behzad soltani

The production of alumina from nepheline syenite via lime sintering generates significant waste due to the presence of silica. In this study, a carbothermal reduction process was proposed to simultaneously produce alumina and ferrosilicon, optimizing conditions using response surface methodology and the Box-Behnken design. The maximum conversion of silica to ferrosilicon was achieved at 1125°C with a soaking time of 14.86 minutes, a graphite-to-nepheline syenite mass ratio of 0.53, and a ferric oxide-to-nepheline syenite mass ratio of 0.72. The ferrosilicon produced was separated magnetically, leaving alumina, sodium, and potassium in the nonmagnetic fraction with efficiencies of 90.85%, 91.98%, and 92.01%, respectively. Following leaching, the overall extraction efficiencies were 77.1% for alumina, 68.4% for sodium, and 82.6% for potassium. This process provides a cleaner, more efficient alternative to lime sintering by minimizing waste and producing a valuable ferrosilicon by-product for industrial applications.

In recent decades, a significant number of information technology-based businesses have risen to the top of the world's leading companies list. Until the early years of the third millennium AD, large companies and owners of oil wells and mineral resources, along with industrial production complexes that are several decades and several hundred years old, have been the flagships of the list of the largest and most successful companies in the world. However, this leadership has been astonishingly challenged by IT-based start-ups in the last two decades. The value of the production of information technology businesses from the total production of the world increased by about 29% in approximately 5 years, between 2015 and 2020, reaching $24.615 trillion. The share of the digital economy in the total world economy reached about 25%. In other words, the digital economy has absorbed two and a half percent of the traditional economy in just 5 years. These instances underscore the importance of considering the position of information technology-based businesses. According to the 2018 report of the Ministry of Information Technology, the share of the digital economy in the total gross domestic product of the country is approximately six and a half percent, while the global average of this index is around fifteen percent. This fact highlights the need to focus more on the development of these businesses in the country, which is the rationale for conducting the present research. This research was carried out with the aim of identifying the various dimensions influencing the formation and growth of these businesses and how these factors are interconnected in the country.
The present research was conducted in two distinct stages, qualitative and quantitative. Initially, the problem was identified and defined, followed by a review of previous related studies to identify the main dimensions of the model. Subsequently, a total of 12 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers, entrepreneurs, technology policy makers, and information technology experts. Additionally, archival sources were consulted. Through content analysis and the coding method, the research conceptual model was developed, comprising three main categories. In the quantitative phase, the model was refined to form the basis of the research questionnaire. After assessing the content validity, the questionnaire was distributed to three groups within the industry community: 1) managers and executives of relevant businesses, 2) entrepreneurs and business owners, and 3) academic and business experts. Data collected from these questionnaires were analyzed using various statistical tests, and the validity of the model and its structures were confirmed through structural equation modeling.
After conducting the systematic steps of the research and analyzing the data from the experiences of the participants in the qualitative part of the research, three categories were identified as the main ones: internal organizational characteristics, environmental drivers and obstacles, and political factors. Based on the obtained results, policy factors in this model are an exogenous and independent variable that plays a key role in the development of these businesses. This finding confirms the necessity of the government's presence and adoption of policies to support the development of these businesses. According to the results of this research, another crucial dimension directly affected by government policies is environmental factors. The third category of factors indirectly influenced by government policies includes organizational factors. These factors encompass having the right project team and access to expert human resources, the appropriate business model, a focus on innovation and marketing power, and market penetration power.
By identifying these factors, the path becomes clearer for the government and other policy-making institutions. The development of the digital economy in the country necessitates simultaneous attention to environmental and internal factors. The government, as a key policy maker, plays a crucial role in fostering digital businesses. Activists and entrepreneurs in this sector view financing as a significant bottleneck in business development. Therefore, it is imperative for relevant institutions to prioritize current policies that support these businesses and facilitate financing for them.

 The development of platinum-based metal complexes in oncology is limited due to vigorous toxicity and drug resistance.

 This work aimed to study the cytotoxic activity and apoptosis induction of ruthenium complexes in a B16F10 cell line therapy.

