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Life table of almond moth, Cadra cautella Walker was studied on four main dry and semi-dry date palm varieties (Deyri, Zahedi, Piarom, and Rabbi) of Iran under laboratory conditions. Data were analyzed based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. Duration of total preadult stages was 42.54, 45.79, 51.48 and 50.41 days on Deyri, Zahedi, Piarom, and Rabbi, respectively. The highest fecundity of female almond moth on date palm varieties was 245.29 eggs on Zahedi. The intrinsic rate of increase (r_m) on different varieties of date palm ranged from 0.069 d^-1 (on Piarom) to 0.105 d^-1 (on Deyri). The highest net reproductive rate (R₀) was on Deyri (95.81 offspring) and the lowest value was on Rabbi variety (42.37 offspring). Our results showed that the highest r_m, the largest fecundity and the shortest generation time of almond moth were observed on Deyri variety. It was concluded that among date palm varieties, Deyri was the most favorable host plant for almond moth reproduction performance.

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Aim: Effective communication has a key role in nursing profession. Furthermore, controlling emotions as a part of communication skills has an important role in initiating and maintaining healthy social communications. The meaning of emotional intelligence is also effected considerably by the importance of this aspect of social communications. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of emotional intelligence training on the communication skills of final-year nursing students of Islamic Azad University, Isfahan branch (Khorasgan) in 2014. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was done with semester 7 and 8 undergraduate (nursing) 77 students. Data were collected by Bar-On Emotional Intelligence Test and Queen-Dom Communication Skills Test. Initially, the questionnaires were completed by the students; then the emotional intelligence workshop was held in 6 sessions’ each took 45 minutes. After a month, again both questionnaires were completed by the students. Analysis of results was performed by descriptive statistics (frequency, mean, middle and standard deviation) and analytic statistics (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Wilcoxon and Spearman correlation coefficient) in the SPSS software (version 19). Findings: Difference of communication skills’ scores before and after the intervention had a significant level (p=0.001), and the scores increased after the intervention significantly. Conclusion: Emotional intelligence training has a positive impact on communication skills of nursing students. So holding emotional intelligence workshops in one of the university alternatively annually for nursing students is recommended.

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Aim: Psychosocial problems override in patients with type 2 diabetes than healthy individuals. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression, stress and anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes as well as their association with demographic factors.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 201 patients with type 2 diabetes were incorporated using convenience sampling method from the Tehran-based Dornian Care Clinic. The instrument consisted of the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS). The collected data were analyzed in the SPSS software (ver. 16) at the significance level of 0.05.
Findings: In this study, there were 25% male and 75% female participants, with a mean age of 47 years. In terms of education level, they had high school diploma. The prevalence rate of depression, stress and anxiety was 83.1%, 78.1% and 96%, respectively. There was no significant association between stress and age. Depression, anxiety and stress correlated significantly with education level. There was also a significant relationship between anxiety and diabetes complications. Nevertheless, there were no significant relationships between anxiety, stress and depression and the demographic factors of age, duration of diabetes and marital status.
Conclusion: Given the high prevalence of depression, stress and anxiety in patients with type 2 diabetes, it seems necessary to administer a screening program for mental disorders. Provision of psychiatric consultation also appears beneficial.

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Aim: Diabetes mellitus and the patients’ need for self-care may bring several challenges in the daily life of diabetic patients. This necessitates the obligation to adopt coping strategies against stress in order to adjust with the governing conditions. The purpose of this study was to explore coping styles in type 2 diabetic patients and their potential associations with demographic factors.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytic study, 201 patients with type 2 diabetes were incorporated from the Tehran-based Dornian Care Clinic and evaluated using the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS). Data analysis was performed using SPSS software (ver. 16) at the significance level of 0.05.
Findings: The diabetic patients in this study adopted avoidant (72.1%), emotion-oriented (17.9%), and problem-based (10%) coping strategies. While problem-oriented and emotion-oriented strategies correlated with gender, avoidant style did not. Married individuals used avoidant strategies more than singles. There was a significant relationship only between the use of problem-solving strategies and education level. Also there was a significant relationship between the complications of diabetes and adoption of problem-oriented strategies.
Conclusion: According to the results of this study, diabetic patients have hard times in the face of stresses of life events and the subsequent challenges of their disease. Counseling seems beneficial in order for effective teaching of coping strategies to diabetic patients.

