۱.
Painted rocks may be considered the oldest manifestation of art in human society. The history of this art is estimated to be more than 30 thousand years. This art has also a long history in Iran. This article introduces one of these rock art sites i.e. Ghalat Niloo which is located in Kazeroon County, south-east of Ghalat Niloo village. The purpose of this study is to identify and determine the location, the function of concepts, the history, classification and relationship of these designs with similar samples available from other areas. These designs have been engraved on the walls of the caves and include subjects such as hunting, human on horseback with a bow in hand, animal images mostly goats and in one case a dog. They probably date back to the 1 st Millennium BC.
۲.
The significance of research article (RA) abstract as a key academic genre has recently motivated analysts to focus on this neglected area. Considering a summary function for abstracts, most genre researchers have adopted the conventionally proposed Introduction- Method- Results- Discussion (or Conclusion) (IMRD) model for analysis. However, the problems reported, especially for Results and Discussion sections, question the vitality of such accounts and prompt further scrutiny. Moreover, in spite of claims about disciplinary and cultural variations which can affect communication within and across discourse communities, sufficient contrastive studies which address the Iranian academics' need to communicate with and participate efficiently in the international discourse communities are scarce. Inspired by English for Specific/Academic Purposes tradition of genre analysis, this paper tries to fill these gaps presenting a comparative generic analysis of soft sciences abstracts to see what the characterizing features of the texts of Iranian scholars and their international peers are. The macro-structure, micro-structure, and some features of 100 experimental RA abstracts taken from a number of reputable Iranian (Persian) and international (English) journals were analyzed and explained drawing upon some existing rigorous models. The results revealed similarities in the presence of Introduction, Method, and concluding units, while there were also differences in the realization of units, Moves, and Steps. It is argued that the differences can point to the varying cultural norms and values of the two groups. Plus, considering the inadequacy of the four-way macro-model, an alternative three-way model was suggested, instead. Some implications of the study are discussed, too
۳.
Job creation, income generation, and natural resources conservation, all are pillars of sustainable development for industries using new technologies. Despite the importance of new technologies, developing countries face many limitations, such as economic and political problems, which make the development and transfer of technologies more difficult. In this study, we focus on development of new technologies in Iran’s petrochemical industry, including nanotechnologies, biotechnologies, and membranes. Solutions are proposed to improve the current unsatisfactory status. For that matter, taking into account experts’ viewpoints, a new technology tree is suggested for Iran’s petrochemical industry. The literature on technology assessment and prioritization is reviewed, and then primary indicators are proposed based on ability, attractiveness, and patent features. Forty industry experts are surveyed and the results are analyzed using face validity, reliability test, and factor analysis, by which the current status of new technologies is assessed.
۴.
One of the most important necessities that victimology requires at least within criminal sciences is to create a general theory describing and explaining all concepts, theories and hypotheses which may be used in this scientific sphere. The present article seeks to introduce such a theory, using key terminologies formed the literature and content of victimology from beginning of its emergence since mid of the twentieth century. The new discipline of criminal sciences that I argue in this article has emerged in the light of two criminological and legal approaches. The work of the victimology theory is to incorporating these approaches into a unified field of study which is based upon three key concepts: active personality of victim, nature of victimhood/victimization and passivity of victim. In my final considerations, I conclude that the victimology theory can have virtues and advantages including in criminal etiology, preventing victimization and offending and overall formulating a better criminal policy and criminal justice system in practice.
۵.
In this paper, factors that effect on ICT adoption by SMEs in Tehran (Iran) are investigated. To do so, after reviewing the literature, we identified the factors affecting ICT adoption by SMEs in Tehran and, based on this review, we proposed our hypotheses. Factors include internal factors, external factors and ICT specifications that influence on IT adoption by SMEs. All hypotheses are confirmed except the one that articulates the relationship between perceived ease of use and ICT adoption by SMEs. Weak managerial support, lack of available skills, weak strategic vision regarding the ICT, weak innovative environment and insufficient financial resources are among the internal barriers. External barriers include weak governmental supports, legal environment, low cultural acceptance and weak pressures from customers, suppliers and competitors. Finally, low perceived usefulness and compatibility are among the ICT specifications that limit ICT adoption by SMEs.
۶.
The rapid and intensive progress in science and technology in the world, despite its abundant advantages and gifts of welfare and comfort for the mankind, in many ways, it has pushed human security to face grave tragic events. To give an example, the progress in chemistry before the Great War, made it possible to produce and use toxic gases including Phosgene gas causing enormous deaths of both military personnel and civilians. Another example in man’s progress in nuclear physics led to innovating nuclear bomb with no precedent and unheard of in terms of mass destruction and ruins. In turn, the international humanitarian law, despite its progress in recent decades, has had been slower than the development of aforementioned scientific progresses. Nonetheless, one should consider the point that those disciplines of human sciences have more essential and fundamental principles that provide it with the ability to prevail with new conditions and situations. To elaborate the subject, although the international humanitarian law lacks explicit rules, regulations and treaties in addressing many of the modern armaments and warfare, it still possesses the principle of distinction, principle of unnecessary pain and suffering, principle of preventing vast and long-term damages that could be enforced on new arms by assessing its legality in order to boost human security. The present paper aims at studying various aspects of this issue.
