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Developing critical thinking since the educational revolution gave rise to flourishing movements toward embedding critical thinking (CT henceforth) stimulating classroom activities in educational settings. Nevertheless the process faced with complications such as teachability potentiality, lack of practical frameworks concerning actualization of CT tasks, and transferability obstacles, as well as lack of a homogeneous model of conceptualization of CT among educators. The present study made an effort to represent a comprehensive model of CT for educators drawn on the contemporary literature in order to indicate a uniform delineation of the construct and to offer a comprehensive model of CT for the intention of making boosting learners' capability of CT possible.

The development of critical thinking (CT) skills has become a key goal for educators in first and second language contexts. There is evidence that the use of such activities has still not become widespread in a number of ELT situations. One reason for this may be lack of awareness about how levels of thinking can be conceptualized in ELT activities. This paper will report on a program designed by the authors at a university in Iran, which used taxonomy of CT skills drawn up by Facione (1990) to probe the effect of critical thinking strategies training on reading comprehension of Iranian EFL students. In so doing, 240 male and female Iranian EFL students were selected and screened into two proficiency levels based on the TOEFL tests. Each proficiency group was divided into critical and non-critical group. The results suggested CT skills significantly affected EFL learners' reading comprehension performance. However, the effect of critical thinking strategy training didn't vary across different language proficiency levels. Overall, the findings provide empirical support for the facilitative effect of critical thinking strategy training on reading comprehension performance of EFL learners.

This work is based on coralline red algal flora-dominated Lower Miocene carbonates of the Qom Formation from Central Iran Basin. Five assemblages, including corallinoid, lithophylloid, mastophoroid, melobesioid and sporolithoid corresponding to 11 genera of geniculate and non-geniculate, were identified. Also, growth forms and taphonomic characteristics of coralline-algal grains were assessed. The arborescent, layered to foliose lamellae, fruticose, lumpy, warty and encrusting growth forms of studied taxa are observed and five taphonomic traits belonging to both mechanical [abrasion, disarticulation, fragmentation] and biological [encrustation, bioerosion] processes were recognised. The relative abundance of assemblages, growth forms, and taphonomy of red algae visualised at thin-section scale were calculated. Our quantitative analysis highlights mechanical (abrasion > fragmentation) and biological (bioerosion> encrustation) processes. Moreover, layered to foliose and fruticose abundance peaks reveal higher than others. This kind of algal distribution in the examined region indicates that the Qom Formation was deposited on a marine carbonate shelf, which is a deepening depositional system in tropical and subtropical zone. This approach expresses more abundance of red algal assemblages on the deep part of inner and proximal to distal middle shelf settings along with a regime of moderately high towards low hydrodynamic energy and mesophotic – oligophotic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long-term use of pediatric medications can lead to discoloration of dental restorations, which affects their durability and longevity. The present in vitro study evaluated the effects of commonly used pediatric medications on the color stability of a conventional and a bulk-fill composite resin. For this study, 80 disc-shaped specimens of each composite were prepared in molds with a diameter of 6 mm and thicknesses of 2 or 4 mm (n = 40 per thickness per material). A spectrophotometer was used toevaluate the baseline color of the specimens in the International Commission on Illumination L*a*b* color space. Each specimen was immersed separately in a container holding 1 of 8 liquid medications (n = 5 per thickness per medication): amoxicillin/clavulanate, clarithromycin, cephalexin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, levetiracetam, multivitamin, or albuterol. After the container was shaken for 2 minutes, the specimen was removed from the medication and stored in artificial saliva. The cycle was repeated every 8 hours for 1 week. The color measurements were repeated after 1 week of immersion cycles, and the overall color change (82*) was calculated; a value of AE* > 3.3 was considered clinically perceptible. The data were analyzed with 1-way and 2-way analyses of variance as well as the Levene test and Games-Howell post hoc test (P < 0.05). All specimens displayed clinically perceptible color changes after exposure to medications commonly used by children. The mean color change in the 4-mm bulk-fill composite resin group was significantly greater than that in all other groups (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in color change based on the immersion drug for either of the composites (P > 0.05). Thestudy findings show that exposure of composite resin to certain commonly used pediatric drugs causes color changes that are clinically perceptible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused new conditions, problems, and different research platforms for qualitative research. The aim of the present study was to analyse the challenges and opportunities facing qualitative researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. This qualitative research was conducted with a conventional content analysis approach with twenty-four Iranian health sciences researchers. The participants were selected by snowball and purposive sampling. Data collection was carried out using semi-structured face-to-face and online interviews until reaching saturation. Data analysis was also carried out using the Graneheim & Lundman approach in MAXQDA-2018 software, and to improve the trustworthiness of the results, Guba and Lincoln's criteria were used. Data analysis led to the identification of two main categories, 13 subcategories, and 69 primary codes: The challenges were in areas such as data collection methods, access to participants and how to conduct interviews. Opportunities also included formation of new topics for qualitative research, highlighting the importance of qualitative research, strengthening the technological knowledge of researchers, research cost-effectiveness, and presenting further information on sensitive topics. It is also possible to strengthen qualitative research by supporting qualitative researchers at universities and research centres, facilitating the administrative processes, providing communication infrastructure such as suitable Internet in universities, ensuring more diversity in data collection methods, developing an appropriate protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic, and dedicating some university rooms to qualitative researchers to conduct interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health service utilization among people living with HIV is vital for their survival and quality of life. This study aims to exploring the determinants influencing health service utilization among people living with HIV. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study involving 16 men and women aged 18–64 living with HIV in Tehran. Data were collected between September and December 2021 through semi-structured interviews conducted via telephone and online platforms, utilizing the purposeful sampling method. Data were analyzed by MAXQDA-2018 software using conventional content analysis approaches and the Granheim and Landman method. Results: Two main themes, seven categories, and 21 subcategories were obtained from the interviews. The main themes included facilitators of health service utilization (positive personality traits, social factors, and structural-behavioral determinants) and inhibitors of health service utilization (personal conditions, insufficient knowledge and understanding of the disease, negative consequences of disease disclosure, and difficult access to services). Conclusion: This study underscores the need to invest and expand specialized services for people living with HIV by policy makers, while simultaneously increasing public awareness to reduce the social stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the early 1980s, researchers have established that the foreign language learners' development of various aspects of pragmatic competence may be facilitated by the instruction of pragmatic routines and strategies in the foreign language classroom (Kasper and Rose, 2001). Consistent with this line of research this study, using conversations compared the use of explicit and implicit instruction of English "thanking formulas" on Iranian EFL intermediate level students' sociopragmatic and pragmalinguistic awareness. The data collected for the present study, applying a DCT (discourse completion test) and four role-plays were analyzed at two distinct levels. First using descriptive statistics the mean and SD (standard deviation) of the data collected were estimated. Then using inferential statistics and applying independent samples T-test, the researcher investigated the (dis)approval of the hypotheses proposed for the study. The results obtained from the explicit instruction group indicated that instruction had an impressively positive effect on raising students' sociopragmatic awareness as well as their hindrance of L1 pragmalinguistic transfer to L2 (second language). Also, comparing the level of English proficiency and age of the learners involved in Rose and Connie Ng's study to our study, it can be concluded that younger students possessing lower levels of grammatical and sociolinguistic competence in the second language need explicit instruction both on sociopragmatic and pragmalinguistic preferences of the NSs (native speaker); that is, they will not be able to understand the differences between the two languages without being exposed to instructions. (Contains 4 tables.)

Background: Obesity is one of the most important public health problems in the world, which is occurred by various factors. The purpose of this study is to explore the causes of obesity in the Kurdish regions of Iran with a qualitative approach. Methods: A qualitative content analysis study was conducted in the Kurdish regions of Iran from June 2019 to November 2019. The data were collected by holding focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews with 111 obese and thin men and women, and experts from different fields, who were selected through purposive sampling. Additionally, the data were analyzed by the conventional content analysis approach following the steps proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. The researchers used ATLAS.ti (Version 2019) software for data analysis and management. Lincoln and Guba's criteria were used to assess the quality of the research. Results: The results of the data analysis were classified into 5 categories and 16 sub-categories. The main categories included the modern lifestyle, sociocultural norms, indigenous culture of nutrition, lack of institutionalization of exercise, and low health literacy. Conclusion: Changing people's beliefs and values ​​about obesity and thinness, changing the dietary habits of individuals, expanding and institutionalizing exercise and physical activity, and enhancing health literacy can prevent and control obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused new conditions, problems, and different research platforms for qualitative research. The aim of the present study was to analyse the challenges and opportunities facing qualitative researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran. This qualitative research was conducted with a conventional content analysis approach with twenty-four Iranian health sciences researchers. The participants were selected by snowball and purposive sampling. Data collection was carried out using semi-structured face-to-face and online interviews until reaching saturation. Data analysis was also carried out using the Graneheim & Lundman approach in MAXQDA-2018 software, and to improve the trustworthiness of the results, Guba and Lincoln's criteria were used. Data analysis led to the identification of two main categories, 13 subcategories, and 69 primary codes: The challenges were in areas such as data collection methods, access to participants and how to conduct interviews. Opportunities also included formation of new topics for qualitative research, highlighting the importance of qualitative research, strengthening the technological knowledge of researchers, research cost-effectiveness, and presenting further information on sensitive topics. It is also possible to strengthen qualitative