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Objective: To determine the ability of C-reactive protein as a useful predictor of difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: General Surgery unit of Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Nov 2021–Nov 2022. Methodology: Fifty-six patients who underwent emergency or early laparoscopic cholecystectomy were made part of this study. After an informed consent age, gender, Body Mass Index and C-Reactive Protein levels were documented. Patients then underwent surgery and operative time along with “Nassar Difficulty Grade” was documented to define difficult cholecystectomy. Results: A total of 56 patients who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included with mean age of 44.32±5.37 years. 23(41.10%) were male patients while 33(58.90%) were female patients. Mean CRP levels were 20.00±8.81 mg/L. Frequency of "difficult laparoscopic cholecystectomy" in patients who had high preoperative CRP was 15/22(68.18%) while in patients who had low preoperative CRP it was 13/34(38.23%). Additionally, bivariate analysis of CRP levels and mean operative time showed that Pearson correlation coefficient (r) value was 0.355 showing a significant positive correlation (p=0.007). Conclusion: C-reactive protein levels in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy for gallstones or any of its related problems are helpful in predicting whether or not the patient will have a challenging laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Objective: To determine the ability of “Gallbladder Operating Score (G10)” to predict difficulty of surgery and timely conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: General Surgery Unit of Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Nov 2021 to Nov 2022. Methodology: One hundred and eleven cases scheduled to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy were recruited. After an informed consent age, gender, Body Mass Index, G10 score and category of severity ranging from mild to extreme was documented. Operative time was documented to define difficult cholecystectomy alongside conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy. Results: A total of 111[53(47.70%) male and 58(52.30% female)] cases who were scheduled to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included with mean age of 43.36±5.33 years. Median G10 score of patients was 3.00 (range: 1.00-8.00). Overall frequency of conversion from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy was 9(8.10%). G10 between the study participants who experienced conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy as compared to those who had their laparoscopic cholecystectomy completed was statistically significant (p=0.003). Conclusion: Gallbladder Operating Score (G10) is helpful in predicting the difficulty cholecystectomy and conversion of laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy.

Bacillus thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis) is considered one of the most important entomopathogenic microorganisms. It produces potent toxins against insects. Therefore, the present study investigates the bioacaricidal properties of B. thuringiensis on the Hyalomma tick species. Firstly, we identify Hyalomma ticks based on morphological screening and molecular characterization. The cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene was selected for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, which resulted in the amplification of 656 bp. The amplified products were sequenced, and the isolated (COX1) gene of ticks was submitted to the gene bank of NCBI (Accession No. OR077934.1). The nucleotide sequences were retrieved from the NCBI data bank by BLASTn analysis, which confirmed that all obtained sequences belong to genus Hyalomma, and multiple alignments confirmed that the sequence of Hyalomma anatolicum Tandojam-isolate (HA-TJ) 100% aligned with Hyalomma analoticum KP792577.1, Hyalomma detritum KP792595.1, Hyalomma excavatum KX911989.1, and H. excavatum OQ449693.1. The generated phylogenetic tree confirmed that sequences of HA-TJ COX1 clustered with a single clad of H. analoticum, H. excavatum, and H. detritum. The acaricidal effect of B. thuringiensis toxins B. thuringiensis spore crystal mix (BtSCM) and B. thuringiensis crystal proteins (Btcps) was evaluated against larvae and adult life stages of Hyalomma ticks in vitro. We applied Btcps and BtSCM separately with different concentrations and calculated the mortality percentage. Adult mortality was estimated at the 8th, 10th, 12th, and 15th days posttreatment and larval mortality after 24 h. During treatment of the adult life stage, at first, ticks were immersed in different concentrations of Btcps and BtSCM for 5 min after the treatments, and the samples were transferred to sterile containers and placed in an incubator with 80% humidity at 23°C. Furthermore, Btcps produced the highest mortality on Day 15, 89±1.00% at a concentration of 3000 μg/mL, followed by the 12th, 10th, and 8th days produced 83±1.91%, 70±1.15%, and 61±1.00%, respectively. BtSCM produced mortality of 69±1.91% on Day 15 at a concentration of 3000 μg/mL, followed by the 12th, 10th, and 8th days at 57±2.51%, 37±1.91%, and 34±2.00%. The present study revealed that B. thuringiensis toxins produced a significant (p

Objective: To correlate the operative findings of patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, either acute or elective, with surgical complications and conversion to open cholecystectomy. Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital and Pak-Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul 2021 to Mar 2022. Methodology: Data from patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy was collected after gaining consent. Patients were evaluated for the correlation of operative findings of acute and nonacute gallbladder cases with the development of complications and conversion to open cholecystectomy. Results: Out of 250 patients, 205 were non-acute cases, whereas 45 were acute. The most common intraoperative complication was iatrogenic perforation of gallbladder 73(29.2%); more common in elective cases 49(19.6%) than in acute cases 24(9.6%). Post-operative complications included sub-hepatic collections 3(1.2%) and port site infections 2(0.8%). There were six overall conversions (2.4%), of which 3(1.2%) occurred in acute gallbladder cases and 3 in elective gallbladder. Acute cases were significantly more likely to be converted to open operations (p=0.039). They were found to have a significant association with gallstone spillage (p

Objective: To assess the outcome in patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis being treated with antibiotics alone with those being treated with antibiotics coupled with conservative surgery. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from Feb to Aug 2016. Methodology: Sixty patients with diabetic foot osteomyelitis, fulfilling inclusion criteria, were included in this study. They were divided into two groups of 30 each. The "Antibiotic-Group” received only antibiotics while, the "Surgical-Group" underwent surgery in addition to antibiotics. Results: There were 37 males (61.66%) and 23 females (38.33%). The average age of patients was 59.72±9.79 years. 20 patients (66.67%) had full recovery in the Surgical-Group, and in the Antibiotics-Group, 18 patients (60%) had healed wounds (pvalue=0.599) Conclusion: The outcome of antibiotics only and conservative surgery plus antibiotics is similar.

