, flexibility, product quality, cost reduction, market sensitivity and responsiveness, innovation, new product launches, delivery speed, technology changes, training and learning and trust. With a survey of 20 experts in the country's mining industry by the fuzzy Delphi method, 8 main factors are extracted, validated and screened from the listed criteria, namely, the product quality, market responsiveness, delivery speed, flexibility, reduction costs, innovation, customer orientation, communications and information technology. These indicators are then evaluated and prioritized by the DANP method and the identified factors are classified into four levels and two dependent/independent groups using the interpretive structural modeling and micro-analysis. The findings show that customer orientation is an essential element of supply chain agility that reduces the costs and increases the innovation. Cost reduction and improved innovation in turn, affect flexibility, product quality and communications. Furthermore, flexibility, product quality and communications factors affect the responsiveness and the speed of delivery. Finally, the delivery speed and the market responsiveness lead to the desired supply chain agility.

This study was carried out to compare the individual and combined effects of nanolignocelluloses (NLC), cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM), cationic starch (CS) and imported chemical long fiber (LF) in the manufacture of recycle liner and fluting paper for packaging. Individual treatments of OCC were included 15% LF, 6% NLC, 1.5% CS and 0.15% CPAM as addetives. Combined treatments were included 6% NLC and 1.5% CS, 6% NLC and 0.15% CPAM. Handsheets were made with grammage of 127 g/m2 by application the mentioned treatments. Finally, the physical, mechanical properties and microscopic structure of handsheet were investigated. The results showed that addition of LF and NLC caused the density of handsheets decreased compared to the control. The individual and combined treatments led to increasing the tensile and burst strength of handsheet. Also, the tear strength of handsheet increased compared to the control except for the combined treatment of NLC and CS. FE-SEM images showed pores relative reduction in handsheet that prepared from combination treatments. It showed negative effect on water drainage. The addition of 6% NLC and 0.15% CPAM to OCC pulp resulted in the highest crush strengths as RCT and CMT compared to the control. SEM micrographs showed relatively reduced pores in handsheets prepared from combined treatments, which could have negative effect on the dewatering of OCC pulp.

One of the main challenges of tunnel excavation in urban areas is subsidence control, which can affect surface and underground structures. Nowadays, the performance of the umbrella arch system is accepted as an effective solution for controlling subsidence and tunnel excavation in conditions where face of tunnel is unstable. In this research, using the Birgel tunnel instrumentation data and its construction method, the numerical model has been calibrated and the three scenarios of cantilever beam, critical strain and reinforced zone have been investigated applying numerical simulation. The first scenario showed that if the internal forces of the pile element are examined, the stability factor 1 should be used as the design criterion. In the second scenario, using the level there of Sakurai warning is proposed as a design criterion. In the third scenario, relationships are developed to calculate the geometry and geomechanical parameters of the reinforced zone considering the second scenario. Based on the analysis results, the internal friction angle in the reinforced zone could be kept unchanged and just the modulus of deformation and cohesion in the reinforced zone are raised up according to the proposed relationships.

This study was performed in order to compare the independent and combined effects of four types of additives including cellulose nanofibers, cationic polyacrylamide, cationic starch, and imported long fiber pulp in the handsheet prepared from office waste paper. Independent treatments included the addition of 15% long fiber pulp, 3% cellulose nanofibers, 0.75% cationic starch and 0.07% cationic polyacrylamide. Combination treatments included firstly addition of 0.75% starch and then 3% cellulose nanofibers, and also 0.07% cationic polyacrylamide and 3% cellulose nanofibers. Handsheets with grammage of 60 g/m2 were made from seven furnishes and finally the physical, mechanical and microscopic structures of the handsheet were investigated. The results showed that addition of long fiber pulp, cationic starch, cationic polyacrylamide and cellulose nanofibers slightly reduced the density of handsheets compared with the control. The highest surface smoothness was achieved using combined treatments of cellulose nanofibers, which could improve the printability of the paper, but decreasing the air permeability and reducing the water drainage of the sheet by adding cellulose nanofibers could cause problems on paper and printing machines. Tensile, burst and tear indices of handsheets had the highest increase by the addition of 15% long fiber pulp, and then using 0.75% cationic starch improved the strength compared with other treatments. Electron microscopy images showed a relative reduction of porosity in the handsheets made from cellulose nanofibers, which could have negative effects on water drainage of recycled pulp.