research by supporting qualitative researchers at universities and research centres, facilitating the administrative processes, providing communication infrastructure such as suitable Internet in universities, ensuring more diversity in data collection methods, developing an appropriate protocol during the COVID-19 pandemic, and dedicating some university rooms to qualitative researchers to conduct interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grapevine is one of the most important economic crops in horticulture, and drought stress is one of the most significant threatening factors in the world. Therefore, the identification and investigation of cultivars under drought stress are the basic steps and important goals in grapevine-breeding programs. In the present study, the 17 parameters of 14 grapevine cultivars under drought stress were first scaled. Based on the initial information, we divided the 14 grape cultivars according to their resistance to drought stress into four groups: tolerant, semi-tolerant, semi-sensitive, and sensitive. Then, the utilization of multivariate techniques comprising principal component analysis (PCA), along with quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA), were utilized to choose the most substantial and accountable traits for the four groups' discrimination. For the QDA, the 17 parameters were arranged into four sets. The discrimination for all parameters showed 96% correct classification. The first set includes shoot length (Shoot L), shoot number (Shoot N), leaf area (Leaf A), relative water content (RWC), and chlorophyll a (Chl a) parameters that showed 71.5% correct classification. The second set includes chlorophyll b (Chl b), chlorophyll total, peroxidase (POX), and superoxide dismutase (Sod) parameters that had 75% correct classification. Electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) parameters were in the third set and had 87% correct discrimination. The best discrimination was obtained by the combination of the first and third set, including the Shoot L, Shoot N, Leaf A, RWC, Chl a, EL, MDA, proline, CAT, and APX with 100% correct discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the clinical and molecular pattern of Hemoglobin D in patients presenting at tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of study: Department of Hematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul 2020 to Mar 2021. Methodology: An automated cell analyzer was used to determine the whole blood count and red cell indices. D-10 BIORAD HPLC was used for quantitative assessment of Hb A, Hb F, Hb D and Hb A2. Where D-10 BIORAD HPLC showed an abnormal Hb D, capillary electrophoresis was performed using Sebia Capillary 2 Flex Piercing. Chelex DNA Extraction method was used. Molecular analyses for the confirmation of homozygosity and heterozygosity were done using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification. The clinical symptoms of the patients such as anemia, jaundice, pallor, weakness, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were also noted Results: Among 90 patients, Hemoglobin D trait was found in 78(80.4%) of the patients out of which HbD-Punjab was seen in 57(73%) and HbD-Iran was found in 21(27%). Compound Heterozygotes (HbD/β) was found in 17(17.5%) and Compound Homozygous HbD/D was found in 02 (2.1%). All HbD-Punjab and HbD-Iran traits patients were asymptomatic, and few clinical symptoms were found in Compound Heterozygotes (HbD/β) and Homozygous HbD/D. Conclusion: Collective clinical history records, full blood count and electrophoresis and molecular results allow for the conclusive detection of the variant of Hemoglobin D. More multicenter, organized and detailed studies with larger sample size are required to draw concrete conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing evidence showing that microbial dysbiosis impacts the health and cancer risk of the host. An association between adherent-invasive Escherichia coli (AIEC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) has been revealed. Cyclomodulins (CMs) have been receiving increasing attention for carcinogenic changes. In this study, the incidence and features of intracellular AIEC and cyclomodulin-encoding genes were investigated and the phylogenetic grouping and genetic relatedness were evaluated. E. coli strains were isolated from the colorectal biopsies. Adhesion and invasion assays and intramacrophage cell survival test were performed to separate the AIEC isolates. Virulence genotyping for the genes htrA, dsbA, chuA, and lpfA and the cyclomodulin toxins was also conducted. In addition, phylogenetic grouping of the isolates was determined. Subsequently, repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) fingerprinting was performed. A total of 24 AIEC pathovars were isolated from 150 patients. The prevalence rates of htr, dsbA, and lpfA were 70.83% and that of chuA was 91.66%. The frequencies of the cyclomodulin toxins were as follows: cnf1, 29.2%; cnf2, 25%; colibactin, 29.2%; and cdt, 4.2%; cif was not found. Among the AIEC isolates, 4.2%, 4.2%, 54.2%, 29.2%, and 8.3% with phylotypes A or C, B1, B2, D, and E were identified, respectively. Left-sided colon carcinoma and adenocarcinoma T=1 stage (CRC2) were colonized by B2 phylogroup AIEC-producing CMs more often than the samples from the other groups. Close genetic relatedness was observed in AIEC isolates with rep-PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nurses, as the primary human resource in the fight against COVID-19, encounter several obstacles and concerns. As a result, the current study used a qualitative method to describe the problems and adaptation techniques of nurses caring for COVID-19 patients. Methods: The current study used a qualitative conventional content analysis technique with 30 nurses working in COVID-19 wards in Tehran hospitals. Purposive sampling, snowball sampling, and semi-structured interviews were used to get access to participants and gather data. The data was examined using conventional qualitative content analysis and the MAXQDA-18 program. To assess the quality of study findings, Guba and Lincoln's trustworthiness criteria were fulfilled. Results: The data analysis revealed two main categories and sixteen subcategories: (1) experiences and challenges (lack of protective equipment, high work pressure, marginalized physical health, problems related to the use of protective equipment, being excluded, a lack of a supportive work environment, problems related to