Objective: To investigate the effect of truncal or branch ligation of the inferior thyroid artery on postoperative hypocalcemia. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Surgery, Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH), Rawalpindi, Pakistan from July 2021 to June 2022. Methods: For this study, 60 patients were enrolled who underwent total thyroidectomy at the Department of Surgery from July 2021 to June 2022. Patients were divided into Group 'A' and Group 'B', with an equal number of 30 patients in each group. Patients in group 'A' underwent bilateral ITA ligation at the trunk, while patients in group 'B' underwent ligation of terminal branches of ITA on the gland capsule. The primary outcome was postoperative hypocalcemia on 1 postoperative day. Results: Our results showed a significant difference in hypocalcemia in both groups. Decreased incidence of biochemical hypocalcemia was found in branch ligation of ITA (3.33%) than trunk ligation (36.36%) P value 0.025. Conclusion: Branch ligation of ITA decreases the incidence of hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. How to cite this: Javed R, Butt MQ, Tariq M, Qamar R, Bukhari ST. Effect of Truncal Versus Branch Ligation of Inferior Thyroid Artery on Postoperative Hypocalcemia Patients Undergoing Thyroid Surgery: Rawalpindi. Life and Science. 2023; 4(4): 452-457. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.366

In this study, an algebraic model and its experimental verification was carried out to investigate the effect of moisture content on the heat loss that takes place due to conduction of sock fabrics. The results show that increasing moisture content in the studied socks caused a significant increase in their conductive heat loss. Plain knitted socks with different fiber composition were wetted to a saturated level, and then their moisture content was reduced stepwise. When achieving the required moisture content, the socks samples were characterized by the Alambeta testing instrument for heat transfer. Three different existing modified mathematical models for the thermal conductivity of wet fabrics were used for predicting thermal resistance of socks under wet conditions. The results from both ways are in very good agreement for all the socks at a 95% confidence level. In the above-mentioned models, the prediction of thermal resistance presents newly a combined effect of the real filling coefficient and thermal conductivity of the so-called “wet” polymers instead of dry polymers. With these modifications, the used models predicted the thermal resistance at different moisture levels. Predicted thermal resistance is converted into heat transfer (due to conduction) with a significantly high coefficient of correlation.

Socks’ comfort has vast implications in our everyday living. This importance increased when we have undergone an effort of low or high activity. It causes the perspiration of our bodies at different rates. In this study, plain socks with different fiber composition were wetted to a saturated level. Then after successive intervals of conditioning, these socks are characterized by thermal resistance in wet state at different moisture levels. Theoretical thermal resistance is predicted using combined filling coefficients and thermal conductivity of wet polymers instead of dry polymer (fiber) in different models. By this modification, these mathematical models can predict thermal resistance at different moisture levels. Furthermore, predicted thermal resistance has reason able correlation with experimental results in both dry (laboratory conditions moisture) and wet states.

Objective: To evaluate the association of marital status, early marriage and parity with fibroadenoma patients at a tertiary care hospital of Pakistan. Study Design: Case control study. Place and Duration of Study: Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul 2015 to Jan 2016. Methodology: A total of 156 cases were included which were diagnosed histologically for fibroadenoma. Similarly 152 controls were inducted which were matched for age and body mass index. The case and control groups were interviewed about exposure of risk factors. Results: All the patients were females. The mean age of case group was 23.71 ± 3.81 and mean age of control group was 23.99 ± 3.95 (p-value=0.544). There was no significant difference in body mass index of two groups (p-value=0.756). Marital status (OR=1.807 95% CI 1.074-3.039) and nulliparous status (OR=2.372 95% CI 1.398- 4.024) were associated with development of fibroadenoma. However early marriage did not have any significant relation with fibroadenoma (OR=0.928 CI 95% 0.511-1.683). Conclusions: Fibroadenoma is more likely to develop in unmarried and nulliparous women however early marriage may not be related to its development.

Task-based language teaching is defined as learning by doing or self-motivated learning. Instances regarding TBLT capabilities include team work,workshops, and constructivism . The current research is an attempt to scrutinize the upshots of EFL teachers and learners' mind-sets for classroom assignments in the form of writing skills in terms of structure and content. Due to this, 60 Iranian EFL learners were decided on from a language institute in Isfahan, Iran via convenience sampling. An Oxford Placement Test, the Oxford Attitude Questionnaire , and the Assignment Questionnaire were employed to amass data and firm up participants' levels. To categorize the assignments, learners were demanded to write a text on the submitted topics. The assignments were divided into three sets as per learners' opinions: The assignments deemed appropriate by the learners, by teachers and by no one special (control group) .Afterward, the topics separately chosen by the learners and the teachers were imparted to the participants in distinct groups. Besides, the control group was given a distinctive group of topics. Then, the completed assignments were corrected via Liao and Wang scoring scale and the results were evaluated through one-way analysis of variance. The results revealed a significant difference between the performance of learners in the three groups in terms of writing proficiency. This means that the group who received their assignments based on the teachers' attitude, outperformed the other two groups. Research applications are postulated at the end of the article.

