Search

The present paper deals with the perception of Iranian EFL teachers and learners in using humor in language classrooms. To this end, 10 English classes with a population of 70 female and male students and 5 male and female teachers in English language institutes in Esfahan were observed during spring and summer 2019. Using an ethnographic approach, the data were collected through observation and interview. The results showed that both teachers and learners had a positive attitude towards the use of L2 humor in the classroom. Language learners reasoned that having a sense of humor is one of the important qualities a language teacher should possess. The teachers and language learners acknowledged the positive effects of humor such as reducing the distance between teachers and learners, lowering learners' anxiety, boosting learners' retention of the lesson, as well as increasing their concentration and motivation. Moreover, language learners showed a preference for the use L2 humor, course-related humor, and L1 norm-oriented types of humor in their classroom.

Introduction: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only definitive curative option for β‐major thalassemia patients (β‐MT). Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a pervasive neurological complication which typically occurs following HSCT. β‐MT patients are prone to a higher PRES incidence due to long‐term immunosuppression; thus, it is imperative that these patients are closely monitored for PRES after HSCT. Patients and methods: We included 148 pediatric patients with β‐MT who underwent HSCT between March 2015 and August 2022 in Children's Medical Center. Patients in this study were divided into two groups. The association between PRES and class of β‐MT and other risk factors were assessed and the overall survival rate was determined. Results: Fourteen out of 112 patients (12%) with class I and II β‐MT developed PRES. However, PRES occurred in 11 out of 36 patients (30.5%) with β‐MT‐III. Our results indicated that there was a significant association between class III β‐MT and the occurrence of (P =.004). Additionally, acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD) occurred in 80% and 44.7% of patients in the PRES and non‐PRES groups, respectively (P =.001). The results of the Kaplan‐Meier analysis revealed that the 5‐year overall survival (OS) was 75.6% in the PRES group versus 95% in the non‐PRES group, which was statistically significant (P =.001). Conclusion: Based on our results, pediatric β‐MT III patients are at a higher risk of developing PRES. Additionally, pediatric β‐MT patients with a history of aGVHD, regardless of disease class, are more likely to develop PRES. Considering these results, PRES has a higher chance of being the etiology of symptoms and should be considered more often in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the new approach to the supply chain, the emphasis is on securing the benefits of all the categories in the chain and providing ways to improve the performance of the chain in order to achieve the desired goal. Due to the production of people's daily commodities and the low durability of some products, supply is important because supply and demand must be proportionate. This case study was conducted on tomato crop and selecting the model of contract of sale of agricultural products to wholesalers in order to maximize the whole supply chain profit. By reviewing the literature on supply chain contracts, 5 coordinated contract models were identified and tested through an empirical experiment on the supply chain wholesalers. The results of the experiment compared to the optimum value determined by the newsvendor model show that the order value received in each of the contracts did not reach the optimum value (280). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Helicobacter pylori vacA genotypes play an important role in the pathogenesis of severe gastrointestinal disease. Materials and Methods We identified a novel polymorphic site in the 3ʹ-end region of H. pylori vacA gene, denoted by c1/-c2 (c1: with deletion of 15 bp), and examined associations of this and the previous four sites as well as cagA status with gastroduodenal diseases, in a total of 217 Iranian H. pylori isolates. Histopathologic evaluations were performed and patients with gastric cancer ( GC) were further classified based on the anatomic site of tumor, including cardia and noncardia GC, and the histopathologic type of tumor, including intestinal- and diffuse-type GC. Results The vacA m1, i1, d1, c1 , and cagA genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of GC, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 4.29 (2.03-9.08), 6.11 (2.63-14.19), 3.18 (1.49-6.76), 15.13 (5.86-39.01), and 2.59 (1.09-6.12), respectively. The vacA c1 genotype had an increased age- and sex-adjusted risk for GC by the multiple logistic regression analysis; the OR was 38.32 (95% CI, 6.60-222.29). This association was independent of and larger than the associations of the m-, i-, and d -type of vacA or cagA status with GC. No significant correlation was found between s1, whether independently or in combination, and the risk of GC or peptic ulcer disease ( PUD). The vacA i1 and cagA genotypes were linked to an increased risk of PUD; the OR (95% CI) was 2.80 (1.45-5.40) and 2.62 (1.23-5.61), respectively. The presence of both the vacA i1 and cagA genotypes further increased the risk of PUD; the OR was 5.20 (95% CI, 1.92-14.03). Conclusion The H. pylori vacA c1 genotype might therefore be one of the strongest risk predictors of GC in male patients aged ≥55 in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Helicobacter pylori has been classified as the class I carcinogenic agent by world health organization. Colonization of the human stomach with H. pylori is a risk factor for gastroduodenal diseases. The secreted vacA toxin is an important H. pylori virulence factor that causes multiple alterations in gastric epithelial cells and T cells. Several families of vacA alleles have been described, and H. pylori strains containing certain vacA types (s1 and m1) are associated with an increased risk of gastric disease, compared to strains containing other vacA types (s2 and m2). We examined the association between H. pylori vacA s alleles and gastroduodenal diseases in Iran. Methods: A total of 149 H. pylori strains were obtained from patients with gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer referring to endoscopy units of several cities in Iran. Biopsy culture and DNA extraction were performed and the frequency of vacA s alleles was investigated by using PCR amplification. Linear regression and binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between vacA (vacuolating cytotoxin A) s alleles and gastroduodenal diseases. Results: There was no significant association between the frequency of vacA s alleles and gastroduodenal diseases (gastritis or peptic ulcer disease and gastric adenocarcinoma (P> 0.05)). Conclusion: It is proposed that the H. pylori vacA s1 genotype could not be considered as an important determinant of gastroduodenal diseases in Iranian population and probably if s1 allele is associated with other virulence alleles of this gene, it will cause diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]