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The Nandhour Landscape located in an eco-fragile biodiversity rich Terai Arc Landscape of India is protected in the form of a wildlife sanctuary and is least explored in terms of insect diversity and functions. Therefore, this study aimed to provide baseline information on the biodiversity of insects and their ecological functions in tropical to sub-tropical forest ecosystems which is important for the successful long-term provisioning of ecosystem functions and services in the protected landscape. Using standardized sampling techniques, the present study examined the structure and composition of insect assemblages in terms of their comparative diversity and richness across a range of habitat types in the Nandhour Landscape. Besides, the present study also evaluated the ecological significance of insect fauna. A total of 230 insect species belonging to 47 families and nine orders were recorded from various habitats and Lepidoptera was the most dominant insect order in terms of both richness and abundance, followed by Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Odonata and others. Species diversity and richness were the highest in dense moist and open dry riverine forests, while the least in plantation forest and agricultural land. The heterogeneous structure and composition substantiated the importance of overall spatial heterogeneity and natural forests in sustaining and maintaining the rich insect diversity. Conservation of insect diversity is highly important as several species provide crucial ecosystem services and aid in the functioning of various ecologically fragile habitats of the landscape.

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One of the main distinctions between geomaterials and other engineering materials is the spatial variation of their properties in different directions inside them. This characteristic of geomaterials (so- called as heterogeneity) is studied herewith. Almost all natural soils are highly variable in their properties and rarely homogeneous. Soil heterogeneity can be classified into two main categories. The first is lithological heterogeneity, which can be manifested in the form of thin soft/stiff layers embedded in a stiffer/softer media or the inclusion of pockets of different lithology within a more uniform soil mass. The second source of heterogeneity can be attributed to inherent spatial soil variability, which is the variation of soil properties from one point to another in space due to different deposition conditions and different loading histories. Inherent spatial variability of geomaterials is itself devided into the random component, which is attributed to different depositioaln conditions, and the deterministic trends, which are attributed to the variation in soil properties, such as increase in soil strength with depth due to increase in confining pressure. Different elements of soil inherent spatial variability such as mean, variance, and spatial correlation characteristics were introduced with the main focus on the importance of spatial correlation distane and the way to handle it. Several spatial distributions introduced to describe the probabilistic variation of geotechnical properties of soils. Among all, absolute normal distribution was adopted as appropriate distribution, which best presents these properties in horizontal direction. Variation of geotechnical parameters in vertical direction is, however, conceived to follow a deterministic trend. Using random field theory, local average subdivisions (LAS) formulation and MATLAB Mathworks, virtual data with different correlations was produced, and by employing autocorrelation function, a trend for this function was invoked for different predetermined values of the scale of fluctuations. It was found that autocorrelation function has a deterministic trend as far as the scale of fluctuation has not been exceeded. It is clearly concluded that, for distances farther than the specific scale of fluctuation, the behavior is chaotic and this can be an index to calculate the scale of fluctuation of the experimental data.

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An experimental and numerical approach on crack propagation and fracture toughness of Central Straight-through Crack Brazilian Disk (CSCBD) samples under compression is carried out to be investigated the effect of particle size heterogeneity. To accomplish this goal, six type of specimens with different silica sand particle size but same combination are used for preparation CSCBD specimens. Diametrical compression load with a rate of 0.3 mm/min in two directions respect to the central crack orientation is applied to the discs and the failure loads corresponding to the each test are recorded. Also In this study, a numerical simulator based on RFPA (Rock Failure Process Analysis) is used to study the crack propagation path and fracture load in simulated CSCBD specimens with different particle size (Similar laboratory specimens). In this simulator, the heterogeneity of specimens is considered by assuming that the material properties of elements conform to a weibull distribution. Result of laboratory tests indicates a nonlinear relation between specimen’s particle size and mode I and mode II fracture toughness. The specimen whit medial particle size (2-2.38 mm) has the maximum fracture toughness in two fracture mode. Toughness of specimens decreased with increase and decrease of silica sand particle size. Numerical results shows, the trajectory of crack path for fine particle are more regular and initiated from the crack tip, propagate parallel to the load direction. But it’s for coarse particle, initiated from the boundary of grains in whole of the specimen and lead it to failure in an unexpected path. An experimental and numerical approach on crack propagation and fracture toughness of Central Straight-through Crack Brazilian Disk (CSCBD) samples under compression is carried out to be investigated the effect of particle size heterogeneity. To accomplish this goal, six type of specimens with different silica sand particle size but same combination are used for preparation CSCBD specimens. Diametrical compression load with a rate of 0.3 mm/min in two directions respect to the central crack orientation is applied to the discs and the failure loads corresponding to the each test are recorded. Also In this study, a numerical simulator based on RFPA (Rock Failure Process Analysis) is used to study the crack propagation path and fracture load in simulated CSCBD specimens with different particle size (Similar laboratory specimens). In this simulator, the heterogeneity of specimens is considered by assuming that the material properties of elements conform to a weibull distribution. Result of laboratory tests indicates a nonlinear relation between specimen’s particle size and mode I and mode II fracture toughness. The specimen whit medial particle size (2-2.38 mm) has the maximum fracture toughness in two fracture mode. Toughness of specimens decreased with increase and decrease of silica sand particle size. Numerical results shows, the trajectory of crack path for fine particle are more regular and initiated from the crack tip, propagate parallel to the load direction. But it’s for coarse particle, initiated from the boundary of grains in whole of the specimen and lead it to failure in an unexpected path.

