Methods to improve bearing capacity of footing resting of collapsing soil can, in fact, take two approaches, improving soil strength properties and intrusion of reinforcing sorces into soil. The footing is modeled by a square steel plate 0.1 by 0.1 m. The footing is loaded as to have a stress of 40 kPa and settlement is receded in dry and in soaking conditions. Two depths of the Geo-mesh reinforcement are used, one B (B is width of footing) and 0.5B. For one B depth, three different square sizes of Geo-mesh are used, 4B, 6B, and 8B. For the reinforcement depth of 0.5B the three sizes of the Geo-mesh used are, 3.5B, 5.5B, and, 7.5B. Results reveal that the best improvement obtained is the case of square Geo-mesh width of 7.5B and located at depth of B/2 under footing, with an improvement in terms of collapse settlement of 35%, and a settlement reduction in dry condition of 50%. The least improvement is the case of square Geo-mesh with width of 4B and depth of one B, and it was really negligible, about 4% decrease in collapse settlement. Other cases varied between the two mentioned ratios. For findings of study, author recommends not to use geomesh size less than size of footing and not to place it in a depth more than half footing width. As such, in a whole, the effectiveness of geomesh in reducing the settlement of collapsing soil is obvious if used in proper way.

The reinforcement of a tourism destination brand means empowering the cultural identity of the space and locale in the minds of potential tourists. Thus, it is imperative to thoroughly identify and perceive its effective factors to attract tourists. The main purpose of this study is to design and validate the brand reinforcement model of Fars Province as a tourism destination. Pragmatism shapes the philosophical foundation of the research, aiming to explore and perceive the examined phenomenon. This mixed-methods research is also characterized by its basic-applied orientation, data nature, field data collection method, and utilization of theoretical sampling. It used indepth interviews with 10 tourism industry activists following the grounded theory approach and analyzed the data in the MAXQDA software. In this respect, 222 initial concepts were determined within six main categories and 113 subcategories, and the final paradigm model of the study was designed. Then, in the quantitative phase of the study, 359 questionnaires extracted from the paradigm model were administered among the domain activists for model validation. The results were tested by the structural equations modeling method and LISREL 8. 8. Software. The results, confirming the research hypotheses, show that the reinforcement of the tourism destination brand is influenced by causal conditions (i. e., the province’, s possession of tourism potentials and the need for benefitting from the cultural and economic advantages of the tourism industry) and intervening factors (i. e., economic, social, cultural, managerial, and infrastructural conditions, as well as beneficiaries’,participation). However, it leads to sociocultural, political, economic, and environmental developments through designing and compiling an inclusive strategic tourism program. Introduction In the modern world, a brand is a robust tool for differentiation, which is an important marketing strategy (Beritelli & Laesser, 2018). Statistics show that Iran has not yet been able to acquire a fair share of national income despite having abundant potential. In the Development Vision Document, Iran is ranked 89th in the world and 12th among the regional countries and is still far from its tourism goals (Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Reports, 2019). Thus, concerning the economic, social, and cultural conditions of Iran and its tourism potentials, it is necessary to address this topic in order to enhance social employment, raise currency circulation, develop transportation, help with the acquisition of the development vision goals, and attract domestic and foreign investors. It also paves the way for increasing international interactions and exchanges, assisting with the better