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Abstract Background This retrospective study aimed to compare optic disc vasculature changes in 1 and 3 months after treatment with either panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) or Intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Methods A total of 50 eyes of 29 diabetic patients without severe complications were included in this comparative case series. Of these, twenty-eight eyes (15 patients) were assigned to the PRP group, while twenty-two eyes (14 patients) were treated with the biosimilar (IVB) (Stivant® CinnaGen Co., Iran). Optical tomography angiography (OCTA) was performed to measure optic disc vascular density (VD) as well as retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness. Results The mean age of the enrolled patients was 62.1 ± 8.3 years (40 to 78 years). During follow-up, whole disc VD, inside disc VD and peripapillary VD decreased significantly in the PRP group at month 1 (p = 0.032, p = 0.32, and p = 0.016, respectively) and month 3 (p = 0.004, p = 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). There was an insignificant and slight increase for these parameters in the IVB group. (p > 0.05 for all) A comparison of two treatment arms based on mean whole disc VD, inside disc VD, and peripapillary VD changes revealed a significant difference at month 1 (p = 0.009, p = 0.019, and p = 0.002, respectively) and month 3 (p = 0.002, p = 0.015, and p = 0.009, respectively). Peripapillary RNFL thickness increased in the PRP group at month 1 (p = 0.002) and then decreased at month 3 (p = 0.001). During three months of follow-up, the peripapillary RNFL thickness decreased significantly in the IVB group (p = 0.001). Peripapillary RNFL thickness changes were significantly different between treatment groups at month 1 and month 3. (p = 0.001 for both) The RNFL changes during the study did not significantly correlate with peripapillary VD changes in each group (p = 0.231 and p = 372, for PRP and IVB group, respectively). Conclusion This study demonstrated that IVB and PRP treatments produced distinct short-term microvascular changes in the optic nerve of diabetic retinopathy patients. PRP treatment significantly reduced vascular density in the optic disc and peripapillary region over 3 months, with an initial increase in RNFL thickness followed by a decrease by month 3. In contrast, IVB treatment led to a slight increase in optic disc vascular density while significantly reducing RNFL thickness. No significant correlation was found between changes in RNFL thickness and peripapillary vascular density within either treatment group.

Abstract This retrospective study aimed to assess different macular neovascular network characteristics in relation to changes in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) over 3 and 12 months following treatment. Using optical coherence tomography angiography, we reviewed the medical records of 46 treatment-naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) who received intravitreal aflibercept injections. The change in BCVA from baseline to 3 months and 12 months after treatment was recorded. The mean vessels percentage area, junctions density, lacunarity, and fractal dimension were significantly correlated with the change of BCVA from baseline to month 3 (P = 0.003, 0.046, 0.007, and 0.005 respectively). Fractal dimension and vessels percentage area were correlated with the change of BCVA from baseline to month 12 (P = 0.023 and 0.023 respectively). The findings suggest that baseline characteristics of macular neovascular complexes may serve as predictors for BCVA changes following treatment with aflibercept in nAMD patients.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effect of orbital wall decompression surgery and reduction of proptosis on the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) in patients with thyroid eye disease (TED). Fifty-one eyes from 38 patients with controlled TED and proptosis were enrolled in this study. The majority of the patients (50.9%) had a clinical activity score (CAS) of zero, and none had a CAS greater than 2. The patients underwent a complete baseline ophthalmologic examination, and their choroidal profile alterations were monitored using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT) before and during the three months after surgery. Changes in SFCT, luminance area (LA), total choroidal area (TCA), and the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) were measured as the ratio of LA to TCA in EDI-OCT images. The participants had an average age of 46.47 years, and 22 were female (57.9%). The SFCT of the patients exhibited a significant reduction over the follow-up period, decreasing from 388 ± 103 to 355 ± 95 µm in the first month (p

There is a growing concern among food safety regulators, the food industry, and consumers about foodborne illnesses. To improve food safety and increase shelf life, it is necessary to use natural preservatives. Natural antimicrobials are safer than artificial preservatives because they can prevent microbial resistance while also meeting consumers' demands for healthier food. This study used Berberine to enhance the antibacterial activity of Satureja Khuzistanica essential oil nanoemulsions (SKEO NE) against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria, making them a promising option as preservatives. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to determine the optimized Berberine loaded SKEO NE (Berberine/SKEO NE), resulting in a mean droplet size of 88.60 nm at 6.91, 3.21, and 0.08% w/w of surfactant, essential oil, and Berberine, respectively. Berberine utilization in SKEO NE has led to an increase in antibacterial activity. The nanoemulsion samples significantly ruptured the S. aureus bacterial cell membrane, rapidly discharging cell contents. The use of a microfluidic system in tandem based on the conventional approach significantly accelerated this process. Enhancing the interaction between nanodroplets and the bacterial membrane can be achieved through the nanoemulsification process of EOs, which involves modifying their surface characteristics. This enhancement is particularly pronounced when employing microfluidic systems due to their substantial contact surface area. We investigated the potential of using femtosecond laser irradiation at a wavelength of 1040 nm to augment the antibacterial action of nanoemulsions. The combined treatment of laser and nanoemulsions significantly increased the antibacterial effect of nanoemulsions by approximately 15% for each bacterium, suggesting the potential utility of this treatment to bolster the antibacterial activity of nanoemulsions. Bacteria were trapped using optical tweezers for up to 20 min, with bacterial destruction observed starting at 3 min and exhaustive destruction evident after 20 min.