 We prepared a series of innovative Ru(II) complexes [Ru(Tzphen)(bpy)(dcbpy)]+2 (S1), [Ru(dcbpy)2(Tzphen)]+2 (S2), [Ru(Phen)2(Tzphen)]+2 (S3), [Ru(Tzphen)(bpy)2]+2 (S4), [Ru(dmbpy)2(Tzphen)]+2 (S5) based on 1,10-phenanthroline ligand containing tetrazole and their anticancer properties investigated by cytotoxicity in vitro, reactive oxygen species, apoptosis with annexin V/PI staining method, autophagy, and cell uptake.

 S1, S2, S3, S4, and S5 complexes showed comparable cytotoxicity activity relative to cisplatin against the B16F10 model. Moreover, intracellular ROS levels increased due to the presence of the complexes. Among the investigated complexes, the cells treated with the S5 complex indicated the highest apoptotic percentage (Q3) of 14.9% compared to the controls. The cell adsorption of the complexes also showed that the S4 and S5 complexes had higher cell adsorption, better internalization, and higher fluorescence light intensity.

 The present work provides important guidance for designing and using Ru complexes in cancer therapy.

In recent decades, a large number of information technology-based businesses have risen to the top of the world's top companies list. Until the early years of the third millennium AD, large companies and owners of oil wells and mineral resources, along with industrial production complexes that are several decades and several hundred years old, have been the flagships of the list of the largest and most successful companies in the world, but this dominance has been challenged by IT-based start-ups during the last two decades. According to the report of the Economist magazine, between the years 2006 and 2016, the top of the list of the world's top companies was suddenly empty of companies active in the fields of energy and production, and their places were filled by information technology young companies. These changes are clear examples of the transition of the world economy from resource-oriented to data-oriented.
According to international reports, the value of the production of information technology businesses from the total production of the world’s economy has increased by 29% in the period of 5 years, between 2015 and 2020, reaching 24 trillion and 615 billion dollars, and the share of the digital economy has reached 25% of the total world economy. In other words, the digital economy has swallowed two and a half percent of the share of the traditional economy in 5 years. (UNCTAD, 2019)
These facts show the need to pay attention to the position of businesses based on information technology.
Theoretical Literature
IT-based businesses
Businesses that convey their value proposition to customers through various information technology tools, and the main components of their business model are based on information technology, are called information technology-based businesses.

There are three defined levels in the definition of digital economy. Its limited definition as the main core of the digital economy includes specialized products in the field of information and communication technology, including hardware production, software development, and the provision of Internet and telecommunication services. In the second level, in addition to the central core, it also includes the added value resulting from digital platforms and services. The third level of definition, referred to in the literature as the digitized economy, includes the added value resulting from the use of information technology in all industries.

The present research is based on a model that is the product of a qualitative study. The mentioned model became the basis for designing the research questionnaire. After evaluating the validity of the content, the designed questionnaire was sent to a community consisting of three different groups of industry activists, and the received data was analyzed using the Structural Equations Method.

After conducting the tests and making the corrections, the final research model was confirmed, consisting of 5 main categories and 22 subcategories or indicators. The main categories counted include 1) organizational factors, 2) environmental factors, 3) policy factors, 4) economic results, and 5) non-economic results.
Internal characteristics refer to the factors that a business must focus on for success. In other words, if the following factors are present in a business, the chance of being successful in the market are much higher than that in businesses that did not pay attention to these factors. In other words, this group of factors refers to the internal coordinates of businesses prone to growth and development. These factors include the right project team, business model, specialized human resources, access to financial resources, innovation, and effective marketing.
The second group of factors affecting the development of businesses under research are environmental factors. These factors include five categories of sanctions, inappropriate laws, weak information technology infrastructure, economic stagnation of the country, and problems of the information technology innovation system.
The third category of factors explained in this research is the role of the government in the development of such businesses in the country. These factors have focused on how the government intervenes in this matter in such a way as to facilitate and accelerate the growth of these businesses. Although these factors are also relevant for businesses in different sectors, the examples of these policies in IT businesses and how the government supports them are different.

Based on the results of this research, policy factors in this model are an exogenous and independent variable that plays a key role in the development of this category of businesses. This issue confirms the necessity of the government's presence and adoption of policies to support the development of these businesses.

