Western Azerbaijan Research Articles

Reconnaissance of the Bronze Age Site in the Southern Lake Urmia Basin, Northwest of Iran: Ali Abad Tape

Ali Abad Tape is a prehistoric site in the northern part of Bukan city, Western Azerbaijan Province, North Western Iran. It was an unknown site until some potsherds mostly belonged to Kura-Araxes culture uncovered at the time of digging the earth in search of fresh water by residents. The sherds were parallel to most excavated sites in the west and northwestern Iran known as Yanik Culture in archaeological literature of Iran. The site dated back to Early, Middle and Late Bronze Age.

Determinants of Farmers' Participation in Horticulture-based Extension Programs in Iran: Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

This paper aims to discover the determinants of farmers’ participation in horticulture-based Education programs in the Western Azerbaijan province, Iran. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the study also tries to make a comparison between participants and non-participants, who have achieved in this program. A sample of 231 farmers (137 participants and 94 non-participants) was selected based on a stratified random sampling method. Data gathering instrument was a questionnaire that its validity was approved by a group of experts and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha (α=0.71). The results showed that, there were significant differences between participants and non-participants in agricultural education programs in terms of all the TPB contexts. Additionally, the results of the regression analysis showed that attitude to how thinking and decision and subjective norms were the best determinants of farmers’ participation.

Site Selection of Tourism Village in Mahabad Dam Shore Using AHP, GIS and SWOT Techniques

Purpose: Suitable site selections to provide the services needed by the tourists, is one of the most important step for tourism planning in the form of tourism villages based on the identification and analysis of the various criteria and indicators. Mahabad dam Lake as one of the beautiful tourist attractions in Western Azerbaijan province, attracts many tourists each year especially during the holidays, while lacking in necessary amenities and facilities for the development of tourism commensurate with the needs of tourists. In the present study, the aim is to determine and analyze the effective criteria and sub criteria for selecting a suitable site which offering services to tourists on the edge of Mahabad dam. Methodology: In the present study, due to differences in effectiveness of the indicators, (AHP) technique i..e paired comparison of these components was carried out by 25 tourism experts, and the final weight of each item was calculated. Then according to the number of criteria and the final weight of sub criteria, layers has been created in the Geographic Information system (GIS) Environment, in order to select the best site of tourism village on the edge of the Lake dam. Findings: The results of the integration of information layers have prioritized three regions as suitable sites for the creation of tourism villages. Then by using SWOT technique, Site A was identified as the best site of tourism village. Practical solutions: Finally appropriate strategies (SO, ST, WO, WT) based on SWOT methodology were offered for tourism development in the study area. Original/value: Using Geographic Information System (GIS) as a powerful tool for identifying and analyzing suitability of different geographical regions, can be a crucial step for suitable planning of tourism activities and therefore it can facilitate economic, social and cultural development for communities and play an important role to meet sustainable development goals.

A new species of the genus Favognathus Luxton (Acari: Cryptognath-idae) from western Azerbaijani, Iran

A new species of the genus Favognathus Luxton is described from Iran, namely: F. naghii Hassanzadeh, Khanjani & SafarAlizadeh sp. nov. , collected from soil and litter under Cydonia oblonga Mill. (Rosaceae), Sardasht vicinity, Western Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Also, a key to all known species of the genus Favognathus is presented here.

Monitoring the level of preparedness of organizational infrastructures for implementation of knowledge management (Case Study)

In this work, the level of preparedness of organizational infrastructures for implementation of knowledge management has been investigated. Statistical population of this research consists of 277 employees of Western Azerbaijan province electricity Distribution Company with educational degrees higher than BSc which is estimated to be as much as 162 people according to Morgan table. To analyze the data, inferential statistics methods such as Kolmogorov – Smirnov, single sample test and Friedman test are used. Results of this work showed that organizational infrastructures of case study have sufficient preparedness for implementation of knowledge management; that is, human resources infrastructure, ranked first with respect to level of preparedness and after that was structural infrastructure, then fiscal infrastructure and finally, cultural infrastructure.

The Analysis of Factors Affecting Horticulturist Intention and Participation in Agricultural Training-extension Programs in Western Azerbaijan Province