Summary:

The effect of slope wall curvature in three dimensions has been investigated using the finite difference approach (FLAC3D). An elliptical pit model with curvatures between 8 and 320 meters is modeled by geomechanical parameters of Choghart mine and has been analyzed under static load and a harmonic seismic load. The results obtained from the observation of co-elevation points on a single bench and elevation points show that static and dynamic displacement increases up to 2 times by increasing the radius of curvature and the dynamic acceleration increases up to 35 percent in larger curvature radiuses. The acceleration amplification factor (AF) has also been studied at different points and altitudes, the value of which varies between 0.3 and 1.2 depending on the radius of curvature.

Evaluating the static and seismic stability of rock and soil slopes in civil and mining applications has been a significant concern for geotechnicians. The limited seismic studies have focused only on the parameters of the earthquake source, while, the site effects including topography and material stiffness contrast, have received less attention. Among topographical effects, a few studies were donated to the slope curvature and were mainly on the slope crest curvature in two dimensions. This study mainly focused on the topographical effect of the slope curvature in three-dimension.

Methodology and Approaches:

In this research, an elliptical pit is simulated, using a 3D finite-difference code (Flac3D). The wall curvature radius (R) varies from 8 to 320 meters. The dynamic analyses were performed after verifying dynamic consideration under a harmonic seismic load representing the typical seismicity of the region, with a PGA of 0.5g and frequency of 5Hz. The displacement and acceleration of the models on one elevation and vertical direction were then monitored and plotted to observe the trend of displacement and acceleration versus curvature horizontally and vertically. Ultimately, the acceleration amplification factor variation was examined against curvature for both horizontal and vertical directions.

 The static simulations showed that the displacement on a constant elevation for the pit would decrease 40 percent, from the curvature radius of 8 to 320 meters. This declination is due to the confinement stress in a smaller curvature radius. According to the dynamic analysis results, by increasing curvature radius on equal elevations, the displacement and acceleration would increase due to the steeper slopes at the points with a larger curvature radius. Where the acceleration would vary in the range of 0.4g to 0.55g.The dynamic results show that the confining pressure has a greater effect on displacement than acceleration. Despite the lower acceleration at points with a smaller radius of curvature, a greater amount of displacement is recorded at these points. The main reason is the lower confinement pressure in these locations. Results depicted that the acceleration amplification factor (AF) would be a function of curvature radius, varying between 0.3 and 1.2, due to its concave geometry.

Kenaf is one of the most successful industrial plants for cultivation in Iran due to its unique properties for papermaking. The present research was conducted in order to supply virgin fiber for corrugated board to compensate shortage of wood in Iran. Harvest age is one of the important technical-economic aspects, so sampling was done from Cuban type of kenaf at three harvest ages of 5, 6 and 7 months and biomass was determined at 7 months of age. Soda-anthraquinone (AQ) pulping trials of kenaf core was carried out by 18 combination using 14% and 16% alkali charges, 0.2% AQ, three cooking time (60, 90, and 120 min.), three cooking temperature (155, 165, and 175 °C) and 7:1 liquor to core ratio. Pulp freeness was increased to 33 °SR by PFI mill beater and 127 g/m2 handsheets were made from the selected pulps including three harvest ages, two alkali charges (14% and 16%), cooking time of 120 min. and cooking temperature of 165 °C. The results showed that the green and dry biomass of kenaf was 32 and 7.7 ton/ ha, respectively. Screen yield, kappa number, and reject contents of optimal cooking combinations were measured in range of 53.71% to 48.76%, 78.73 to 118.27, and 1.58% to 4.41%, respectively. These results indicated that kenaf harvest age of 5 months that cooked by 16% alkali (F4 treatment) is the optimal treatment. It was found a direct relationship between harvest age with increasing of kappa number and screen yield of pulp. The results of physical properties of hand sheet showed that there are significant differences among the means of all these properties. Handsheet properties made from the optimal treatment, including tensile index of 85.7 Nm/g, burst index of 3.8 kPam2/g, tear index of 4.7 mNm2/g, RCT index of 16.8 Nm/g and CMT index of 1.9 Nm2/g are superior compare to the national standard specification of floating paper.