The Fenton process is widely employed for decolorizing industrial wastewater. Therefore, it is imperative to construct a model for optimizing the operational parameters and estimating the efficiency of decolorization within this process. In this study, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was created based on experimental data provided by a previous researcher who examined the decolorization of Direct Red 16 dye (DR16) using a heterogeneous Fenton process within a microchannel reactor. This model was utilized to optimize and forecast the efficiency of decolorization in the Fenton process. The accuracy of the model was validated by comparing its outcomes with actual experimental data. To further improve the efficiency of decolorization, optimal operational parameters were ascertained utilizing the genetic algorithm method. The study revealed that as dye concentrations increased from 10 to 40 mg/l, decolorization efficiencies improved proportionately, peaking at 89.78 %. Optimal operational parameters for maximizing efficiency were identified as a feed flow rate of 1 ml/min, H2O2 concentration at 500 mg/l, Fe2+ concentration of 4 mg/l, and maintaining pH between 2.6 and 2.8. Insights derived from both experimental and model-generated data were used to analyze the impact of operational parameters on decolorization efficiency.

Abstract Diabetes retinopathy prevention necessitates early detection, monitoring, and treatment. Non-invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows structural changes in the retinal layer. OCT image evaluation necessitates retinal layer segmentation. The ability of our automated retinal layer segmentation to distinguish between normal, non-proliferative (NPDR), and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was investigated in this study using quantifiable biomarkers such as retina layer smoothness index (SI) and area (S) in horizontal and vertical OCT images for each zone (fovea, superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal). This research includes 84 eyes from 57 individuals. The study shows a significant difference in the Area (S) of inner nuclear layer (INL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) in the horizontal foveal zone across the three groups (p

Abstract To compare the choroidal neovascular features of individuals with pachychoroid neovasculopathy (PNV) and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) with and without shallow irregular pigment epithelial detachment (SIPED). Using optical coherence tomography angiography, the choroidal neovascular complexes of 27 patients with PNV, 34 patients with nAMD and SIPED, and 15 patients with nAMD without SIPED were analyzed with FIJI and AngioTool software. PNV compared to nAMD with SIPED had a greater vessel percentage area (P = 0.034), junction density (P = 0.045), average vessel length (P

Fumarate-alumoxane nanoparticles (Fum-ANPs) incorporated PES nanofiltration membrane was fabricated via phase inversion to achieve favorable performance as the enhancement in the dye removal and antifouling capacity. FTIR spectra of the Fum-ANPs revealed that the carboxylate and hydroxyl functional groups were created on the surface of Fum-ANPs. The strong affinity of Fum-ANPs functional groups with water molecules made the membrane surface more hydrophilic. Hence, the modified membrane sample had a higher pure water flux than the bare one. Zeta potential data showed that the Fum-ANPs blended PES membrane was negatively charged at a pH value of 6, which is favorable for negatively charged solute rejection. The antifouling behavior of the membranes was analyzed using powder milk solution (8 g/L) in a dead-end filtration system. The obtained results demonstrated that the introduction of Fum-ANPs in the membrane matrix ameliorated the antifouling behavior of the resulting membrane. To further study the performance of the Fum-ANPs incorporated PES membrane, removal of Direct red 16 dye was tested. The removal efficiency of Direct red 16 with the Fum-ANPs blended PES membrane was 99% while it was 88.2% for the bare membrane sample.

We report the choroidal and ciliary body invasion by retinoblastoma (RB) in a salvaged eye after complete and successful primary treatment. Case 1: A 25-month-old boy was referred due to group B RB lesions based on the International Classification of RB (ICRB; groups A–E) in the right eye (OD). His left eye (OS) was enucleated because of advanced group E RB. After 47 months of uneventful follow-up (F/U), a new lesion recurred and was treated with transpupillary thermotherapy. Four months later, a fast-growing pigmented subretinal mass was detected that was treated by brachytherapy with the apical dose of 80 Gy. Three weeks later, the lesion regressed completely, and no recurrence happened after 6 years of F/U. Case 2: A 4-month-old girl with a deletion in chromosome 13 was referred for bilateral RB. OD was enucleated because of unresponsive RB and anterior segment involvement. In OS, group B lesions had multiple recurrences after systemic chemotherapy. After a while, a single mass appeared in the nasal periphery which was controlled well with brachytherapy. Four months later, AC involvement was controlled with IAC, intravitreal, and intracameral chemotherapy, but posterior synechia and cataract appeared later. One year after the last treatment, UBM showed a ring-shaped ciliary body mass. Her parents refused enucleation again, and she received intravenous chemotherapy. Two years later, magnetic resonance imaging showed orbital and optic canal involvement with a deformed globe. In conclusion, RB recurrence can appear as local choroidal and ciliary body involvement even after a time of complete remission. The role of B-scan and UBM in early diagnosis and successful treatment is valuable.

