Mina Abbasiyannejad

Artificial neural network modeling of p -cresol photodegradation

BackgroundThe complexity of reactions and kinetic is the current problem of photodegradation processes. Recently, artificial neural networks have been widely used to solve the problems because of their reliable, robust, and salient characteristics in capturing the non-linear relationships between variables in complex systems. In this study, an artificial neural network was applied for modeling p-cresol photodegradation. To optimize the network, the independent variables including irradiation time, pH, photocatalyst amount and concentration of p-cresol were used as the input parameters, while the photodegradation% was selected as output. The photodegradation% was obtained from the performance of the experimental design of the variables under UV irradiation. The network was trained by Quick propagation (QP) and the other three algorithms as a model. To determine the number of hidden layer nodes in the model, the root mean squared error of testing set was minimized. After minimizing the error, the topologies of the algorithms were compared by coefficient of determination and absolute average deviation.ResultsThe comparison indicated that the Quick propagation algorithm had minimum root mean squared error, 1.3995, absolute average deviation, 3.0478, and maximum coefficient of determination, 0.9752, for the testing data set. The validation test results of the artificial neural network based on QP indicated that the root mean squared error was 4.11, absolute average deviation was 8.071 and the maximum coefficient of determination was 0.97.ConclusionArtificial neural network based on Quick propagation algorithm with topology 4-10-1 gave the best performance in this study.

Contemporary Leadership Theories

This paper aims to show the relation between the two contemporary theories of leadership namely Psychodynamic and Neocharismatic. It also overviews these contemporary leadership theories and briefly introduces their concepts and meanings. It briefly demonstrates how these types of leadership affect followers by introducing the basics of their relationship. To have a general view of the aforementioned theories a few of their characteristics are discussed. Since any successful charismatic leadership requires a strong support by their followers, the psychological factors play a vital role in persuading and provoking subordinates to obey the leader without question.

Females Complex Leading Roles in the Game of Thrones Through Semiotics

Women in Game of Thrones, a fantasy book by George R.R. Martin, have leading roles in several ways. Despite being represented as being subordinated and dominated by men, they show that when it is necessary they are able to reverse roles and show their ability to lead and have the men follow them. The complexity of their roles is presented in many different ways – as mature women, as the young and even as children. In this paper, it is shown that power conflict is the most important conflict in the novel. The women are seen in commanding positions and who attempt to develop their power despite the chaotic circumstances. This paper looks at the positions of two women in the novel using semiotics to shed light on words used, their signs and connotations. Interpreting signs will enable us to understand the hidden layers of the text.

Women’s Challenges in Leadership

Currently more women are involving themselves in leadership positions than before, both in academic and non-academic positions. In our fast-growing world, women encounter many daily leadership challenges in their work-place. Despite great achievements in their careers and professional lives, they still have enormous difficulties to be successful in their leading positions. This paper reviews a number of challenges and barriers that women have encountered in leading positions. For this research, books, academic papers (both review and original) and accredited sites have been searched to collect and draw the required information for the topic. This study aims to demonstrate problems facing women who are in a leading position by focusing on recent challenges.

The Exploration of Political Conflicts and Personal Relationships in Ian McEwan’s The Innocent

Political conflicts have historically affected the relationships of nations. Ian McEwan’s The Innocent is an excellent example of a story set within the web of such a conflict—the Cold War—that was brought about by U.S. and Soviet confrontation over spheres of influence after the Second World War. This article aims to show how Ian McEwan pictures Americanization as a form of cultural politics aimed at spreading American influence throughout the occupied countries such as Germany for political domination. Max Weber’s theory of political power along with semiotics as a tool is the framework of the article. Signs that refer to the Americanization process, including inferences in the dialogues, gestures, choice of food, and even clothing, are scrutinized and interpreted within the socio-political context the of Cold War. The analysis of The Innocent provides an example of the ways in which fiction represents political conflicts permeating personal and intimate relationships, and how such conflicts may result in a sense of mistrust and intrigue among both people and nations.

Chaotic Politics, Chaotic Relationships

Political conflicts have great potentiality for social conflicts in society. Reviewing history shows that political collisions have affected significantly the relationships between nations. Ian McEwan’s contemporary fiction is in fact demonstration of conflicts in the twentieth century, and this papers aims to introduce a novel picture of politics presented in contemporary fiction. This is achieved by observing the period when the stories take place, to identify the major political conflicts and then pinpointing major conflicts in relationships. Findings show how literature, as an influential factor on society, can highlight the almost invisible relation between world politics and nations’ relationships. The psychological effects of political conflicts can be long and protracted. They could emerge in diverse ways to prove the domination of victor over the vanquished.

Sex Complexity and Politics in Black Dogs by Ian McEwan

Ian McEwan’s Black Dogs (BD) is a story of socio-political conflict during the critical era of the Cold War. Black Dogs is riddled with party (political) domination and its outcomes in society. Europe is still suffering the consequences of the Second World War, perhaps the biggest war of the twentieth century. In the aftermath of such worldwide upheaval, the conflicts that were in tandem with the scramble for political domination emerged in diverse ways, affecting nations and their human populations. Systematic sexual assault during the war years showed that sex was used both for intimidation and humiliation. This study attempts to picture the multidimensional aspects of politics which are practically related to the most intimate human relationship, that is, sex. It pictures how personal is equated with the political and vice versa. The theory of sexual politics is the theoretical framework used to scrutinize power-structure relationship. By reviewing the major conflicts in such a scenario, as the Cold War, and societal restriction, this study concludes that conflict in the macrocosm (world and society) affects the microcosm (individual) in McEwan’s Black Dogs. It provides a rather broad picture of politics and sexuality and highlights the stresses of wider society on human dysfunctional relationships. Rape as a tactic of war for a political goal demonstrates another aspect of sex. Reviewing the period in which the story takes place and relating it to the conflicts in society, the study goes beyond simple cause and effect problems among individuals and portrays a holistic view of sexuality and society.