Purpose: promoting the extension programs is a challenge which extension professionals and planners faced with and detection of influencing factors on programs’ success or fail needs to significant time allocation and commitment, so extension and education programs aim to farmers’ empowerment are very important. Today, many farmers are not interested in these programs for several reasons, so farmers’ satisfaction and programs auditing are very important. Based on this fact, the purpose of this study is analysis of influencing factors on farmers’ intention and participation in extention-education programs. Methodology: The population included all the Horticulture farmers in Western Azerbaijan Province in Iran. About 231 Horticulture farmers were selected using Morgan Table. The instrument to collect data was a questionnaire which its content and face validities were established by a panel of experts and its reliability was calculated by Cronbach’s-alpha coefficient for each part. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) used for data analysis. Results are calculated with Logistic Regression and LISREL is used for the structural equation modeling. Findings: results from independent t test suggested that Horticulture farmers participated in extension programs have more intention than farmers who did not participate in these programs for participate in extension and training programs. Based on results from path-coefficients, attitude and behavioral beliefs variables have had most effects on dependent variable, intention to participate in extension programs. Research limitation: because this theory only examines internal constructs, so in the next researches this model can be integrated into others by researchers. Practical implications: results suggested that entrepreneurial trainings were effective, so the suggestion is that more improving the trainings more promoting the audiences’ intention. Original/value: this study has examined farmers’ participatory behavior by applying one of known psychological theories and its results are useful for agricultural extension expertise.

Highland fortress-polities and their settlement systems in the southern Caucasus

Recent survey work in western Azerbaijan has revealed that hilltop fortresses of the Bronze Age and Iron Age may have been parts of larger walled complexes and could have functioned as the urban centres of small independent polities. On the Şərur Plain long lengths of stone wall link the major fortress Oğlanqala it to its smaller neighbour Qızqala 1, with evidence of a substantial settlement on the lower ground between the two. The southern Caucasus lies beyond the core area of Near Eastern states but these new discoveries suggest that major centres of power arose here, controlling both the fertile plains and strategic trade routes through mountainous terrain.

Copper–gold ore processing with ion exchange and SART technology

Anglo Asian Mining has developed a 50,000ozAu/yr open pit gold mine at Gedabek in Western Azerbaijan. The deposit at Gedabek is a copper–gold porphyry, comprising both oxide and sulphide ore mineralisation, which is being mined at the rate of about 1 million tons of ore per year. Ore processing is by conventional cyanide heap leaching, which produces a pregnant leach solution (PLS) containing 1–2ppm of gold, together with 1000ppm or more of copper. The PLS is treated by column ion exchange, using Dow’s gold-selective MINIX resin. Loaded resin is stripped with an acidic thiourea solution, from which gold and silver are electrowon on to stainless steel mesh cathodes. Copper concentrations in the leach solutions are controlled by passing part of the PLS flow through a SART process, where the acronym stands for “Sulphidisation, Acidification, Recycling and Thickening”. The product from the SART process is a copper/silver sulphide precipitate, which is thickened, filtered and dried and then sold for copper smelting.

Priorities of industrial development of West Azerbaijan techniques using Fuzzy Topsis

Today, one of the main indicators for measuring national development, development of different sectors of the economic aspects of national, regional and international levels. So the decision was made to conduct this research in order to identify the capabilities and functions of manufacturing and commercial industries, The way to select the right investment and industrial development in Western Azerbaijan province paved. In this study population, different parts of West Azerbaijan industry is, In the fourth period of the years 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 has been considered and evaluated. To set goals and priorities of industrial development of the industry, the industrial and economic experts (Delphi method) was used. This study aims at identifying the industrial development and industrial sectors of the technique (Fuzzy Topsis) West Azerbaijan industrial development priorities are identified and ranked. According to the study, the group of food industry, medicine and health, with the largest weight (0.6960), the paper products industry (0.6101), Department of Textile Industries (0.5978), West Azerbaijan development priorities are, The priority objectives of the industry including increasing income, increasing employment and establishment of new industries, which are the first and third priorities. Overall, the results suggest that it is The West Azerbaijan Province of good potential for its proper role within the regional planning And national industrial development in order to achieve the objectives of Vision is a country.

A new species of the genus <em>Storchia</em> Oudemans (Acari: Stigmaeidae) from northwest Iran

A new species of the genus Storchia, S. elhamae sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on females collected from grass litters in Mahabad countryside, western Azerbaijan province, Iran. A key to all known species of the world is provided.

Daryoosh Akbarzadeh, Carlo G. Cereti, Fabrizio Sinisi. Glyptic Antiquities from the Museum of Khoy, Western Azerbaijan, Iran

Sur les 164 objets estampilles en argile, au moins 148 sont des bulles sassanides bien identifiables. Au moins une cinquantaine – sinon toutes – a fait partie de la collection de M. I. Mochiri. Etudiee en 1977 par Ph. Gignoux, cette collection avait ete publiee, mais sans aucune reproduction photographique (Ph. Gignoux / R. Gyselen, Bulles et sceaux sassanides de diverses collections [Cahier de Studia Iranica n° 4], Paris, Association pour l’avancement des etudes iraniennes, 1987, p. 67-87). ...