Introduction: The use of seeds to create genetic mutation brings problems because the use of seeds increases the duration of the research, and the study of traits requires plant cultivation, making it impossible to test more than once a year. Another point is the presence of shimmer in mutant plants. Biotechnology techniques, especially tissue culture, solve these problems today. In this method, a repeatable and efficient regeneration system is needed to create mutations in rice plants to obtain fertile plants from the changed tissues. Materials and methods: To determine the appropriate dose of mutation induction to create genetic changes in the callus tissue obtained from the mature and immature embryos of Nemat and Taram rice varieties, a factorial experiment was carried out within a completely randomized design using doses of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 Gy (GY) of Gamma radiation in four replications. For callus generation, MS medium with 0.5 mg/liter 2, 4-D and 1 mg/liter Kasein was suitable for both cultivars. Also, for the regeneration of calluses obtained from both types of embryos of the Tarom cultivar, MS base medium containing 4 mg/liter of BAP, 0.5 mg/liter of IAA, 0.5 mg/liter of NAA, and 5 mg/liter of Kasien were used. In the final stage, 30-day-old calluses were subjected to gamma radiation treatment with five doses of 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 Gy. They were compared with the control treatment in the regeneration stage regarding moisture percentage, growth rate and regeneration percentage. Results: After irradiation, the effect of variety on regeneration percentage, growth rate based on weight and callus diameter, the effect of embryo type on regeneration percentage and moisture percentage, the effect of radiation on all studied traits, the effect of variety × embryo only for regeneration percentage and moisture percentage, the effect of variety × radiation for all traits and the effect of embryo × radiation and cultivar × embryo × radiation were significant only for the percentage of reproduction. The LD50 obtained in Nemat and Tarom cultivars with mature embryos was related to doses of 26.78 and 41.83 Gray, respectively; with immature embryos, it was 14.55 and 35.30 Gray, respectively. Conclusion: The difference in this experiment can not only be caused by genetic differences, but it can also be due to the difference in callus humidity and the effect of gamma rays.

The current study analyzes the worldview of the Din-i-Ilahi and its effect on Indian painting over Akbar Shah era. Akbar Shah founded “Din-i-Ilahi” aiming at the toleration and integration of Indian society. This approach of Akbar Shah resulted in the solidarity as well as the political and ideological unity of the (Indian) subcontinent and a new definition of the concept of culture and art was established in the land of India parallel to these developments. Given the conditions governing this era, a free space was provided for various schools of painting to be influenced by each other, besides the emergence of a turning point in Indian painting and illustration; hence, the works illustrated in this era are mentioned as an independent school of art in the history of Indian art. The present research is aimed at answering the question: What was the reflection of the Din-i-Ilahi on Indian painting during Akbar Shah era? This research takes the advantage of a descriptive-analytical method and the analysis of the visual and content characteristics besides the investigation of the research hypothesis is performed by qualitative method. Based on the results of the analysis of this period’s illustrated works, the Indian painting’s indigenous characteristics along with Iranian-Islamic features, as well as the western elements were harmoniously mixed together in a familiar way. Accordingly, the themes of Iranian culture, Indian symbolism, and Western perspective and naturalism led to the emergence of an acceptable unity in the paintings, resulting in the emergence of a unique and original school. Thus, as a universal language, art may be an interface to reveal the world’s solidarity in different forms, just as Akbar Shah who used the art capacity in the best way to make the subcontinent integrated and cohesive.

The presence of dyes in the aquatic environment can cause soil/water pollution, problems for human health, and abnormal plant growth behavior. In the present study, functionalized polyethersulfone nanofiltration membranes were prepared by ferroxane fumarate nanoparticles. Ferroxane fumarate nanoparticles were characterized by SEM and FTIR analyzes. The effect of nanoparticles on the performance and properties of membranes was determined in terms of membrane pore size, porosity, hydrophilicity, and separation of milk powder solution by membranes. The hydrophilicity of the membranes was determined by studying the pure water flux and the contact angle of the water. Hydrophilicity increased significantly in membranes containing 0.5% wt. of ferrooxane fumarate nanoparticles. The results of measuring the pure water flux passing through the prepared membranes showed that after functionalization of the polysulfone nanofiltration membrane by ferroxane fumarate nanoparticles, the permeability of this membrane increased more than three times. The maximum flux recovery ratio and the minimum irreversible permeability decay rate obtained by the M0.5 membrane were 95.20 and 4.8%, respectively. Moreover, M0.5 showed the highest rejection for dyes of direct red 16 (99%) and methylene blue (98%). The related results proved that an antifouling fumarate ferroxane functionalized membrane can be efficiently applied for the removal of dyes.

Background. This study aimed to review the literature on the application of ImageJ in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) images. Methods. A general search was performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases. The authors evaluated each of the selected articles in order to assess the implementation of ImageJ in OCT-A images. Results. ImageJ can aid in reducing artifacts, enhancing image quality to increase the accuracy of the process and analysis, processing and analyzing images, generating comparable parameters such as the parameters that assess perfusion of the layers (vessel density (VD), skeletonized density (SD), and vessel length density (VLD)) and the parameters that evaluate the structure of the layers (fractal dimension (FD), vessel density index (VDI), and lacunarity (LAC)), and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) that are used widely in the retinal and choroidal studies), and establishing diagnostic criteria. It can help to save time when the dataset is huge with numerous plugins and options for image processing and analysis with reliable results. Diverse studies implemented distinct binarization and thresholding techniques, resulting in disparate outcomes and incomparable parameters. Uniformity in methodology is required to acquire comparable data from studies employing diverse processing and analysis techniques that yield varied outcomes. Conclusion. Researchers and professionals might benefit from using ImageJ because of how quickly and correctly it processes and analyzes images. It is highly adaptable and potent software, allowing users to evaluate images in a variety of ways. There exists a diverse range of methodologies for analyzing OCTA images through the utilization of ImageJ. However, it is imperative to establish a standardized strategy to ensure the reliability and consistency of the method for research purposes.

