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Subterranean termites are one of the most important pests of buildings, historic monuments and agricultural crops in some parts of Iran. Using entomopathogenic fungi as microbial insecticides is usually a part of biological control and insect pest management. The pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (DEMI 001) isolated from Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver) was compared against two subterranean termites, Amitermes vilis (Hagen) and Microcerotermes gabrielis (Weidner) under laboratory conditions. Suspensions of the fungus spores at five concentrations of 10¹, 10², 10³, 10⁴, 10⁶ spores ml^-1 were prepared to define LC50 and LT50. To determine LC50 and LT50 of M. anisopliae, bioassays were carried out on worker casts of both termite species. LC50 values for A. vilis and M. gabrielis were 8.5 × 10³ and 0.2 × 10² spores ml^-1, respectively. LT50 value for M. gabrielis was shorter than that of A. vilis at all five concentrations tested. According to the results of the bioassay, M. anisopliae was more effective for controlling M. gabrielis than that for A. vilis.

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In this study, first using documentary research method, the nature of language in the web-based electronic communication, besides different methods of improving communicative and linguistics competence in teaching languages online, were investigated. Then considering the importance of language faculties' familiarity with the role of computer-based teaching in the development of linguistic competence and communicative skills necessary for translating or teaching all foreign languages (esp. Persian to non-natives), a descriptive survey method was used to investigate the familiarity of foreign language faculties with the strategies and technologies used in e-teaching-learning process applied in teaching languages online. The results of the 68 questionnaires filled in by English, French, German and Persian faculties of seven universities offering classical and virtual programs indicated that most of language faculties are not familiar with web-based strategies and techniques in teaching or learning foreign languages. Considering the need of our country for the experts who are able to communicate with the scientific scholarly networks in the world to obtain or transfer related knowledge and those who are able to use at least one international language of their fields thoroughly, planning an online faculty training program can be an essential measure to improve teaching or translating foreign languages at the academic level and also lead Persian language to find its proper position in the cultural, educational and scientific world networks.

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Leaf and root explants from 10 to 20 day– old seedlings of Plantago lanceolata, were cultured on MS, MSH, NT and B5 basal media with various concentrations of different plant growth regulators. The best callus induction was obtained with 0.4 mgl-1 2,4-D in MSH I with 400 callus index. Callus growth was significantly stimulated (P=0.05)with 0.8 mgl-1 2,4-D and 0.1 mgl-1 Kin in MSH II, with 799 mg fresh weight and 79 mg dry weight. A higher production of mucilage was obtained in MSH II. The mucilage content of different media varied from 10.40 to 14.73% dry weight. Perusal of the data reveals significant differences with regard to the total mucilage content. Callus has nearly 3 times and 1.5 times more mucilage than seeds and leaf and root parts respectively.

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Aims: Being important both economically and in terms of protection, Luciobarbus capito is at risk of extinction. There are very few studies about the fish of Shahid Rajaee dam and the Tajan River. A significant number of Luciobarbus capitos is present in the dam and upstream. The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the growth characteristics and nutritional strategies of Luciobarbus capito in reservoir behind the Shahid Rajaee dam, Sari.
Materials & Methods: The present experimental study was carried out on 180 Luciobarbus capitos in Shahid Rajaee dam, Sari during 4 seasons of 2014 to 2015. The samples were fixed in formalin 10% and the biological and nutritional factors related to growth were investigated. The data were analyzed with SYSTAT 9 and Excel 2003 software.
Findings: The sex ratio of males to females was 1.14/1. The growth pattern of this allometric species was negative (w=0.015×L2.888; b=2.888). In males, allometric was positive and in females, allometric was negative. The mean length and weight of male and female had a significant difference (p<0.05), and the relationship between length and weight in fish was progressive. This species approaches the maximum predicted length with a growth rate of 0.1; the maximum estimated length for fish was 138.6 cm. Nutritional behavior index for under 4 years group showed a herbal diet (RLG=2.4±0.1) and, after puberty, it was inclining to a whole foods diet (RLG=1.2±0.6).
Conclusion: The allometric growth pattern is a negative for Luciobarbus capito, and in all seasons, it has a whole foods diet. 
 