Quantitative study of poplar plantations in three Iranian provinces

Fast growing poplar species enjoy a highly favored position in Iran’s forest product industries. However, information on poplar plantations, such as areas, growing stock and harvest volumes, are largely obtained by non scientific means and poorly executed methods. A few studies have been conducted to obtain data on the capacity of poplar plantations, their extent, existing growing stock, distribution and species choice in three provinces, i.e., Western Azerbaijan, Kurdistan and Hamedan, with relatively well developed management systems. We opted for a cluster method, a standard sampling method for conducting similar investigations, consisting of two phases. In the first phase we collected library information and conducted half-open interviews with villagers. In the second phase field measurements in the villages of these three provinces were carried out. Information from field measurements on growing stock, cultivated areas, dominant species were used to estimate volumes by way of volume and weight tables. Results obtained from the present study indicate that the average annual volume of timber harvested in the three provinces was 697,723 m3, with an average sampling error of 22.7 per cent. This annual volume of poplar timber harvested from the three provinces was estimated to amount to about 25 per cent of overall harvest; at that rate, the overall annual utilization potential of poplar plantations will be 10 million m3, which constitutes a reliable resource of raw timber for use in wood and paper industries.

Eustigmaeus seemani sp. nov. and description male of E. segnis (Koch) (Acari: Stigmaeidae) and re-description of E. rhodomela (Koch) from Iran

A new mite species, Eustigmaeus seemani sp. nov., from western Iran (Rijab region, Kermanshah province) is described and illustrated based on females and males from soil and litter under apple trees. The male of Eustigmaeus segnis (Koch) from soil and litter under walnut trees (Rijab region, Kermanshah province) is described and Eustigmaeus rhodomela (Koch) (from mosses in Uormia vicinity, Western Azerbaijan province) is re-described and reported for the first time from Iran. A key to all known species of Eustigmaeus in Iran is presented.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:02943435-C850-4A60-B30D-4BD3D4EE3D27

Taxonomic Notes onCentaureaSect.Acrocentron(Asteraceae) in Iran, with the Description of a New Species

Centaurea orumiehensis Ranjbar & Negaresh sp. nova (Asteraceae) is described and illustrated from western Azerbaijan Province, NW Iran. The characters that distinguish it from the morphologically closest species are given. In addition, C. zangulensis Ranjbar & Negaresh stat. & nom. nov. is proposed to replace C. elegantissima Bornm. var. albiflora Bornm.

Removal of ammonium ion from aqueous solutions using natural zeolite: kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies

The aim of the present study is to investigate the removal of ammonium ions from aqueous solutions using the natural Western Azerbaijan zeolite by utilizing ion exchange process. Batch experimental studies were conducted to evaluate by changing relevant parameters such as pH, dosage of adsorbent, stirring time, initial ammonium concentration, and temperature. The results clearly confirmed that all mentioned parameters have vital affects on removing ammonium ions from wastewater and effluents, so got optimized. Adsorption kinetics and equilibrium data for the removal of ammonium ion were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The Langmuir model fits the equilibrium data better than the Freundlich model. According to the Langmuir equation, the maximum uptake for ammonium ion was 43.47 (mg g−1). Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were used to represent the kinetics of the process. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption followed a pseudo-second-order reaction. The calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) indicate that the adsorption process is feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic at 20–50 °C. Based on the experimental results, it can be suggested that the natural Western Azerbaijan zeolite has the potential of application as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of ammonium ions from aqueous solutions, and is suggested for wastewater treatment purposes.

Comparative Study of the Financial Independence, Self-Confidence and Decision-Making Power, Awareness of the Social Resources and Mental Health in the Women Members of SHG and Non-Member of SHG

The main objective of the present paper was the evaluation of the program of the self help groups in the Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Hamadan and Western Azerbaijan in Iran. The Casual-comparative research method has been used in this research and statistical population was all the women members of SHG and Non-Member of SHG. The statistical samples were included 289 the women members of SHG (137) and Non-Member of SHG (152) due to the size of the population, more than /90 of population has been selected. Three different research instrument have been used which are included Demographic features questionnaire, Questionnaire of the evaluation of the self help groups’ empowerment, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28). The reliability of the questionnaire of the evaluation of the self help groups’ empowerment was /80 and General health questionnaire (GHQ-28) was /92. According to the research results, there are significant relationship between the amount of the financial independence, self confidence, the decision making power and the amount of the awareness of women members of SHG and Non-Member of SHG. Also, there were no significant relationship between the amount of cutting dependency to direct financial supports and mental health the women members of SHG and Non-Member of SHG.