impact of Iran on the branding of other products and services regarding the brand effect of the producer city and attaining sustainable development. Hence, the main question of the current research is developed as below:-What is the brand reinforcement model of Fars province as a tourism destination? Materials & Methods The methodology of the current research is described below based on the onion model of the study: The primary purpose of this study is to design and validate the brand reinforcement model of Fars Province as a tourism destination. Pragmatism shapes the philosophical foundation of the research, aiming to explore and perceive the examined phenomenon. This mixed-methods research is also characterized by its basic-applied orientation, data nature, field data collection method, and utilization of theoretical sampling. It used in-depth interviews with 10 tourism industry activists following the grounded theory approach and analyzed the data in the MAXQDA software. In this respect, 222 initial concepts were determined within six main categories and 113 subcategories, and the final paradigm model of the study was designed. Then, in the quantitative phase of the study, 359 questionnaires extracted from the paradigm model were administered among the domain activists for model validation, and the results were tested by the structural equation modeling method and LISREL 8. 8. Software. Discussion and conclusion We can recognize branding as a strategic approach to employing tourism potentials and capacities and promoting a tourism destination so that we can attain the advantages of sustainable development. As discussed earlier, the primary purpose of this paper was to design and validate a brand reinforcement model of Fars province as a tourism destination using a mixed-methods approach. In explaining the first hypothesis, which was confirmed, we can claim that the causal conditions, including the province’, s possession of tourism potentials, the need for creating a sustainable competitive advantage for the province, and efforts made for enhancing the economic growth, impact the brand reinforcement of Fars province as a tourism destination. The second hypothesis confirmed that the available resources and facilities, social and cultural conditions, institutional and administrative security, and structures, all as contextual conditions, impacted tourism activists’,compilation of an inclusive strategic tourism plan. To explain the third hypothesis and draw conclusions, we can assert that the brand reinforcement of the Fars tourism destination, including awareness of the tourism destination brand and brand equity of Fars Province, significantly impacts tourism activists’,strategy adoption (compiling an inclusive strategic tourism plan). Hence, tourism administrators should accentuate macro tourism policies and the potentials and resources of Fars Province to determine the tourism goals of this province and select the target tourism market at the provincial level regarding the tourism goals and policies in this province. The confirmation of the fourth hypothesis shows that the intervening conditions (regional, global, political, economic, and infrastructural conditions, as well as managerial weaknesses) positively impact the adoption of strategies that reinforce tourism destination brands. Finally, the fifth hypothesis illuminates that adopting the strategy of compiling an inclusive strategic tourism plan positively affects the consequences of its application (sustainable development). Thus, in addition to policy-makers, this issue requires the consideration of tourism activists in the private sector, such as travel agencies, hoteliers, and educational centers. The alignment of tourism activists’,practices in the private sector with the national inclusive and strategic plan, identification of the target market and presentation of services commensurate with this market, and active participation in the local society to motivate and empower its residents are parts of the activities and steps that can be influential in the consequences of applying the inclusive strategic tourism plan.