Kenaf as an industrial plant can play an important role in providing shortage of virgin fiber for paper and board based on the history of cultivation in Iran. Harvesting time of kenaf is one of the most important economic-technical aspect, so the growth rate of kenaf (variety of Cuba) and the weight ratio of bast, core and pith individually were measured at 5, 6 and 7 months after planting and kenaf biomass was determined after 7 month. Soda-AQ pulping from kenaf bast fiber was adjusted at 14% and 16% chemical charges, 175°C, 120 min., liquor to bast fiber of 5:1 and adding 0.2% AQ. Handsheet was made by the bast pulp from the three harvested times with base weight of 110 g/m2. The results showed that by increasing the harvest period from 5 to 6 and 7 months, stalk height and diameter increased 9% and 5%, and vice versa, respectively. The weight ratio of kenaf bast to core has decreased by increasing of harvest time. Dry and green biomass of kenaf was determined at 33.1 and 7.7 t/ha, respectively. Screen yield, kappa number, and reject were of pulp were measured for combinations of optimal cooking in range of 48.8% to 52.9%, 35.4 to 72.6, and 0.92% to 2.5%, respectively. The beating energy consumption of pulp that prepared from 7 month harvesting time was greater than the others. Optimal conditions were determined as harvesting time of 5 month and cooking variables of 120 min, 165 °C and 16% NaOH for carton top liner. Handmade paper properties compared to kraft liner paper confirms the superiority of paper made from virgin kenaf bast fiber according to national standard of Iran (ISIRI 3054).

The aim of this study was to solve the environmental problems caused after the bleaching of bagasse pulp by hypochlorite sodium in Pars paper mill. For this purpose, ECF bleaching method was used by performing OQPDEP sequence. The properties of bleached paper were compared to the bagasse unbleached paper as control and some paper properties that made from bagasse bleached pulp by EH sequence in Pars paper mill. The results showed that increasing the bleaching time of bagasse pulp from 30 to 120 minutes by oxygen had no significant effect on paper brightness, but paper density, burst and tear indices decreased. Pulp bleaching by O1QP3D(EP) sequence compared to bagasse unbleached paper led to the paper brightness of about 75% ISO that is about 5% ISO more than the Pars commercial bleached paper. Paper strengths were similar to Pars commercial paper made of soda bagasse and the national standard of Iran (ISIRI 4120). Soda pulp bleaching using O1QP3D(EP) sequence has led to acceptable physical, optical and mechanical properties in addition to environmental benefits such as reduce pollution. So, it is recommended to replace the current bleaching method of Pars paper mill by the mentioned sequence.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Bagasse alkaline treatment (hydroxide sodium) on Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) properties. For this purpose, wet depitted and storage bagasse was used. Cooking process was done for fibers preraring in 10 liters digester. Liqure to bagasse ratio was 10 to 1. Hydroxide sodium content was 0%, 4% and 5% based on oven dry weigth of bagasse. Cooking time and temperature were 5 min and 170 centigrade respectively. Fiber slides were obtained by using optical microscope. Chemical components such as holocelloulose and lignin contents were determined. Liqures pH was mesearued before and after cooking. Urea formaldehyde resin was used for MDF producing. Resin content was 12% based on oven dried bagasse. Bending properties (MOR & MOE), internal bonding and thickness swelling of the boards were determined based on EN-310, EN-319 and EN-317 respectively. The results showed that when using 4% alkaline treatment, were seen the minimum fibers cutting and crusing. With increasing of hydroxide sodium content, lignin content decreased and holocelloulose increased. Bulk density increased when increasing hydroxide sodium content. The maximum MOR, MOE and internal bonding of the boards were obtained in 4% hydroxide sodium content. Also thickness swelling of the boards was minimum.