Professional identity has been perpetually an underlying factor in teacher development. The maintenance of a strong professional identity is a key factor in teacher development which is ultimately a fundamental aspect in the prosperity or failure of any educational system. As a dynamic phenomenon, teachers’ professional identity can be influenced by a variety of factors and particularly any type of educational reform. The present study with an explanatory mixed method design was used to investigate transitions in Iranian EFL teachers’ professional identity in the context of Fundamental Reform Document of Education (2012). For the quantitative phase of the study, a researcher-made questionnaire developed based on the four components of professional identity namely, self-image, self-esteem, job motivation and task perception proposed by Kelchtermans (1993) was distributed among 98 Iranian EFL teachers. Considering the ongoing nature of the professional identity, the questionnaire was assigned to the teachers during the pre-reform and post – reform era. In the qualitative phase, in order to capture a comprehensive picture of the salient factors of teachers’ professional identity and their underlying reasons, a set of semi-structured interviews with 7 volunteer teachers were conducted. The findings revealed that the introduction of the curriculum reform made no change in teachers’ professional identity in terms of self-esteem and task perception, but it slightly affected teachers’ self-image and job motivation. The findings also revealed a potential transition path in Iranian EFL teachers’ professional identity development. Finally, some implications for policy-makers and material developers and suggestions for future researchers were discussed.

Ethical issues are gaining more importance in the realm of Translation Studies. Ethics charters or codes of professional conduct for translators produced by professional associations seek to establish a set of ethical principles and to ensure that all members are adopting those principles in practicing their profession. The present study aims to examine the fundamental assumptions underlying the approved Iranian Charter of Professional Ethics for Translators in Iran and to explore the limitations of the Charter. Eighteen English codes of ethics for translators or translators and interpreters from countries located in various parts of the world were downloaded and analyzed to find the overall values and underlying principles commonly shared by the codes. Then, the principles underlying the Iranian Charter of Professional Ethics for Translators were analyzed to reveal the main points of similarity and difference between this Charter and the analyzed codes from around the world. Finally, the limitations of the Charter were discussed. The analyzed data revealed that the approved Iranian Charter of Professional Ethics for Translators is not very practical and could not be successful in regulating ethical practice across the translation profession in the Iranian context. Hence, it requires further modification before application.

This study sought to investigate the effects of Explicit ‎Instruction in combination with Input ‎Enhancement (EI+IE), Input Flood (IF), and Gap-fill (GF) tasks on receptive and productive ‎knowledge of English formulaic sequences (FS) ‎by Iranian intermediate EFL learners. Assigned ‎to three experimental groups‎, the 110 participants took the receptive and productive knowledge ‎pretests, posttests, and delayed posttests. Findings of within-group (repeated-‎measures ‎ANOVAs) and between-group (ANCOVAs) tests showed that while IF could not promote ‎learners' performance, both the EI+IE and the GF could ‎improve learners’ receptive and ‎productive knowledge of target ‎FSs from pretests to posttests and ‎retained the effects until the ‎delayed posttests. Additionally, both EI+IE and GF groups ‎significantly outperformed the IF ‎group at the immediate posttests. That is, the results from EI+IE did not differ significantly from ‎those of GF. Plausible accounts for the obtained results are provided and the implications are ‎discussed.‎

Objective: To evaluate the comparative role of ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography in diagnosis of carcinoma gallbladder. Early experience at a hepatobiliary unit in a tertiary care hospital Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Hepatobiliary Unit of the Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi from July 2021 to June 2022. Materials and Methods: USG and CECT scans were used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of Carcinoma Gallbladder. 30 patients, with an average age of 54 years, were part of this study. Patients were included in the study based on radiological findings pertinent to gallbladder cancer which include gallbladder fossa mass replacing gallbladder, focal/intraluminal/polypoidal gallbladder growth and asymmetrical/diffuse thickness of gallbladder. All resected specimens were sent for histological investigation after the operation, histopathology serving as the Gold standard. Results: On USG and CECT examination, 13.3% of the gallbladders were contracted and reduced in size, while 70% were large and distended. CECT has a sensitivity and specificity of 96% and 80%, respectively, in identifying GB carcinoma. USG scan had a sensitivity and specificity of 92% and 60%. There was a test of agreement is excellent (Kappa value 0.819) between the two techniques, indicating that the two diagnostic modalities are nearly equivalent in terms of diagnosing carcinoma Gallbladder. Conclusion: The study findings indicate that both USG and CECT scans are ideal, non-invasive, safe imaging modalities for diagnosing gallbladder carcinoma. CECT scan has an additional advantage in defining the extension of the disease and involvement of surrounding structures including lymph nodes and hepatoduodenal ligament.

Among alternative assessment options, portfolios have received considerable attention in the field of education, but there has been little research exploring students’ perceptions of the portfolio approach or its impact on the learning of writing (Lam, 2013). Therefore, this study aimed at investigating students’ perceptions about the effect of portfolio assessment as a process-oriented assessment mechanism on Iranian EFL students’ English writing and its sub-skills of focus, elaboration, organization, conventions, and vocabulary. Moreover, the study dealt with students’ perceptions about the use of portfolio assessment in EFL writing. Thirty university students were chosen as the participants. They received the treatment i.e. portfolio assessment in an essay writing course. Students’ views and reflections about portfolio assessment were elicited via “Portfolio contribution questionnaire” and individual semi-structured interviews. The results showed that most of the students perceived improvement in overall writing and the sub-skills of focus, elaboration, and organization. Furthermore, students had a positive attitude to the implementation of portfolios. The results have some implications for teaching and assessment of writing in the EFL context.

This study investigates the effect of material composition on moisture management properties. Fiber type has significant influence on the moisture management properties of knitted fabrics. In this article, single jerseys knitted fabric samples with different yarn compositions were prepared. Liquid moisture transportation properties including wetting time, absorption rate, spreading speed, one-way transportation capability, and OMMC were evaluated by Moisture Management Tester (MMT) and vertical wicking was evaluated using thermography system and image analysis. Knitted sample having fine cotton yarns with coolmax and micro denier multifilament polypropylene showed best liquid transportation properties. There is a strong co-relation between OMMC and accumulative oneway transport index with vertical wicking of knitted samples.

