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In modern language teaching institutions and schools, the proficient language teachers apply different kinds of tasks to teach some skills and sub-skills. In the current study, the researcher investigated the effect of two different tasks, namely Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL)-based tasks and written questions tasks on students' English grammar learning. The researcher in the control group asked the participants to answer the written questions in their workbooks and the participants in the experimental group do their assignments using the computers. Based on the post-test results, both CALL-based and written question tasks had positive effects on the participants. The study supports the idea that motivating tasks can have positive results toward language learning.

Many studies have confirmed the importance of tasks on language learning. Nowadays, many teachers apply different kinds of tasks in their classrooms. The current study investigated the effect of mobile assisted language learning tasks (MALL) on participants' English grammar learning. The researcher administered a pre-validated grammar test to 90 junior high school participants aged between 14 to 16 with the mean age 15. The researcher taught grammar to both groups inductively and asked the participants to do their assignments according to their group's tasks. Based on the post-test results, it can be concluded that the experimental groups had better results than the control group. The study supports the hypothesis that sharing tasks in virtual networks can have positive results for language learning, specifically grammar learning.

Background and Objectives: Poultry meat is considered a perishable product due to its carbohydrates, protein, lipid and water content. The aim of this study was to improve the carcass characteristics, the chemical and organoleptic quality of Japanese quail meat using Iranian native chicory water extract. Materials and Methods: Ninety Japanese quails were divided into 3 treatment groups including Control: basic diet, F1: basic diet + chicory extract (1%), and F2: basic diet + chicory extract (2%). Results: Supplementation of diet with chicory water extract improved the whole body, breast, and thigh weight along with an increase in the nutritional value (fat, protein, mineral content (the total ash), vitamin B12, and carotenoids) of breast meat of Japanese quails. In addition to achieve good water holding capacity (WHC) and minimum drip loss and cooking loss in treated samples, the breast meat earned high acceptability score by panelists because of its better odor, color (L*, a*, and b*), and texture (firmness). The higher total phenolic contents in F1 and F2, reduced TBARS value of breast meat that shows chicory extract improves the oxidative stability without exerting any negative effect on chickens' growth performance. Conclusions: The results indicated that supplementation of diet with chicory water extract improved the nutritional value, oxidative stability, and sensory acceptability of Japanese quail breast meat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV) is a significant viral pathogen affecting the development of beak and feather cells, leading to feather abnormalities in avian species. This study aimed to investigate the molecular detection rate of PBFDV among Psittaciformes in Iran and to evaluate the influence of factors such as sex, species, season, and bird origin on PBFDV prevalence. Feather samples were collected from 1335 Psittaciformes, including Agapornis roseicollis, Pyrrhura molinae, Myiopsitta monachus, Aratinga solstitialis, Nymphicus hollandicus, Psittacula krameri, Psittacus erithacus, Poicephalus senegalus, Eos bornea, and Agapornis fischeri, and subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for PBFDV detection. The overall PBFDV detection rate across all species was 56.2% (751/1335, 95% CI: 53.6%-58.9%). The results showed that Agapornis roseicollis had a 2.23-fold higher likelihood of PBFDV infection compared to the reference species, Myiopsitta monachus (95% CI: 1.36-3.66). Furthermore, a significant interaction effect between season and species was observed. During autumn, Aratinga solstitialis and Pyrrhura molinae were 10.00 (95% CI: 5.10-20.59) and 3.72 (95% CI: 2.28-6.08) times more likely to be infected with PBFDV compared to spring, respectively. These findings underscore a high prevalence of PBFDV in Iran's psittacine population. The study emphasizes the importance of such investigations and the exploration of various risk factors for disease control and prevention strategies. It also underscores the necessity of virological assessments prior to bird export and import. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common serious health problem. Medication adherence is a crucial determinant of therapeutic success in patients with diabetes mellitus. This study aims to examine the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) psychometric properties among diabetic patients. Methods: This study was carried out at the Internal Medicine clinic of Firooz Abadi Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 2018 to 2020. The English version of the MMAS-8 was translated into Persian and administered to patients with diabetes mellitus. A total of 150 patients who had diabetes were included. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the reliability. Results: According to the recommended scoring method, the Mean ± SD of MMAS-8 scores was 4.97 ± 1.92. Good internal consistency was found in our study (Cronbach's α = 0.70). Not any significant relationship between MMAS-8 categories and occurrence of complications was found. Conclusions: The findings of this validation study indicate that the Persian version of the MMAS-8 is a reliable measure of medication adherence, but it has not acceptable validity. Further studies are needed to reach a good validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Icterohemorrhagic form of leptospirosis has a high mortality rate. In this study, the clinical manifestations, epidemiologic and laboratory findings and outcome of Weil's disease were investigated. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 66 consecutive patients with icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis who were admitted to Razi Hospital (The Therapeutic Center of Infectious Diseases in the North of Iran) in 2013. The inclusion criteria were as follows: All patients who had clinical and epidemiological data suggestive of leptospirosis and displayed icterohemorrhagic form at the time of admission or during hospitalization. All patients were visited on admission, one, two and six weeks later. Demographic data, clinical, laboratory features and complications were evaluated, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 13.0. Results: Among 66 patients, 89.4% (n = 59) were male, 60% (n = 40) were farmers and 9.1% (n= 6) had a history of swimming in rivers. The most common complaints were fever and jaundice, respectively. The most common clinical symptoms were fever (90.9%), myalgia (75.8%), chills (70.8%) and headache (65.1%). Hyponatremia and hypernatremia were seen in 7.6% and 72.8% of the participants, respectively. Also, hypokalemia was observed in two patients (3%). Approximately, half of the cases had leukocytosis and 90% had thrombocytopenia. Rise of AST, ALT, ALP and bilirubin were seen in 95.2%, 93.6%, 76.2% and 100% of the patients, respectively. Of the patients, 42.4% experienced complications of icterohemorrhagic leptospirosis including acute renal failure (30.3%) pneumonia (25.8%), pancreatitis (4.5%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (1.5%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (1.5%). Three cases (4.5%) died, 42 cases (63.7%) were discharged with residual effects and 52 patients (78.8%) had positive serology. Conclusion: The most significant biochemical abnormalities were thrombocytopenia, hyperbilirubinemia, hyponatremia and hypernatremia and azotemia and the latter remained stable in 2% of the patients at least until the end of the 6-week period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital curve identification from remote sensing data is difficult in continuous objects such as roads. Use of high spatial resolution images can increase geometrical details and accuracy of estimation and detect curvy segments from the road boundary. We detect a road as a curve in 2D raster grid and analyze its shape using fuzzy c-means and alpha shapes. Two approaches identify curvature from the polylines on two sides of the road. Image resolution, radius of alpha circles and size of moving window are the three main parameters for detection of curvy segments. Lower resolution, larger alpha circles and larger moving windows decrease the chance of detecting sharp and narrow curve segments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The citrus industry in Iran is based on graft propagation of local and imported cultivars on a limited number of rootstocks such as sour orange, Mexican lime and Bakraee, a local natural hybrid. Infection of the available cultivars with graft-transmissible agents, viroids in particular, may have deleterious effects on the productivity of citrus and, more importantly, limits the choice of rootstocks. Rootstocks other than sour orange and Mexican lime will be needed as a consequence of the introduction and spread of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) in the country. In the present study, two cv. Sanguinello sweet orange and two cv. Duncan grapefruit trees were selected on the basis of the bark scaling symptoms observed on the trifoliate orange and Troyer citrange rootstocks. Analysis by sPAGE and Northern blot hybridization of nucleic acid preparations of Etrog citrons graft-inoculated with these sources revealed the presence of several viroids: Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), the causal agents of exocortis and cachexia, respectively, as well as Citrus bent leaf viroid (CBLVd), Citrus dwarfing viroid (CDVd) and Citrus bark cracking viroid (CBCVd). These viroids were sequenced and compared with the corresponding reference sequences. To extend these results, samples from different citrus cultivars were collected in the two main citrus growing regions and analyzed for viroids. Of the 49 samples tested, 22 were viroid-positive, witnessing the occurrence of cultivars infected with CEVd, HSVd, CBLVd, CDVd, or CBCVd as mixed infections in the surveyed regions. One sample was also co-infected with the newly described Citrus viroid V (CVd-V). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) serum levels in early pregnancy with the severity of preeclampsia (PE) and birth weight. Study design: A prospective cohort study was conducted in Noor City (in the north of Iran) from February 2008 to March 2009. The maternal serum hs-CRP levels were measured in 778 healthy pregnant women between 14 and 20 weeks of gestation. They were followed up to delivery. The women were divided into three groups according to ACOG criteria: mild and severe PE and normal group. Results: In total, 63 (8.1%) of the subjects developed PE: 30 (3.9%) mild and 33 (4.2%) severe PE. Mean±SD hs-CRP levels in mild (7.2±2.2 mg/L) and severe (9.4±3.9 mg/L) PE were significantly higher than the normal group (2.5±2.7 mg/L). Mean±SD birth weights in severe (3100±590 g) and mild (3150±742 g) PE were significantly lower than uncomplicated pregnancies (3340±590 g). Multiple and linear logistic regression analysis showed that there were significant relationships between hs-CRP levels in mild (odds ratio, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-1.93) and severe PE (odds ratio, 2.35, 95% confidence interval, 1.90-2.92) and with birth weight (P<0.001). The receiver operator characteristic curve showed that hs-CRP >4.5 and >5 mg/dL could predict mild and severe PE, respectively. At this level, sensitivity and specificity for mild PE were 100% and 80.7%, and for severe PE were 93.9% and 75.7%, respectively. Conclusion: hs-CRP can be useful in identifying pregnant women at risk for PE and low-birth weight infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran has seen the rise and demise of many rulers across its history which dates back thousands of years ago. There are presently numerous religious and royal sites still standing across the country to be proof of Iran's glorious past. The demise of the Sassanid dynasty brought about a major political and religious change in Iran. Nevertheless, the Persian art remained in place and over the years after the Sassanid downfall manifested itself in construction of sites and structures. Therefore, a study of the architecture used in structures in early years of the advent of Islam in Iran is necessary to realize how Iranian artists transferred their knowledge at the turn of this important historical juncture. The eighth century in Iran's history is called the age of scientific and cultural advancements and the era during which Persian art was revived. This is mainly due to the formation of various local statehoods in Iran and subsequently the emergence and development of different thoughts. It was during this period that important political hubs were created in Shiraz, Rey, Hamadan and Isfahan. It is understood from Islamic transcripts that there was a quarrel at the time between Ziar Dynasty and Buyid dynasty over capturing Isfahan. After a series of battles, Isfahan was eventually captured by the Buyid dynasty. It was then that the Buyid king Hassan Roknodolleh started serious efforts to develop the city. One of the remarkable sites that have been constructed in Isfahan during the Deilami era is Jurjir façade which is the only remaining part of Jurjir Jame Mosque of Isfahan. The façade of Jurjir Mosque dates back to the tenth century and its decorations were created at the time of its construction. This construction is a precious sample of brickwork and plasterwork of the era and is formed from three parts: frontage, front arch and doorway. Frontage of façade is divided into several parts by engaged columns. An example of such work was used in the Ashoor palace of Parthia period. This technique was popular in the Sassanid period and examples of it can be seen in the front of Kasra Palace (also known as Tagh-i Kasra) as well as in buildings and sites belonging to the eighth and ninth centuries. By dividing the wide surface of facade into decorated, extended frame, a boring monotony of the surface is modified and numerous spaces are created for creating different decorations. In addition to this, the construction of long engaged columns produces a considerable visual effect on deluding excessive heights. This is believed to help add to the magnificence of the structure. Also these engaged columns create light and shade in different hours of day and has considerable effect on cooling the surface of the structure. Jurjir façade is decorated with inscriptions of the name of Allah in Kufic part of which has been ruined over time.Brickwork in constructions of buildings and religious as well as royal sites during the Deylamite period is an integral part of construction. Undoubtedly, the decoration on the façade of Jorjier Mosque should be considered as one of the remarkable samples of brickwork during the Deylamite period. The decoration on the Mosque includes five types of geometry designs. The plaster molding as used in the decoration of Jurjir facade is also a significant work of art that was common during the Deylamite period. In Jurjir Mosque, plaster has been used as decoration in two frames. Firstly, as an independent element and secondly as a perfect element. In other words, plaster is dependently engraved in some parts and was the decorated element of façade and in some parts it was used as brickwork decoration.On the whole, eight types of decoration are seen on the Jurjir façade which are divided into two main groups of herbal and geometrical designs. One of the