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Background: Along with rapid economic growth, many natural regions, meadows, farms, etc. have been converted into unbridled urban areas. Urban development converts natural areas into districts full of buildings leading to disrupted ecological balance of the ecosystem. The carrying capacity (CC) of urban ecosystems needs to be estimated because they require large amounts of materials and energy as well as the ability of pollutant absorption in a small location. The amount of material and energy used in cities may be more than of that provided by urban CC. High consumption rate is associated with high levels of contamination that transcends the UCC. Therefore, the CC of the urban environment and its population capacity must be evaluated for urban development planning.
Materials and Methods: In this study, UCC load number within the pressure-state-impact-response (PSIR) framework and 20 indicators were used to evaluate the CC and pressure on the urban ecosystem of Semnan.
Results: According to the results, the load number in the district 1 was equal to 180.05with a low to moderate pressure on the urban ecosystem. The load numbers in districts 2 and 3 were respectively 230.41 and 272.86 imposing a moderate to high pressure on urban ecosystem.
Conclusions: Because of the greater population density in the District 3, materials and energy consumption and waste production was higher leading to a higher pressure on the urban ecosystem.

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Understanding the spatial dynamics of insect distributions provides useful information about their ecological requirements and can also be used in site-specific pest management programs. Interactions between prey and predator are spatially and temporally dynamic and can be affected by several factors. In this study, geostatistics was used to characterize the spatial variability of spotted alfalfa aphid, Therioaphis maculata Buckton and coccinellid lady beetles in alfalfa fields. Global positioning and geographic information systems were used for spatial sampling and mapping the distribution pattern of these insects. This study was conducted in three alfalfa fields with areas of 7.3, 3.1 and 0.5 ha and two growing seasons, 2013 and 2014. The 0.5 ha field was divided into 10 × 10m grids and 3.1 and 7.3 ha fields were divided into 30 × 30m grids. Weekly sampling began when height of alfalfa plants reached about 15cm and was continued until the cuttings of alfalfa hay. For sampling, 40 and 10 stems were chosen randomly in 30 × 30m and 10 × 10m grids, respectively and shaken into a white pan three times. Aphids and coccinellids fallen in the pan were counted and recorded. Semivariance analysis indicated that distribution of T. maculata and coccinellids was aggregated in the fields. Comparison of the distribution maps of aphid and lady beetles indicated that there was an overlap between the maps, but they did not coincide completely. This study revealed that relationship between spotted alfalfa aphid and lady beetles was spatially dynamic. These results can be used in biological control and site-specific management programs of T. maculata.
 

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Thrips species injurious to grapes are known as pests in vineyards all over the world and belong to the main pests of grapes in West Azarbaijan, Iran. In this study, thrips species occurring in West Azarbaijan vineyards were identified and the predominant species documented according to their relative abundance at different growth stages. The seasonal abundance of predominant species was investigated by means of yellow sticky trap catches and weekly sampling from vegetative and reproductive organs of vines. Five species including: Rubiothrips vitis (Priesner), Thrips tabaci Lindeman, Tenothrips discolor (Karny), Tenothrips reichardti (Priesner), and Limothrips angulicornis Jablonowski, were collected and identified. R. vitis, constituting 92 and 66 percent of the thrips population on vegetative and reproductive organs, respectively, was found to be predominant. T. tabaci was not found on vegetative organs, but it was found to constitute 32 percent of the thrips found on reproductive organs (flowers). The two species R.vitis and T. reichardti are new records for the Iranian fauna. The number of adult thrips caught by sticky traps was positively correlated with the density of the adults on vegetative (buds and leaves) and reproductive (flower) organs in the first and second generations, respectively.

