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The purpose of this study is to investigate the procedures of persuasion of judges by lawyers in the Iranian criminal and legal courts based on the critical discourse analysis approach. The methodological nature of this research is descriptive-analytic and the authors have collected the data by referring to courts, Tehran courts, and lawyers' offices, by studying hundreds of cases and observing dozens of interrogations in 1397, then analyzed 50 excerpts of conversations of participants (10 cases) based on Laclau and Mouffe's approach (1985,2001,2002). The main features of this approach are: signifier and signified, restlessness, antithesis, hegemony and fixation of meaning, power, myth and social imagination and metaphor, subject position and political subjectivity. According to the discourse of lawyers, it can be said that they use from the establishment of the semantic system of discourse including such words as client release, mitigation of punishment, proving the guilt of the accused, and seeking punishment for the accused, each of which establishes its own signifier with specific concepts, as influential cognitive and behavioral factors for persuasion. The main question of the present study is how the concept of persuasion is reflected in the conversations of lawyers in court discourse. The results showed that lawyers express their client's strengths and rival's weaknesses using backgrounding and foregrounding. So, in order to persuade judges to defend their client, lawyers use backgrounding to express rival’s weakness with the negative bias, and also they use foregrounding to provide their clients strengths with the positive bias.
 

1.  Introduction

Language is not only a means of communication between human beings, but also as a social act that encompasses speech and writing. It’s worth noting that every text is produced in special situations and with different degrees of selection and in a ratio of power and ideology. Thus, no text can be found that is devoid of the author's personal views, etc., and just as there is no pure social reality, there is no neutral discourse. Since forensic linguistics is also a process of examining language in law discussions, it finds an inextricable link with discourse analysis, and in this regard, critical discourse analysis can also be mentioned. Forensic linguistics is a branch of applied linguistics that deals with the application of linguistic knowledge and methods in the context of law, legal language, crime, interrogation, trial, and judicial procedure. The present study aims to investigate the methods of using persuasion in court and law processes using the critical discourse analysis approach.
     It should be noted that the research on persuasion methods can be fully examined based on the approach of Laclau and Mouffe (1985, 2001, 2002). From this perspective, it is most used in the discourse of lawyers to persuade judges based on the component of opposition (foregrounding and backgrounding) as well as the signifier and signified component that Lacla and Mouffe (1985, 2001, 2002) have dealt with. Therefore, lawyers try to persuade the judge by using their client's discourse factors such as expressing remorse, confession, lack of proper physical condition, participation with the court in the case process.
    On the other hand, if we look closely at the environment in which we live, we can easily see persuasive efforts. In fact, persuasion has become an integral part of our lives. Advertisers who use mass media to sell their products usually use this linguistic tool. A political candidate who buys newspaper ads or the health organization that encourages people to quit smoking through a radio station. Also, in general, persuasion is the basic and ultimate goal of all types of communication behaviors. And also, individuals' thoughts, judgments, and memories are strongly formed by their current feelings, by their different behaviors and biases, by their initial perceptions of the main participants (lawyers, defendants, judges), as well as by a set of social factors.
The present study consists of six sections. In the first part, we will discuss the introduction and generalities of the research. In the second part, we will get acquainted with the background of research and related studies. In the third section, we will introduce legal linguistics and the category of persuasion. In the fourth section, we will discuss the research methodology. In the fifth section, we will examine the lawyers' discourse in criminal cases and the category of the investigator’s persuasion, and in the sixth section, we will discuss the findings and results of the research.