While research is abundant on academics’ research engagement in higher education, very little has been done to study the setbacks for research practices in English language teaching (ELT) in higher education. Adopting a qualitative research design, the present study explored the research setbacks for ELT in higher education. To this end, 10 masters students, 10 doctoral students, and 10 university instructors of ELT in different state universities in Iran took part in the study. A narrative frame was applied to collect initial data, followed by conducting individual semi-structured interviews to gain more in-depth knowledge about the participants’ research practices. Thematic analysis, used to analyse the data, uncovered a number of themes and categories addressing the masters and doctoral students’ and university instructors’ research setbacks in higher education. A number of themes were generated for the following categories of research setbacks: issues with research projects, insignificant contribution, and pressures from the immediate context. The findings are discussed in the light of the literature and the status of research practice in higher education, and implications are suggested for research practice in higher education.

Over the past decades, English as a foreign language (EFL) learning has witnessed a heightened interest in the role of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) in vocabulary learning. To shed more light on the impact of MALL on vocabulary learning, this study, employing a quantitative longitudinal design, aimed at examining the impact of a MALL programme on 139 EFL learners’ vocabulary learning attitudes and self-regulatory capacity. To this end, this study investigated the latent change score models of the learners’ vocabulary learning attitudes and self-regulatory capacity over time. Over the course of 1 year, various mobile applications were integrated into the regular English language instruction of the learners. The required data were collected via administering vocabulary learning attitude and self-regulating capacity in vocabulary learning scales. The data were analysed applying latent growth curve modelling to examine the participants’ longitudinal trajectories and patterns of change in the two waves of collected data. The fit indices of the latent change models revealed an increase in both the EFL learners’ vocabulary learning attitudes and their self-regulatory capacity during the 1-year MALL programme. The analysis of between-person differences also indicated that changes in both variables were positively correlated.

Background and purpose: In recent years, the interest in chitosan nanoparticles has increased due to their application, especially in drug delivery. The main aim of this work was to find a suitable method for simulating pharmaceutical nanoparticles with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and use it for understanding the process of nanoparticle formation in different types of microchannels. Experimental approach: Active and passive microchannels were compared to find the advantages and disadvantages of each system. Twenty-eight experiments were done on microchannels to quantify the effect of 4 parameters and their interactions on the size and polydispersity index (PDI) of nanoparticles. CFD was implemented by coupling reactive kinetics and the population balance method to simulate the synthesis of chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles in the microchannel. Findings/Results: The passive microchannel had the best performance for nanoparticle production. The most uniform microspheres and the narrowest standard deviation (124.3 nm, PDI = 0.112) were achieved using passive microchannel. Compared to the active microchannel, the size and PDI of the nanoparticles were 28.7% and 70.5% higher for active microchannels, and 55.43% and 105.3% higher for simple microchannels, respectively. Experimental results confirmed the validity of CFD modeling. The growth and nucleation rates were determined using the reaction equation of chitosan and tripolyphosphate. Conclusion and implications: CFD modeling by the proposed method can play an important role in the prediction of the size and PDI of chitosan/tripolyphosphate nanoparticles in the same condition and provide a new perspective for studying the production of nanoparticles by numerical methods.

In this study, Ni+2 removal from aqueous solution was investigated by concurrent usage of Fe3O4 nanoparticles and a high frequency ultrasound (1.7 MHz). In addition to Ni+2 removal, presence of the high frequency ultrasound led to being cooled photovoltaic (PV) module. Studied variables were pH and adsorbent dose (AD). Results indicated that the Ni+2 removal efficiency increased with an increase in the pH ranging from 2 to 9. Furthermore, the Ni+2 removal efficiency boosted by an increase in the AD. However, no significant enhancement in Ni+2 removal efficiency was observed at the AD above 9 g. Generally, the maximum Ni+2 removal efficiency was about 79 % for contact time of 50 min at pH=9 and AD=9 g in the presence of ultrasound. At the efficient condition (pH=9, AD=9 g and contact time=50 min), using ultrasound showed 16-20 % enhancement in Ni+2 removal efficiency compared to no ultrasound usage. From heat transfer view, it was observed that propagation of 1.7 MHz ultrasound into nanofluid significantly has cooled the photovoltaic (PV) module. Moreover, an increase in concentration of nanofluid (AD) showed a positive effect on reduction of heat from the PV module surface and maximum generated power. Obtained data demonstrated that agitating nanofluid by 1.7 MHz ultrasound decreased temperature of the PV module up to 15.5 % compared to no cooling system.

As part of a large-scale project on English Language Teaching (ELT) researchers' research practice in higher education, this study explored how a Masters student, a doctoral student, and a university instructor in applied linguistics in higher education setting constructed and reconstructed their professional identities as ELT researchers and how they coped with the contextual challenges in this regard. The required data were collected through a narrative enquiry approach in the forms of interviews, diaries, and field visits over nine academic months (i.e., one academic year) in the ELT higher education. The findings, guided by Grounded Theory, indicated a number of themes addressing the participants' professional identities, which were subject to change. The participants formed and reformed their professional identities as ELT researchers with regard to the passage of time, their personal values, their social interactions with other researchers, and the institutional and sociocultural setting. The findings are further elaborated and discussed in the light of the literature and the uncovered themes. The study suggests implications for newly accepted or recruited Masters and doctoral students and university instructors in applied linguistics as researchers in higher education.