The poems of Afḍal-ud-Dīn al-Badīl ibn Ali Khāqanī have always been described as solid and difficult. These difficulties arise from the interaction of two wonderful elements: One of them is Khāqanī’s extensive knowledge and the other is his prominent talent and imagination, both of which when mixed together can lead to the creation of outstanding prose and poem. In order to decipher and interpret these difficulties, various commentaries have been written in the past, some of which have not reached us. Such efforts, of course, have been accelerated in the contemporary period and the present century and several works have been written in the description of Khāqanī's Poems. Undoubtedly, knowledge of these sources is of special importance in studying about Khāqanī' and literary research, so in this article, we have tried to introduce the commentaries of each of Khāqanī’s one hundred and thirty-two poems.

The effect of applying the sequence of enzymatic treatment and refining was investigated on the properties of deinked pulp from mixed office waste paper (MOW). Refining was applied for 700 and 1500 revolutions. Enzymatic treatment was applied for 60 minutes with temperature of 60°C and 13% of consistency. Applying enzymatic treatment led to decrease in strength properties of paper and also decrease in freeness of the pulp. The refining process resulted in increase of paper properties and decrease in freeness of the pulp. By applying enzymatic treatment before refining, the freeness of pulp changed significantly so that, the freeness of the pulp was 496 and 390 for 700 and 1500 refining revolution respectively just for refining but these numbers changed to 397 and 544 for same revolutions for “enzymatic treatment + refining” sequence. In a normal condition increase of refining revolution lead to decrease in pulp freeness but that was interestingly the freeness increased for 1500 refining revolution. This means that the enzymatic treatment was effective. Generally, refining itself improved the quality parameters of pulp and paper, but applying this process after enzymatic treatment changed everything.

This study was done to replace the imported long-fiber chemical pulp (LFCP) by adding nano lignocellulose fiber (NLCF) and dual composition of nano-cationic starch (CS) and nano- cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) for preparing durable paper made from waste lint recycling combing machine. For this purpose, 5% unbleached NLCF and 1% CS or 0.1% CPAM were mixed to waste lint pulp (WLP) as the control. The LFCP was added to the WLP in three amounts of 10%, 20%, and 30%. Also, CS and CPAM at three levels were used separately in WLP. Handsheets were made from 13 types of pulp compositions in grammage of 90 g/m2 and their physical, mechanical and optical properties were measured according to the relevant standards. Based on the results, addition of 1% CS to the control pulp (except for the paper yellowness) could be a good substitution for the LFCP. Also, the addition of NLCF resulted in a significantly decrease of handsheet’s brightness and an increase of handsheet’s yellowness. Furthermore, double fold endurance and softness of handsheets decreased compared with the LFCP, which might be due to the accumulation of NLCF on the surface of the paper according to SEM images. The addition of 0.05% CPAM except for double fold endurance could improve the paper properties compared with using LFCP in WLP. Nano-particle dispersion somewhat improved using dual composition systems and the addition of nano-CS revealed that the paper strength improved compared with using NLCF alone and nano-CPAM.

In the most organisms, signaling photoreceptors have been made to percept and interpret of environmental signals. They can absorb light through their chromophores, trigger different signaling pathways and result in appropriate responses in the cells. Optogenetics, a new field of science, try to use the photoreceptors as molecular instruments in order to exact control of the cellular events. Determination of the new molecular instruments with special characteristics is one of the ways to develop the optogenetics. For this goal, investigation on the predicted genes ortologous with determined photoreceptors is very useful. Two Cryptochrome/ Photolyase family genes were predicted based on the results of Volvox carteri (the model algae) genome sequencing. The goals of this investigation are as follow: the exact determination and isolation of coding sequences related with these two predicted genes, insertion into the expression vector (pGEX2TK) and determination of the subclude of their open reading frames in the Cryptochrome/Photolyase family. Volvox carteri has been grown up in optimum condition. Then this two coding sequences were amplified by using RT-PCR technique. These coding sequences were inserted in the pGEX2TK by genetic engineering techniques. Produced recombinant vectors were transferred to the Escherichia coli strain Top10 and sequenced after plasmid extraction. In current study, it was found that documented mRNA sequences for these two genes in NCBI are different with our mRNA sequences.

