Resumo Tem sido demonstrado que a fragmentação da terra pode impactar negativamente a eficiência da agricultura. Portanto, os especialistas recomendam o processo de consolidação de terras como uma solução lógica e viável para resolver os problemas e as complicações causadas pela fragmentação de terras. O nivelamento e a consolidação da terra são processos de reforma agrária que alteram a construção de terras agrícolas, o que leva ao desenvolvimento rural por meio da reforma da gestão agrícola. No entanto, um único plano não pode ser aplicado a diferentes regiões, mesmo que estejam no mesmo país. Portanto, é vital investigar vários fatores em determinada região para elaborar o plano de consolidação perfeito. O presente estudo, que é uma pesquisa exploratória de levantamento, é realizado para fornecer um modelo abrangente para implementar o plano de nivelamento e consolidação de terras agrícolas na região de Abu Fazel, de Ahvaz, no Irã. Trata-se de uma pesquisa de campo aplicada que usa métodos de biblioteca e de campo para coletar os dados necessários. A população do estudo está em Abu Fazel, no nordeste de Ahvaz, na região de Zargan. Os resultados do estudo mostram que fatores culturais, sociais, econômicos, políticos, educacionais, agrícolas e gerenciais influenciam a participação dos agricultores no nivelamento e na consolidação das terras agrícolas na área de estudo (p ≥ 0,01). Além disso, há forte relação positiva entre esses fatores e a participação dos agricultores no nivelamento e na consolidação das terras agrícolas (p ≥ 0,01). Entre esses fatores, observa-se que a política é o principal deles. Os formuladores de políticas, por um lado, podem desempenhar um papel efetivo na consolidação da terra e no macrodesenvolvimento e desenvolvimento agrícola e rural e, por outro, avaliar com precisão o efeito interativo da consolidação de terras e fatores relacionados, juntamente com os efeitos desse processo na evolução dos sistemas agronômicos.

Abstract It has been shown that land fragmentation can negatively impact the efficiency of farming. Therefore, experts recommend land consolidation process, as a logical and workable solution to solve the problems and complications caused by land fragmentation. Land levelling and consolidation is a process of land reform that changes the construction of agricultural lands which leads to rural development through reforming farm management. However, a single plan cannot be applied to different regions, even though they might be in the same country. Hence, it is vital to investigate multiple factors in a certain region to devise the perfect consolidation plan. The present study, which is a survey-exploratory research, is conducted to provide a comprehensive model to implement the plan for levelling and consolidation of agricultural lands in the Abu Fazel region of Ahvaz, Iran. This research is an applied field research which uses both library and field methods to collect the required data. The study population is in Abu Fazel in the northeast of Ahvaz in Zargan region. The results of the study show that cultural, social, economic, policy-making, educational, agricultural and managerial factors have an effect on the participation of farmers in the levelling and consolidation of agricultural lands in the study area (p≥0.01). Also, there is a strong positive relationship between these factors and the farmers' participation in levelling and consolidation of agricultural lands (p≥0.01). Among these factors, it is observed that policy is main factor. Policymakers can play an effective role in land consolidation and macro development on the one hand and agricultural and rural development. On the other, by accurately assessing the interactive effect of land consolidation and related factors, along with the effects of this process on the evolution of agronomic systems.

Abstract Performance improvement is the main concept of development policy. Belief in strengthening and improving the performance of individuals and institutions in developing countries for success in development policy has gradually formed among development agents. Performance improvement at the individual level pays attention to individual needs in order to enhance performance. Development requires developed and trained people. Therefore, the better the human resources as wealth and national capital are cultivated, the smoother the development path will be. The dimensions of improving performance at the individual level include things such as abilities, needs, attitudes, psychology, motivations, talents and skills, which also raises the need for skill development. In this regard, the current research seeks to investigate the relationship between skill development and performance improvement in extension in Iranian agriculture. The statistical population includes agricultural jihad centers in five regions of the country (the division of the country's provinces according to the Ministry of Agricultural Jihad, where each region includes 6 provinces) which is 8142 people, and accordingly, Cochran's formula was used to determine the sample size and the number of sample size 366 people were obtained. A structured questionnaire was developed to collect data. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the skill development measurement model, the performance improvement measurement model, and the skill development model. The research results show the significant relationship of all the indicators extracted from the interview in the structural equations.