 Pyrazolyl borate derivatives are versatile ligands that can be coordinated with transition metals and formated a variety of different coordination modes. Copper complexes are highly active in biological applications and have high bioactivity. Because of the above description and applications, in the present work, synthesis and characterization of pyrazolyl borate derivative ligands and their Cu(II) complex were reported. The structure of the synthesized complex was determined by X-ray crystallography. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds along with the molecular docking of them was investigated.

 N-donor pyrazolyl borate derivative ligands abbreviated as K[HB(PzMe2)3] and K[H2B(PzMe2)2] and their Cu(II) complex were synthesized and characterized. The synthesized ligands and complex were evaluated for antibacterial activities against the gram-positive (B. subtilis) and the gram-negative (S. enterica) bacteria. Also, their molecular docking with B. subtilis SMC head domain (PDB ID: 5H67) as the possible targets was investigated.

 The in vitro and in silico results showed, among the investigated compounds, complex [Cu(H2B(PzMe2)2)(HB(PzMe2)3)] indicated the highest antibacterial activity. Also, the Statistical analysis showed that the difference between the obtained data was significant.

 We have synthesized N-donor pyrazolyl borate derivatives and their copper (II) complex. Single X-ray results indicated the Cu(II) complex adopted an N5 environment around the metal center with a distorted square pyramidal geometry. The obtained binding energy of molecular docking studies is in direct correlation with the in vitro antibacterial studies. Briefly, the reported Cu(II) complex may be considered as a potential antibacterial candidate.

The development of the pyrazole-based complexes is greatly enhanced due to the identification of their structure as medicinal application. Keeping in view therapeutic and biological activities of pyrazoles based compounds and the potential of transition metals in the antimicrobial application area, we find it vital to join the chemistry of both moieties in designing and developing biometal compounds which could aggressively work against various bacterial species and cancer cells. In this work, we report the synthesis and characterization of copper (II), nickel (II) and cobalt (II) complexes of dihydrobis(pyrazolyl)borate ligands. Also, antibacterial activities, MTT assay and molecular docking of these compounds were investigated.

A bidentate N-donor pyrazole-based ligand abbreviated as K[H2B(PzMe2)2] and corresponding complexes with Cu(II), Ni(II) and Co(II) were synthesized and characterized. The anticancer activities of the synthesized compounds were studied against the (MDA-MB-231) cell lines. The antibacterial investigations of the synthesized compounds against the gram-positive (B. subtilis) and the gram-negative (S. enterica) bacteria were performed. In addition, molecular docking of the synthesized compounds with YmaH (PDB ID: 3HSB) protein, ecKAS III (PDB ID:1HNJ) protein and DNA dodecamer (PDB ID: 1BNA) as the possible targets was studied.

The result showed among the investigated compounds, complex [Cu(H2B(PzMe2)2)2] indicated the highest cytotoxicity and bacterial inhibition.

In summary, we have synthesized a type of N- donor pyrazole-based ligand and corresponding metal complexes. In silico molecular docking along with the experimental MTT assay and antibacterial studies, indicated the metal complexes are more bioactive than free ligand and can be excellent candidates for further evaluations in the biological area.

According to international rankings, a significant number of IT-based service businesses are among the top 100 companies in the world. The purpose of this study is to identify the key components affecting the development of information technology-based service businesses in Tehran. This research has been done qualitatively using content analysis approach during the years 1396 to 1399. The data of this research has been provided through interviews with 12 managers and entrepreneurs, technology policy makers and experts in the field of information technology, as well as referring to archival sources. Analysis of data from participants' experiences led to the formation of 287 initial concepts or codes, 13 sub-categories and 3 main categories. Internal organizational factors consist of the right project team, business model, access to resources, innovation and effective marketing. Environmental incentives and barriers come from the categories of sanctions, inadequate legislation, weak infrastructure, recession, and problems with the IT innovation system. The sub-categories of financing facilitation, tax concessions and social security insurance form the third main category under the title of policy factors. Findings of this study can effectively help policymakers and decision makers in the field of information technology-based service businesses.