This study, for the first time, tries to provide a simultaneous experimental and computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation investigation for production of uniform, reproducible, and stable polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles. CFD simulation was carried out to observe fluid flow behavior and micromixing in microfluidic system and improve our understanding about the governing fluid profile. The major objective of such effort was to provide a carrier for controlled and sustained release profile of different drugs. Different experimental parameters were optimized to obtain PLGA nanoparticles with proper size and minimized polydispersity index. The particle size, polydispersity, morphology, and stability of nanoparticles were compared. Microfluidic system provided a platform to control over the characteristics of nanoparticles. Using microfluidic system, the obtained particles were more uniform and harmonious in size, more stable, monodisperse and spherical, while particles produced by batch method were non-spherical and polydisperse. The best size and polydispersity index in the microfluidic method was obtained using 2% PLGA and 0.0625% (w/v) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solutions, and the flow rate ratio of 10:0.6 for PVA and PLGA solutions. CFD simulation demonstrated the high mixing intensity of about 0.99 at optimum condition in the microfluidic system, which is the possible reason for advantageous performance of this system. Altogether, the results of microfluidic-assisted method were found to be more reproducible, predictable, and controllable than batch method for producing a nanoformulation for delivery of drugs.

Background and Aim: Pharmaceutical applications of natural materials from plants date back to ancient times. Oleuropein is one of the compounds that are found in olive leaves, fruit, bark and roots of Olea europaea (the olive tree) that cause the bitter taste of olive oil and fruit. The aim of this study was to develop and optimize the microfluidic device for the extraction of oleuropein into the aqueous phase using response surface methodology. Materials and Methods: In this study, a microfluidic device was used for the extraction of oleuropein from the organic extract of olive leaves into the aqueous phase. The effects of main parameters on the extraction efficiency including temperature, flow rate ratio (ethyl acetate/water) and residence time were investigated and optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). Results: The maximum extraction yield was obtained under the following conditions: deionized water as extractant phase, temperature of 40 ºC, flow rate ratio of 0.16 and residence time of 0.1010 min. The extraction yield of 70.93% was obtained under the above conditions with relative standard deviation of 2.0 %. The results of the analysis of variance indicate that unlike temperature, flow rate ratio and residence time are significant parameters. Moreover, square of temperature, flow rate ratio, residence time and interaction of flow rate ratio and residence time are significant factors. The extraction yield of the proposed microchannel was compared with conventional batch extraction method. Conclusion: The results show that the proposed technique can successfully be applied to the extract of oleuropein from the organic phase into the aqueous phase.

Background: The impact of digital gamified language learning on language achievement has been corroborated in the literature; however, its impact on language achievement, especially in the English as a foreign language (EFL) context needs further investigation. In addition, the related literature has not sufficiently confirmed the impact of digital gamified language learning on some psychological domains of EFL learning. Objectives: This study, therefore, employed a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach to explore the effects of digital gamified language learning using a mobile application (app) affordances on EFL learners' language achievement, foreign language enjoyment (FLE), and ideal second language (L2) self. Methods: To this end, 36 EFL learners were randomly divided into two groups; one group was randomly assigned to the digital class, including 19 EFL learners, and the other group was assigned to the non-digital class, consisting of 17 EFL learners. The digital learners did the digital gamified language learning activities individually and interactively and received peer and instructor feedback, whilst the non-digital learners did the same language learning activities in printed format and received peer and instructor feedback. A language achievement test, the FLE scale, and the ideal L2 self-scale were used to collect the quantitative data and an individual semi-structured interview was carried out to gather the qualitative data. Results and Conclusions: One-way ANCOVA, used to analyse the quantitative data, revealed that the digital and non-digital classes improved the EFL learners' language achievement, FLE, and ideal L2 self; however, the digital learners outperformed their non-digital counterparts in all the measures. Thematic analysis, utilised to analyse the qualitative data, uncovered some themes about the digital learners' positive and negative attitudes and perceptions towards the digital gamified language learning activities, clarifying the quantitative findings. Implications: Pedagogical implications are discussed.

Group dynamic assessment (G-DA), which is grounded in Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory (SCT), explores the role of social interaction and collaboration in the development of participants’ listening performance. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of G-DA approach on listening comprehension of English as a foreign language(EFL) learners in two time intervals. To this end, twenty learners were selected from among Iranian EFL learners at an English language institute. The quantitative data analysis revealed that mediational strategies which were offered to learners within the group’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) could enhance their listening comprehension. These findings have important implications for all classroom teachers who can benefit from different designs of integrating instruction and assessment through offering mediational strategies to assist L2 learners in the development of their listening skill.

Burnout is a three dimensional phenomenon which is categorized as an important social problem. Personality type is also an important factor that may play a role in developing burnout. However, research has focused on job burnout, environmental factors, and their impacts on people and society and there is not much research related to student burnout and the impact of individual factors on student burnout. Thus, this study investigated the impact of EFL students’ personality type on their burnout. For data collection, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) were given to a sample of 292 Iranian EFL students from several universities. The results indicated that there was a significant difference between extrovert-introvert and sensing-intuition groups in three components of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment). Moreover, there was a significant difference between the judging-perceiving group in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions but, there was not a significant difference between them in the personal accomplishment dimension. Besides, there was not any significant difference in the thinking-feeling group in three dimensions of burnout. The findings can give EFL teachers and students the power to predict which students will be more at risk for burnout and help them to prevent burnout.