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Background: Infectious agents are considered as one of the possible etiological factors of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It has been suggested that torque teno virus (TTV) may trigger autoimmune disorders, but few studies have been conducted on the relationship between this virus and autoimmune diseases, especially SLE. The present study aimed to evaluate the association between TTV frequency and SLE.
Materials & Methods: Serum samples were collected from a total of 116 participants, including 58 healthy people and 58 SLE patients who referred to the rheumatology clinic of Shahid-Beheshti hospital in Kashan, Iran from January 2020 to January 2021. After the extraction of viral DNA from the samples, a nested PCR test was performed using specific primers to detect TTV.
Findings: TTV was detected in 43 SLE patients (74.1%, 95% CI: 63.4-86.2) and 33 healthy individuals (56.9%, 95% CI: 44.1-69.0). A significant correlation was found between SLE and the presence of TTV (r= .32, p= .03). There was no correlation between the presence of TTV and musculoskeletal involvements, skin lesions, renal manifestations, and hematological manifestations (r< .05, p> .05). TTV was detected more frequently in patients with active lupus than in patients with quiescent disease, and this difference was significant (p= .048).
Conclusion: A significant association between TTV and SLE was observed in the present study; however, further studies are needed to investigate the role of TTV in the pathogenesis and clinical course of SLE.

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The aim of this study was to isolate and identify a-amylase-producing bacteria present in mangrove ecosystems on Qeshm Island, Hormozgan, Iran. Samples of mangrove leaves and roots were screened for a-amylase activity using Lugol’s solution. Crude extracts were prepared of positive samples, and their a-amylase activity was determined by the Bernfeld method. The two strains with the highest activity were identified by molecular analysis of their 16S rRNA genes. a-Amylase production and activity were optimized by varying temperature and pH. 46 bacterial strains were isolated from mangrove tree leaf and root samples. Of these, 28 strains were capable of producing a-amylase. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of two strains with the highest enzyme production identified them as Bacillus sp. strain HR10 and Bacillus sp. strain HR11. The optimum temperature for enzyme production was 35 and 30 °C for strains HR10 and HR11, respectively, and the optimum pH was pH 8 for both strains. The highest enzyme activity was observed at 70 °C and 60 °C for the HR10 and HR11 strains, respectively, and the optimum pH was pH 8 for both strains. In conclusion, we have shown that bacteria isolated from mangrove leaf and root samples are potential source of a-amylases, tolerating a wide range of temperature and pH. Such a-amylases may be of interest for use in environmentally friendly industries.

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In a marine environment, the biofilm formed on the submerged surfaces leads to fouling of larger organisms. This leads to many environmental and economic problems for the marine industries. Due to the harmful effects of chemical antifouling, the development of environmentally friendly anti-biofilm strategies can be an important step to control fouling.
Therefore, the present study was performed with the aim of isolation of biofilm-forming bacteria from Persian Gulf waters and investigating the antimicrobial effect of thymol against selected bacteria.82 bacterial were isolated and their ability to form biofilm was measured. Among these, 5 isolates were selected and identified using 16S rRNA sequences. The results showed that the 5 selected isolates belonged to the Proteobacteria (genus Vibrio, Kangiella and Psudoaltromonas). In the study of the antibacterial effect of thymol, K. spongicola (PH1) showed the highest sensitivity in disk diffusion method (with a growth inhibition zone diameter of 18 ± 0.57 mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration (at 31.5 and 62.5 μg /ml, respectively) were obtained against the same bacterium. The inhibitory thymol on biofilm formation and performed biofilm by Psudoaltromonas sp. (PH18) showed that thymol at concentrations sub-MIC is able to inhibit biofilm formation. The effect of thymol on the performed biofilm at concentrations higher than MIC is noticeable. Based on the results, due to the anti-biofilm activity of thymol against marine bacteria, its use as a natural compound in antifouling coatings can be suggested.

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The present study aimed to develop our understanding of various aspects of EFL teachers’ perceptions of professional development in Iran using mixed-methods design. After a review of current literature and questionnaires, in the qualitative phase of the study, interviews were conducted with 12 EFL teachers and teaching experts. The data obtained from the interviews was subject to content analysis and the results revealed 4 major themes. In the quantitative phase, based on the findings of the qualitative phase and the supporting literature, a 74-item questionnaire was constructed and administered to 250 participants, after pilot testing and reviewing of the items. The quantitative data was analyzed through Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a 4-factor structure was identified. After modifications in the questionnaire, the final version of the questionnaire was administered again to the participants and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) confirmed the construct validity of the EFL TPPD questionnaire and the four components. The results revealed that professional development activities, benefits, needs and barriers are the major dimensions of Iranian EFL teachers’ perceptions of professional development. The proposed model can have theoretical and practical contributions to EFL teacher professional development.