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Aims: Due to the high consumption of Pickhandle Barracuda, it is necessary to prepare its amino acid profile. The aim of this study was to investigate the proximate composition and amino acid profile of Pickhandle Barracuda and Yellowtail Barracuda fillet in autumn and spring.
Materials & Methods: The present experimental study was carried out on Pickhandle Barracuda and Yellowtail Barracuda in autumn and spring. The fish were equivalently divided in 2 groups of male and female in 3 clusters, each containing 7 fish. The total amino acid composition was performed by liquid chromatography. The data were analyzed by GRAPHPAD-PRISM 5 software, using unpaired T test.
Findings: In two species, moisture in autumn was higher than spring, but, compared to autumn, the amount of fat, protein, and total ash had a significant difference in spring. In spring, the essential/nonessential (E/NE) amino acid ratio and aromatic amino acids did not have any significant differences in two species, but other measures had significant differences. In autumn, the E/NE ratio and acidic amino acids did not have any significant differences. Chemical indices were more than 1 based on the needs of the adult human. In two species, Leucine showed depletion in the range of 2 to 5 years in autumn and spring.
Conclusion: Both species have a higher moisture in autumn, but the amount of fat, protein, and total ash in spring is higher than autumn. The most common amino acids in both seasons are Glutamic acid and Aspartic acid. Regarding the essential amino acids, there is no depletion in adult human necessity in two species in two seasons. Based on the needs of children aged 2 to 5 years, Leucine has depletion in both species.

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Backgrounds: Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite of increasing concern to humans and animals. Considering the side effects of drugs used to treat toxoplasmosis, it is essential to find alternative drugs.
Materials & Methods: In this study, colchicine and propranolol at four concentrations (1, 5, 10, and 15 µg/mL) were added to the RPMI medium containing peritoneal macrophages and incubated for 60 min, Then tachyzoites were added to the medium, and the efficacy rates of colchicine and propranolol in inhibiting tachyzoites entry into macrophages were evaluated after 30 and 60 min. For in vivo assay, one group received no drugs, and the second group was treated with colchicine and propranolol at different concentrations for different durations.
Findings: The in vitro experiment showed that treatment with 15 mg/mL of colchicine and propranolol for 60 min following tachyzoites addition was the most efficient method to inhibit tachyzoites penetration, indicating the efficacy rates of 80.20%±1.20 and 89.97%±1.30, respectively (p< .05). Based on the in vivo test, pretreatment with 2 mg/kg of colchicine one hour before tachyzoites injection had the best inhibitory effect (70.32%±4.07). Also, pretreatment with 2 mg/kg of propranolol 90 min before tachyzoites injection (78.54%±1.99) induced the best inhibitory effect (p< .05).
Conclusion: According to the results, colchicine and propranolol could inhibit tachyzoites entrance into nucleated cells in vitro and in vivo. In this study, the most efficient concentrations and times for using these substances were determined.
 

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Background: In this comprehensive study, the prevalence of sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition, was investigated among 477 patients displaying sepsis symptoms.
Materials & Methods: A detailed questionnaire was used to capture the patients' demographic information and clinical treatment outcomes.The E-test method was employed to determine the susceptibility of Gram-positive bacteria to vancomycin and Gram-negative bacteria to cefepime, ceftriaxone, and imipenem.
Findings: Among the participants, 40 patients (8.6%) were diagnosed with septicemia, a condition whose prevalence significantly increased with age (p= .001). Out of 40 patients with positive blood cultures, 14 (35%) were infected by Gram-positive bacteria, while 26 (65%) were infected by Gram-negative bacteria. Acinetobacter lwoffii and Staphylococcus epidermidis were identified as the most common causes of sepsis among Gram-negative (30.7%) and Gram-positive (57.1%) bacteria, respectively Gram-negative bacteria exhibited the highest resistance to ceftriaxone (38.4%) and the highest susceptibility to imipenem (84.6%) in both laboratory and clinical settings. Gram-positive bacteria demonstrated the high susceptibility to vancomycin (78.5%), with only four patients exhibiting resistance to vancomycin in both laboratory and clinical settings. Encouragingly, there was a 77.5% concordance between laboratory and clinical antibiotic susceptibility testing results.
Conclusion: Based on these findings, vancomycin and imipenem are recommended as the preferred antibiotics for Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, respectively. Given the high concordance (77.5%) between laboratory and clinical results, it is suggested to perform antibiogram test using E-test method on blood culture isolates in septicemia cases to guide appropriate antibiotic treatment.

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Aims: COVID-19 Vaccination Hesitancy is a public health concern in the world. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of vaccination hesitancy and its relevant factors using the health belief model among people in northeast Iran.
Instrument & Methods: The present cross-sectional study examined 626 people using convenience sampling. Data were collected through an online survey using a questionnaire based on the health belief model at intervals of 10 September 2021 and 15 October 2021. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 16.
Findings: Overall, 70.6% of the samples reported that they would use the vaccine for free after it becomes available. Health belief model constructs predicted 40% of the variance of vaccination behavioral intention. The results indicated that the perceived barriers were significantly related to using the vaccine, thereby reducing the probability of using the vaccine by 10% (Relative Risk Ratio=0.90, 95% CI: 0.82-0.99). Perceived benefits (Relative Risk Ratio =1.21, 95% CI: 1.11-1.32), perceived susceptibility (Relative Risk Ratio =1.54, 95% Cl: 1.23-1.92), and behavioral intention (Relative Risk Ratio =3.06, 95% CI: 2.23-4.20) had a significant relationship with the probability of using the vaccine.
Conclusion: About one-third of the participants had COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy. Interventions are necessary to increase compliance with vaccination, especially among people with low education levels. The health belief model constructs have a high power of predicting hesitancy and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination and can be used in intervention programs.
 