The purpose of this research, which was conducted with a quantitative approach and using a questionnaire tool, is to validate one of the conceptual models available in the literature and provide a framework of factors affecting the development of the digital economy in Iran. The statistical population of this research includes the founders, managers, employees and experts of businesses based on information technology and digital economy activists in the country, and the minimum sample size for the validity of the results according to the method used for quantitative analysis is 160. In this research, the findings of the reference qualitative research were implemented in the form of a questionnaire using the Google Form tool and sent to a community of industry activists. The data received through 240 completed questionnaires were analyzed using the confirmatory factor analysis method, and the results were presented in the form of a final model. The results of this research show that the development of the digital economy requires simultaneous attention to environmental factors and inter-organizational factors, and the government as a policy maker plays a key role in the development of digital businesses.

Providing information about the role of the major elements controlling the type of Pliocene deposits in the south eastern part of the Caspian Basin by assessing regional and global parameters is very important to demonstrate the relationship between the tectono-sedimentary evolution and facies distribution of the area, and thereby discover the fields with the best stratigraphic and structural traps potential. Also, there is an indispensable query: which factors had controlled the the Type of Pliocene Deposits in the Southeastern Caspian Basin, NE Iran? In the present research, the Cheleken and Akchagyl formations with the Pliocene age, as the most potent constituents of reservoir intervals in the Caspian Basin, were investigated by considering facies types and the factors that controlled their variations. This research was done based on field observations, microscopy studies, and 2D seismic interpretations. Interpretation of facies and correlation along three surface stratigraphic sections and eleven exploration wells clearly justify the role of tectono-sedimentary agents controlling the distribution of the Pliocene formations in the Gorgan and Gonbad plains. Furthermore, the thickness of the Cheleken Formation increases towards the South Caspian Basin (SCB), and lithologically, it is mainly composed of conglomerates and gravely sandstones at the marginal parts grading into the silty claystone to marl facies towards the SCB. In addition, deposition of the Cheleken was accompanied by sea-level falling, and rapid subsidence resulted from the uplift and subsequent erosion of the Alborz and Kopet Dagh moun tains. In contrast, the Akchagyl Formation represents a relatively uniform thickness, and lithologically, it is consists of high-energy carbonate facies in the northeastern Gonbad-e Kavous area changing into the claystone and siltstone facies towards eastern parts of the South Caspian Basin. Ultimately, according to this study, it is found out that Akch agyl Formation records a major regional transgression and reconnection of the study area to the global oceans, which was confirmed by the presence of marine biota and flat geometry pattern of the sedimentary basin.

Technology parks were established in Iran in order to move toward science-based economy and reduce petroleum-based economy. There were no efficient tools to connect university to industry before definition of technology parks in innovation and technology policy literature. In order to respond to this requirement, technology parks started their activity. The goal of this work was to evaluate the effective parameters in technology parks’ management and implementation as technology and innovation policy tools in supply-demand spectrum, based on which, management and implementation model has been designed. In this study, the comments of 64 domestic experts and 31 experts from 17 countries were collected via two Persian and English questionnaires. Next, two supply-driven and demand-driven models were introduced and different models extracted from domestic and international experts’ ideas were evaluated and compared. Evaluations of this study resulted in four models of technology parks management each of which has played different roles in ternary generations of technology parks and has had different positions in the spectrum of supply and demand in regard of innovation and technology policy. The results showed that demand-driven models performed more efficiently than supply-driven models.

Technology Development Funds (TDFs) are one of the most important innovations and so financing institutions must prioritize identifying and funding technological projects, due to the limitation of financial resources. The objective of this paper is to present a Multi-Criteria Decision-Making model (MCDM) for evaluation and selection of appropriate projects in TDFs and their resource allocation.

In this paper a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods is used. In the first step, important criteria for evaluating technological projects are identified by reviewing literature, reviewing documents and interviewing experts and by using the factor analysis method, the most important criteria in evaluating knowledge-based projects are determined. Then a multi-criteria decision-making model based on the Best-Worst Method (BWM) is presented considering financial, firm, technology, and market analysis and risk criteria.

