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The performance of SMEs will keep the wheel of the country’s economy turning. Upgrading the technologies currently used in SMEs will make the manufacturing process of food and beverage (F&B) industries more efficient. These firms are still using traditional equipment and machinery in their F&B manufacturing process; however, it is required to adopt the next level of technologies for maximum productivity, which they cannot afford. Thus, the study focuses on the intention to adopt upgraded technologies in F&B SMEs in developing countries. A total of 230 F&B SME owners and top management were surveyed in Bangladesh. The collected data were analyzed using PLS-SEM with SmartPLS software. The results showed that disaster preparedness and business continuity had significant effects on the intention to adopt; similarly, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence were also significant in the intention to adopt the next level of IR technologies. The moderating role of government support and policy had mixed effects on intention. The study is significant because disaster preparedness and business continuity plans are utilized in technology adoption and intention scenarios. To investigate this intention, the study adopted two perspectives: the influence and role of disasters and hazards on SMEs through disaster preparedness and business continuity plans, and secondly, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) for measuring the intention. The study contributed to these two theories in a new context with constructs. The study will also contribute to policymakers in developing constructive policies and providing effective financial and non-financial support for F&B manufacturing SMEs.

Rabat Tepe, an ancient site in northwestern Iran near the Little Zab River, reveals insights into two distinct periods from the Iron Age. The primary focus of excavations has been on the layers dating back to the first millennium BC. Notable discoveries at Rabat include a striking pebble mosaic pavement, fortified walls, and various decorative bricks. The site’s size, architectural remains, and uncovered artifacts point to its significant role during the first millennium BC. Through multiple excavation seasons, researchers have gleaned valuable information about the site’s layout and historical eras. Evidence suggests that a thick wall once enclosed the entire area, around 3 meters in width. Artifacts found at Rabat share similarities with those from Qalaichi, a well-known Mannaean site. While initially attributed to Mannaean culture, this association is now under debate. Excavations between 2006 and 2008 unearthed inscribed bricks inscribed with Neo-Assyrian cuneiform script. These findings sparked discussions and identified Rabat with ancient cities like Paddir/Šurdira and Hubushkia, although these identifications face significant challenges. Rabat was an independent religious-royal city-state.

The silver plate from the British Museum (inv. 124091) usually attributed as depicting “Šābuhr killing deer”does not have a direct parallel in Sasanian iconography. The attempts were made to explain the image in perspective of relation to Mithraism, however no detailed analysis was done. The plate represents features typical for the Sasanian silver but, at the same time it is modelled upon Mithraic tauroctony. This makes the scene a possibly important argument in discussion regarding the very existence of Iranian Mithraism. The fact that the scene is not a direct copy of the Roman tauroctony arguments for association with Iranian imagery. The scene had to be understood in Iranian terms, despite referring to Roman depictions. This supports the view of Iranian, pre-Zoroastrian Mithraic cult. 

This paper presents the results of a geoarchaeological study of the ancient hydraulic structures in the Bozpar Valley and an analysis of their relationship with the standing monuments, especially the two palatial structures known as Kushk-e Ardashir and Zendan-i Soleyman. It presents a raison d’être for each identified structure regarding its hydraulic function and physical integration within the monumental landscape. Then, it suggests an interpretative pattern in their spatial relation to the mentioned monumental structures. The study area is a small and remote valley in the Zagros highlands in southern Iran. It borders the modern provinces of Fars and Bushehr and is historically associated with the Greater Fars region. The monumental structures in this area belong to the Sasanian architectural tradition. Here, their integrated hydraulic structures are investigated interdisciplinary via remote sensing. The analysis indicates different functions for the two monuments: a representative and official kushk and a [seasonal] leisure palace. Based on the nature and function of the integrated hydraulic structures, the former monument seems to relate to food production activities and the latter to currently unidentified activities other than daily life. The results of this study provide further evidence of integrated hydraulic structures in Late Antique Iran and shall trigger comparative studies from neighbouring regions in the future.

The migration of Indians to various destinations during the past few decades has led to the emergence of a group of writers known as Asian-American authors in literature. These writers, including immigrant women from India spanning the first and second generations, have crafted a substantial collection of short fiction. Jhumpa Lahiri, a Bengali-Indian writer, explores themes of identity, belonging, displacement, and the challenges of straddling different cultural attitudes in Interpreter of Maladies . This article adopts a theoretical approach and utilizes the library research method, drawing on the insights of scholars such as Stuart Hall and Michael Ryan, to explore cultural displacement, identity, and the experiences of immigrants in a new multicultural environment. The central focus is to know how Lahiri addresses displacement and immigration through trans-cultural discourses while challenging cultural diversities in Interpreter of Maladies . By employing such a trans-cultural discourse, this study aims to analyze how Lahiri portrays the complexities of cultural differences, and identity formation in the context of immigration. The narratives in Interpreter of Maladies offer a rich tapestry of characters navigating the challenges of living between cultures, shedding light on the profound impact of displacement on individuals and families. By closely examining Lahiri’s storytelling techniques and character development, this article aims to illuminate how the author captures the nuances of trans-cultural experiences and the facts that ultimately put their impact on the formation of immigrants’ new identities in unfamiliar territories.