patients, psychological problems, fear, marginalized personal and family life, and the challenge of communicating with patients' families); and (2) adaptation strategies for work conditions (performing religious-spiritual activities, creating an empathetic atmosphere in the workplace, spiritualizing their work, trying to convince the family and gaining their support, and strengthening their sense of self-worth and responsibility). Conclusion: Nurses' working conditions can be improved by providing adequate protective equipment, a suitable work environment, and more social and financial support; paying more attention to nurses' physical and mental health; and considering appropriate communication mechanisms for nurses to communicate with their families and patients' families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollutant emission is one of the most important problems the world faces. Using sustainable energies is among the best solutions which can be employed to reduce CO2 and other pollutants as in Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. In this study, a case study region located in the south of Iran, including 100 households, is studied to find practical methods of investment to partially replace the required energy by renewables where the total emission is confined to the EPA standards. The solar irradiant of the region is 5.36 kWh/m2/day which causes high energy consumption (3000 kWh/day). If the government invests $495705, which is equal to the social penalty that has to be paid for emissions in 20 years, a 230 kW PV with a vertical tracker can be implemented to reduce 36% of the total emission that will be produced through the current system. The payback period for the proposed system will be around 11 years. Using an optimized hybrid system instead of a system without any renewables modeled in HOMER software in which the initial capital is limited reduces the cost of energy (COE) and the total net present cost (NPC) by 16% and 11%, respectively. The COE and NPC for the current system without any renewables are 0.121 ($/kWh) and 2.28 M ($), respectively. Although the acceptable Renewable Fraction (RF) is about 55%, using 38.5% RF can significantly fulfill the EPA standards and consider the plan's economic and executional conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite clear evidence on role of gender in vulnerability and exposure to HIV infection, information on gender-related inequalities in HIV and related factors are rarely documented. The aim of this study was to measure gender inequality in HIV infection and its determinates in Tehran city, the capital of Iran. Methods: The study used the data of 20,156 medical records of high-risk people who were admitted to Imam Khomeini Voluntary Counseling and Testing site in Tehran from 2004 to 2018. The Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition was used to quantify the contribution of explanatory variables to the gap in the prevalence of HIV infection between female and male. Results: The age-adjusted proportion of HIV infection was 9.45% (95%Cl: 9.02, 9.87). The absolute gap in the prevalence of HIV infection between male and female was 4.50% (95% CI: − 5.33, − 3.70%). The Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition indicated that most explanatory factors affecting the differences in HIV infection were job exposure, drug abuse, history of imprisonment, injection drug, heterosexual unsafe sex, and having an HIV-positive spouse. Conclusion: The results can provide evidence for health policymakers to better planning and conducting gender-based preventive and screening programs. Policies aiming at promoting HIV preventive behaviors among male may reduce the gap in HIV infection between female and male in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent types of cancer in females. The Pap smear is one of the most essential ways of diagnosing and screening for this malignancy, and any failure can be caused by a number of causes. The current study sought to investigate barriers to Pap smear in Iranian women.Method: This qualitative content analysis study was conducted in Iran in 2019. Data was gathered through focus groups and individual semi-structured interviews with 32 women and health professionals. The interviewees were chosen using a combination of purposive and theoretical sampling. The data was then analyzed using the content analysis approach developed by Graneheim and Lundman. Guba and Lincoln's criteria for establishing trustworthiness were explored.Results: Data analysis resulted in the identification of four primary categories, seventeen subcategories, and 186 original concepts. The main categories include weakness of health system, difficult accessibility, low health literacy, and socio-cultural factors.Conclusion: By informing women about the necessity and importance of Pap smear, providing the conditions, facilities, and equipment to facilitate the testing process, and paying more attention to cultural and social factors in cervical cancer and Pap smear planning, interventions, and policies, barriers to Pap testing can be eliminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clerics were an authoritative and prominent group in society during the spread of the COVID-19 in Iran. Some of them contributed to social welfare services to assist Iranians. However, others engaged in improper activities, such as calling the COVID-19 pandemic a hoax, standing against the quarantine rules, questioning the scientific methods of preventing COVID-19, and offering incorrect strategies that affected prevention and treatment. Yet, clerics are powerful social assets in Iranian society who have the status to help minimize the spread and effects of pandemics upon Iranian people. As a result, their assistance and influence must be used to combat the COVID-19 crisis. This paper argues that clerics in Iran should motivate people to uphold and obey health norms in four ways: (1) health promotion and encouragement, (2) material and instrumental support, (3) spiritual support, and (4) the mobilization of people to combat the disease. Conversely, it highlights the negative roles of clerics, such as (1) opposing social restrictions and opposing the closure of religious places, (2) countering the scientific-hygienic principles appropriate to COVID-19 prevention, and (3) opposing vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the workers in many occupations are at the greatest risk of catching and spreading COVID-19 due to assembling and contacting people, the owners of these occupations do not follow COVID-19 health instructions. The purpose of this study is to explain the reasons for not maintaining health guidelines to prevent COVID-19 in high-risk jobs in Iran.Methods: The present study was conducted with a qualitative approach among people with high-risk jobs in Tehran during March and April of 2020. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 31 people with high-risk occupations selected by purposeful sampling and snowballing. The data were analyzed using the conventional qualitative content analysis method and MAXQDA-18 software. Guba and Lincoln's criteria were also used to evaluate the quality of the research results.Results: 4 main categories and 13 sub-categories were obtained, including individual factors (personality traits, lack of self-efficacy, little knowledge of the disease and how to observe health norms related to it, misconceptions about health), structural factors (difficulty of access to health supplies, lack of supportive environment, weak laws and supervision, the poor performance of officials and national media), economic factors (economic costs of living, lack of government economic support), Socio-cultural factors (learning, cultural beliefs, social customs, and rituals).Conclusion: COVID-19 prevention requires intervention at different levels. At the individual level: increasing people's awareness and understanding about how to prevent COVID-19 and strengthening self-efficacy in observing health norms, at the social level: highlighting positive patterns of observing health issues and training people about the consequences of social interactions during the outbreak of the virus, and at the macro level: strengthening regulatory rules and increasing people's access to hygienic products and support for the vulnerable must be taken into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are many barriers for condom use, which was one of the most important methods to prevent the transmission of HIV among female sex workers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify the barriers to condom use among female sex workers in Tehran, Iran. Methods: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and conventional content analysis among female sex workers in Tehran. Twenty-two female sex workers were selected through snowball sampling and purposive sampling. The data gathering method was a semi-structured interview and the data were analyzed using Graneheim and Lundman method. Guba and Lincoln criteria were used for evaluating research transferability. Results: The results of data analysis were categorized in three categories and seven sub-categories included 1) individual factors (not knowing HIV/AIDS properly, anti-loyalty and love, and personality traits), 2) structural factors (partner's desire, problems with condom availability), and 3) cultural factors (cultural taboos, following the models). Conclusion: The results showed that lack of condom use is the consequence of different individual, structural, and cultural factors. So, it can be useful to take some initiatives at the individual level by raising awareness and understanding of female sex workers about HIV at the structural level by lowering the price of condoms and providing them extensively and at the societal level, by changing the beliefs and taboos about condoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the causes of nosocomial infections, especially in the intensive care unit. The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of A. baumannii has caused many problems. One of the ways to handle the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance is the use of herbal medicines and their derivatives in place of or in combination with antibiotics. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of inhibitory effects of berberine as a barberry derivative on clinical isolates of A. baumannii, resistant to ciprofloxacin and imipenem in Hamadan hospitals. Materials & Methods: In this study, 70 clinical isolates of A. baumannii. were identified and diagnosed using conventional microbiology. Resistance of isolates was detected against imipenem and ciprofloxacin by disk diffusion and broth microdilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of berberine as well as its combined effect with antibiotics were performed using broth microdilution method. Results: The results of this study showed that more than 90% of isolates are resistant to ciprofloxacin and imipenem. Imipenem and ciprofloxacin MICs were dtermined from 8 to 28 and 4 to 32 μg / mL, respectively. The berberine decreased the imipenem and ciprofloxacin MIC from zero to two fold and zero to one-fold, respectively. Conclusion: High level resistance to imipenem and ciprofloxacin among A.baumannii isolates is cause of concern. Berberin, in combination with imipenem and ciprofloxacin, reduces MIC to a proper level, which can be used as an effective agent to reduce antibiotic resistance in bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stachys kurdica, well adapted to live in sloping limestone crevices and steep screes, is distributed across particular routes in Southeast Turkey and North Iraq and also extends to Iran. This species belongs to the section Fragilicaulis and contains the following infraspecific taxa; var. kurdica and var. brevidens. These taxa share partly the same habitats and are distinguished by the calyx characters. Micromorphological studies of trichomes on the epidermal surface and nutlet surface by Tabletop Scanning Electron Microscopy and Light Microscopy have revealed non-glandular and glandular trichomes on the taxa. The nutlets were coloured from light to dark-brown, usually obovate, ventral sides flat, rooflike with rib, apex rounded, faintly granulate, wrinkly, glabrous and reticulate. Karyotypes of the taxa have been introduced for the first time to the scientific community and were obtained by the Image Analysis System. The karyotype analysis showed the taxa as diploid, with chromosome numbers of 2n = 34. In addition to these morphological characters, chromosomal and micromorphological differences further serve to distinguish the taxa. Therefore, this paper is the first study discussing together the morphological, micromorphological and karyotype structures of S. kurdica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of the economic, social, cultural, legal and political factors that affect efforts to slow down, sustain and overcome COVID-19 transmission in Iran.