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In recent decades, information technology, especially with all aspects of our life and professional career has been stirred. Because IT applications in different fields and the rapid growth of computers in organizations, to review the level of acceptance and rejection of information technology in organizations have special significance. Hand with the growth of research in various fields related to the IT acceptance and dealing with a scattering of information and information explosion, control over all aspects of this area is largely impossible. Therefore, the combination of research studies conducted in this matter to extract the systematic and scientific results for researchers is very important. In this study using meta-analysis methods with comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) software, for examining a large number of theses, articles and researches done in connection with the adoption of information technology in Iran, 19 studies with 21 hypotheses and variables have been selected. The results of meta-analysis shows that employee empowerment, extent of use of technology, perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of IT had the most influence on the acceptance of information technology in the Iranians organizations.

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Targeted extension for heterogeneous farming systems is a challenge in developing countries. Farm type identification and characterization based on estimates of income from different farm components allows simplifying diversity in farming systems. Use of multivariate statistical techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA), help in such farm typology delineation. Using this methodological approach, the present study conducted in West Bengal, India, identified four distinct farm types, namely, farms growing food grain and jute, farms with animal husbandry and fishery based diversification with high off-farm income, farms with crop based diversification with off-farm income, and farms growing vegetables and fruits. Such typology delineation helps in differentiated, holistic, and broad-based extension intervention to address the need of different identified farm types and a reduced transaction cost in the agricultural research and extension system. inbred lines, and 9 hybrids). A total of 94 and 262 loci were amplified using 5 IRAP and 15 REMAP primers, respectively. The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) in populations ranged from 39% (Zivari Shahrood) to 48% (Shadegani E). The Mantel test between IRAP and REMAP cophenetic matrices evidenced no significant correlation (r= 0.29). IRAP+REMAP-based cluster analysis using UPGMA algorithm and Dice similarity coefficient depicted 6 groups among 100 melon genotypes. AMOVA revealed the higher level of genetic variation within populations (67%) compared to among populations (33%). The mean Fst values of all groups, except for group VI, were more than 0.20, demonstrating differentiation among the populations and genetic structure of the studied melon collection. 

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The reason for this study was the lack of a coherent work on the role of quantitative characteristics of hydrology and topography in determining the spatial distribution pattern of nomad camps in Iran. In this investigation, Kermanshah Province, in west of Iran, was studied. Quantitative hydrology and Topography indices of the province including Heterogeneity Index (TRI), Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Altitude, slope, slope direction, stream distance, ridge distance, spring distance, formation type, Topographic Position Index (TPI), Surface Relief Ratio (SRR), and Compound Topographic Index (CTI) were calculated. To determine the results, Pearson correlation and linear regression (for parametric data) and LOWESS regression (for non-parametric data) were used between hydrology and topography data and the camps’ area. Then, the type of spatial distribution pattern and spatial pattern type radius of the camps were determined for each one of the above-mentioned factors using Moran’s Autocorrelation Index and Ripleys’ K Function, respectively. There was a significant relationship between the TPI index (the steep slope landform) and the camps’ area. In sum, the first priority in determining the regular pattern of nomads in the Kermanshah Province considers two heterogeneity and slope indices, and the second priority is among the rest of hydrology and topography indices. The nomads’ almost identical choices in selecting location of their camps are dependent on access to non-jagged lands, flat lands, the places with more than 600 m distance from the ridges and less than 500 m from the streams and 2 km distance from the springs, special ranges of TWI, CTI and SRR indices, the altitude range of 1,400 to 2,000 m above sea level, and establishment in the Landform 3 range of the TPI index and limestone formation.