Drop plate technique has a priority and preference compared with the spread plate procedure, because of less time, quantity of media, effort requirement, little incubator space, and less labor intensive. The objective of this research was to compare the accuracy and fidelity of drop plate method vs. spread plate method by parametric and nonparametric statistical tests. For bacterial enumeration by drop and spread plate methods, successive dilutions of second subculture of Lactobacillus casei and Salmonella Typhimurium were transferred to selective agar. The correlation of agreement between both methods was evaluated by using statistical proofs. Results showed that mean value (parametric unpaired t -test) comparison at 95 percent confidence level did not reject null hypothesis, which it meant that the equality of the mean data could not be ruled out. Nonparametric method was used because of approximately Gaussian pattern of data distribution. For this purpose, Mann-Whitney test (equivalent nonparametric t -test) was used. It meant that the equality of medians obtained from two methods were similar. Spearman's rho correlation coefficient (r) via both methods due to data distribution patterns for enumeration of S. Typhimurium and L. casei were 0.62 and 0.87, respectively, which represented moderately strong and strong relationship between two methods, respectively. Besides, there was a significant and strong positive correlation (p<0.001) between spread and drop plate procedures. Because of aforementioned reasons, the spread plate method can be replaced by drop plate method.

In this paper‎, ‎we study a nonparametric Bayesian inference on the family of nonincreasing density functions on real positive data‎. ‎One interesting problem is the goodness of fit test in such a context‎. ‎In other words‎, ‎we consider nonparametric Bayesian testing on the family of nonincreasing density in this domain‎. ‎So‎, ‎we define nonparametric hypothesis testing and compare two different testing approaches‎. ‎The first approach is given based on the Bayes factor‎. ‎This approach is the well-known Bayesian approach for testing‎, ‎although its computation is complicated‎. ‎Decision-theoretic considerations with the loss function drive the second approach for a given distance‎. ‎This second approach has the advantage of considering the distance to the null hypothesis but needs the definition of a threshold‎. ‎When no threshold is known as a priori‎, ‎a possibility exists to calculate a p-value‎, ‎and the method becomes more complicated to compute‎. ‎We propose a hybrid algorithm to accelerate the computation of the p-value‎. ‎The comparison of both approaches is performed based on a simulation study.

People participation in the implementation of natural resources practices is one of the approeches that ensure the fulfillment of the goals and success of the projects. In this study, based on expert experience and different projects of natural resources implemented in watershed area surrounding city of Tehran, the preventing social indices and sub-indices affecting on people participation were recognized and determined into three indices and 10 sub-indices. Obtained results from prioritizing effective social indices on preventing people participation in natural resources plans based on obtained weights from AHP method and expert questionary indicate that “ unfavorable behaviorial indices” with weight of 0. 623 and “ unfavorable demographic indices” with weight of 0. 130 have respectively maximum and minimum priorities, in the manner that prioritization of indices based on weights from maximum to minimum importance are “ unfavorable behaviorial indices” , “ cultural problems” and “ unfavorable demographic indices” . Obtained results from prioritizing effective sub-indices based on expert questionary and the Kendalls' W rank test indicate that sub-indices have different roles on preventing people participation in natural resources plans, in the manner that the indices of “ shortage of people trust in considering their ideas” with rank mean of 6. 80 and “ being low literacy and knowledge” with rank mean of 3. 16 have respectively maximum and minimum priorities. The results also show that the index of “ shortage of people trust” has the most priority as a preventing factor affecting on people participation, in the manner that two sub-indices of “ shortage of people trust in considering their ideas” and “ shortage of trust to continue projects” are two first priorities, respectively. Sub-indices of “ shortage of young people in villages” from index of “ unfavorable demographic indices” and also “ being low or lack of culture of participation” from index of “ cultural problems” were ranked as the most important social sub-indices.