Taking the significance of teacher motivation in professional practice and pedagogical achievements of teachers, students and their educational goals, this study aimed to investigate EFL teachers’ motivation affected by the introduction of the Fundamental Reform Document of Education in Iran. For the quantitative phase of the study, a researcher-made questionnaire developed based on the four aspects of motivation by Dornyei and Ushioda (2011) was distributed among 98 Iranian EFL teachers. Afterwards, to capture the salient factors of teachers’ motivation, a set of semi-structured interviews with 7 volunteer teachers were conducted. The results revealed that this reform has had a positive effect on teachers’ motivation yet it has not been that much comprehensive to take into account all the motivation factors except for the contextual ones.

To investigate the congruence between therequisite post-graduate academic language skills and the language skillsmeasured by the General English section of the Iranian National PhD Entranceexam, field-specialist informants, language-specialist informants andpost-graduate students were questioned. The informants’ data were collectedthrough interviews and the students’ data were obtained through a languageskills’ questionnaire. The informants and students’ data were analyzed throughcontent analysis and frequency analysis, respectively. The informantsacknowledged that all four language skills were crucial for academic success.Considering congruity, both groups of informants asserted that there was littlecongruity between the language skills measured by the exam and those of theacademic context. Post-graduate students believed that the reading section ofthe exam did not match their academic needs; they also believed that a writingsection should be added and that a listening section need not be included inthe exam. The findings have some implications for a change in the curriculumpreceding the exam.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of ondansetron with a combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in terms of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Apr 2014 to Mar 2015. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and twenty two patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were selected for study and divided into two groups of 111 each. Group A was given ondansetron while group B was given combination of ondansetron and dexamethasone at induction of general anesthesia. Patients of both groups were observed at 24 hours postoperatively for nausea and vomiting. Results: Sixty six patients in group A had nausea as compared to 50 patients in group B (p-value 0.03), 46 patients in group A had vomiting as compared to 19 patients in group B (p-value

The aim of this study was to develop V-shape compression socks that should exert graduated lateral compression around the leg. For the development of socks, three types of yarns: main yarn (MY), plaiting yarn (PY) and inlaid yarn (IY) were used. Each yarn contained spandex yarn as the core. Machine adjustments were optimized to achieve the special V-shaped compression socks according to size of the wooden leg. Eighteen socks samples were developed and quantified for pressure exertion at ankle and calf portions using the MST MKIV, Salzmann pressure measuring device. Consequently, only two socks samples were accepted, which had the pressure exertion values of 21 mmHg and 23 mmHg with graduation percentage of 73% and 80%, respectively.

Objective: To assess effect of “specialty oriented HMS software” on “quality of EMRs”. Study Design: Comparative interventional study. Place and Duration of Study: Obstetrics Out Patient Department (OPD) of Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH) Rawalpindi and Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Lahore, from Apr 2015 to Mar 2018. Material and Methods: The study began in 2015 with a baseline survey of quality of EMRs produced by generic HMS software in vogue. We used an observational checklist derived from hospital SOPs including 12 mandatory EMR fields. We then collaborated with IT experts to develop and implement a specialty oriented test-HMS in obstetrics OPD, PEMH. After 6 months, quality of EMRs generated by test-HMS was assessed using same method. We cross tabulated the quality of pre and post intervention EMRs. EMR quality among individual EMR fields was also compared for each software. In 2018, we assessed quality of EMRs at tertiary care hospital, a year after the official launch of customized new-HMS software in the hospital. Results: Both the test-HMS and new-HMS had a statistically significant effect in improving quality of EMRs. A statistically significant variation was also observed among EMR quality of individual fields irrespective of the software being used. Conclusion: Customization of HMS improves the quality of EMRs but there may be other factors effecting EMR quality besides customization of HMS. We need to Identify and address those factors to attain true benefits of HMS.

This study was an attempt to examine the levels of teacher activity and reflection phases Iranian prospective language teachers go through in a way to put into practice the concepts and theories explored on campus within their workplace. To this end, Core Reflection Model was practiced by drawing on reflective journals, focus group discussions, and field notes collected over a four month period. The findings indicated that reflections on all six levels of the core reflection model took place mostly being on the level of convictions or beliefs, followed by competencies, behavior, environment, identity, and mission. Moreover, through the movement of reflection among the five phases, a shift from the second phase, looking back at action, to the third one, awareness of essential aspects, was observed and held on to the last phase; the reason could be the lack of mentorship and supervisory interventions for promoting guided reflection practice for prospective teachers in English language teacher education in Iran. In general, utilizing core reflection model in language teacher education for prospective teachers seems to be successful, because the model fostered the reflection of language teachers on all levels and phases and could empower them in their practice.

The present study addresses the phenomenon of online non-professional translation of manga in the context of Iran from the perspective of agency. It focuses on the people involved in decision-making in non-professional translation production, the non-professional translators’ motivations for their free immaterial labor as well as the factors that can constrain or increase their willingness or ability to translate manga into Persian. These questions were answered based on the activities of AnimWorld, the largest Iranian community of non-professional translators. The results suggest that non-professional translations differ from professional translations in terms of decision-making processes, motivations of the individuals involved as well as the contexts where they practice.