2. Literature Review
For decades, we have witnessed a growing methodology and an increasing number of linguists appearing in court as expert witnesses. Nevertheless, not even the name of this new science has been heard in the Iranian judicial system, which makes the need to study and introduce this science in the field of the Iranian judicial system important. Accordingly, the present study is one of those researches that can be used in this field and can be helpful. In the following, the authors intend to introduce some of the research related to the forthcoming research.
 Baghinipour (2004) in an article entitled "Persuasion and some of its measures: a discussion in critical discourse" examines the process of persuasion and considers it a phenomenon that can be used to overcome the mind and create the discussion of power. Findings have shown that different speech structures can be effective in shaping and changing mental models and social representations.
Kia and Saeedi (2004) in a study entitled “The principles of communication, propaganda and persuasion” have stated that persuasion is a mutual linguistic factor whose purpose is to respond to the needs of the persuaded person, and generally in persuasion there is a two-way communication.
Motavali (2005) in his research entitled “Public Opinion and Methods of Persuasion” has tried to make us familiar with the issues that deal with public opinion in such a way.
Nami (2009) has also stated that in foreign language teaching academies in Iran, writing English with proper cohesion, coherence and suitable persuasiveness is a major challenge for those language learners who are studying English. This is because, writing is usually considered a secondary skill and is pushed to the margins of language classes due to its time consuming nature.
Studies show that so far no research has been done on the methods of persuading judges based on the ideas of Laclau and Mouffe (1985, 2001, 2002). Therefore, in this article, we will address the question of what are the linguistic strategies and factors involved in the lawyers' discourse to persuade judges based on the approach of Laclau and Mouffe discourse analysis.

3. Research Methodology
The methodological nature of this research is descriptive-analytic and the authors have collected the data by referring to courts, Tehran courts, and lawyers' offices, by studying hundreds of cases and observing dozens of interrogations in 1397, then analyzed 50 excerpts of conversations of participants (10 cases) based on Laclau and Mouffe's approach (1985,2001,2002).

4. Results
The tool of the lawyer is word, sentence and discourse and s/he uses this tool in the form of speech and writing. Therefore, the lawyer must have cognitive and behavioral components that make his/her speech and writing expressive, effective, logical and effective in order to convince the judges. It is clear that these cognitive and behavioral components must be compatible with the law system in which the lawyer works, as well as with the social, moral, and cultural structure of the lawyer's workplace. Therefore, there are similarities between advocacy, teacher, sermon and some other professions, but in attorneyship, expressing or creating special concepts in the mind of the addressee is not the goal. Rather, it is important to use these characteristics, such as clauses and utterances, to prove the claimant and to prove right or wrong. This is where the presence of linguists in legal and judicial matters can be helpful. In general, the findings indicate that in the analysis of Laclau and Mouffeh's discourse, backgrounding is the expression of one's own weaknesses and strengths of the rival, and foregrounding is also the expression of one's own strengths and weaknesses of the rival. Thus, the results showed that lawyers express their client's strengths and rival's weaknesses using backgrounding and foregrounding. So, in order to persuade judges to defend their client, lawyers use backgrounding to express rival’s weakness with the negative bias, and also they use foregrounding to provide their clients strengths with the positive bias.
     Finally, among the fifty lawyers' interviews in the court discourse to convince the judges based on the components of Lacla and Mouffe (1985, 2001, 2002), the authors have stated the most common use of the available components as follows:

Percentage	Components
48%	Foregrounding
44%	backgrounding
8%	Signifier & Signified

 

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Objective: In this project, our aim was to construct a novel expressing vector harboring a new sequence from overlapping region of NS3 gene of HCV from infected Iranian patient. Materials and Methods: The partial NS3 (pNS3) gene was amplified by Nested-RT-PCR method using sera of HCV infected patients harboring genotype 1a. After purification and cloning the pNS3 into TA-cloning vector, the best colony was selected based on Blue/White screening and colony-PCR following by confirmation with sequencing and restriction digestion with BglII. The sequenced gene was compared with other reference sequences using alignment softwares. The resultant pNS3 gene subcloned into the expression vector, IRES vector, followed by selection the suitable clones by 2 different colony-PCRs. The gene expression was evaluated using GFP detection, RT-PCR and western blotting techniques after transfection of the IRES-pNS3 vector into the 293 cell line. Results: After pNS3 sequence amplification by RT-PCR, sequencing results showed high homology among the sequences with other reference sequences. This result also showed that it belonged to genotype 1 of HCV. Colony-PCR showed the insertion of gene into expressing vector with the right orientation. GFP expression, RT-PCR and western blotting confirmed transfection of vector, expression of pNS3 gene and production of its protein in 293 cells respectively. Conclusion: This novel expressing vector harboring partial region of NS3 gene in compare to full NS3 gene maybe more useful in immune induction by antigen presenting cells due to absence of genes responsible for protease activity of the protein in the setting of HCV vaccine.