The Discussion of optimization of reinforcement elements in stabilizing rock slopes, due to the huge cost of such operations and problems caused by landslides and slope instability due to the lack of adequate reinforcement, has been always considered for researchers in the field of Geomechanic and Geotechnic. Therefore in this study the optimal distribution of reinforcement elements on the rock slopes which has the risk of instability in this study has been considered and new methods of reinforcing the required level or DRD method has been used. The purpose of this study is to provide a rational process for the optimum distribution of reinforcing elements that required in unstable rock slopes and especially critical zones. In this method, rock slope has been divided according to geometrical properties and for each zone with regard to geometrical and Geomechanical layer's properties, the coefficients and finally the Influence coefficients matrix is obtained. Also, according to finite element method and numerical modeling of displacement of each zone and then the displacement ratio matrix of divided zone is obtained. Eventually, within a matrix operation, DRD values for each zone obtain and distributions of reinforcement elements are done based on these values. In order to be practical, distribution of optimized reinforcement elements in rock slopes of Siah Bishe Dam has been evaluated.

Introduction: PMMA has been the most popular denture base material because of its advantages including good aesthetics, accurate fit, stability in the oral environment, easy laboratory and clinical manipulation and inexpensive equipments since the 1930’s. However, its fracture resistance is not satisfactory. Aim: The aim of this study is to improve the fracture resistance of denture bases made of PMMA by assessing the effect of resin type, packing and processing variables on biaxial flexural strength (BFS).Materials & methods: 930 discs, 12 mm diameter and 2 mm thick were prepared with the following variables: a. Veined (V) and Plain (P) PMMA. b. 5 different powder/liquid ratios by volume (1.5:1, 2:1, 2.5:1, 3:1, 3.5:1). c. Conventional (C) and Injection packing methods (I). d. Dry heat (D) Water bath (W); and e. different curing times. The discs were trimmed and stored in 37°C tap water for 50 hours before carrying out BFS test, according to BS EN ISO 1567: 2001. BFS test was carried out using a tensile-testing machine (Lloyd LRX, Lloyd instruments Ltd) (Figure.1 b), with a x-head speed of 1mm/min. ONE-WAY ANOVA analysis and TUKEY’S comparison were carried out (MINITAB). The temperature within the curing baths and inside of curing resin was evaluated by using a thermocouple. Results: BFS of Powder/liquid ratio of 1.5:1 is significantly lower than the other four ratios. Among the last four ratios, 2.5:1 was the strongest one although the difference was not significant. BFS of the plain type of PMMA is significantly higher than the veined type· BFS of conventionally packed PMMA discs was greater than the injectional packed ones and the difference is significant. Water bath cured resin showed a significant higher BFS compared with dry heat curing. · Changing the curing time in the dry heat bath from 7h @ 75º C and 2hrs @ 95º C to 5hrs @ 75º C and 3hrs @ 95º C and then 2hrs @ 95º C improves BFS of PMMA. In the water bath the trend is identical although the difference is not significant. Analysis of the temperature climb and hold within the curing bathes showed a consistent performance with the water bath irrespective the number of the flasks being cured. Meanwhile, the dry heat bath showed very inconsistent results.Conclusion: 1. Type of resin, packing procedure and processing variables can have major effect on BFS of PMMA. 2. Using plain resin, conventional packing, water bath curing with two hours at 95 ºC are recommended conditions.  

The Learning reinforcement Project (LRP) was developed for the purpose of reinforcing the academic and social competencies of all students in English language classes, so that they would be better prepared for more accurate and fluent communication with others as well as a happy social life in a democratic society. This report presents the results of a 2-year study employing cooperation and reflection, as a means to reinforce learning in language teaching. It discusses how it was used and outlines a. plan for its implementation and integration into classrooms. The LRP was a time-limited intervention designed to prepare students fully to continue achieving. By providing 110-220 hours of additional instruction over two academic years, the LRP has been successful in helping students to make both statistically and practically significant achievement and aptitude gains. To document the direct effect of the program and eliminate alternative hypotheses for assessed gains, a pre-post test, comparison group design was used. The program, using the same research design, was implemented in three different school systems with similar results.    

As service years increase, the corrosion of steel rebar stands out as a major problem for existing reinforced concrete (RC) structures in corrosion-inducing environment. The mechanism of steel corrosion in concrete is an electro chemical process, which is often accelerated by the ingress of aggressive chemicals, for example chloride ion. The accumulation of corrosion products on steel rebar is able to generate circular stress which could result in cover cracking. Corrosion of steel rebar will degrade the physical appearance and reduce its original cross section. Corrosion often appears to be non-uniform and localized. Corrosion damaged RC elements displayed smaller yield strength, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, etc. Corrosion level of stirrup tends to be higher than longitudinal rebar due to smaller diameter and less cover protection. Stirrup corrosion decreased confinement behaviour on concrete, thus exacerbating the degeneration of the deformation capacity and the ductility of the RC structures. The corrosion of reinforcement steel bars (rebar) is a natural electrochemical reaction RC structures have to face with. It is exacerbated by exposure to corrosion-inducing environment factors, including de-icing salt, marine salty water, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. The chloride from salt (NaCl) could make hazardously chemical attack on steel bar by acting as an efficient catalyst in the corrosion process. The corrosion of steel bar in the existing reinforced concrete structure has raised great concern over its safety and seismic performance among practising engineers, researchers and residents, etc., because steel bar is the most essential element in RC. Corrosion reduces the effective cross-section area of longitudinal and transverse rebars. Due to a small concrete cover of transverse rebars compared with longitudinal rebars, the corrosion of them becomes earlier and more severe, leading to cracks in concrete, a decrease of confinement, an intensification of reduction in deformation capacity and ductility of reinforced concrete structures. For this purpose, an experimental investigation is carried out on reinforced concrete specimens include spiral and stirrup and the variables include the corrosion percentage, rebar diameter, transverse rebar pitch, and confined core diameter. Results demonstrate that the high degree corrosion has a fewer significant effect on the reduction in confinement strength, and smaller-sized transverse reinforcements are less sensitive to corrosion.