Explicit teaching may provide great opportunities for critical thinking to flourish. This paper examines the degree to which the need for developing such a critical view of language learning among English as Second/Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) teachers is rigorously felt and is taken into consideration. To this end, a researcher-made inventory, namely Criticality-oriented English Teaching Perceptions Inventory (CEPTI), was distributed among 150 EFL teachers. The results of the questionnaire and follow-up face-to-face interviews indicated that teachers were still not ready for a change towards explicit teaching of criticality-oriented skills inside the English language classes. Subsequent to assessing teachers’ perceptions, Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal, Form A (WGCTA-FA) was given to a total number of 100 EFL learners. Findings revealed that learners did not score high on the WGCTA. The pedagogical implications of the study are discussed.

Given the growing body of evidence on the interaction between language and thought, the overall aim of the current study is to verify whether there is a developmental pattern in the cognitive behavior of Persian L2 learners of English as a foreign language with regard to action construal level. Specifically, this study investigates whether acquiring English as a foreign language would affect the construal level of Persian EFL learners with different levels of bilingualism. A group of 40 Persian monolinguals, a group of 40 low-level Persian EFL bilinguals (bilinguals with low L2 proficiency), and a group of 40 high-level Persian EFL bilinguals (bilinguals with high L2 proficiency) were recruited. Participants were divided into the above groups based on their performance on Oxford Quick Placement Test (QPT). The participants’ action construal level was measured using Behavior Identification Form (BIF) (Vallacher and Wegner, 1989). The results of a one way ANOVA and a post-hoc Tukey test indicated that while low-level participants behaved relatively similar to Persian monolinguals, the construal of high-level learners was significantly different from monolinguals and low-level bilinguals. These findings provide evidence of a developmental pattern regarding the acquisition of construal level, supporting the claim of previous research that learning an additional language can affect the construal of language learners. Keywords: language acquisition, foreign language, construal, action construal, construal level.

BACKGROUND: Professionalism is one of the most important and vital concepts in the medical sciences. With the rapid growth of e-learning in the medical sciences in the past few years, the concept of virtual professionalism has emerged. This study was conducted as a hybrid concept analysis on describing e-professionalism in medical sciences. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a qualitative study with a hybrid concept analysis approach, consisting of theoretical stage, field research, and analysis. In the theoretical stage, the concepts of e-professionalism in medical sciences were identified through a review of the literature. During the fieldwork stage, in-depth interviews were conducted with five medical students who were intentionally selected. Finally, after analyzing the literature and the qualitative interviews, a theoretical description of e-professionalism concept in the field of medical sciences was extracted. RESULTS: the themes (3 numbers) and the subthemes (4 numbers) were extracted from 62 codes. These themes include information and communion technology and educational strategies professionalism in medical education. CONCLUSIONS: For describing professionalism, it is necessary to consider education and culture, role models, by emphasizing on the acceptance of professional responsibility, developing and improving social media policies, determining the scope of communication and interaction between individuals, and identifying the boundary between local laws and customs.

This study investigated the effects of two types of written feedback – direct corrective feedback (DCF) and metalinguistic explanation (ME) - on Iranian EFL learners’ implicit and explicit knowledge of English definite and indefinite articles. Assigned to three groups of DCF, ME, and control groups, the participants took four tests in three testing phases: pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest. Four testing instruments measured the two knowledge types: narrative writings, speeded dictation, untimed grammaticality judgment, and error correction tests. Results indicated that both treatments were effective in the immediate posttests. However, the ME proved to have longer lasting effects than the DCF as the improvement of both knowledge types were sustained after a three week period in the ME group. According to the obtained findings, it is argued that the description of the rules and the examples given explicitly in a ME handout might be more beneficial in promoting learners’ implicit and explicit knowledge of English articles than the DCF.

In teaching a foreign language (FL), some cultural specificities (defined under the rubric of ‘little-c culture’) may totally conflict with the cultural norms of the learners’ first language (L1). To prevent such imminent problems, this paper recommended that the FL syllabus be designed in a way so as to equip learners with an intimate knowledge of the target language culture, and that language teachers should develop consciousness toward learners’ cultural fragility and explicitly make full use of a culturally relevant FL pedagogy in a procedural, technical fashion which we shall refer to as Culturally-adaptive English Language Pedagogy (CELP). Such a syllabus would help learners not only to welcome the legitimacy of differences between the two cultures, but also to make their own cultural values and practices more explicit, enfranchising learners the decision on what aspects of cultural practices they want to embrace. We address three questions of what (the characterization of CELP), why (the significance of CELP) and how (the implementation of CELP) in the peculiar EFL context of Iran.

Questions about individuals' and nations' identity have been one of the humanity's concerns in history. In fact, humans have always been after a definition and recognition of their nations, tribes, ethnicities, and their own selves. They have also differentiated between themselves and others. A sign of this tendency to seek their own identity has been their preoccupation with selecting names for their children. Humans are in a perpetual need for proving themselves and maintaining their positions in any way through expressing their characteristics. Name selection is a way to realize one's dreams and honors, hence proving one's identity. The statistical population of the research is those with children in Shiraz and the sampling (420 individuals) was done according to Cochran formula with 4% variable error and 95% trust level. Cluster random sampling was used with the data gathered by questionnaires, and the analysis was done with spss software (univariate regression). The results show the national identity of 14.8% of Shirazis at high level, 66.2% at average level, and 19% at low level. ANOVA correlation test shows there is a meaningful relation between national identity and naming the newborns. Also the result of univariate logistic regression shows that national identity can increase the possibility of selecting religious names for babies by 6%. The conclusion is that if we increase individuals' national identity, the possibility of selecting religious and national names for babes also goes higher, and this requires the attention of cultural and educational institutions.