In this study, the results of the evaluation of 20 knowledge-based projects of the applicant for the interest-free loans and industrial production loans from the Innovation and Prosperity Fund (IPF) are presented. The results of the study indicate that the weight of the evaluation criteria has a significant effect on the results of the evaluation and the approval or rejection of projects.

A multi-criteria decision-making model based on the Best-Worst Method is presented in this study, that by using it, technology development funds can carefully evaluate the technological projects and accurately allocate limited national financial resources to the best projects. Knowledge-based companies can also focus their strategies and initiatives on critical and important issues, considering important criteria in the evaluations.

Technology development and commercialization process is a capital intensive activity. So, science, technology and innovation financing, by an appropriate method, in appropriate time and by the appropriate resources is a very important issue. Innovative firms’ financing methods vary in different stages of the company life cycle; from personal resources to banking resources, venture capital, crowdfunding, and stock markets. Different actors use different financing methods and together shape the Innovation Financing System (IFS). In this paper we first introduce financing sources for innovative companies at different stages of their life cycle and then explore the players of innovation financing system. Then, while reviewing the global trends of innovation financing and financing trends in developing countries, an institutional map of Iran's innovation financing system is presented.

In the neoclassical and evolutionary economics, the emphasis is placed on the importance of proximity to facilitate the innovation process. Neoclassical economics with the focus on the aggregation advantages, such as cost savings and economy of scale and the evolutionary economics with the emphasis on the benefits of firms’ proximity such as knowledge spillovers, emply the necessity of designing policies and tools based on the geographical proximity. In the geographical proximity structures, teams, technological firms, startups and industrial companies are located together. The teams and companies located in these structures, while having a joint infrastructure at a lower cost, benefit from the knowledge and technology spillovers. In this chapter, the importance of geographical proximity in innovation is presented from different theories’ perspective, and then various structures based on geographical proximity, including accelerator, incubator, science and technology park, science and technology town, technology town and industrial estate commensurate with different stages of the firms’ life cycle, are reviewed and compared. Finally, an example of aggregation of these structures in a geographical region, i.e. Isfahan province has been presented.

In the past few years, the development of a knowledge-based economy and, as a result, innovation and technology financing have been at the forefront of attention by managers and policymakers to improve the business environment. The main challenge that emerged with the passage of time and the implementation of existing models is that the knowledge-based criteria of a company are different with the criteria and indicators supporting the knowledge-based Companies, given their characteristics, need special support that types and levels of support vary in each technology field. The knowledge-based economy is a paradigm that influences and penetration of science and technology in the structure of an economy, quantitative and qualitative innovation is importance. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to improve and categorize the Iranian knowledge-based companies so that the type of support provided by these companies is smarter. The designed model is based on 5 main variables, company size (structural and financial factors), innovation and technology characteristics (technology complexity), type of company, and level of company activity in any technology field. Proposed categorization based on qualitative analysis of experts' opinions is presented using the Atlas TI software in four categories that are responsible for the country's problems.

The study of the experience of the developed and industrialized countries of the world has shown that without the full participation of the private sector, the development of technology will not take place. The role of the government should be to provide the pathway of the development and commercialization of technology and the prosperity of the technology-based business in the private sector. While in our country the dominance and influence of the public sector in most areas related to technology development does not leave room for the private sector and even has a counterproductive role in commercialization. Meanwhile, some organizations and institutions of the country have made efforts to evade government management, utilize the capabilities of the private sector and provide the appropriate structure and mechanism for the development of technology. In this paper, the experience of the Atomic Energy Organization, the Aerospace Industries Organization, the Ministry of Energy and the Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) in technology development path was explored and structural strategy to address these problems has been reviewed. In this study, expert meetings were held to review and analyze the experiences of these organizations and provide an improvement proposal.

