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Achievement of a positive identity and its transition to adulthood is the most important task of the adolescent era. This cross-sectional explanatory mixed-method study sought to better understand barriers to identity development in female adolescents in Iran by explaining their own experiences and using a Positive Youth Development model as a framework. A total of 573 female secondary-school students were recruited through multistage sampling and were asked to complete the questionnaire of Developmental Assets Profile (DAP). Positive identity in DAP consists of four assets (personal power, self-esteem, a positive view of the personal future, and sense of purpose). Quantitative data analysis showed that among above mentioned four assets, personal power and self-esteem gained lower scores. A qualitative study held six individual interviews and two focused-group discussions were conducted to explain the barriers to personal power and self-esteem. Results showed that considering personal power, there were two categories as follows: (1) barriers to a sense of control over life and future (subcategories: being limited by failures, deprivation of liberty, and dissatisfaction from being excessively controlled by parents). (2) Barriers to adequately dealing with the challenges and problems (subcategories: expressing feelings inappropriately, isolation, and blaming). Barriers to self-esteem included categories of negative emotions due to weak academic performance, weak religious performance, weak communication with parents, and previous mistakes. The results of the present study highlighted the areas that need intervention in the field of promoting positive identity in adolescent girls and their parents.

Understanding how environmental factors shape patterns of genetic and phenotypic variations in a species is necessary for conservation and plant breeding. However, these factors have not yet been completely understood in tuberous orchid species used to make 'Salep', an important ingredient in traditional medicine and beverages in middle eastern countries and India. In many areas, increasing demand has pushed species to the brink of extinction. In this study, 198 genotypes from 18 populations of the endangered species Orchis mascula L. spanning a large-scale climatic gradient in northern Iran were used to investigate patterns of genetic diversity and plant functional traits. Populations were sampled from three land cover types (woodland, shrubland, and pastureland/grassland). Plant height, stem length, number of flowers, bulb fresh and dry weight, glucomannan, and starch concentrations showed high variation among populations and were significantly related to land cover type. In general, genetic diversity was high, particularly in those from eastern Hyrcanian; additionally, populations showed a high level of genetic differentiation (G'st = 0.35) with low gene flow (Nm = 0.46). The majority of genetic differentiation occurred within populations (49%) and land cover types (20%). The population structural analysis using the AFLP marker data in K = 4 showed a high geographical affinity for 198 O. mascula genotypes, with some genotypes having mixed ancestry. Temperature and precipitation were found to shape genetic and phenotypic variation profoundly. Significant isolation by the environment was observed, confirming the strong effect of environmental variables on phenotypic and genetic variation. Marker-trait association studies based on MLM1 and MLM2 models revealed significant associations of P-TGG + M-CTT-33 and E-AGG + M-CGT-22 markers with plant height and glucomannan content. Overall, a combination of large-scale climatic variables and land cover types significantly shaped genetic diversity and functional trait variation in O. mascula populations.

This study was conducted with the aim to design a parenting training program based on cognitive-emotional mediation and evaluating the effectiveness of this program on increasing mothers' literacy of interaction and children's cognitive modifiability in the field of metacognition and theory of mind. The curriculum was designed with a combination of parenting implications of mediated learning experience theory, developmental, individual differences relationship-based approach, and metacognitive approach. Twenty-five pairs of mother and child participated in the study voluntarily. The children were in the preschool age range (4-6). Mothers learned how to use mediation in daily interactions during 12 sessions of group theoretical training and one session of individual practical training. At the end of the training program, the mothers' literacy of interaction and the children's metacognition and theory of mind were assessed. The results of repeated measures-analysis showed that mothers' participation in the training program increased their literacy of interaction in four dimensions of communication, emotional, cognitive, and sending fundamental love messages. In addition, the implementation of training programs for mothers led to children's cognitive modifiability in the areas of planning, working memory, metacognition, and theory of mind.

Drought stress has devastating impacts on faba bean production, particularly with the current abrupt climate changes in arid environments. Hence, it is essential to identify drought-tolerant genotypes. The present study aimed at assessing six faba bean genotypes under three irrigation levels during two winter successive growing seasons (2018/2019 and 2019/2020). The applied irrigation levels were well-watered (every 4 days (D1), moderate drought every 8 days (D2), and severe drought 12 days (D3)) regimes. The analysis of variance exhibited highly significant differences among genotypes, irrigation treatments, and their interactions for all studied traits, except the number of pods plant−1 in the first season. Yield traits of all assessed genotypes decreased significantly with increasing drought stress. Otherwise, proline content (Pro) increased significantly with increasing drought stress. The genotypes Giza.843, Nubaria.2, and Nubaria.3 recorded the highest values of plant height, number of branches/plant, pods/plant, pods weight/plant, 100 seed weight, seed yield/plant, and seed yield/kg under drought stress. Similarly, the highest Pro was displayed by Giza.843 and Nubaria.3 under drought stress in both seasons. Furthermore, Giza.843, Nubaria.2, and Nubaria.3 genotypes had the highest values for most tolerant indices. Accordingly, these genotypes could be exploited in developing drought-tolerant and high-yielding faba bean genotypes in arid environments through breeding programs.

It is a fact that the performance of most crop genotypes varies across environments due to genotype‐environment interactions. Sharing knowledge about maize genotypes that are well‐adapted and high‐yielding in specific environments is essential for smallholder farmers to boost their productivity. A field trial was established in three locations during the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons to identify and select better‐adapted high‐yielding maize genotypes for production. A total of 10 improved varieties were evaluated using a randomized complete block design with three replications. The AMMI analysis of variance showed grain yield significantly (p ≤ 0.001) influenced by genotype‐environment interaction. This suggests that different genotypes showed varying grain yield performance across environments, implying the opportunity to choose effective genotypes suitable for both specific and broad adaptability. Moreover, the combined analysis of variance showed that genotype‐environment interaction significantly influenced plant height, ear height, dry biomass yield, and hundred‐kernel weight. The sum of squares factor explained that grain yield variation was contributed by the genotype (71.22%), followed by the environment (16.54%) and the genotype‐environment interaction effect (12.24%) of the total variation. Genotypes BH‐661, BH‐549, and BH‐546 demonstrated superior performance and stability, surpassing the national maize mean productivity and indicating broad adaptability. The AMMI analysis, GSI, and GGE biplot confirmed their robustness and high yield potential, especially for BH‐661 and BH‐549, making them optimal for variable conditions. Therefore, BH‐661 and BH‐549 are selected as stable genotypes for production in all agroecologies suitable for maize in the Dawuro zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]