A study was carried out to assess the presence and distribution of heavy metal pollutants in Lichen species Platismatia glauca and moss species Meiothecium microcarpum found in a highland tea plantation area in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. In the study Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, As and Ni were analyzed. The heavy metals concentrations were analyzed using multi-elements Energy Dispersive X-rays Fluorescence technique (EDXRF). Results showed that the mean concentration of the metals can be arranged in decreasing order as Zn>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd>As>Ni for lichen and Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd>As for moss. However based on anthropogenic factor, the degree of anthropogenic pollution follows identical decreasing order of Cd>Zn>Pb>As>Cu>Cr>Ni, where the samples were enriched by Cd and Zn. The average effects of the heavy metals showed the area is not polluted. The correlation and PCA studies on the metals indicated that majorities are of natural origins, except for Cd and Zn. Cd is attributed to phosphate fertilizers, solid waste incineration and fossil fuel burning, while Zn from tires wares and tears and also fossil fuel combustion. Distribution patterns of all the heavy metals were also plotted to assess the hot spots for the respective metals.

Droughts effects as destructive and unavoidable they seem in any climate can be controlled and mitigated by applying well-established management procedures. Great Karoon rivers basin is the largest basin in Iran. Because of strategic and economical position of this basin, drought frequency analysis is mo important. In the present paper we use the L-Moments method to estimation the various return periods and for analysis of drought frequency we obtained the Percent of Normal Precipitation from rain gages across Khuzestan province southwest Iran was used to study this phenomenon. Ward clustering method was used to identify the homogenous regions in the province by dividing it into four different areas. By using Hosking and Wallis non-homogeneity index was calculated for three areas and the regional frequently distribution parameters were assessed by using L-moment rates. To determine the best distribution frequency, a goodness-of-fit testing and L-moment diagram were used and a drought index with different return periods was calculated.

In this paper, we study the level of efficacy of different factors on industrial import, including oil and gas export foreign exchange revenue, real effective exchange rate, and import control policy in short term and long run. The results demonstrate that oil revenue highly affects industrial imports in long run. Moreover, industrial import was inelastic. In comparison with long-run, the short term import price elasticity was relatively lower. This reflects the fact that there is higher flexibility in domestic industries for import substitution in long term in Iran.

Water reform policy in many countries, which their economy mostly based on agricultural sector, is main preconditions for sustainable agricultural economic development. Since water is an important input in all economic sectors and particularly in agriculture, climate changes and water scarcity are more important to be considered in this millennium. Providing sufficient water for various uses is one of the main problems that most Developing Countries involved. Agricultural Water-reforms are vital while the multi-oriented issue of sustainability is of interest as well. The pros and cons of climate changes due to global warming and water-reform policy are discussed in this project.

Entries in aviation annals reflect SWaP reduction as one of the most important architectural features. The avionics architectural landscape is primarily divided into two parts, i.e., federated avionics architecture and Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) architecture. The legacy federated architecture is based upon dedicated resource allocation scheme where resources are most of the time remain under-utilized. Contrary, in IMA architecture, resources are kept in a shared pool and requirement-based allocation scheme is practiced. During last decade, a number of aircraft manufacturing companies undertook projects to replace the legacy federated system with IMA system on various aircraft. The research reported in this paper is undertaken to draw a comparison between the two architectures in terms of SWaP reduction. The research conducted is exploratory, explanatory, descriptive, and analytical; for data collection ‘Existing Statistics’ and ‘Existing Secondary Researches’ are used; whereas, for data analysis various statistical techniques are employed. During the course of study, twenty-eight different projects were analyzed where the old federated system was replaced by the IMA system. The analysis brings to view that in all these projects, size reduction ranging 28.28 % - 50 %, power reduction ranging 38% - 60 %, and weight reduction ranging 25 % - 50 %, was attained. Furthermore, the transition appears to be more advantageous on large-sized aircraft. The research can be utilized to seek better decision making if the customary federated avionics architecture, on a given fighter or commercial aircraft, is to be replaced by the modern IMA architecture.

The demand for the broadband internet accessibility has never been more imperative; the provision of high mobility broadband services, for the mobile subscribers, has now become a challenge for the Wireless Telecommunication Industry where WiMax and 3GPP LTE are contesting to win the challenge. The research paper is aimed at a comparative study between LTE and WiMax to infer what is likely to be a preferred 4th Generation wireless technology. The research presented in the paper is exploratory, explanatory, descriptive, and analytical; where for quantitative data collection ‘Existing Statistics’ and ‘Existing Secondary Researches’ are used. The study reveals that the two technologies have many technical similarities in terms of cell radius, channel bandwidth, and access modes, etc.; therefore, based upon the technical specifications, a choice cannot be made. Moreover, both the technologies have sufficient support from the mobile equipment vendors and mobile operators, and trends have been observed for a seamless integration between WiMAX and LTE. Nonetheless, there are some notable differences, such as the development status, time-to-market, and cost-effectiveness, etc. WiMax has been standardized through IEEE 802.16; it is developed and already in the market that gives an upper edge; however, its higher cost appears to be a negative impact on its future growth potentials. On the other hand, LTE has evolved from the existing technology that makes it more cost-effective than WiMAX; but, it is still under development, and needs time to make a place in the market. In future, WiMAX or LTE, whosoever meets the time lines earlier—and with cost-effectiveness—will outshine the other.

Teran and Refošk grapes are traditionally grown on the Istrian peninsula, a region encompassing three different national territories (Croatian, Slovenian and Italian). The question of identity of these grape varieties has therefore intrigued stakeholders in the wine industry for many years now. The confusion about their identity has also led to problems related to labeling planting material, and protecting designation of origin for Teran wines at the level of the EU. This paper details the history of this problem with an outline of past research. It then shows the results of ampelographic and genetic characterization of selected samples of Teran/Refošk vines of different age and origin, all from Istrian vineyards. The results show that these are two different grape varieties (on the basis of 21 SSR loci), but also that these are phenotypically similar grape varieties (on the basis of OIV descriptors), which might have been the main reason for their confusion. Finally, the paper defines characteristic morphological differences which enable us to distinguish them on a practical level.