The purpose of this study was to examine Cook’s (2003) ‘multiple competence’ by investigating backward pragmatic transfer (from L2 [English] to L1 [Persian]) in refusals to invitations. It explored participants’ frequency and content of refusal strategies in L1 regarding the status (i.e., power and distance) of interlocutors and the proficiency level of EFL learners. The participants were Persian speakers with no knowledge of English language,and Persian EFL learners at three proficiency levels of elementary, intermediate, and advanced. Data were collected via a three -scenario role play. Results revealed significant differences between Persian native speakers and high-proficient EFL learners in terms of content and frequency of refusal strategies utilized. Concerning the different status of interlocutors, EFL learners seemed more direct and employed more specific responses to their refusals than Persian native speakers did. Overall, this study provided some evidence for backward pragmatic transfer among EFL learners.

The efficacy of genre-based approach to teaching writing has been regarded as an influential practice in L2 writing pedagogy (Hyland, 2007). However, there is still gap between actual structures found in reading materials recommended as textbooks and discourse patterns recommended for L2 writing in EFL contexts, the gap which would highlight the problems of genre and rhetorical patterns for teaching. The current study, therefore, is an attempt to explore the level of consistency between the rhetorical patterns found in reading textbooks and discourse pattern recommended for writing. For this purpose, a number of 22 essays selected from textbooks were analyzed to identify (1) the overall rhetorical structures, and (2) the location of main idea and opinion of writers. The results show that while some texts did not follow the three-part structure of introduction-body-conclusion, main idea was presented in the introductory parts of essays, illustrating a deductive rhetorical pattern recommended for English writing. Further research was suggested as well.

The aim of this study was to gain more in-depth understanding of students’ emotions in an EFL context by applying dynamic assessment (DA) procedures to the development of learners’ emotional intelligence. The study with 50 intermediate learners aged 12-15 used three modalities: a control group, which was taught under institute’s normal procedures; a comparison group, which received DA; and an experimental group, which received emotionalized dynamic assessment (EDA) procedures, in the form of an intervention focusing on emotional characteristics of Goleman's emotional intelligence framework with the express purpose of inducing them to work with their emotions. The study shows the potential of EDA for increasing one’s emotional intelligence and affords practical guidelines to language teachers as to how to incorporate behaviors relating to emotional intelligence into assessment procedures

The present study investigated the use of interactive metadiscourse resources (IMRs) in terms of appropriacy during a process- based writing course by applying qualitative and exploratory methods. Moreover, learners' perception was investigated to find out how confident they felt as they were writing and rewriting the drafts. 30 intermediate EFL learners were chosen to participate in this study based on their performance on the OPT. The participants wrote essays on argumentative topics during the period of one semester. Each participant submitted three drafts on a topic, the first draft, the draft after revising and the draft after editing. Experts’ appropriacy judgments showed a clear improvement in the appropriate use of IMRs from the participants’ earlier drafts to their final drafts. Furthermore, analysis of the interviews’ data showed that most of the interviewees had positive views towards this kind of writing and stated that their level of confidence in using IMRs increased through the stages and they felt more confident towards the end of the course. The results of this study seem to have some implications for teachers and practitioners in EFL contexts and could be of major significance for classroom application.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of using Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) on the learnersâ achievement in L2 grammar and reading in an EFL context and to further investigate whether the studentsâ classroom performances would predict their final exam results. To conduct this study, two classes, each containing 30 female students, were selected among the existing 1st grade high school classes in a high school. Prior to the treatment, all participants were given both reading and grammar tests so as to make sure of any initial differences among them. CBM was randomly implemented in one of these classes (as an experimental group) once a week over a 12-week period to monitor their progress in reading and grammar. At the end of the treatment, all participants took the achievement test. The results of two independent-samples t-tests indicated that CBM significantly improved studentsâ L2 reading and grammar achievement during the term. Also, the results of two linear correlations revealed that CBM outcomes during a semester significantly predicted final exam results.

The present study seeks to investigate the potentiality of the translation task as a testing method for measuring reading comprehension. To achieve this objective, two types of translation tests, open-ended and multiple-choice tests, and two types of reading comprehension tests, multiple-choice reading comprehension and open-ended cloze tests were developed in this study. The reliability of the tests was computed in order to estimate which translation test was more reliable and valid. Correlation coefficients were run in order to investigate whether translation tests worked as reliable and valid measures of reading comprehension, and to examine the relationship between proficiency in reading comprehension and proficiency in translation. The results indicate that the open-ended translation test is more reliable and valid than the multiple-choice one; translation has a high potentiality to work as a reliable and valid tool to assess reading comprehension; and there exists a high positive correlation between the participants’ proficiency in reading comprehension and their proficiency in translation. The findings of this study might have pedagogical implications for instructors. They may be justified to highlight the role of translation tests and benefit from them in their reading comprehension classes.

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether the students who learn their lexical knowledge through translation method are able to transfer the knowledge into reading comprehension .The study consisted of four steps, namely, reading pre-test, lexical instruction, vocabulary testing, and reading post-test. The results showed a significant improvement in the reading scores of the learners in Grade One and Two after the vocabulary instruction treatments were introduced. The results indicated that low-proficiency (Novice Mid and Novice-High) were able to transfer their lexical knowledge learned through decontextualized translation equivalent teaching method into reading comprehension tasks. The apparent discrepancy between the findings of the present study and that of Prince (1996) is also discussed with reference to “task-induced involvement load hypothesis”.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of motivation in ESP reading comprehension tests at the university level in Iran. For the study, 245 students from different majors (literature, economics, medicine, electronics and chemical engineering) participated in the project. In addition to the motivation questionnaire, the participants in each major took a battery of reading comprehension tests related to their own content area knowledge, namely, majorspecific technical English (EST) tests. The obtained data were subjected to different statistical analyses. The findings revealed, First, that motivation is significantly related to the test performance of the participants, and second, the English literature major students had a higher motivation in test performance than those in other majors. The results have some implications for TEFL at the university level.