Mycosis fungoides is, the most common variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in adults,[[1]] it is rarely reported in children.[3] The hypopigmented variant is rare, but it is comparatively more prevalent in children; lesions can mimic a variety of common childhood dermatoses.[[3]] The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology, clinical features and treatment outcomes of different clinical variants of childhood Mycosis fungoides in a cohort of 30 children from Iran. Mycosis fungoides occurs predominantly in adults, with childhood MF disease accounts <5% of all cases.[4] Consistent with previously reported series, we found hypopigmented mycosis fungoides as the most common variant of mycosis fungoides in children and adolescence in Iran. In addition, there is increasing evidence of a link and overlap between pigmented purpuric dermatosis and mycosis fungoides.[7] It is recommended that persistent (>1 year) and progressive cases of pigmented purpuric dermatosis should be evaluated for MF.[7] In our study, 13.3% of patients had atypical pigmented purpuric dermatosis-like lesions; we suggest that mycosis fungoides could be as differential diagnoses of pigmented purpuric dermatosis in younger cases, especially in trunk and upper extremities involvement. [Extracted from the article]

Background and Objectives: Macrobrachium nipponense are wetland crustaceans. The shrimp is rich in protein and unsaturated fatty acids (FAs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to use M. nipponense as a supplement for the preparation of a new soup. Materials and Methods: Nearly 40 kg of M. nipponense were harvested from Anzali Lagoon, Northern Iran. Shrimps were washed and dipped in NaCl solution (10% w/v) with a ratio of 1 to 2 at boiling temperature for 3 min. Then, these were cooled down for 10 minutes and dried by a cabinet-type air dryer at 70 °C for 6 h. Dried meats of shrimps were crushed using grinder. Nearly 4% of the crushes were combined with other ingreadients of the shrimp soup. Each 100 g of the soup powder was packed in a metalized film under vacuum and stored at room temperature for 6 months of storage. Results: Results have shown that dried shrimp meats include useful compositions such as saturated FAs (SSFA; 33.36 ±2.5%), monounsaturated FAs (SMUFA; 21±1.6%) and polyunsaturated FAs (SPUFA; 38.92 ±2.1%). The protein content in dried shrimp meats was high (72.74 ±1.99% of dry weight). Chemical parameters of the samples such as thiobarbituric acid (TBA), peroxide value (PV), total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N) and free fatty acid (FFA) increased and quality of the packaged soup color decreased with increased storage time (P < 0.05). The sensory evaluation (color, odor, flavor/taste and texture) of the samples has shown that these parameters are more acceptable during the first month of storage than other months. The total number of bacteria and fungi was respectively calculated as 4.1 and 3.79 cfu/g of sample during 6 months of storage. Conclusions: In this study, use of 4% of the dried shrimp meats as supplement made a great taste in the soup. Furthermore, appropriate packaging under vacuum and use of metalized polyethylene films increased the shelf-life of the soup powder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to examine whether certain language learning styles are predictive of certain language learning strategies among Iranian EFL medical students. Unlike many studies which have investigated isolated dimensions of learning styles, this study applies a broadly focused learning styles indices as predictors of achievement in the use of language learning strategies. The study presents two kinds of data: quantitative and qualitative. In the quantitative study, the participants consist of 265 EFL second-year undergraduates. Two self-reported inventories, the Persian version of Learning Style Questionnaire (E&L LSQ) (Ehrman & Leaver, 2002), and the Persian version of the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) (Oxford, 1990) were used. Semi-structured interviews have been performed among 34 high and low achievers in the qualitative aspect of the study. The analyses indicate that the synoptic language learning style significantly predicts more language learning strategies than ectenic style, thus turning out to be the more influential language learning style variable affecting learners' language learning strategy choices. Unlike low achievers, high achievers are synoptic driven in style, and capable of exercising more frequent and sophisticated strategies in general and compensation strategies in particular. The pedagogical implications of the study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-monitoring as a means of observation gives teachers proper respect and appropriate understanding of what they do when teaching. There is also a shift from an outsider to an insider as far as observation is concerned. It definitely gives teachers a great insight into their teaching and at the same time proves effective in improving their teaching. The purpose of this paper is two-fold. It first investigated the barriers that Iranian high school students face while speaking. This investigation was made by interviewing both students (language institutes and schools) and teachers. Teachers' comments on the students' answers and teachers' separate answers on the causes of speaking problems were elicited. It then made a comparison between the willingness to communicate (WTC) of high school and language institute students after the reflection (self-monitoring) of the teacher. To achieve this purpose 32 high school and 32 language institute students spent 10 sessions with a teacher who had previously reflected upon the speaking barriers collected from participants comments through oral interviews. The results of the study, using a independent t-test, clearly showed that language institute students were much more willing to communicate. Several reasons were also found to be highly important regarding students, teachers, and course materials. Both high-stake and lowstake holders can avail from the results of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical thinking is a western concept and as its history points out developed and flourished in the western world because the conditions were favorable. Developing critical thinking in non-western societies cannot be pursued unless the local exigencies are carefully considered. Fostering critical thinking in Iran as an Islamic country has its own obstacles and problems. Considering such limitations, this paper tries to offer practical ideas and viable strategies for developing and actualizing critical thinking through Socratic Questioning in Iranian language institutes based on Bloom's Revised Taxonomy and Paul's Taxonomy of questions. The main