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One of the areas in folk culture is to analyze the common rituals among the ethnic groups, and their ways of doing so. Rituals are some of the cultural and social issues of a particular culture, the employment of which requires certain manners and styles, which are of significance in folk culture studies. Some rituals are vast among some ethnicities, in that they are performed in different occasions, the analysis of which show the culture and beliefs in that ethnicity. As some of the rituals related to rain pray are particular to the northern Khorasan ethnic groups (Turks, Tarts, Turkeman, and Kermanj), the current study aimed to identify the rain pray rituals and their performative manners related to each ethnic group as well as their aims through library study and interviews. The findings figured out the types of rain pray rituals among the focused ethnic groups, and their performances in the ritual which are almost similar among them, such as puppetry, singing rain pray songs in group, distributing strew or votive bread, sacrifice, and saying prayers. Some of these symbols in rain pray are rooted in religious beliefs and some others in mythological notions. The role of women and children is significant in the performances. Although the ritual of rain pray is different on the surface among the ethnic groups, in total, all follow the same aim. Moreover, the people who were performing such rituals believed in them by heart.
 

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Poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a beneficial, biocompatible, and biodegradable biopolymer. These properties have been led to the development of the use of this compound in various industries such as bio-medicine, biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, and tissue engineering. The limitation of the industrial development of γ-PGA is the high cost of its production. To reduce γ-PGA production costs, various strategies are used, such as culture medium optimization using inexpensive compounds, the development of efficient cultivation processes of batch and fed-batch. In this research, first, an efficient batch culture medium was developed to produce γ-PGA of Bacillus licheniformis ATCC 9945^a. Then, the γ-PGA production increased by the pulsed feeding method and its optimization. By optimal culture medium development, the production of this product in batch culture was increased from 11 g/L to 47 g/L. Then, using the optimized pulsed feeding strategy of citrate (γ-PGA precursor), γ-PGA production was increased to 59.5 g/L, which is one of the highest production values reported with this strain. To optimize two-pulse feeding, the effect of feeding times, stock citrate solution concentration, and time of calcium and manganese solutions addition on γ-PGA production were investigated and optimized. Finally, FTIR confirmed the chemical structure of poly gamma glutamic acid, and the study of γ-PGA morphological properties with SEM showed a nanostructure ideal for biological applications.

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Free surface vortex formation phenomenon at intakes is one of the most important problems in the water withdrawal process. In the present study, the free surface vortex formation was experimentally investigated. Experiments were performed on a single intake with three common intake withdrawal directions (vertical, horizontal and with angle of 45°). One of the main objectives of present study was determination of the strength of vortices. The tangential velocity component of vortices was measured by an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV). The results indicated that, by varying the withdrawal angle from vertical to horizontal, the strength of vortices decreased by about 31%. Based on analyzing of experimental data, an empirical relationship between the circulation number and Froude number for various submergence depths was developed for each withdrawal direction. The critical submergence for an air entraining vortex at intakes was also investigated. The results indicated that the critical submergence was considerably affected by the changing of withdrawal direction. It could be concluded that the minimum of critical submergence was occurred at horizontal direction. Based on analysis of the experimental data for each withdrawal direction, an empirical equation was also obtained, which is used to calculate the critical submergence. The results also were compared and analyzed by other researcher’s investigations and showed satisfactory agreement.

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Dynamic modeling of beams under aerodynamic loading is extremely important in many engineering applications. So the objective of this paper is to present a new approach to model and simulate the time domain response of tapered cantilever beams with airfoil cross section to wind excitation. The extended Hamilton’s principles along with the Euler-Bernoulli assumptions are utilized to derive the Partial Differential Equation (PDE) governing the deflection of the beam. A new finite difference based algorithm is proposed for finding the mode-shapes as well as the natural frequencies of the beam. These mode-shapes are then used in a Galerkin projection procedure to convert the PDE governing the system’s behavior into strongly coupled nonlinear Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs). The aerodynamic loadings are modeled using the open source code of XFOIL. The blade of an under developed 100KW wind turbine is considered as a case study. The results reveal that even a single mode approximation is accurate enough in predicting the beam’s dynamic exposed to wind excitation. It was also observed that the instability speed of beams with higher modal damping is considerably higher than those with lower modal damping. The knowledge resulting from this effort is expected to enable the analysis, optimization, and synthesis of tapered cantilever beams for improved dynamic performance.