Mutation is a suitable technique for growing the various strains of plants. Two local varieties (Tarom-Hashemi and Sang-joo) including three improved varieties (Nemat, Fajr and Jolodar), are treated with 200 gray of Gamma ray at Atomic Agricultural, Medical and Industrial School in Karaj. M1 and M2 generation were planted in the GABIT experimental field and some agronomical and morphological traits of a single plant such as the number of grains per panicle, per unfilled panicle, panicle length, tillers number, grain length, grain width, 1000-grain weight and grain yield per plant were evaluated. The cluster analysis of each variety along with their M1 and M2 suecesive generation indicated a vast range of variation among parents and their M1 and M2 generation, meaning 4 cluster groups for Tarom-Hashemi, Fajr and Nemat, 5 groups for Sange-joo and 6 groups for Jolodar. A comparison of the overall dendrogram has shown that the wide range of variation belonged to Jolodar, Sang-Joo and 4 other varieties, respectively.

Although there has been surge of interest in teacher research practice in English language teaching (ELT) context, few research studies seem to have shown the attitudes and perceptions of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers towards the impact of research practice on professional teaching practice. Adopting a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, the present study explored the current status of EFL teachers’ research practice and the impact of research practice on the professional teaching practice of EFL teachers who were actively engaged with (i.e. through reading) and in (i.e. through doing) research. To this end, 150 EFL teachers filled out English Language Teacher Research Practice questionnaire in order to check their current status in research practice in the ELT setting. The participants’ responses to the questionnaire indicated that they were engaged both with and in research to some extent. Based on the responses to the questionnaire, 31 EFL teachers who were actively engaged with and in research were selected to explore their attitudes and perceptions towards the impact of their research practice on their professional teaching practice through a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis, used to analyse the qualitative data, uncovered nine themes that addressed the positive attitudes and perceptions of EFL teachers towards the impact of research practice on professional teaching practice. In line with the findings, implications for developing EFL teachers’ research practice in their own professional ELT context are suggested.

As part of a large-scale project, the present study explores research conception, research engagement (both reading and doing research), the impact of research on professional development, the setbacks for research engagement, and the suggestions for improving the dominant research practice in English language teaching (ELT) higher education. The required data were collected through an instrument developed by the present researchers. To this end, the instrument was distributed among 50 MA students (MSs), 50 PhD candidates (PCs), and 50 university professors (UPs) in teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) in higher education. Descriptive statistics used to analyse the data, indicated the participants’ agreement on almost all categories underlying research conception, research engagement, research impact, research setbacks, and research suggestions of the instrument. However, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that, out of 19 research categories, there were significant differences among the three groups regarding the four categories of published articles, instrumental purpose, research reading and doing processes, and pressures from the immediate context. The findings are elaborated on and discussed in the light of the literature and the status of research engagement in ELT higher education.

The present study aimed at investigating the relationship among critical thinking, emotional intelligence and speaking ability of Iranian EFL learners. To this end, 100 learners majoring in English at private language institutes in Sanandaj were selected as the participants of the study. The participants filled out the Bar-On (1997) emotional intelligence questionnaire, took the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) Form B, and sat an interview, the results of which were checked by Language Oral Ability Assessment checklist adapted from IELTS Speaking Skill Test. The results of the multiple correlation analyses revealed emotional intelligence, followed by critical thinking, correlated significantly highly with learners’ speaking ability. The results also revealed all components of emotional intelligence significantly correlated with learners’ speaking ability. The results further showed there was a significant positive relationship between critical thinking and emotional intelligence. Further analyses revealed that almost half of the components of emotional intelligence correlated significantly highly with critical thinking. The results of multiple regression analyses indicated that emotional intelligence was the strongest predictor of speaking ability followed by critical thinking. The results further indicated that among the components of emotional intelligence, assertiveness, social responsibility, and reality testing significantly predicted learners’ speaking ability.The results also showed among the components of emotional intelligence, only assertiveness significantly predicted learners’ critical thinking. The findings imply that learners who are emotionally intelligent and are critical thinkers are more capable in speaking skill. The results as well as the implications of the study are discussed in more detail in the paper.

Considering the status of 'washback' in validity theory and research, Messick warns that, to establish test validity, one should not rely merely on washback, with all its complexity, but should instead probe test design properties (i.e., authenticity and directness) and test-use characteristics likely to produce or intensify washback. Authenticity ensures that nothing essential is missing in the assessment of the focal construct, or minimal construct-underrepresentation. Similarly, directness deals with minimal construct-irrelevant variance. This study aimed to explore inadequate representation of L2 pragmatics in EFL curriculum and instruction of Iranian high schools as negative washback of construct-underrepresentation of this important dimension of communicative competence in the high-stakes National University Entrance Test (NUET). The participants were 100 EFL teachers, a sample of 220 pre-NUET students, and 50 post-NUET students in northwest, center, and southwest of Iran. A method-triangulation procedure was employed using questionnaires, observations, and semi-structured interviews. The results showed that the test's construct validity is compromised, meaning that NUET is too narrow and deficient, fails to sufficiently sample pragmatic competence as an important facet of 2discrete-point lexico-grammatical knowledge. Further, the findings demonstrated intense negative washback on L2 teaching-learning processes resulting from using NUET scores for drawing high-stakes action inferences in Iran. The findings suggest that, to facilitate optimal positive washback and adequate sampling of the criterion domain in L2 education, NUET must strive to minimize construct-underrepresentation and construct-irrelevant variance in design.