techniques used in Jurjir façade is to use brick and plaster work for decoration. Decoration of two eastern and western frames of façade was created from integration of brick and plaster as well as a combination of herbal painting and inscription. In other words, artistic shapes were used for decoration by bricks and then the decorations were polished by plaster. It is generally known that each Islamic city has had only one Jame Mosqu (Hilnberand, 44:2004) by the 10th century. Interestingly, Jurjir Mosque was constructed opposite of Kabir Jame Mosque. Based on transcripts obtained from eras after the advent of Islam, Jurjir Mosque was superior to Kabir Jame Mosque from the viewpoint of height, firmness and architectural style. Nevertheless, some researchers have expressed doubt over whether Jurjir Mosque had any specific religious application. There is, however, no question regarding the fact that the Mosque is ancient and that it was constructed during the Buyid dynasty. Studies show that brick working and plaster work techniques have been used skillfully in decoration of this structure and a study of applied paintings shows that patterns of most of these works date back to the Sassanid period. These artworks have been used in Islamic period with a new insight on that the Islamic insight has been manifested in its Iranian form which can be observed in painting lattice. For example, the designs of two sides of the façade which are stretched as a long tree from down to top, the reminder of engravings of two sides of big arch is Bostan Arch of Kermanshah. Also other geometrical designs and sometimes herbal designs are taken away from designs of Sassanid period artwork [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Identifying the educational needs is an essential step in planning faculty development and plays an important role in promoting the quality of education. The aim of this study was determination of the educational needs and its prioritization of faculty members in medical school of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was developed using the indices identified in an opinion poll, reviewing the literature and similar foreign and Iranian studies, and a guideline about six areas of faculty members' job description. The questionnaire was sent to all basic faculty members of school of medicine (n=70). The items were scored from one to 20 according to the importance of the educational need. Data were analyzed by SPSS software using the mean and standard deviation statistical indices. Results: Different areas of educational needs were respectively prioritized as administrative and executive activities, personal development, research, and education, specialized activities outside the university and health services and health promotion. Conclusion: Faculty members need all these six major areas specially the area of administrative and executive activities. The area of education was not fully regarded as expected. It is recommended to determine the weight development of all these six areas using a standard method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The annual risk of tuberculosis (TB) in Iran is about 0.5% with annual incidence rate of 23/100000 (16322 cases). Different factors have been postulated as TB predisposing factors. Several studies have linked smoking with pulmonary tuberculosis as the TB incidence in their adult men was 2.4 times higher than women. In Iran, however, this ratio is equal and somewhere the ratio in women is greater. We decided to carry out a case control study in order to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoking on pulmonary TB. Patients and methods: A case-control study was achieved in health care centers of Mazandaran province (affiliated to Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences). Participants were men aged 15 years and older who were enrolled in health care centers with the diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis. One hundred men (aged 15-85 years) with bacteriological TB (smear or culture positive) were selected as cases and 300 age-matched men without TB were selected randomly as controls. Information on smoking status, quality of tobacco smoked and duration of cigarette smoking and also the age at which smoking was first commenced were collected by a questionnaire. Results: Smokers were 2.1 times more likely to develop pulmonary TB (OR=2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.33- 2.33, p<0.04). The age adjusted odds ratio was 1.804 (95%CI:1.66-2.5, p<0.05). Quantity of cigarette smoking and duration of smoking had positive association with pulmonary TB. The ORs for mild (1-10 cigarette/day), moderate (11- 20/day) and heavy (>20/day) smoking were 1.68, 2.46, and 2.56, respectively (p<0.05). The ORs for duration of smoking with <10 years, 11-20 years and >20 years of smoking were 0.91, 2.48, and 2.9, respectively (p< 0.001). Conclusion: We conclude that smoking may increase the risk of pulmonary TB in men. Further studies should be conducted to investigate this association and to establish whether smoking reduction strategies contribute to tuberculosis control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:Embryo donation and its consequences have attracted a lot of attention in the last few years. Today, the use of modern methods of infertility treatment