 

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The volatility of essential oils and their instability against environmental factors limit their use. However, encapsulating these compounds in polymeric nanoparticles can significantly increase their half-life and make their use possible for longer periods. Chitosan, a biodegradable polymer with controlled release and low toxicity, is one of the polymers utilized in the encapsulation of essential oils. As a result, the present study was carried out with the aim of nanoencapsulation of carvacrol and thymol in chitosan using ionic gelation method and the concentration of chitosan (0.1-0.3%), TPP concentration (0.2-0.1%) and concentration of essential oil (0.1-0.2%) as three variables. The mean particle size of chitosan nanoparticles was optimized using response surface methodology and central composite design. The size and polydispersity index (PDI) were determined by DLS, essential oil loading confirmation was evaluated by FTIR, and the spectrophotometric method was used to measure the encapsulation efficiency. Then, the results of the optimization of nanoparticle synthesis were investigated. The optimum conditions for the synthesis of chitosan-thymol nanoparticles and achieving a size of 101 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 72%, a concentration of 0.11% chitosan, 0.19% TPP and 0.14% thymol were determined. In the case of chitosan-carvacrol nanoparticles, a concentration of 0.13% chitosan, 0.19% TPP and 0.15% carvacrol resulted in the formation of nanoparticles with a size of 95 nm and an encapsulation efficiency of 65%. In general, the results demonstrated the ability of the response surface methodology to predict the particle size and PDI of chitosan nano-formulations containing carvacrol and thymol.

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Aim: Gastric cancer is the second common cause of cancer death worldwide. Cytokines are mediators of peptides that are involved in the regulation of immunological responses, inflammatory systemic responses, and repair responses to risk factors. Interleukins are cytokines that are produced on other lymphocytes. Interleukin-10, is one of the body's most important interleukin that to inhibit inflammatory and immune responses. Different polymorphisms are found in the promoter region of interleukin 10 gene, which by changing the rate of this gene expression, could been altered its function. In this present research, was studied of relation between (-1082G/A) polymorphism in interleukin 10 gene and gastric cancer.

Material and methods: Two groups consist of 50 patients and 50 controls, were selected as the study samples population and were taken blood samples from them. Next DNA extraction from samples, genotyping of this polymorphism was used by Tetra-ARMS-PCR. Then was analyzed the results.

Results: Samples genotyping was showed frequency of A and G alleles 74% and 26%, in patient groups and in control groups 68% and 32%, respectively. There was a significant association between GG genotype in this polymorphism and gastric cancer (P=0.013).

Conclusion: This study results shown that can be used (-1082G/A) polymorphism in interleukin 10 gene as a molecular biomarker for gastric cancer in Iranian patients’ population.

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The art of carpet weaving has undergone changes during the course of history. This ancient art has gradually found its place among other branches of art due to its artistic and consumer characteristics. The art of carpet weaving has heavily influenced other fields like painting for its elegant ornamentation. This paper will elaborate on the widespread relations between Persian and Italian art during 8-11/14-17 centuries; hence, the influence of the ornamentation of Persian rugs on Italian painting will be analyzed. There are several questions to which this paper seeks to answer throughout the article. 1- What were the cultural, political and trading backgrounds of the import of Persian rugs to Italy during 14th -17th centuries? 2- What are the common patterns of Persian rugs reflected in Italian paintings? The data were competed through available historical documents and images.