premise is: Questions are not merely meant to ask, but they have teaching potentiality. Through some class activities such as free discussions, active reading, analytical writing, and dynamic assessment, the teachers can cultivate critical thinking ability in the students. As the title of the article depicts, the interrelationship of three main themes is to be investigated: (1) critical thinking, (2) Socratic Questioning, and (3) Iranian language institutes. First, each of these three themes is treated respectively and then the mechanics of developing this skill in language institutes in Iran would be discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical Thinking encompasses a set of skills including the ability to assess reasons properly, probe into pertinent evidence and figure out fallacious arguments in educational settings. Developing critical thinking or promoting the ability to think critically is a prime goal of education (Birjandi and Bagherkazemi, 2010; Bailin et al., 1991a,). A key factor to improving educational standards is training teachers into employing classroom strategies that encourage critical thinking. This paper wishes to take a fundamental look at the application of critical thinking to education in an Iranian context through analyzing its scope, significance, the need for, and strategies employed to enhance critical thinking (CT) in educational contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technologies have been enhancing education all the time and new technologies have always been utilized firstly by education, especially with the emergence of computer related information technology (Devedzic, 2000). E-learning provides faster and greater access to information for education (Hamilton et al., 2001). Online training also creates a personalized learning experience and reduces costs. In addition, e-learning is ideal for global corporations with people in multiple time zones, there is no need to coordinate travel and delivery schedules. Electronic mail (e-mail) is an asynchronous medium, which allows participants to control their own timetables and fit learning around their other commitments. The present study aimed to examine the effect of e-mailing on vocabulary retention of Iranian EFL learners. Forty participants were assigned into experimental and control groups. The participants received English words as well as definitions and example sentences either on paper or through e-mail messages in a spaced and scheduled pattern of delivery three times a week throughout 10 sessions. Students' statues in retention of vocabulary were compared at the end of the study. The obtained results showed that the use of e-mail technology can enhance the retention of vocabulary. This study also provides pedagogical implications for utilizing e-mail as an effective and flexible learning tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This survey was undertaken to determine the levels of aflatoxins in melon seeds. Among 65 samples analyzed by liquid chromatography (LC), the results showed that aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was the major toxins in melon seeds, detected in 58 samples (89.2% of the total) at an average concentration of 8.5 ng g-1. The level of AFB1 in 12 samples exceeded the maximum tolerated level for AFB1 in Iranian (5 ng g-1) regulations; in other words, 18.5% of samples were unfit for human consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper records the occurrence and levels of ochratoxin A (OTA) in rice using a HPLC technique preceded by an immunoaffinity clean-up step. The method was based on the extraction of finely ground rice sample with an acetonitrile/water (60 : 40, v/v) solution. Recovery was 98.9% while the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 ng g-1. A total of 182 rice samples were analyzed with a frequency of contamination of 6%. Levels of OTA in positive samples ranged 0.2-4.8 ng g-1, with an average contamination of all analyzed samples of 1.6 ng g-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was undertaken to determine levels of aflatoxins in rice. A total of 261 rice samples were analyzed by HPLC using a method was based on the extraction of 50 g of finely ground rice plus 5 g NaCl with 200 ml of 80% methanol. After filtration and immunoaffinity clean-up, 20 µl was injected onto the HPLC. HPLC analysis was carried out using a Genesis RP C18 column (250 × 4.6, 4 µm I.D.) and a mobile phase with a linear gradient of water/methanol/acetonitrile (6 : 2 : 2 v/v) over 16 min. Aflatoxins were determined after post-column derivatisation with iodine by fluorescence detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 365 and 445 nm, respectively. It was found that 68.9% of the rice samples contained aflatoxin B1 at levels greater than 0.2 ng g-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe the clinical spectrum and severity of eye injuries sustained during the Persian Wednesday Eve Festival “Charshanbe-Soori” and to identify the fireworks devices involved. Methods: Prospectively, consecutive patients treated for fireworks-related eye injuries in the emergency room at Farabi Eye Hospital, Tehran, over 3 days around the occasion in 2000, 2001, and 2002 were studied. Results: Four hundred thirty-seven cases of eye injuries with an age range of 2–74 (median 17; SD 11.1) years were studied: 84.6% were male; 18.6% of the injuries were bilateral; 79.9% of the injured were bystanders or passersby. Eleven types of devices were involved, of which seven were explosives and eight were homemade. “Narenjaks,” homemade grenades, were involved in 62.2%, firecrackers in 14.8%, and sparklers in 6.2% of the events. Injuries were categorized as severe in 49% of cases, and 45 (10.4%) people were hospitalized. Five eyes with no light perception and/or enucleation, 33 cases of monocular blindness, 54 (12.3%) cases of open globe (including intraocular foreign bodies) were observed. Grenades, bystander and passerby roles, outdoor context, a relatively older age, lower socioeconomic status, and male gender in the subset of passive roles were the determinants of more severe injuries (all p values < 0.05). Lid injuries (67.7%), corneal abrasions (51.6%), hyphema (48.1%), superficial foreign bodies (32.5%), and corneal contusions (13.8%) were the five leading injuries. Conclusions: In Iran, fireworks cause frequent and diverse injuries during the Wednesday Eve Festival and are a leading cause of severe eye injuries and monocular blindness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cicatricial alopecia can produce major psychosocial disturbance. This study aimed to evaluate epidemiological features of primary cicatricial alopecia (PCA). Epidemiological and histological types of scarring alopecia were determined. The chi-squared test and t-test were performed to examine the relationship between different variables using SPSS 16. A total of 97 cases, 35 (36.1%) men and 62 (63.9%) women, with an average age of 37 (SD=12.7), were included in this study. The female/male (F/M) ratio was 1.7:1 for total cases, 1.92:1 for the lymphocytic type, and 1:1.5 for the neutrophilic type. No relationship was found between type of job (indoor or outdoor), clinical findings and histological types. Discoid lupus erythematous (DLE) was the most common histological type (63.9%). PCA was found to mainly affect middle-aged individuals. The high percentage of DLE in the present study is in agreement with some similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Female-headed households are one of the most vulnerable groups of society that confront many problems and challenges. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the challenges and opportunities confronting female-headed households in Iran.Methods: This qualitative study was conducted among female-headed households in Kermanshah, West of Iran, in 2019. The data were collected through Semi-structured interviews with 26 female-headed households who were selected by purposeful and theoretical sampling. Data analysis was done through conventional qualitative content analysis, and the software MAXQDA-12 was used for the management of data. The four criteria of Goba and Lincon, including credibility, confirmability, dependability, and transferability, were observed to evaluate the quality of research results.Results: After analyzing the data, 4 main categories and 13 subcategories were obtained as follows: individual problems (role overload, role conflict, end of love, psychological problems), intra-family problems (declined independence, intra-family tension, poverty reproduction and family disability), social problems (stigma of being unattended, social insecurity, social isolation, social exclusion), positive outcomes (positive self-concept, social maturity).Conclusion: Female-headed households face many challenges that can become a big threat or an opportunity. Therefore, their health improvement can be achieved through training and helping them to adapt to new and multifaceted roles, providing more economic support and helping them raise their social status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Socioeconomic inequalities in dental care utilization in Iran are rarely documented. This study aimed to provide insight into socioeconomic inequalities in dental care utilization and its main contributing factors among Iranian households. Design/methodology/approach: A total of 37,860 households from the 2017 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) were included in the study. Data on dental care utilization, age, gender and education attainment of the head of household, socioeconomic status of households, health insurance coverage, living areas and provinces were obtained for the survey. The concentration curve and the normalized concentration index (Cn) was used to illustrate and quantify socioeconomic inequalities in dental care utilization among Iranian households. The Cn was decomposed to identify the main determinants of the observed socioeconomic inequality in dental care utilization in Iran. Findings: The study indicated that the prevalence of dental care utilization among Iranian's households was 4.67% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.46 to 4.88%). The results suggested a higher concentration of dental care utilization among socioeconomically advantaged households (Cn = 0.2522; 95% CI: 0.2258 to 0.2791) in Iran. Pro-rich inequality in dental care utilization also found in rural (Cn = 0.2659; 95%CI: 0.2221 to 0.3098) and urban (Cn = 0.0.2504; 95% CI: 0.0.2159 to 0.2841) areas. The results revealed socioeconomic status of households, age and education status of head of households and residing provinces as the main contributing factors to the concentration of dental care utilization among the wealthy households. Originality/value: This study revealed pro-rich inequalities in dental care utilization among households in Iran and its provinces. Thus, health policymakers should focus on designing effective evidence-based interventions to improve healthcare utilization among household with the older head of households, lower education status, and living in relatively poor provinces to reduce socioeconomic inequality in dental care utilization in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although creating sustainable information systems is highly important to facilitate information flow in natural disaster information management (NDIM), only a few LIS studies have focused on evaluating the feasibility of related technological solutions. An open access repository (OAR) for NDIM has been assessed by Technical, Economic, Legal, Operational, Scheduling, Cultural, and Behavioral (TELOS-CB) dimensions, using the PSI technique. Five NDIM stakeholder groups participated including governmental, public, and research institutions, NGOs (non-governmental organizations), and LIS specialists. The results indicate that the NDIM-OAR is technically more feasible, while the cultural dimension has been considered the most challenging. NGOs have the largest scoring range and governmental stakeholders have the most coherent scoring. Despite of the wide range and seemingly excessive sensitivity of NDM information in Iran, more in-depth, interpretive, cross-disciplinary studies are required reaching a comprehensive decision for an NDIM-OAR. The research is among the first multi-disaster, multi-stakeholder feasibility analyses in LIS. • A new framework was used to evaluate the feasibility of a natural disaster information management (NDIM) repository. • The Preference Selection Index (PSI) technique was used to analyze stakeholders' insights about each feasibility dimension. • Evaluation suggested that the cultural dimension would cause the most challenges in developing an NDIM repository. • Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) appeared to have the most conflicting views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lemon peels utilizable foodstuffs were analysed for crude protein, phosphorus, calcium, copper, manganese, iron, zinc, sodium, potassium and some chemical parameters in feedstuffs. The levels of protein (9.42 %), fat (4.98%), ash (6.26%), fiber (15.18%), sodium (755.5 mg/100g), potassium (8600 mg/100g), calcium (8452.5 mg/100g), copper (4.94 mg/100g), iron (147.65 mg/100g), magnesium (1429.50 mg/100g), zinc (13.94 mg/100g) and phosphorus (6656 mg/100g) detected in the lemon peels were compared with that of Iranian national standard for animal food. The value of fat, crude protein and fiber are comparable to the values for varieties of animal feed reported by Iranian national standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]