in cases that the husband, wife, or both have infertility problems are carried out in infertility treatment centers. Of these methods, lease of uterus and embryo donation could be pointed to which is legal and allowed under the act ʽhow to donate embryo to infertile couples' passed in 2003. In this method, sperm and ovum from legal couples will be donated to another legal couple after insemination in laboratory condition. This is a method which has made various jurisprudential and legal issues such as contract between two parties, lineage and its consequences. What is followed by embryo donation is necessarily artificial insemination of germ cells in which the woman is fertilized by artificial equipments without any intercourse. What is accepted by the legislator in this regard is insemination of sperm and ovum of legal couple. In the first stage of issuing permit, the discussion of embryo donation is introduced to see whether it is permissible in Iran or not. Then, assuming permissibility, legal lineage consequences are discussed. Materials and Method: this is a descriptive and analytical study. Results: the main obtained results are as the following: There are three views regarding embryo donation:1)Absolute reverence,2)Absolute permission,3)Segregation in which most contemporary Fuqaha considered embryo donation permissible.An important issue in this regard is the lineage of the newborn child by this method in which we should refer to the article 167 of the Islamic republic of Iran constitution to obtain the hukm from jurisprudent resources due to silence of law. In this line, determination of the maternal lineage accompanied by the interference of two women-the ovum owner and the surrogate mother-has encountered a lot of challenges and needs more investigation. However, theoretically speaking, it is said hat the lineage of the child of the embryo donation is referred to the owners of the sperm and ovum, and the uterus owner has no blood relation to the child. Conclusion: the purpose of this study was to demonstrate that considering Quran verses and traditions, the principle of determination, intention and interest of the people, the surrogate mother is considered the real mother and the child belongs to her. His father is the sperm owner; otherwise, the relationship between the child and the husband and the surrogate mother, if she is a girl, is considered as rabibe (daughter of the husband). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Based on lack of data on the distribution of the related alleles in the T1D population in Iranian population, we assessed the frequency of HLA DQ2 and DQ8 haplotypes in patients with T1D with/without CD compared to healthy population., Materials and Methods: 70 patients with T1D without celiac disease, 60 T1D cases with CD were compared to 150 healthy individuals during 2016. Ten mililiter Gheparinized blood samples were collected, genomic DNA was extracted and alleles were genotyped by Real-time PCR using SYBR Green as a low-resolution method., Results: HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8 genotypes was presented in 51% and 23% of T1D patients without CD respectively. Twenty one percent of those patients carried both alleles and 5% were negative for both alleles. T1D patients with CD had much higher DQ2 frequency (72%) and lower DQ8 (11.6%), than T1D patients without CD and controls, 14% carried both alleles and 3% were negative for both. The frequencies of DQ2 and DQ8 alleles in Iranian healthy population were 19 and 5% respectively., Conclusion: According to the same genetic background for CD and T1D we suggest that HLA-typing can be a very useful screening tool for CD in patients with type one diabetes., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: There is increasing evidence regarding elevated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in patients with celiac disease (CD), but little is known about their levels in patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in Iranian patients with CD and NCGS and to compare them with those of healthy individuals., Methods: A total of 110 treated CD, 15 with NCGS, and 46 healthy subjects were enrolled during 2016. Serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-15 and IFN-γ were measured using ELISA, and compared between groups. The correlation of the severity of mucosal damage and clinical symptoms with serum levels of cytokines was also assessed., Results: The mean serum levels of IFN-γ (p = 0.04) and IL-6 (p = 0.007) were significantly different between the patients in the CD and control groups, and IL-8 was significantly higher in the CD group compared with patients in the NCGS group (p = 0.04). Statistically significant correlations were observed between the serum levels of IFN-γ and abortion (p = 0.01), IL-1 and weight loss (p = 0.043) and infertility (p = 0.0001) in CD patients, and between IFN-γ and abortion (p = 0.01) and infertility (p = 0.01) in the NCGS patients. Moreover, no significant relationship was observed between the severity of mucosal damage and the serum level of the studied cytokines., Conclusions: Inflammatory cytokines are implicated in the pathogenesis of CD, and their serum levels might help to identify a diagnostic marker to differentiate CD from NCGS. However, further studies with a larger sample size are recommended.