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In this study, experimental tests were performed to evaluate the effects of axisymmetric cylindrical projectile nose shapes and initial velocities on ballistic performance of laminated woven glass epoxy composites. Projectile initial velocity and nose sharpness changes, absorbed energy, delamination area, etc. are investigated by six blunt, hemispherical, conical and ogival projectiles. Hand lay-up method has been used to manufacture composite targets with 18 layers of 2D woven glass fibers of 45% fiber volume fraction. The epoxy system is made of epon 828 resin with jeffamine D400 as the curing agent. The results show that the maximum influence of projectile geometry on target behavior, occurs in ballistic limit area. In this range of initial velocity, ogival (CRH=2.5) and Blunt projectiles show the best and the worst ballistic performance. The delamination area decreases as the projectile nose sharpness increases or its initial velocity decreases. Ballistic curves for different projectiles show that the difference between projectiles behavior decreases in higher impact velocities. Because of target shear failure in blunt projectile impact, the amount of target absorbed energy for this projectile is less than other projectiles in higher impact velocities away from ballistic limit velocity.

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In this paper, the tensile properties of 2D woven glass epoxy composite reinforced by two different nanoparticles have been investigated and compared. Hand lay-up method has been used to manufacture nanocomposites with 12 layers of 2D woven glass fibers with 40% fiber volume fraction. The nano-epoxy resin system is made of epon 828 resin with jeffamine D400 as the curing agent. The composites were reinforced by adding organically modified montmorillonite nanoclay (Closite 30B) and nanosilica (SiO2) particles. The nanoclay particles were dispersed into the epoxy system in a 0%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 10% ratio in weight with respect to the matrix, while the spherical nanosilica particles were dispersed into the epoxy system in a 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 3% ratio in weight with respect to the matrix. The results show that low loading of nanoclay decreases the mechanical properties of nanocomposite, while significant improvements of nanocomposite mechanical properties are shown in low loading of nanosilica. Tensile strength and toughness of nanocomposite increase by 7% and 10% after adding 5 wt.% nanoclay. Loading of 0.5 wt.% nanosilica cause 10% and 27% improvement in tensile strength and toughness of nanocomposite.

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This paper, experimentally evaluates the effects of indenter geometry on quasi-static perforation process of laminated woven glass epoxy composites. Low loading rate tests were performed, using six indenters with blunt, hemispherical, conical (cone angle of 37˚ and 90˚) and ogival (caliber radius head of 1.5 and 2.5) nose shapes. Composite behaviors like energy absorption, contact force, failure mechanisms and friction force were investigated for different indenter shapes. Hand lay-up method has been used to manufacture composite targets with 18 layers of 2D woven glass fibers of 45% fiber volume fraction. The epoxy system is made of epon 828 resin with jeffamine D400 as the curing agent. The results show that the load displacement curve is divided to five areas. Some of these areas may have higher or lower magnitude, depending on indenter nose shape. The highest contact force is exhibited by unsharpened indenter. The lowest contact force and so the best performance is seen in ogival (CRH=2.5) indenter. Comparing absorbed energies shows that for an identical dent depth, the amount of absorbed energy is major for unsharpened indenters. The 37˚ conical indenter needs the highest energy for perforation, which is 2.6 times more than blunt indenter’s.

