Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) stem cells offer a theoretical treatment strategy for a wide variety of retinal disorders including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinal dystrophies. There are, however, a number of hurdles that will have to be overcome before a consistently reliable and successful therapy can be offered to patients. These include expansion of sufficient numbers of suitably differentiated cells for transplantation, technical issues around insertion of the cells and removal of damaged tissue (such as abnormal Bruch’s membrane in AMD), immunological rejection of transplanted cells, and control of post-transplant cell differentiation.1-3 Thus, in the case of RPE cell replacement, it may ultimately be proven that transplantation of an expanded number of differentiated cells on a porous substrate can deal with issues such as control of differentiation, prevention of proliferative vitreoretinopathy and replacement of damaged Bruch’s membrane.

One of the primary consequences of Iran's occupation by the Allies in World War II was the shortage and high cost of public food. In order to prepare and distribute the food needed by the people, the government established an independent Ministry of Food and hired the American Sheridan as an adviser to the Ministry of Food. The aim of the current research is to investigate Sheridan's performance in the Ministry of Food and wants to answer the question of what measures Sheridan took during his stay in Iran to prepare and distribute food and how his performance in this field is evaluated. The findings of the research, which was carried out with a descriptive-analytical method and based on library and documentary sources, show that Sheridan did not have a successful performance in the Ministry of Food, so that this ministry was dissolved very quickly and its duties were transferred to the Ministry of Finance. Sheridan left Iran before the end of his three-year employment contract without solving the public food problem. Of course, it should be noted that the critical conditions of 1321 were caused by severe famine and drought, the flaming of war on most fronts, the intervention and disruption of allied forces and internal profiteers, and political differences between the Qavam government, the court and the 13th parliament had an effect on Sheridan's poor performance.

Bazman volcano is a member of the volcanic arc of Makran subduction zone. According to previous eruptions, its future likely eruption may be accompanied by lava flow, tephra, and nuee ardente generation. Such indicators as mild erosion, thermal springs, fresh lavas, and continued subduction of the oceanic plate of the Oman sea reveal that Bazman can be reactivated in the future. Its eruption is estimated to be the volcano to sub-Plinian type with VEI of 3-5. For zoning the hazards, ARC GIS, ENVI as well as VORIS softwares were employed by using DEM and satellite pictures. For the construction of the tephra fallout map the convection-dispersion model, and for the construction of nuee ardente spread-out map, the Malin and Sheridan (1982) model were employed. Also, a simulation model was used for the generation of lava spreading map. According to the study, in accordant with prevailing western winds, the ashes will move towards the east. However, lava flows may spread in the north, west, and east direction. Nuee ardentes can spread in almost all directions. Bazman town is not under threat, but some parts of Bam-Iranshahr road may be threatened by ashes and lava flows. Additionally, ashes may reach several remote and small villages but the risk to them is low.

Background: With the outbreak of COVID-19 disease to reduce the risk of disease transmission, increasing the level of automation (LoA) in manufacturing and services is the concern of many managers. Objectives: The purpose of this article is to provide a new definition of LoA, considering the increasing use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and modern technologies such as blockchain and the internet of things (IoT). Methods: First, different generations of ERP systems were studied and three components of information, system, and human were identified in it, then the components of each class were studied and the solutions used in each component were examined. In the continuation of the research, the previous definitions of LoA were reviewed and the existing research gap was identified and the definition of new automation levels was presented. In this research, the Delphi method was used. For validation, the new definition of LoA was adapted to the definition performed by Verplank and Sheridan. Results: New LoA definition by considering the latest technologies in the world for use in production and service centers. Determining the LoA of a medical center and proposing the optimal level of the desired center with the available resources. Conclusions: The new LoA definition can help improve the LoA of medical centers practically.