Resumo A melhoria do desempenho é o principal conceito da política de desenvolvimento. A crença no fortalecimento e na melhoria do desempenho de indivíduos e instituições nos países em desenvolvimento para o sucesso da política de desenvolvimento tem se formado gradualmente entre os agentes de desenvolvimento. A melhoria do desempenho a nível individual presta atenção às necessidades individuais, a fim de melhorar o desempenho. O desenvolvimento requer pessoas desenvolvidas e treinadas. Portanto, quanto melhores forem os recursos humanos cultivados como riqueza e capital nacional, mais suave será o caminho de desenvolvimento. As dimensões da melhoria do desempenho no nível individual incluem coisas como habilidades, necessidades, atitudes, psicologia, motivações, talentos e habilidades, o que também levanta a necessidade de desenvolvimento de habilidades. Nesse sentido, a presente pesquisa busca investigar a relação entre o desenvolvimento de habilidades e a melhoria do desempenho na extensão na agricultura iraniana. A população estatística inclui centros de jihad agrícola em cinco regiões do país (a divisão das províncias do país de acordo com o Ministério da Jihad Agrícola, onde cada região inclui 6 províncias) que é de 8142 pessoas e, nesse sentido, a fórmula de Cochran foi utilizada para determinar o tamanho da amostra e o número de tamanho amostral de 366 pessoas foram obtidas. Para a coleta de dados foi elaborado um questionário estruturado. A modelagem de equações estruturais foi usada para examinar o modelo de medida de desenvolvimento de habilidades, o modelo de medição de melhoria de desempenho e o modelo de desenvolvimento de habilidades. Os resultados da pesquisa mostram a relação significativa de todos os indicadores extraídos da entrevista nas equações estruturais.

Abstract In the present study, hydrodynamics and gas to particle heat transfer in pseudo two dimensional spouted beds (2DSB) with and without draft plates were investigated using the Eulerian-Eulerian approach. The main objective of the study was to provide an understanding of effects of the presence of draft plates on the hydrodynamics and heat transfer behavior of solid particles in the spouted beds. To validate the model, the predicted mean particle vertical velocity at the bed axis, the lateral profiles of vertical particle velocity at different bed heights for both systems, and the particle velocity vector fields in the beds were compared with the experimental measurements. A close agreement between the CFD results and the experimental data was found for both systems. The simulation results showed that the particle volume fraction in the spout and fountain regions of the spouted bed with draft plates is considerably lower than that in a conventional spouted bed (without draft plates). Simulation results also showed significant differences between the temperature distributions of gas and solid phases in spouted beds with and without draft plates.

The aim of the present study was to investigate interactions between feed form and dietary inclusion of probiotics (live organisms) and enzymes on growth performance, cellular and humoral immunity, and relative weights of lymphoid organs of broiler chicks fed a triticale-based diet. A total of 640 broiler chicks were allocated to eight treatments when they were one day old, with four replicates (n = 20 chicks in each). The dietary treatments consisted of feed form (pellets or mash) and dietary supplementation with or without a Bacillus-based probiotic (0.03% diet) and enzyme (carbohydrase, 0.05% diet) in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was calculated based on feed intake (FI) and weight gain (WG). The WG of the broiler chicks fed the pelleted diets containing the enzyme and probiotic (alone or in combination) was greater than that of the birds fed the mash diets without these additives. Significant interaction effects of the enzyme and probiotic on FCR and FI were observed in the starter period. The heterophil : lymphocyte (H : L) ratio of the chicks fed the pelleted diet containing the enzyme and probiotic was lower than that of the birds fed the other diets. The cellular immunity of the birds fed this diet increased after 24 hours, as shown by the results of a challenge experiment with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) or an injection of phytohemagglutinin (PHA). In conclusion, feed form and supplementation of a triticale-based diet with feed enzymes and probiotics can greatly improve the growth performance and immunity of broiler chicks.