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In this article bubbly flow under the specified axial pressure gradient in a curved channel is studied numerically. To do so, a second order parallelized front-tracking/finite-difference method based on the projection algorithm is implemented to solve the governing equations including the full Navier-Stokes and continuity equations in the cylindrical coordinates system using a uniform staggered grid well fitted to the geometry concerned. In the absence of gravity the mid-plane parallel to the curved duct plane, which is the symmetry plane in the single fluid flow inside the curved duct, separates the bubbly flow into two different flow regions not interacting with each other. Twelve bubbles with diameters of 0.125 wall units are distributed in the equally spaced distances from each other. The numerical results obtained indicate that for the cases studied here, the bubbles reach the statistical steady state with an almost constant final orbital motion path due to the strong secondary field. Furthermore, the effects of different physical parameters such as Reynolds number, and curvature ratio on the flow field at the no slip boundary conditions, are investigated in detail.

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This research aimed to demonstrate that Ali, a Muslim Volga Bulgar poet, drew inspiration from Bahr al-Mahabbah fi Asrar al-Mavaddah and al-Settin al-Jame' le-Lataif al-Basatin (or Qissa-I Yusuf) in composing Qissa’i Yusuf (The Story of Joseph). Then, the author's writing style and method of adaptation of the two works were analyzed. In so doing, the French School of Comparative Literature, which is based on direct effect, was utilized. This study asserts that Ali's Qissa’i Yusuf has many similarities with and few differences from Bahr al-Mahabbah and al-Settin al-Jame' in the plot narrative (and even sub-narratives). Moreover, some parts are entirely similar to the two said works in expression and the arrangement of story details. In some non-fictional aspects, he has also adapted the two works. In some instances, in addition to similarity with al-Settin al-Jame' in expression, Ali has used its Persian words in his book. Ali has also pointed out that he was proficient in Persian and Arabic. In general, it seems that Ali has considered the two works and, in disagreements, has gathered and versified the narratives of the two works together, and at times has selected a more detailed narrative, and wherever appropriate, he has elaborated on emotional dialogues and descriptions.
 

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In this simulation study, Mate Allocation (MA) strategy using combined genomic-pedigree information was compared with Random Mating (RM) aiming at controlling the level of inbreeding (ΔF) with minimum impacts on the amounts of Genetic Gain (ΔG) in poultry breeding programs. Five equally-sized subpopulations of chickens (P₁ to P₅) were simulated. A genome encompassing five chromosomes involving 15,000 bi-allelic markers was defined for each bird. Potentially, 500 QTL impacted a trait, which had a heritability of 0.1. Only pedigree information was assumed to be available in P₁ while the percent of genotyped birds were 10% in P₂, 20% in P₃, and 50% in P₄ and P₅. Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) were computed using the traditional approach (PBLUP) and the Single-Step method (SSGBLUP). In P₅, early predictions were applied to estimate GEBVs. Comparisons were made based on the reductions in ΔF and changes in ΔG between two mating scenarios and two evaluation methods within and across subpopulations, respectively. After seven generations, MA resulted in 20 to 30% less ΔF within subpopulations compared with RM with negligible impacts on ΔG. Furthermore, in both mating scenarios, SSGBLUP brought about 11 to 61% less ΔF compared to PBLUP across subpopulations. Results indicated that the benefits of using combined genomic-pedigree relationships could be more than improving the accuracy of EBVs through the SSGBLUP as they can also be used in mating designs to restrict ΔF with a minimum impact on ΔG. Also, this study verified that SSGBLUP could bring about lower ΔF compared with PBLUP.

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Persian Kurdish Horse constitutes a group of horses traditionally bred and used by Kurdish People who have lived and occupied today's western provinces of Iran for several millennia. Although very well-known for their unique characteristics, standards of this so-called breed of Iranian native horses have never been established. This study was designed to document and validate anecdotal information that has been passed along generations of Kurdish Horse breeders about unique physical characteristics and performances of this native horse breed of Iran. The first author traveled to provinces with larger numbers of Kurdish Horses in Iran and conducted personal interviews with 114 of well-known Kurdish Horse breeders. Questioners were completed. Then, the degree of concordance on various physical and performance characteristics of Kurdish Horses that were anecdotally considered as more important traits to identify and define Kurdish Horses was established. Based on such validated data, characteristics with a higher degree of agreement were formatted into a proposed “Breed Type and Standards” for Iranian Kurdish Horses.