Aim: This study was undertaken to assess the role of image-guided, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the diagnosis of retroperitoneal and spinal lesions. Materials and Methods: Over a period of one year, ultrasonography and computerized tomography-guided FNAC was performed in 55 cases who had presented clinically with signs and symptoms related to the retroperitoneum and spine. Histopathological confirmation was available in 27 out of 55 cases. Results: Of the 55 cases, 39 were males and 16 were females. Malignant and benign lesions accounted for 58.2 and 29.1% respectively. Among the cases on whom radiologically guided FNAC was performed, the spine contributed the largest proportion of cases (32.7%), followed by renal lesions (20%). Among the malignant lesions, renal cell carcinoma was the most commonly found malignancy, followed by metastasis to the spine. In the benign and inflammatory category, tuberculosis of the spine and the lymph nodes was the most common lesion accounting for 68.7% of all cases. On correlating clinical, radiological, and cytologic features, the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of guided FNAC obtained in this study were 97.1, 84.2, and 92.4% respectively. Conclusions: Radiologically guided FNAC is a fairly accurate and safe procedure in diagnosing the most difficult cases in the region of the retroperitoneum and the spine.

The Chinese goose is one of the most economically important poultry birds and is a natural reservoir for many avian viruses. However, the nature and regulation of the innate and adaptive immune systems of this waterfowl species are not completely understood due to limited information on the goose genome. Recently, transcriptome sequencing technology was applied in the genomic studies focused on novel gene discovery. Thus, this study described the transcriptome of the goose peripheral blood lymphocytes to identify immunity relevant genes.De novo transcriptome assembly of the goose peripheral blood lymphocytes was sequenced by Illumina-Solexa technology. In total, 211,198 unigenes were assembled from the 69.36 million cleaned reads. The average length, N50 size and the maximum length of the assembled unigenes were 687 bp, 1,298 bp and 18,992 bp, respectively. A total of 36,854 unigenes showed similarity by BLAST search against the NCBI non-redundant (Nr) protein database. For functional classification, 163,161 unigenes were comprised of three Gene Ontology (Go) categories and 67 subcategories. A total of 15,334 unigenes were annotated into 25 eukaryotic orthologous groups (KOGs) categories. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database annotated 39,585 unigenes into six biological functional groups and 308 pathways. Among the 2,757 unigenes that participated in the 15 immune system KEGG pathways, 125 of the most important immune relevant genes were summarized and analyzed by STRING analysis to identify gene interactions and relationships. Moreover, 10 genes were confirmed by PCR and analyzed. Of these 125 unigenes, 109 unigenes, approximately 87%, were not previously identified in the goose.This de novo transcriptome analysis could provide important Chinese goose sequence information and highlights the value of new gene discovery, pathways investigation and immune system gene identification, and comparison with other avian species as useful tools to understand the goose immune system.

Sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (SRCC) is an aggressive tumor variant thought to arise predominantly from differentiation of clear cell carcinoma. A few reports of SRCC asso-ciated with non-clear cell tumors led to the presumption that SRCC may arise from any renal cell carcinoma, although direct evidence of this is lacking. We report a case of a 70-year-old male patient, who presented with acute left upper quadrant abdominal pain and was diagnosed to have SRCC after pathological examination. The patient is on high dose interleukin (IL-2)-based immunotherapy and is apparently free of disease six months after surgery.

This research is aimed to study the seed moisture content (SMC) and its effects on the germination and vigor of Manna oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) acorns. Acorns were collected from Manna oak forest habitat, in Mámásáni, Fars province, and subjected to oven-dry (30 °C) at five treatments: no desiccated (control), 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours for decreasing SMC. The SMC of treatments were obtained 47.4 (fresh weight basis or control sample), 46.7, 42.5, 40.7 and 32.2%, respectively. For measuring of germination, the acorns were placed in germinator at 25 °C and 8-16 hours (radiation-darkness). Results in a 30-day period revealed that germination rate, germination speed, root and shoot lengths, dry mass of root, shoot and plant, and vigor index severely decreased with decreasing SMC. Most of the seed characteristics severely decreased when SMC reduced about 7% (reached 40/7%). When the SMC decreased about 15% (reached 32.2%), germination declined about 77%. The SMC had a negative significant correlation with mean germination time (P < 0.05) and had a positive significant correlation (P < 0.05) with other measured characteristics. The results revealed that germination and vigor index of Manna oak acorns are highly dependent on SMC and have a recalcitrant storage behavior. It is needed to keep the SMC of Manna oak from harvesting date to sowing date.

6-Acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (1), a benzophenanthridine alkaloid, isolated from the methanol extract of Zanthoxylum capense, displayed potent cytotoxic activity in human HCT116 and SW620 colon carcinoma cells, to a higher extent than 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the cornerstone chemotherapeutic agent in colon cancer. Cytotoxicity of 1 was evaluated by MTS, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and Guava ViaCount assays. Interestingly, 1 significantly induced cytotoxicity in both cell lines, leading to a significant increase in LDH release, as compared to 5-FU. Further, Guava ViaCount flow cytometry assays demonstrated that 1 significantly increased cell death, as shown by the presence of a significantly higher population of apoptotic cells in both cell lines, as compared to cells exposed to 5-FU. Furthermore, evaluation of nuclear morphology by Hoechst staining of 1-treated HCT116 and SW620 cells confirmed flow cytometry results, demonstrating a marked induction of apoptotic cell death by 1, again to a further extent than that elicited by 5-FU. In addition, immunoblot analysis to ascertain the molecular events triggered by 1 exposure was performed. The results show that 1 exposure reduced the steady-state expression and activation of the pro-survival proteins ERK5 and Akt and increased the steady-state expression of p53 in both HCT116 and SW620 cells. Changes in ERK5 or Akt activation can be ascertained by evaluating the ratio of p-ERK5/ERK5 or p-Akt/Akt. In addition, exposure to 1 reduced expression of XIAP, Bcl-XL, and Bcl-2, while increasing the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in both cell lines. Collectively, the data indicate that 6-acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (1) is a potent inducer of apoptosis in HCT116 and SW620 cell lines, highlighting its potential relevance in colon cancer.

