Blasting cost prediction and optimization is of great importance and significance to achieve optimal fragmentation through controlling the adverse consequences of the blasting process. By gathering explosive data from six limestone mines in Iran, the present study aimed to develop a model to predict blasting cost, by gene expression programming method. The model presented a higher correlation coefficient (0.933) and a lower root mean square error (1088) comparing to the linear and nonlinear multivariate regression models. Based on the sensitivity analysis, spacing and ANFO value had the most and least impact on blasting cost, respectively. In addition to achieving blasting cost equation, the constraints such as fragmentation, fly rock, and back break were considered and analyzed by the gene expression programming method for blasting cost optimization. The results showed that the ANFO value was 9634 kg, hole diameter 76 mm, hole number 398, hole length 8.8 m, burden 2.8 m, spacing 3.4 m, hardness 3 Mhos, and uniaxial compressive strength 530 kg/cm2 as the blast design parameters, and blasting cost was obtained as 6072 Rials/ton, by taking into account all the constraints. Compared to the lowest blasting cost among the 146-research data (7157 Rials/ton), this cost led to a 15.2% reduction in the blasting cost and optimal control of the adverse consequences of the blasting process.
Species of the genus Salsola belong to the family Chenopodiaceae and are associated with large saline areas in eastern Iran. The aim of the study was to isolate and characterize the endophytic and phytopathogenic fungal communities from non-mycotrophic Salsola species. Sampling was done from different parts of Salsola plants in the Birjand region in 2017 and 2018. Isolation and identification of fungal isolates were done using biological characteristics and ITS region sequences. The pathogenicity of the representative isolates was investigated by cultivating disinfected Salsola incanescens seeds under greenhouse conditions and inoculating seedlings with a fungal spore suspension from 7 day old fungal colonies on PDA media. Based on morphological and molecular data, 27 isolates from 11 fungal species were isolated and identified from Salsola tissues. Alternaria alternata, A. chlamydospora, Aspergillus terreus, Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium longipes, Ulocladium atrum, and Talaromyes pinophilus caused root or stem rotting and yellowing leaf of S. incanescens under greenhouse conditions. Aspergillus niger induced S. incanescens crown swelling without any pathogenicity. Clonostachys rosea, F. redolens and F. proliferatum grew as endophytic fungi on S. incanescens roots. This is the first report of phytopathogenic M. phaseolina, F. longipes, T. pinophilus, endophytic F. redolens and A. niger as a swelling agent on S. incanescens.
This paper includes the behaviour of RC column, using the steel strength data employed by Rafi et al. (2014). Eccentric short columns are studied for this purpose, both tension and compression controlled sections, are analysed considering the current design practice of Pakistan. Three cross sections were analysed using different steel percentages against load-moment interaction and the strength analyses. Concrete strength is also varied in this analysis. The load moment interaction diagrams were observed in major and minor axes and strength analysis is made for compression controlled and tension controlled sections. In this analysis it is observed that a section designed as a tension controlled is giving brittle failure at certain limit which should be avoided. Considering this scenario, several random cross sections are analysed, strength reduction factors for eccentric and pure axial columns are computed. Conclusions are made on behalf of this analysis for different types of column design.
Phytophthora root and stem rot of soybean is a destructive disease of soybean in Iran. During 1998–2005, 142 isolates from soil and diseased soybean plants were collected and tested. Race identification was made possible by inoculating Rps differential soybean cultivars and lines. Of the 142 isolates tested, 110 isolates belonged to race 1 and 32 isolates belonged to race 3. Race 1 was domi nant in soil and diseased plant samples. There was no variability in virulence of Phytophthora sojae between the areas surveyed.
The Shotori Range of east-central Iran (east of Tabas) has yielded Famennian ammonoid assemblages dominated by the family Sporadoceratidae. Four genera Maeneceras Hyatt, 1884, Iranoceras Walliser, 1966, Sporadoceras Hyatt, 1884 and Erfoudites Korn, 1999 are represented. The conodont assemblage of one sample containing Iranoceras revealed an Upper marginifera Zone age. The ammonoid assemblages are characterised by comparatively large specimens; they reach conch diameters of 300 mm (including the body chamber) and the mean size is larger than 100 mm. The preservation of the material from the Shotori Range and size comparison with sporadoceratid assemblages from the Anti-Atlas of Morocco and the Rhenish Mountains of Germany suggest that hydraulic sorting has resulted in a bias towards large conchs, explaining the size distribution, rather than latitudinal differences. The new species Maeneceras tabasense is described; the genus Iranoceras is revised with a new description of the two species Iranoceras pachydiscus (Walliser, 1966) and Iranoceras pingue (Walliser, 1966).
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