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In this study, the strain ratcheting behavior of piping branch under the influence dynamic bending moments are evaluated. The Chaboche nonlinear kinematic hardening model and combined Armstrong-Fredrick model with isotropic rule are used to predict the plastic behavior of the piping branches. The results of FE method by using the hardening models have been compared with the results of the experimental method and Armstrong-Fredrick kinematic hardening results. The constant parameters of the hardening model and stress-strain data have been obtained from several stabilized cycles of specimens that are subjected to simulated seismic bending cycles. Both the FE and experimental results showed that the maximum strain ratcheting occurred on the flanks in the piping branch hoop stress direction just above the junction. The ratcheting strain rate increases with increase of the dynamic moment levels. The FE results show that initial rate of ratcheting is large and then it decreases with the increasing of loading cycles. In BMS1 sample, the FE hoop strain ratcheting data by using chaboche nonlinear kinematic hardening model comparing with the other hardening models to be near that found experimentally values. In BMS2 and BMS3 components, the FE hoop strain ratcheting data by using chaboche nonlinear kinematic hardening model and combined hardening model comparing with the A-F hardening model to be near that found experimentally values. The hoop strain ratcheting rate by Armstrong-Fredrick model gives overestimated values comparing with the experimental data.

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Today, saturated and trans fatty acids are one of the most important potential health limitations of consuming prepared foods. Fast foods are widely consumed by adults and children due to their quick preparation and the popularity of the taste. As a result, it is very important to control the amount of saturated and trans fatty acids in fast foods. The city of Tehran was divided into five regions: north, south, west, east and center, and from each region, three types of fast food, including mixed pizza, falafel and Chicken nuggets, and three samples from each fast food (a total of 45 samples from 45 different grocery stores were randomly selected). In this study, the concentration of trans fatty acids was calculated as a percentage by Agilent7890A gas chromatography. The average of saturated fatty acids in falafel fast food, mixed pizza and chicken nuggets were 18.02, 36.35 and 19.11 g / 100g, respectively. The average trans acids of chicken nugget fast food, mixed pizza and falafel were 0.36, 0.71 and 0.06 g / 100g, respectively. The difference between different regions of Tehran was not significant in terms of saturated and trans fatty acid content (P> 0.05). Consumption of trans fatty acids through fast food in Tehran is appropriate in comparison with international standards. The lower risk factors than the global standards in this study is due to the low per capita consumption of fast food in Iran (IR = 4 g / day).

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Evaluation of probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from fermented pseudocereals has crucial importance to prepare microbial cultures. In the present study, after molecular identification, probiotic properties of the predominant LAB isolate were investigated. Sequencing results of the PCR products led to the identification of Lactobacillus brevis SKA01 as the predominant LAB. The survival of the LAB isolate after continues treatment of acid and bile reached to 10⁶ compared to the control sample (10⁸ CFU/mL), and it showed the highest antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus. Meanwhile, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between inhibitory zone diameter of the S. aureus and Listeria monocytogenes in the present of the LAB isolate.  LAB isolate was capable of good auto-aggregation (36.19%) and co-aggregation with S. aureus (71.24%), and it had no hemolytic activity. Furthermore, it was resistant to most of the tested antibiotics. By considering the proper probiotic potentials of the L. brevis isolated from fermented amaranth, it is possible to use the isolate as microbial starter or probiotic culture in fermentation industries.

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In this research, the effect of condensation process (evaporation) on bioactive compounds and qualitative characteristics of thin syrup and thick syrup during beet harvest was investigated. The phenolic and anthocyanin properties of the dilute syrup and the quality characteristics investigated were brix, purity and color of the solution. For this purpose, from the beginning of October to the end of January 2019, samples were taken for thin syrup from the last stage of the purification process and for thick syrup from the last stage of the concentration process, and all the chemical tests related to measuring the characteristics The qualitative data of this study was based on ICUMSA reference book. In dilute syrup, the amount of bioactive compound anthocyanin was constant during the time of beet harvest, there was a significant difference in the amount of total phenol in the first and fourth months, but there was a significant difference in the amount of protein in the first, third and fourth months. He didn't have either. The highest brix of dilute syrup was 13.14% in the first and second months, and its degree of purity increased from the beginning to the end of the harvest season. The highest color of dilute syrup solution was observed in the third and fourth months of harvesting. Thick syrup had the highest Brix (53% on average) in the first and second months, and this syrup had a high soluble color at the time of harvesting, except for the second month. The results of this research show the accuracy of the filtration and evaporation processes in order to remove as much impurities as possible in the raw syrup extracted from sugar beet.