Two unprecedented guaiane-type sesquiterpene glycosides (undulatumosides A and B) were isolated by bioassay-guided fractionation from the MeOH extract of Pittosporum undulatum fruits, along with six known compounds, including the guaiane isomers 5-guaien-11-ol and 4-guaien-11-ol. The structures of the compounds were established as 4-guaiene-11-O-β-d-(3'-angeloxy-6'-deoxy)-glucopyranoside and 1(5)-guaiene-11-O-β-d-(3'-angeloxy-6'-deoxy)-glucopyranoside by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D homo- and heteronuclear NMR experiments (COSY, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY), and HR-mass spectrometry. P. undulatum is a highly invasive weed that often outcompetes other plants, yet its fruits have become a traditional anti-inflammatory medicine in Azores. Therefore, aiming to investigate the claimed properties, the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of guaiane-type sesquiterpenes was evaluated by analyzing their inhibitory effects on chemical mediators released by the LPS activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages cell line. In addition, the cytotoxicity of these compounds was also evaluated in this cell line. Undulatumoside A, 5-guaien-11-ol and 4-guaien-11-ol displayed anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 values of 16.4, 8.1 and 7.2μM, respectively, comparable to that of the positive control, indomethacin (IC50=18.2 μM), with no cytotoxic effects (IC50 ≥ 198 μM). Furthermore, the same set of compounds was also assessed for anti-proliferative activity in lung large cell carcinoma COR-L23 and amelanotic melanoma C32 cells., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Tabernaemontana elegans is a medicinal plant used in African traditional medicine to treat several ailments including cancer. The aims of the present study were to identify anti-cancer compounds, namely apoptosis inducers, from Tabernaemontana elegans, and hence to validate its usage in traditional medicine., Methods and Materials: Six alkaloids, including four monomeric indole (1-3, and 6) and two bisindole (4 and 5) alkaloids, were isolated from the methanolic extract of Tabernaemontana elegans roots. The structures of these compounds were characterized by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. Compounds 1-6 along with compound 7, previously isolated from the leaves of the same species, were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells by the MTS metabolism assay. The cytotoxicity of the most promising compounds was corroborated by Guava-ViaCount flow cytometry assays. Selected compounds were next studied for apoptosis induction activity in HCT116 cells, by evaluation of nuclear morphology following Hoechst staining, and by caspase-3 like activity assays., Results: Among the tested compounds (1-7), the bisindole alkaloids tabernaelegantine C (4) and tabernaelegantinine B (5) were found to be cytotoxic to HCT116 cells at 20 µM, with compound 5 being more cytotoxic than the positive control 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), at a similar dose. In fact, even at 0.5 µM, compound 5 was more potent than 5-FU. Compounds 4 and 5 induced characteristic patterns of apoptosis in HCT116 cancer cells including, cell shrinkage, condensation, fragmentation of the nucleus, blebbing of the plasma membrane and chromatin condensation. Further, general caspase-3-like activity was increased in cells exposed to compounds 4 and 5, corroborating the nuclear morphology evaluation assays., Conclusions: Bisindole alkaloids tabernaelegantine C (4) and tabernaelegantinine B (5) were characterized as potent apoptosis inducers in HCT116 human colon carcinoma cells and as possible lead/scaffolds for the development of anti-cancer drugs. This study substantiates the usage of Tabernaemontana elegans in traditional medicine to treat cancer., (© 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Thirteen compounds belonging to different classes of alkaloids (1-9) and lignans (10-13), isolated from the methanol extract of roots of the African medicinal plant Zanthoxylum capense, were assayed for their ability as apoptosis inducers in HCT116 colon carcinoma cells. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was evaluated in HCT116 colon carcinoma cells by the MTS assay. Out of the tested compounds, three benzophenanthridine alkaloids (1, 4, and 7), a dibenzyl butyrolactone lignan (10), and two 2-arylbenzofuran neolignans (12 and 13) displayed significant cytotoxicity to HCT116 cells, confirmed by the Guava ViaCount viability assay. The selected compounds (1, 4, 7, 10, 12, and 13) were further tested for apoptosis induction activity in HCT116 cells, by evaluation of nuclear morphology following Hoechst staining, and by caspase-3 like activity assays. Morphologic evaluation of HCT116 nuclei following Hoechst staining and fluorescence microscopy revealed that compounds 1, 4, 7, 10, 12, and 13 induced apoptosis in HCT116 colon carcinoma cells, producing similar, or higher, apoptosis levels when compared with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), the cornerstone cytotoxic used in colon cancer treatment for several decades. In fact, HCT116 cells developed morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis, including chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and formation of apoptotic bodies. Importantly, compounds 4 and 13 at 20 μM were the most promising in this study, inducing respectively ∼11- and 7-fold increases in apoptotic cells as compared to vehicle control, whereas 5-FU increased apoptosis by ∼2-fold. Apoptosis induction for compounds 4 and 13 was further confirmed by caspase-3-like activity assays, which showed respectively ∼2- and 1.5-fold increases in caspase-3-like activity compared to vehicle control. These results suggested that specific benzophenanthridine alkaloids and 2-arylbenzofuran neolignans isolated from Zanthoxylum capense show strong anticancer activity in HCT116 colon carcinoma cells., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)