Adopting a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach, this study explored the impact of electronic writing portfolio on writing performance in English as a foreign language (EFL) context. Two intact classes were first selected and randomly assigned to an electronic writing portfolio group (22 EFL students) and a conventional (i.e. paper-based) writing portfolio group (23 EFL students). To collect the quantitative data, timed writing tasks were administered before and after the electronic and conventional writing portfolio courses, and to collect the qualitative data, the students' peer writing mediations were tracked during the courses and an individual semi-structured interview was conducted at the end of the electronic writing portfolio course. One-way ANCOVA and Pearson Chi square were applied to analyse the quantitative data and microgenetic method and thematic analysis were run to analyse the qualitative data. The findings showed both electronic and conventional writing portfolio instructions developed the EFL students' writing performance. In addition, the electronic writing portfolio group outperformed its conventional counterpart in developing writing performance. The qualitative data analyses, used to explain the quantitative findings, further revealed the EFL students' microgenetic development of writing content, writing organisation, and language use in the electronic writing portfolio group, as well as the students' positive perceptions towards the electronic writing portfolio course. Pearson Chi-square analysis also indicated that the distributions of content-, organisation-, and language-related peer writing mediations between the two groups were significantly different which confirmed that the electronic students provided more content-, organisation-, and language-related peer writing mediations during the collaborative writing activities. Practical implications are discussed next.

The present study adopted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach to explore the impact of e-tandem on English as a foreign language (EFL) learners' speaking skills (i.e. speaking fluency and coherence, lexicon, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation) and willingness to communicate (WTC). To this end, two classes at a language institute were randomly assigned to an experimental group (e-tandem group) with 22 EFL learners and a control group (conventional group) with 20 EFL learners. The learners in the e-tandem class communicated with foreign English speakers online using Tandem, a language exchange application, and those in the conventional class had collaborative speaking activities during the class time. IELTS speaking skill test, willingness-to-communicate scale, and an individual semi-structured interview were used to collect the required quantitative and qualitative data. Paired samples t-test and one-way ANCOVA, used to analyse the quantitative data, indicated that e-tandem and conventional classes developed the EFL learners' speaking skills and WTC; however, the e-tandem group outperformed the conventional group on speaking skills and WTC. Thematic analysis, applied to analyse the qualitative data, generated a number of themes and categories signifying the e-tandem learners' positive attitudes and perceptions towards the e-tandem-based collaborative speaking activities. Pedagogical implications are discussed for collaborative speaking courses in EFL settings.

The main objective of this paper is to study the effect of inlet gas temperature change on the fluid flow characteristics and energy separation phenomenon within a counter-flow vortex tube. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is a three-dimensional steady compressible model that utilizes the k-ɛ turbulence model in order to analyse the high rotating flow. In this numerical research, different inlet gas temperatures have been used in the modeling in order to analyse the operation of the vortex tube. The results showed that increasing the inlet gas temperature leads to greater temperature separation, as well as greater hot and cold temperature separation. Moreover, it was found that increasing the inlet temperature does not have any significant effect on the stagnation point and maximum wall temperature position. Since this research concerns increased inlet gas temperatures, an implication of this study can be for vortex tubes to be used in procedures where heating or preheating is required.

Critical pedagogy (CP), as a poststructuralist educational movement, challenges the asymmetrical, power-over nature of classroom discourse and seeks to accommodate multivocality in the classroom and in the society. This study probed the discourse architecture of EFL classrooms in Iran. Specifically, it aimed to explore to what extent Iranian EFL classrooms have stepped away from the teacher-dominant initiation-response-follow-up (IRF) discourse structure and welcomed CP-oriented dialogism and multivocality. To this end, a number of EFL classrooms in Isfahan and Shahrekord (Iran) were observed, and the running classroom discourse was audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed. The results showed that discourse-construction opportunities were distributed unevenly in favor of teachers regarded as the sole authority in the classroom. Student-regulated symmetrical talks were seldom evidenced in the classrooms. The findings further demonstrated that the power-over IRF discourse architecture, despite its communicative inadequacies, still seems to be dominant in EFL classrooms in Iran. Finally, it is suggested that L2 practitioners should move towards transforming the status quo, include more elements of CP into L2 classrooms, and invest in dialogism and multivocality as essential mechanisms to de-silence the students.

Different methods of oleuropein extraction from olive leaf were investigated, including maceration, soxhlet, ultrasonic-assisted extraction, and microchannel. In current research, a response surface methodology (RSM) was used for prediction of the optimal values of parameters affecting the extraction of oleuropein through two methods of ultrasound and microchannel. Frequency (F), temperature (T), and power of ultrasound (P) were the parameters which were studied in ultrasound method, but in microchannel system effects of pH and temperature (T), volumetric flow rate ratio of two phases (VR), and contact time (CT) of two phases were optimized. UV detector device at 254 nm was used to recognize oleuropein through comparison of the retention time of the extracts with standard compound in chromatogram. The analysis of extracts was performed using HPLC. Optimum conditions for ultrasound were obtained as follows: F=80 kHz, T = 25°C, and P=100 w. Using these optimum conditions, the extraction of oleuropein was 81.29%. Amount of oleuropein extraction by microchannel method in optimum conditions was 96.29%, which was way more than other applied methods. Microchannel system as a continuous method has many advantages including low solvent consumption, being environment friendly, short time for extraction, and high efficiency.