RESUMO A alcaparra (Capparis spinosa) é utilizada como planta multifuncional e adaptável que fornece uma oportunidade valiosa de melhoramento de vegetais em áreas climáticas adversas. Essa planta, como as outras, é afetada pelos estresses hídrico e do cloreto de sódio, que são os estresses abióticos mais comuns no mundo. Este estudo foi realizado para determinar a interação entre a seca e as diferentes proporções de cloreto de cálcio e cloreto de sódio na alcaparra. O estresse hídrico estava em dois níveis (100 e 75% da capacidade de campo) e foi aplicado com base no método de pesagem diária de recipientes. Os tratamentos salinos estavam com quatro proporções diferentes de cloreto de cálcio: cloreto de sódio (1:0, 1:1, 1:3 e 1:5). Os tratamentos começaram quando as plantas foram semeadas nos recipientes. Os resultados indicaram que maiores proporções de cloreto de cálcio do que de cloreto de sódio, que causaram estresse por salinidade, possuem efeito destrutivo nas relações de água e teor de alcaparra. Este estresse afetou o crescimento e as características relacionadas à função morfológica e fisiológica de forma negativa. O crescimento e outras características tiveram redução sob condições de déficit hídrico. Parece que a interação entre a salinidade e a seca teve o efeito mais destrutivo nessa planta, diminuindo sua qualidade e a quantidade de suas características.

ABSTRACT Caper (Capparis spinosa) is used as multipurpose and adaptable plant which provides a valuable opportunity to enhance greenery in harsh climatic areas. This plant like the others is affected by drought and sodium chloride stresses as the most common abiotic stresses worldwide. This study was carried out to determine the interaction between drought and different ratios of sodium and calcium chloride on caper. Droughts stress were two levels of 100 and 75% of field capacity and were applied based on the daily weighting method of pots. Salt treatments were four different ratios of calcium chloride: sodium chloride (1:0, 1:1, 1:3, 1:5]. Treatments started when the plants were sown in the pots. Results indicated that higher ratios of calcium chloride than sodium chloride which caused salinity stress have destructive effect on water relationships and contents of the caper. This stress affected growth, morphological, and physiological function related traits in a negative way. Growth and other traits decreased under water deficit conditions. It seems that interaction between salinity and drought had the most destructive effect on this plant and decreasing its quality and quantity of its traits.

In this paper, a control algorithm for improving vehicle handling has been proposed by applying correction angle to the steered wheel, based on the optimal and adaptive theory using Simulink MATLAB software. A 4DOF model with nonlinear tire and SBW subsystem is presented using hardware in the loop method. Since some space variables cannot be measured, an estimator is used to extract the measurable variables from the simulated model and convert them to the required variables of the controller. These variables are transmitted to the controller and then it adopts itself with new conditions and applies the best modification on the steering. The results reveal that the proposed controller can significantly improve vehicle handling during severe maneuvers.

CFD modeling for an internal loop airlift reactor is developed for different superficial gas velocities, ranging from 0.015 to 0.073 m/s. Based on the presence of gas bubbles in the downcomer, three regimes can be generally classified as: no gas bubbles (I), stagnation of gas bubbles (II), and recirculation of gas bubbles into the riser (III). The aim of the study is to carefully investigate the regime transition from II to III by considering the gas distribution. In regime II, the CFD simulation results show that the gas holdup difference between the riser and the downcomer remains constant. Due to the transition from regime II to III, the gas holdup difference sharply increases and the ratio of gas holdup in the downcomer and riser changes between the two regimes. At a superficial gas velocity slightly lower than that of the transitional regime, a small amount of gas is dragged to the riser, while the behavior of the regime is similar to regime II. The computational results show that CFD can be used as an effective tool to provide information on the details of the transition regime in internal loop airlift reactors.

Equations of state are useful for description of fluid properties such as pressure-volume-temperature (PVT). However, the success estimation of such correlations depends mainly on the range of data which have originated. Therefore new models are highly required. In this work a new method is proposed based on Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for estimation of PVT properties of compounds. The data sets were collected from Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook. Different training schemes for the back-propagation learning algorithm, such as; Scaled Conjugate Gradient (SCG), Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) and Resilient back Propagation (RP) methods were used. The accuracy and trend stability of the trained networks were tested against unseen data. The LM algorithm with sixty neurons in the hidden layer has proved to be the best suitable algorithm with the minimum Mean Square Error (MSE) of 0.000606. The ANN's capability to estimate the PVT properties is one of the best estimating method with high performance.