Institution is a controversial concept in the economic literature and after more than one century, there is still no unanimous definition for it. However, many economists have studied its role and importance in many contexts including National Innovation System (NIS). In NIS context, some researchers argued that institutions are X-efficient and X-effective but they didnt open up that much about how to measure them. In this study, using the elements of performance including efficiency, effectiveness and changeability, a typology of institutions in NIS is suggested. Since institutions are investigated in the context of a system, inputs and outputs of each institution in its relationship with other institutions are selected as the base for measuring performance elements. In order to use the suggested typology, performance elements of 8 institutions in Iran's national innovation system are measured and 8 strategies –including growth, exhaustion, displacement, layering, drift, operational efficiency, conversion and status quo- are proposed to improve the performance of each type of institutions. The results showed that accurate extraction of inputs and outputs of each institution in its relation with its next institutions in NIS and measuring its performance elements would help policy makers to identify the gaps in relational performance of institutions in NIS. Also, considering the speed of change for each institution could help policy makers to select the right time horizon for making changes.

National Innovation System (NIS) approach, that consists of different functions and institutions regarding scientific and technological development of countries, is a good approach for analyzing science, technology and innovation and proposing comprehensive policies and initiatives for enhancing innovation in a country. A review of Iran’s status at innovation indices reveals that we have a relatively bad position regarding our region countries and our Vision 1404 goals. Management of technology and Science and technology policy experts always look for an opportunity to express their views and suggestions about improving innovation and technology development status. So, we held panels with these experts to explore their views and experiences and suggest some policies for addressing science and technology challenges. In this report, we first have look at Iran’s science, technology, innovation (STI) and economic indices, then, based on "National Innovation System" approach, describe Iran’s NIS challenges and propose some policies and initiatives for removing barriers.

This article deals with the buckling analysis of perfectly bonded cross-ply laminated composite plates reinforced by wavy carbon nanotubes (CNTs) under in-plane loads using element free Galerkin (EFG) method based on first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). The wavy single-walled CNTs and Poly-co-vinylene are used for the fibers and the matrix, respectively. The CNT fibers are distributed in the polymer matrix in four types of arrangements in each layer. The material properties of the laminated nanocomposite plates are estimated through a micromechanical model based on the extended rule of mixture. The minimum potential energy approach is utilized to obtain the governing equations and the stiffness matrices. Full transformation approach is employed to enforce essential boundary conditions. The accuracy and convergency of the EFG method is established by comparing the obtained results with available literature. Then, the effects of CNT volume fraction and waviness, aspect ratio and distribution type of CNTs as well as plate aspect ratio, plate width-to-thickness ratio and boundary conditions on the buckling behaviour of cross-ply laminated functionally graded carbon nanotube reinforced composite (FG-CNTRC) plates are investigated. The numerical results show that the CNT waviness and aspect ratio have significant effects on the buckling behaviour of FG-CNTRC plates.

Single point incremental forming is a sheet metal forming process that has more flexibility than another methods. This process don''t require to die and could formed various shape white use the simple tool and CNC machine. In this paper the influence of process parameters on the forces and dimensional accuracy and thickness distribution in single point incremental forming is investigated. These parameters include the feed rate، tool rotation، vertical step، movement strategy of tool and lubrication. Beginning with the design and construction of the fixture and clamping it on the dynamometer and create of tool (tungsten carbide)، the preparation process was done on a CNC milling machine. Then، the experimental tests were carried out on Aluminum alloy sheets (Al-1200) with creation of pyramid frustum; after the measuring of force in different directions، the influence of parameters on the forming force was investigated. Also parts were measured with CMM devices and compared. The results showed that with increasing the feed rate، the vertical force decreases and with increasing tool rotation speed، horizontal force decreases. The use of lubricant، is effective on the improvement of process.

The theoretical and empirical literature in the filed of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Studies (STIP) contains a variety of discrete concepts, frameworks and techniques for policy making. However, an integrative framework is lacking that can guide practitioners as to how to use the research findings in a real context. This paper tries to fill the gap through probing the practical problem of formulating a national science, technology and innovation strategy using an inter-disciplinary (integrative) research method. The proposed conceptual framework is based on positioning the existing concepts, frameworks and techniques in a change management program. Application of this integrative framework is investigated for developing such a national strategy in Iran and future research opportunities in science, technology and innovation policy are suggested.

This article is a contrastive study among National Innovation System, National Research System, and Technology System, about inputs, processes, outputs, objectives and strategies. The study shows that there are many differences among them. the viewpoint of NIS is more comprehensive and has less errors. This study is about Iran.