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Objective: Biodegradable polycaprolactone/starch composites can be used for bone tissue engineering applications. The effect of the ratio of components on composite properties is of tremendous importance. Methods: Polycaprolactone/starch composite of 80/20 and 70/30 ratios were fabricated by dissolving them in chloroform followed by evaporation of the solvent. Results: The composites were characterized by fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Their bioactivity was evaluated by studying the apatite formation ability after immersing the specimens in simulated body fluid. The results of compressive test on samples showed that the composite’s modulus and strength approximated that of human trabecular bone. Mass loss in distilled water and starch degradation rate in PBS was evaluated, which showed that the starch ratio was effective in composite degradation. MTT analysis and alkaline phosphatase levels showed that this composite had no toxicity and could increase G-299 cell line osteoblastic activities. Conclusion: The increase in cellular osteoblastic activities and the ability for apatite formation on the composite surface, in addition to the polycaprolactone/starch samples' mechanical properties shows their capability to be used as substitutes for bone. Because this composite degradation rate is controlled by changing the starch ratio, it has the potential for use in bone tissue engineering applications. Samples that have a 70/30 ratio are considered optimal due to their enhanced cellular response and better mechanical properties.

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One of the most frequently encountered cases of rapid varied flow is the hydraulic jump. Stilling basins are used to dissipate the excess kinetic energy of flow to ensure the safety of overflow spillway, chutes, sluices, pipe outlets etc. in this study the topic of block in stilling basins is investigation in a general approach and it’s effect on energy dissipation and downstream scouring are analyzed. In the present research, the energy dissipation and scouring phenomenon were studied in different hydraulic and geometric conditions. Moreover, the present paper was focused on the effect of presence of blocks as an effective parameter on energy dissipation on stilling basin performance. To analyze and assessment of formed hydraulic jump in the stilling basins, the experimental data of many recent researches were achieved and compared. It was concluded that presence of blocks has significant effect on energy dissipation from 1% to 34%. It is also shown that with increasing the Fr Number, the secondary depth increases and the using a rough bed causes reducing the secondary depth between 18% to 37% in comparison with smooth one. Moreover, installing a rough bed also reduced the length of hydraulic jump between 27% to 67%. Using block in the stilling basins, reduces the scouring depth from USBR standard recommendation. Finally, it was concluded that using blocks increased the efficiency of the stilling basin performance.

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The aim of this paper was to study the thermophoresis effect on the deposition of nano-particles from diesel engine exhaust after the dilution tunnel using a computational modeling approach. Dilution tunnel was used in order to dilute the exhaust gas to the extend that was suitable for the measurement systems. The Lagrangian particle tracking method was used to model the dispersion and deposition of nano-particles. For the range of studied particle diameters (from 5 to 500 nm), the Brownian, thermophoresis, gravity and Saffman Lift forces are considered. After verifying the code, the importance of different forces was evaluated. Due to the temperature gradient between the exhaust gas and the pipe walls, particular attention was given to include the thermophoresis force in addition to the other forces acting on nano-particles. The results showed that for the range of nano-particle diameters studied, the Brownian force was the dominant force for particle deposition. Furthermore, the thermophoresis force was important even for relatively low temperature gradient and cannot be ignorable especially for larger particles. The maximum thermophoresis effect occurred for 100 nm particles. The gravity had negligible effects on nano-particle deposition and can be ignorable for particles with diameter less than 500 nm. The Saffman lift also had negligible effects and its effect was noticeable only for the deposition of 500 nm particles. The results of this paper could provide an understanding of two-phase flow emission from diesel engines especially after the dilution tunnel.

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In the present study, free surface vortex dynamic was experimentally investigated in a horizontal intake. Air entrainment rate into the intake due to the air-core vortices was also discussed. The results presented are the relationship between the vortex type and the intake hydraulic parameters, general pattern of surface displacement of the vortex core and its relation with the vortex type, the required time duration to fully development of the vortex core, and finally evaluation of the vortex induced air entrainment rate. In this research by defining intake number as intake Froude number over the intake relative submergence, a relationship was established between the vortex type and the intake number. Moreover, it was shown that while the intake number increases, surface instability of the vortex core decreases, in which, for the intake numbers greater than one, surface movement of the vortex core is limited to an area of the twice of the intake diameter. Then, another relationship was also established between the time requirement of the vortex air-core formation and the intake number, and it was shown that there will be an exponentially decrease in the mentioned time scale, while the intake number increases. In this context, a relationship was suggested and compared with one of previous works. In the last section, the dependency between air entrainment rate due to the air-core vortices and the intake number was considered, and another relationship was also suggested and compared with previous works.