Background & Objectives: One of the common approaches for teacher evaluation is evaluation by students and in this relation considering the opinions of teachers as main targets of this process is important The aim of this study was a systematic review of the researches performed about the opinions of faculty members of the country towards evaluation of teacher by students Methods: The abstracts of 1750 papers presented in Iran Medical Education Congresses since 1979 as well as related articles indexed in Iranian databases and International databases (PubMed & Scopus) were reviewed by using keywords such as teacher evaluation evaluation by student self evaluation quality of teaching professors viewpoints education process satisfaction teaching method evaluation studies and feedback After a primary review 47 papers from different universities were selected and reviewed by different research groups Finally the obtained data were emerged based on criteria defined in groups common meetings Results : Satisfaction rate of faculty members from evaluation was 478% and the effect of feed backing the evaluation results was 712% The highest satisfaction rate was related to the time of evaluation (mean 655%) and the majority of teachers believed that Education Development Center (EDC) is the best center for evaluation Mean score of selfevaluations by professors was higher than that Was done by students and there was poor correlation between these scores Conclusion: regarding to low satisfaction rate and weaknesses in this type of evaluation basic revisions and using multi source Fedback(MSF) for teachers are recommended

This paper reports a CFD modeling study to investigate the hydrogen-air mixture combustion in a micro scale chamber. Nine species with nineteen reversible reactions were considered in the premixed combustion model. The effect of operational and geometrical conditions including; combustor size, wall conductivity, reactant flow rates and hydrogen feed splitting on combustion stability and outlet gas temperature were investigated. The results show that the wall thermal conductivity has a significant effect on the combustion especially at smaller chamber size with high ratio of chamber surface area to its volume. In addition, the results reveal that high heat loss from chamber wall, small chamber and high input rate may cause flame quenching. Moreover, the modeling results indicate that a stable combustion in a micro combustor can be achieved at an optimum operational condition.

Recent studies have demonstrated the effective role of direct and indirect written corrective feedback (WCF) in the use of grammar, but little research has investigated the role of WCF in the use of collocations. This study is an attempt to investigate the effect of both direct and indirect WCF on the use of grammatical collocations in L2 writing. The participants of this study included 90 EFL learners in Shahrekord University, randomly assigned into three groups: two experimental groups (i.e., direct and indirect groups) and one control group. To collect data, they were asked to write three distinct essays as pretests, posttests, and delayed posttests, in which they were given key words to make collocations with. Sheen’s (2007) techniques were employed to correct the grammatical collocation errors in the direct and indirect groups. The results of ANOVA showed that, first, both experimental groups performed better than the control group. Second, the indirect group outperformed the direct group on the posttests. Third, the effect of indirect WCF was retained in both immediate and delayed posttests.

This paper reports a CFD modeling study on the possibility of using high temperature and low oxygen content exhaust gases as oxidant for combustion in an industrial furnace by a written computer program. Under these conditions,the predicted results for the flow and heat transfer properties are compared with those under the several cases of conventional and highly preheated and diluted air combustion (HPDAC) conditions. Although the calculation procedure is a two dimensional one with the vorticity and stream function as the main hydrodynamic variables; its results can yet be also valid for the three dimensional case. Because of the weakness of the standard or other traditional k-ε models in predicting the spreading rate of axisymmetric jets, and also for the sake of economy and lack of boundary conditions, here the turbulent transport properties are obtained from an algebraic formula. An infinitely single-step chemical reaction (physically controlled) and a model known as “four flux” are considered as combustion and radiation models, respectively. The qualitative and quantitative verification of high temperature and low oxygen content air/exhaust gases combustions and conventional (low and high air temperature) combustions results have been checked and compared, respectively, with those reported in the literature. Finally, in this investigation three modified concepts and new formulas have been proposed and used to define the gas temperature uniformity, the chemical flame size and the maximum flame temperature as the HPDAC’S main unique features achievement criteria.

The disparity between the linguistic knowledge and the communicative abilities which is often observed in the performance of second language (L2) learners has recently shifted the focus of the researchers toward the FonF paradigm. Having the ability to draw the learners' attention to the target linguistic features in the input, FonF, as an appealing approach is thought to balance between the linguistic knowledge and communicative abilities. The present paper attempts to investigate the conditions under which the acquisition of passive syntactic structures and morphological markers of tense can be maximized, and to examine differences in noticing and learning of syntactic structures vs. morphological markers of tense. On this account, the adult college students, who had enrolled for general English, were selected for the study. They were assigned to three classes, and each class received one of the three different types of instructions: non- enhanced (NoFonF), enhanced (implicit FonF), and enhanced plus practice (explicit FonF). Results of the study revealed that explicit FonF group performed significantly better than the implicit FonF group. The study argues for the adoption of a particular type of explicit instruction – one which promotes noticing andunderstanding of the target linguistic features.

Pomegranate is cultivated in many regions of Iran. Due to the pomegranate sensitivity to the Carob moth, it is necessary to develop new cultivars that tolerate the Carob moth (Spectrobates ceratoniae). To induce a genetic variation in the plant, breeding is considered as an essential factor. Mutation breeding is a very effective and beneficial approach for promoting the genetic diversity and developing new varieties of fruit trees and agricultural plants. This study aimed to determine the proper gamma irradiation dose. Accordingly, some cleavage of one year old branches of the pomegranate was used. The survival of bud cuttings in different gamma ray doses was investigated. The gamma ray doses included 12 zero to 120 Gy (0, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110 and 120). The experimental design was arranged as a completely randomized one with 12 treatments. The survival rate showed a significant difference at 1% between various doses of gamma-irradiation in comparison to the control samples and the irradiation dose. A liner regression was estimated between the survival rate and gamma ray doses. According to the irradiation dose of LD50, (45 Gy) 36 Gy was determinate as a suitable gamma dose rate during the experiment.