Sabalan is one of dormant stratovolcanoes of Iran with likely eruption, because there are many thermal springs around it. It has a slightly-eroded cone and, geologically, a short time has passed from its last eruption. According to eruption regime of such volcanoes, as well as its former activities, Sabalan volcanic eruptions may happen along with such hazards as tephra, lava, pyroclastic flows and lahars. Its eruption intensity on VEI scale is anticipated to be 3 to 5. Whenever this volcano shows awakening evidence, it would be necessary to take appropriate actions according to hazard zoning maps which are the subject of this study. That is, these maps are necessary for taking emergency actions. In this study, digital elevation data (DEM), satellite pictures, Arc GIS, ENVI and VORIS softwares, as well as atmospheric data of NCEP/NCAR center were used. For construction of pyroclastic density current spreads, the Malin and Sheridan (1982) model was employed. For preparation of lava flow hazard map, simulation model was used, and for preparation of lahar hazard zones, major valleys on the cone and its surroundings were identified and buffered using DEM and satellite data. According to this study, volcanic ashes will move eastward and threat Ardabil city and several nearby villages. Lahars would threaten many surrounding land uses and probably Meshkinshahr and Ardabil cities. Lava flows would damage many mountaineering shelters and ski facilities of Alvares. Additionally, Meshkinshahr, Moil, ski resorts as well as many shelters are at the threat of nuee ardentes.

Damavand is one of the most potential volcanoes of Iran for future eruption. Such indicators as having a slightly-eroded cone, presence of many thermal springs, eruption activity in Late Quaternary, as well as the progression of the generating tectonic regime, all, attest this claim. The intensity of eruption is anticipated to be about 3-5 in Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) scale. As a result, such hazards as tephra (ash), nuee ardente, lava flow and lahar may pose problems. Thus, this study deals with zoning these hazards. For zoning, Digital Elevation Models (DEM= 30 m), Landsat ESTM+ pictures as well as Arc GIS, ENVI and VORIS softwares were employed, and for construction of nuee ardente-hazard zoning, Malin and Sheridan (1982) model were used. Atmospheric data for the spread of ashes were taken for NCER/NCAR center. Lava flow routes were determined using a simulation model which is based on the assumption that topography plays the main role on the route of flow, and lavas flow from a point to the nearby one if their differences are positive. In order to construct lahar hazard map, locations of main troughlines on the cone and around the volcano were determined and lahar invasion areas were determined using a proper buffer zone. Based on this study, volcanic ash plume will form at the east of volcano and a number of towns and villages would be threatened. Lava flows and nuee ardentes would threaten some villages around the cone. Lahars would flow via throughlines on the cone and arrive the main vallies around it (Hezar and Delichai). They would threaten many residential areas in their route. The prepared hazard maps are useful and necessary for management of these hazards.

According to Sheridan and Gillett (2005), one fundamental form of inequality, being on the rise since 9.11, is religious discrimination. The main source of experiencing and being exposed to such inequalities and discriminations can be television which‘ is such an important source of information and entertainment that viewers cannot escape its gradual encroachment into their everyday lives’ (Laughey, 2007, p.20).American TV series are so major and worldly-known entertaining media that many of them have millions of viewers around the world. So, it will be of great importance to make sure if they want to keep and even worsen this picture of Islam and Islamophobia. Therefore, this paper investigates the role of American TV series in promoting Islamophobia in public view. To do so, one has to analyze two main aspects of the TV shows which are the conversations and the picture frames. For analyzing the former, we have chosen Norman Fairclough’s (1992a, 1995, 2001) approach to Critical Discourse Analysis, and for the latter, Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) Grammar of Visual Design. American TV series, named Homeland (2011-still on air in 2017), broadcasted by Showtime® in the U.S has been the corpus of the present study. Its story that is mainly connected to the Middle East with lots of Muslim characters explains our choice. Consequently, the present study seeks to answer the following research questions: 1. Do the analyzed sequences of Homeland have Islamophobic elements based on Fairclough’s (1992a, 1995, 2001) CDA framework? 2. Do the analyzed sequences of Homeland have Islamophobic elements based on Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) Grammar of Visual Design? 3. Are there any combinations of visual and discursive elements to promote Islamophobia in the analyzed sequences of Homeland which can be analyzed by an integration of Fairclough’s (1992a, 1995, 2001) CDA framework and Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) Grammar of Visual Design. Our work has led us to the conclusion that many cases in Homeland TV series, either discursive (based on Fairclough’s CDA framework (1992a, 1995, 2001)) or visual (based on Kress and van Leeuwen’s Grammar of Visual Design (2006)), were Islamophobic. Furthermore, there were cases in which both visual anddiscursive (audio) elements were used to promote Islamophobia. As a result, all of the research questions receive a positive answer. Moreover, it can be concluded that a combination of Fairclough’s (1992a, 1995, 2001) CDA framework and Kress and van Leeuwen’s Grammar of Visual Design (2006) can create a powerful approach in critical media analysis to expose the real policies of the media and power owners and decode the encrypted messages behind what is shown to the public. It is worth noting that analyzing a greater number of TV series could result in a higher generalization of our results.