The variations of vertebrate-type steroid hormones in the freshwater narrow-clawed crayfish Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) (Decapoda, Astacidae) during oocyte development

In this study, the levels of 17β-oestradiol (E2) and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone in the haemolymph, ovary and hepatopancreas of the freshwater narrow-clawed crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) were analysed in different stages of oocyte development. In recent years, the occurrence of vertebrate-type steroid hormones, E2 and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, has been reported in a few decapods, although their precise role in female reproduction is not fully elucidated. Thirty specimens of A. leptodactylus were caught at Aras Dam (Western Azerbaijan, Iran) and maintained under experimental conditions (at 25°C with a photoperiod of 14 : 10 hours light/dark) from November to March 2010. For steroid extraction, 3 ml haemolymph was withdrawn from the pericardial cavity with a syringe, and frozen at −20°C. The pieces of ovary and hepatopancreas were homogenized with phosphate buffer (pH 7.8) and, centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 min at 4°C as well. It was observed that the level of E2 increased in haemolymph and ovary during vitellogenesis, and decreased in the hepatopancreas. The level of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone was enhanced in haemolymph and ovary during the maturation stage. Maximum levels of E2 and 17α-hydroxyprogesterone were present in the ovary. The results point out the possible involvement of vertebrate-type steroids in the endocrine regulation of the ovarian cycle of A. leptodactylus.

Investigation of Polluted Zones by Lead in North West of Iran

National project of Important Heavy Metals Identification of Iran (IHMI), following the UNDP and supported by Department of Environment of Iran (DOE), has been completed by Modares Environmental Research Center (MERC). Due to this project the pollution potential sources was investigated by overall distribution maps of any parameters that may cause the lead pollution. Then the sampling points was determined by some geo-statistical analysis and the sampling process was done according to standard methods of sampling, preserving, transferring to lab, measuring and analyzing etc through the 3 months in three phases of materials (effluent and discharges, solid waste, water, soil and sediment samples from natural sources like river etc.). After gathering the final results, overlaying the potential sources and polluted positions (according to violation of national and international standards of sampled points) by Geographic Information Systems (GIS) led the research to closing to the pollutant sources in north west provinces (Eastern Azerbaijan, Western Azerbaijan, Ardabil and Zanjan). The synthetic and natural pollution sources observed were 17 and 20 respectively. Abir River, Niroo Gostar Taban Industrial Complex and Copper Industries were the most important pollution sources in material phases of Natural, effluent and solid waste respectively.

Radiostratigraphic study of the deposits of the Maikop Group, Western Azerbaijan

This work presents the results of biostratigraphic study of natural outcrops of the Maikop Group, which were first carried together with detailed radiometric studies in the Ganja oil and gas-bearing region, Western Azerbaijan. The paleontological research method included determination of the genus or species (depending on the preservation) of microfaunistic remains (foraminifera, ostracods, fish remains). The radiometric research method included measurements of the integral radioactivity in the field, the sampling, as well as laboratory radionuclide (spectral) analysis. As a result of our research, the stratigraphic control of variation in the radioactivity of rocks of the Maikop Group of the Ganja oil and gas-bearing region has been established. The radioactivity of Oligocene rocks is predominantly determined by potassium content. The radioactivity of the Miocene part of the section of the Maikop Group is determined by uranium-potassium contents. Within the Ganja oil and gas-bearing region, deposits of the Kotsakhurian regional stage, which are usually referred to “barren” formations or anoxic “fish facies”, contain a significant number of species of benthic foraminiferal fauna.

State Identity, Continuity, and Responsibility: The Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey and the Armenian Genocide: A Reply to Vahagn Avedian

We have been asked by European Journal of International Law to write reply to an article entitled State Identity, Continuity and Responsibility: The Ottoman Empire, Republic of Turkey and Armenian Genocide. The article accuses Turkey of practising denialist policy with regard to the act of genocide committed during 1915�1916, demanding that it make itself responsible for its own internationally wrongful acts committed against Armenians and other Christian minorities, and also accuses it of expanding massacres beyond its borders into Caucasus and territories of independent Republic of Armenia. According to same article, there is state succession and continuation of responsibility from Ottoman Empire to Turkish Republic, and Republic must assume full responsibility for and should also repair injury caused by Ottoman Empire. The Armenian question is especially sensitive, among other reasons because of long accumulation of prejudices against Turks,1 Armenian terrorism in 1973�1991, Armenian invasion and occupation of western Azerbaijan since 1992, and more recently virulent anti-Turkish stance of Anders Breivik in his manifesto4 and various campaigns or attacks by Armenian nationalists. Instead of easing tensions, article fuels them through provocative, defaming, irredentist remarks of its author who harbours in his writings colours of political pamphleteer. On this sensitive issue our main objective is to restore much-needed understanding and fair as well as reconciliatory dialogue between Armenian and Turkish people and all interested parties, including scholars. The right to encompasses all aspects of truth and all pages of history; in short, a just memory. Thus, initiatives for dialogue between those who defend different views should be promoted. In this respect, creation ...