This research was carried out with aim of the effect of nano-clay (NC) content on mechanical, thermogravimetry (TG) and morphological properties of wood plastic composite (WPC) made of medium density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard (PB) wastes and recycled polypropylene and polyethylene (HDPE). For this purpose, wastes of MDF and PB at 50 wt.% , recycled PP and HDPE at 50 wt.%, maleic anhydride grafted with polymers at a constant level of 3 wt.% and nanoclay at three different levels 3, 6, and 9 wt.% were blended by two-wire extruder. Afterward, standard test pieces were made using an injection molding machine and their mechanical properties and TGA were investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was applied to investigate the quality of nanoclay particles dispersion in the matrice as well as how the lignocellulosic and polymers are bonded at the surface of bonding. The results showed that tensile and flexural strength and their modulus of HDPE and PB composite significantly were increased by adding NC up to 3 wt.%, but the strengths were dropped in WPC's by increasing of NC content at 6 and 9 wt.%. The notched impact strength of WPC has been totally decreased by NC addition that indicates more fracture surface on WPC's. SEM micrographs revealed that porosity and cavities in WPC's especially were decreased at 9 wt.% NC, whereas it is clear an inappropriate dispersion and aggregation of NC in WPC. The thermal stability of WPC's was slightly improved at 3 wt.% NC and the residual after combustion increased compared to the control.

Rock mass deformation modulus is one of  the major parameters has to be considered in the design phase of arch dams. Due to filling and discharging of reservoir and corresponding loading and unloading on the dam abutments, irreversible deformation takes place within the rock mass and consequently, increases the potential of creating a separation between dam body and abutments. Therefore, the rock mass modulus must be more than an alowable value in order to prevent arch dam failure. Regarding small core samples and lack of joints and other similar discontinuities in samples, the determined modulus through performing laboratory tests is higher than those obtained through in-situ tests. The available technique to estimate the rock mass deformation modulus is divided into two classes as direct and indirect methods. In direct methods, the rock mass deformation modulus is measured via performing in-situ tests such as plate loading test while it is estimated through empirical equations using rock mass classification and laboratory test results in indirect methods. These equations are developed based on regression analysis between the rock mass modulus calculated via in-situ tests, the rock mass classification and laboratory test results. Although application of these equations is simple and cost-effective, the results are doubtful and cannot be used in the design phase of arch dam due to the heterogeneous nature of rock mass and rock type variability. The numbers of micro-cracks which are developed after gallery excavation using drilling and blasting technique are more close to the loading plate. Thus, calculated modulus in these points is lower than reality. The displacement in the points far from loading plate was near to zero while the transmitted load which is calculated applying ASTM D4394 standard is more than reality in small galleries. Consequently, the calculated modulus was extremely larger than real values and sometimes even more than intact value. The empirical equations are site dependent and they are just applicable in sites with similar geotechnical condition. It is obvious that in-situ tests, such as plate loading, are the appropriate method in order to determine the modulus of deformation, however, due to some simplification in the data processing such as semi-infinite boundary condition, the application of numerical simulation as a data processing tool is more appropriate. In this research, the Beheshtabad dam was introduced and the geology characteristics of dam site were investigated. Applying direct and indirect methods, the rock mass modulus of dam abutments is calculated.

The dam site is placed approximately at a distance of 2.7 km from the intersection of Koohrange and Beheshtabad river. In accordance with geological studies, the rocks in the site could be categorized in four units combined of Dolomite, Dolomitic Limestone, Limestone, Marl and Marly Limestone. Applying empirical equation the rock mass modulus of dam abutments is evaluated based on the laboratory test results and rock mass engineering classification systems. In addition, ASTM D4394 is applied to investigate the results of ten plate loading tests which are executed in the right and left abutments. To interpret the plate loading test results in the right abutment, a three-dimensional Fast Lagrange Analysis of Continuum (FLAC3D) model is developed.