Comedy and comic drama are as old as the history of drama itself. For a long time, high level comedies have been classified into "Verbal Comedies" and "Comedies of Situation". The history of drama reveals the names of many great figures who are famous for their very wise and sweet verbal comedies, such as William Shakespeare (1564-1616), William Wycherley (1640-1716), William Congreve (1670-1729), Oliver Goldsmith (1728-1774), Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751- 1816), Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Noel Coward (1899-1973), Alan Ayckbourn (b.1939), and Tom Stoppard (b.1937). These authors and their linguistic approach towards humor have been studied to some extent so far, but, the contemporary American comedies have not received the proper linguistic attention they deserve. This made an incentive to choose an American playwright and study his linguistic tactics in creating humor. In the field of American contemporary drama, Neil Simon (b.1927) has an outstanding position, especially with respect to his comedies. Given the fact that he has received several important prizes, such as a Politzer prize for his Lost in Yunkers, puts him more in the center of attraction. What has made Simon such a famous status lies in his curious mind, and his sweet verbal comedy, which has made him a cared author, not only by the general audience, but also by the critics. Having written both for cinema and theatre, Simon is capable to be studied both with respect to his drama, and his screenplays. This article deals with the techniques he has used to create verbal comedy, within a linguistic framework. In order to do so, first the theories of humor have been introduced. Then the concept of verbal comedy has been analyzed with regard to semantics and pragmatics, as two major branches of linguistic analysis. Within semantics, issues such as "ambiguity", "paradox", "hyperbole" and "metaphor" have been studied; and within pragmatics, issues such as "allegory", "discourse structure", "violation of turn-taking positions", "violations pf Grice's cooperation principles" and "violation of presuppositions" have been analyzed, for each of them, proper examples have been provided.After postulating the theoretical preliminaries of this study, the abovementioned issues have been applied on two plays written by Niel Simon: Lost in Yunkers, and The Rumors. In both of these plays, the characters are trapped in a situation they have no ideas about, and try to do away with the unwanted problems they face. The results of the study over the 287 items of verbal comedy in these two plays reveal that the pragmatic tools are more in work than the semantic ones, as they directly deal with the context of the plays.According to the findings of this research, the following items are most widely-used ways of creating verbal comedy in Simon's plays: Violation of the cooperative principles by the speakers, dramatic irony, hyperbole, Violation of the cooperative principles by the hearers, wise uses of similies and metaphors, distorting the presuppositions of the audience, and making use of paradoxes. Other issues, of course, have been used, but not to the extent of the items noted above.

Asabiyyah as Discourse: Reconsidering Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s Theory through Foucault&rsquo, s Discourse Analysis  , Matin Anjomrooz*  , Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s theory of &lsquo, &lsquo, asabiyyah&rsquo, and Foucault&rsquo, s discourse analysis offer two distinct perspectives on social dynamics. The central question of this study is the possibility of reinterpreting asabiyyah as a historical discourse for the regulation of identity and power in pre-modern societies. The study aims to align these two theoretical frameworks along three axes: power, social transformation, and subject formation, using a theoretical and comparative analytical approach. The findings indicate that, like Foucauldian discourse, asabiyyah reproduces cohesion and authority through narratives and rituals, but it primarily emphasizes material factors, unlike Foucault&rsquo, s focus on language-based constructs. This alignment elevates asabiyyah into a discursive construct, providing a tool for analyzing power both historically and in contemporary contexts. The results enrich the theoretical understanding of Ibn Khaldun and offer a framework for interdisciplinary analysis. It is suggested that this comparative approach be tested in empirical contexts, such as ethnic movements.  , Keywords: asabiyyah, Ibn Khaldun, discourse analysis, Michel Foucault, power.  , Introduction The concept of asabiyyah in Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s thought represents one of the most fundamental socio-political notions within the Islamic intellectual tradition. He considers asabiyyah the driving force behind historical and social transformations, asserting that no civilization can arise without strong asabiyyah, and no state can endure without it. From his perspective, asabiyyah is both a material and emotional bond that connects members of a tribe or group, uniting them against adversaries and facilitating the domination over rivals and the formation of governance. This force reaches its peak in nomadic societies but gradually weakens with urbanization and prosperity, ultimately being replaced by a new form of social cohesion. Within this framework, Ibn Khaldun explains the cyclical rise and fall of civilizations such as the Umayyads, Abbasids, Almoravids, and Ottomans, establishing himself as a pioneer of historical sociology. However, a notable limitation is that asabiyyah has predominantly been analyzed as a material and empirical phenomenon, with limited attention to its discursive and meaning-making dimensions. In contrast, in modern political philosophy, Michel Foucault locates power not in blood ties but within networks of discourse. According to him, it is discourse that produces knowledge, identity, and relations of domination. This theoretical tension frames the central research question of this study: Can asabiyyah be analyzed not merely as a material force but as a discourse that reproduced collective identity and power relations in pre-modern societies? This question is significant in two respects: first, it demonstrates how classical concepts can be reinterpreted in light of modern theoretical frameworks, and second, it opens a space for interdisciplinary dialogue between historical sociology, political philosophy, and discourse analysis.  , Literature Review Numerous studies have examined the concept of asabiyyah. Rosenthal (1958) regarded it as central to Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s theory of civilization and compared it to modern social cohesion. Shayegan (1996) interprets asabiyyah as a pre-modern force in tension with modern rationality. However, most of these analyses have overlooked the discursive dimension of asabiyyah. In Western traditions, various theories of social cohesion have been proposed. Durkheim explains simple societies through the concept of &ldquo, mechanical solidarity, &rdquo, emphasizing kinship ties, while Weber analyzes charismatic authority based on emotional relationships. These perspectives share some similarities with Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s asabiyyah but lack his cyclical model. Marx, on the other hand, emphasizes productive relations in historical transformations, whereas asabiyyah primarily concerns tribal cohesion. Discourse studies were fundamentally reshaped by Foucault, who demonstrated that discourses are not mere reflections of reality but mechanisms that produce truth and power. For example, nineteenth-century medical discourse redefined the &ldquo, patient, &rdquo, creating an identity subject to institutional surveillance. The present research addresses a gap in systematically examining asabiyyah as a discourse. By filling this gap, it seeks to reinterpret asabiyyah not merely as a social force but as a discursive construct shaping identities and power relations in pre-modern societies.  , Methodology This study employs a qualitative, comparative approach to examine the concept of asabiyyah in Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s thought and Foucault&rsquo, s discourse theory. Primary data are drawn from Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s Muqaddimah (relying on Rosenthal&rsquo, s translation) and key works by Foucault, including The Archaeology of Knowledge, The Order of Things, and Discipline and Punish. Secondary sources include authoritative interpretations by Dreyfus and Rabinow. The comparative method enables a systematic analysis of these two theories from different intellectual traditions, highlighting both convergences and divergences. It also allows for the reinterpretation of classical concepts in light of contemporary theory, enriching the theoretical discussion. The analytical process proceeded in three main stages: first, the extraction and clarification of core concepts of asabiyyah and discourse, second, a comparison of the two theories across the axes of power, social transformation, and subject formation, and finally, the redefinition of asabiyyah as a type of discourse in pre-modern societies. Although the study is primarily theoretical and lacks extensive empirical data, this focus allows for a deeper engagement with conceptual and theoretical issues.  , Findings and Analysis In examining the concept of power, Ibn Khaldun considers asabiyyah fundamental to state formation. Tribes with strong asabiyyah, such as the Umayyads and Abbasids, were able to establish powerful states. This asabiyyah, combining emotional bonds and material interests, both strengthens group cohesion and legitimizes governance. In contrast, Foucault locates power not in individuals or institutions but in circulating discursive networks. Discourse simultaneously produces knowledge and reproduces power relations. This comparison suggests that asabiyyah can also function discursively: tribal poetry, ancestral myths, and loyalty rituals were all discourses that legitimized tribal governance. Regarding social transformation, Ibn Khaldun attributes the decline of civilizations to weakening asabiyyah, which is strongest in nomadic societies but diminishes with urbanization and prosperity. Foucault examines social transformations from the perspective