Investigation of desertification trend needs an understanding phenomena creating changes singly or action and reaction together in the manner that these changes end up in land degradation and desertification. In the investigation of pedological criterion affecting on land degradation in alluvial fans, first, maps of slope classes, land use and geology were created, then a map of units was founded by overlaying and crossing these maps and grid layer created by extension of ET GeoWizards in ArcGIS 10. 3 software. In this research three indices of erodibility, salinity and permeability of soil were considered, finally according to the seven level scales, each of them was shown as the classified map. In this research, nonparametric methods of Friedman and Kendalls' W rank tests were used to prioritize the options, in the manner that after defining crisp numbers in seven level scales, the rank means were calculated. The rank means obtained from Friedman and Kendalls' W rank tests alter from 7/00 to 17/33. Obtained results from the nonparametric methods showed that 74/18 % (4245/77 ha) and 25/82 % (1477/67 ha) of the area were classified into two classes of medium and very heigh desertification potential, respectively. The results also showed that the youngest and old gravel fans of the area have desertification potential of very high (798/75 ha) and low (152/23 ha), respectively.

In order to achieve the objectives of this study, among 80 River Watershed of North Shore (covered Mazandaran Province), 17 stations were selected in three western, central and eastern sections. Based on period of records, the 44 water years from 1966-19767 to 2010-2011 were selected as a common period. To evaluate the existence of trends, the most common nonparametric time series called Mann-Kendall test was used. And if there is a trend to assess for ascending or descending time series, Sen test was used. According to the results of the three stations in the western part of the province, there is not a clear trend in the annual series. But for winter and autumn seasonal series, some stations showed positive trends and the rest of stations with no trend, which is an indication of the impact of climate change, particularly in cold seasons. Based on six stations in central part of province, stations in region of plain Mazandaran; Mahmoodabad, Haraz and Miandasht and Babol show ascending winter trend. Namaerstaq-Namarestagh mountainous stations show summer ascending trend and also Babolrood-Qarantalar stations show ascending autumn and winter trend. The only station in the eastern parts, the Arab Khayl-Talar of annual rainfall and summer trend is upward and the rest of the stations show no clear trend.

Groundwater as one of the valuable resources all over the world is unfortunately facing a great decline of aquifer level during past decades cused by its overexploitation beside the decrease of precipitation. This reduction is more in arid and semi-arid climatic zones where the most part of irrigation requirement is supplied through wells. Therefore, the monitoring of the spatio-temporal variation of groundwater resources would be necessary. In this study, shallow and deep aquifers of Golestan province were considered as case study. Nonparametric tests including Mann-Kendall, Sen’ s slope and Pitite were used for analysis of recorded time series between years of 1990 to 2016 in 277 piezometric stations. The results were interpolated in GIS enviroment. In this study, the pattern and trends of groundwater level data were investigated. Results showed the aquifer groundwater level has a decreasing trend in most of the areas but in shallow aquifers along with the decreasing trend, an increasing trend has been observed in some places. In shallow aquifers, the slope of the trend line is in accordance with groundwater flow direction but there is no regular pattern in deep aquifer. The decreasing trendline of groundwater variation in deep aquifer is more than 8 percent. This aquifer has worst conditions in groundwater depletion than the shallow aquifer and this may be due to overexploitation of the aquifer and the failure of fast replacement. Also result showed that all three nonparametric tests were highlighted these variations and are following the same pattern.

Determining the effectiveness of flood spreading schemes, especially from the point of view of effective economic and social indicators, over a quarter century after their implementation in the country, plays an important role in their assessment. In this study, indicators related to the effects of flood spreading plans on Ab-Barik Aquifer of Bam were identified and then ranked based on nonparametric statistical tests from the experts' point of view. For this purpose, first the indicators related to the effects of flood spreading projects on the aquifer based on library studies, expert inquiries as well as site visits and face-to-face interviews with local residents and users were identified and finally the validity of the questionnaire based on expert opinions was identified. Finally, the validity of the questionnaire based on the experts' opinions and their comments was finally confirmed. Also, the reliability of the measuring instrument was tested by calculating Cronbach's alpha component. In this research, based on the multi-response coding method, the variables of the questionnaire were of the type of qualitative and qualitative variables consistent with the Likert scale, so at this stage, a survey was conducted from 30 experts. The range of changes in mean rank values varies from 4.15 to 22.88. The results of the ranking of indices based on Friedman test showed a significant difference in the effectiveness of the effective variables in evaluating flood spreading projects on aquifer, so that the question of “reducing the damage to flood lands and gardens” with the rank mean of 22.88 and also the question of “conflicting among the villagers in the area” with the rank mean of 4.15 have maximum and minimum priority, respectively. In addition, the results of the study indicate the high effectiveness of flood spreading schemes in the Ab-Barik Aquifer of Bam.