To process the numerical simulation results, back analysis as a data processing tool is used. In this approach, the input parameters of numerical model will be changed in the way that the measured quantities by extensometers at the monitoring points are almost equal with the computed ones via numerical model at the corresponding points. Based on the sensitivity analysis carried out on the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion parameters, the friction coefficient and cohesion variation do not affect the displacements calculated via numerical simulation as the more portion of gallery displacements are elastic. The error function is minimum when the rock mass modulus is 12 GPa and the horizontal to vertical stress ratio (K0) is equal to 0.5. The evaluated rock mass modulus based on the numerical simulation is two times lower than corresponding one evaluated applying empirical equation as a result of empirical equation uncertainty. Consideration of stress decrement under loading plate shows lower level of stress decrement under loading plate in ASTM D4394 compared to numerical simulation. This is why, the rock mass modulus, calculated based on ASTM D4394, increases dramatically by getting distance from the loading plate. 

The empirical methods estimating the modulus of deformation based on rock mass classification systems tend to evaluate large value of modulus especially for the weak massive rocks.As a result of galleries dimensions and semi-infinite boundary condition assumed in ASTM D4394, the calculated rock mass modulus increases dramatically by getting distance from loading plate. Therefore, the numerical simulation was applied to process the plate loading test results. A new normalized error function was developed based on measured displacements and the rock mass modulus in the right abutment was determined 12 GPa which is very lower than the calculated value using ASTM D 4394. Also, as a result of numerical simulation, the rock mass is uniform. The stress increment perpendicular to the loading plate was calculated applying numerical simulation which is 0-90 percent lower than those suggested by ASTM D 4394.

The calculation of heating value is one of the most important properties of biomass fuels to calculate the design or simulation of thermal conversion systems for energy production from biomass. Biomass with higher thermal energy value and optimal composition is more desirable for the systems. In present investigation, properties of eight types of non-woody biomass relevant to combustion were evaluated. Important characteristics requiring analysis were moisture and ash content, volatile matter, elemental composition (C, H, N, S, and O), high and low heating values (HHV and LHV) of these residues. The heating value has been evaluated based on experimental (by colorimeter bomb) and computational methods. The content of sulfur is a limiting factor for environmental pollution and was higher than other reports. The high percentage of ash in bagasse Pith requires the use of it as mixing with bagasse in order to increase the efficiency of the energy production system. It is recommended to mix bagasse pith with bagasse due to the high amount of ash in order to increase the efficiency of energy conversion systems. Regarding to the volatile matter, bagasse and reed are superior to the rest of biomass to produce energy by gasification system. The highest heating values were obtained for corn straw and bagasse and the lowest heating values were for bagasse pith and rice straw, respectively. There is good correlation between the methods of heating value determination, so it shows that the proper computational model has been used.

The use of renewable energies, such as biomass, is becoming increasingly important as countries realize that bioenergy present an approach to their international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biomass with higher thermal energy value and optimal composition is more desirable for the thermal conversion systems. In present investigation, properties of ten type's wood biomass relevant to combustion were evaluated. Important characteristics requiring analysis for the biomass were moisture and ash content, volatile matter, elemental composition (C, H, N, S, and O), and high and low heating values (HHV and LHV). The heating value has been determined based on experimental and computational methods by colorimeter bomb and elemental content, respectively. The results showed that eldarica pine biomass had the highest content of biomass sulfur, which is undesirable environmental factor in the bioenergy system. Regarding to the fixed carbon to volatile matter ratio, Citrus sinensis var. thomson has the lowest ratio, so it is the best biomass for the gasification process. The highest and lowest heating values were determined for the poplar pruning residues (group a) and apple (group b and c), respectively. The highest and lowest of HHV and LHV were measured for P. deltoides and Malus spp., respectively.