of discursive ruptures&mdash, for instance, the transition from religious to scientific discourse in Europe represents a shift in knowledge and power systems. Thus, the decline of tribal asabiyyah and its replacement with religious discourse in the Abbasid era can be analyzed both materially (Ibn Khaldun) and discursively (Foucault). In terms of identity formation, Ibn Khaldun argues that individuals lack identity without tribal affiliation. Tribal rituals and narratives construct identities such as &ldquo, warrior&rdquo, or &ldquo, tribe member. &rdquo, Foucault similarly emphasizes the constructed nature of identity, showing how medical or legal discourses produce identities like &ldquo, patient&rdquo, or &ldquo, criminal. &rdquo, The key difference is that asabiyyah emphasizes collective subject formation, whereas Foucault focuses on individual subject formation in modern societies. Nevertheless, both perspectives highlight that identities are not inherent but constructed through dominant discourses.  , Analytical and Interdisciplinary Expansion Asabiyyah can also be compared with modern social theories. Putnam&rsquo, s concept of social capital allows asabiyyah to be viewed as a form of tribal social capital grounded in trust and kinship networks. Gellner&rsquo, s analysis of ethnicity demonstrates that just as asabiyyah shaped collective identity in pre-modern societies, modern educational and cultural discourses construct ethnic identities. Laclau and Mouffe, emphasizing discourse in creating hegemony, interpret asabiyyah as a form of tribal hegemony that gives way to new discourses upon its decline. These perspectives indicate that asabiyyah is not merely a historical concept but an analytical model for understanding contemporary societies. Today, in the Middle East, ethnic and religious movements reproduce asabiyyah through modern discourses such as nationalism and Islamism, illustrating the ongoing discursive function of asabiyyah in contemporary politics.  , Conclusion By reinterpreting Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s asabiyyah as a discourse, this study demonstrates that it was not merely a social force but a meaning-making system that regulated cohesion, legitimacy, and identity. This approach yields three main contributions: first, it extends Ibn Khaldun&rsquo, s theory beyond sociological description, linking it to contemporary discourse theory, second, it provides an interdisciplinary framework for analyzing contemporary socio-political movements, and third, it highlights the potential of classical concepts for reinterpretation in light of modern theory. Nevertheless, limitations such as theoretical focus, lack of empirical data, and methodological differences between the two intellectual traditions exist. Future research is recommended to proceed in three directions: empirical study of asabiyyah in contemporary ethnic movements, its integration with other discourse theories, and reinterpretation of other Ibn Khaldunian concepts (such as &lsquo, &lsquo, umran) from this perspective. These avenues can further enrich the theoretical capacity of this analytical framework.  , References Ahmad, A. (2003) Islam, modernity, and the human sciences. Palgrave Macmillan. Butler, J. (1997) The psychic life of power: Theories in subjection. Stanford University Press. Dhaouadi, M. (1990) Ibn Khaldun: The founding father of eastern sociology. International Sociology, 5(3), 319&ndash, 335. https: //doi. org/10. 1177/026858090005003007 Dreyfus, H. L., &, Rabinow, P. (1983) Michel Foucault: Beyond structuralism and hermeneutics (2nd ed. ). University of Chicago Press. Fairclough, N. (1992) Discourse and social change. Polity Press. Foucault, M. (1971) The order of discourse. In R. Young (Ed. ), Untying the text: A post-structuralist reader (pp. 51&ndash, 78). Routledge. (Original work published 1970) Foucault, M. (1972) The archaeology of knowledge (A. M. Sheridan Smith, Trans. ). Pantheon Books. (Original work published 1969) Foucault, M. (1977) Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison (A. Sheridan, Trans. ). Vintage Books. (Original work published 1975) Gellner, E. (1981) Muslim society. Cambridge University Press. Hodgson, G. S. (1974) The venture of Islam: Conscience and history in a world civilization (Vol. 1). University of Chicago Press. Ibn Khaldun. (2005) The Muqaddimah: An introduction to history (F. Rosenthal, Trans. ). Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1377). Lacoste, Y. (1984) Ibn Khaldun: The birth of history and the past of the Third World. Verso. Laclau, E., &, Mouffe, C. (1985) Hegemony and socialist strategy: Towards a radical democratic politics. Verso. Mills, S. (2003) Michel Foucault. Routledge. Rosenthal, F. (1958) Introduction. In Ibn Khaldun, The Muqaddimah: An introduction to history (Vol. 1, pp. xxvii&ndash, xxxii). Princeton University Press. Shayegan, D. (1996) Cultural schizophrenia: Islamic societies confronting the West. Syracuse University Press. van Dijk, T. A. (1998) Ideology: A multidisciplinary approach. Sage.  , * Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Humanities, Rasht Branch, Islamic Azad University, Rasht, Iran. matin. anjomrooz@gmail. com