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For decades, both researchers and EFL learners have been interested in native-like pronunciation. While extensive research has delved into a variety of pedagogical approaches and the complexity of English phonology, an unanswered question is how high-proficiency EFL learners achieve the elusive goal of native-like pronunciation in spoken English. To this end, this multiple-case study aimed to explore the multifaceted strategies employed by 15 high-proficiency EFL learners who had mastery in pronunciation and were selected using the maximum variation sampling method. Data was gathered through the use of diaries and in-depth semi-structured interviews. The data was analyzed with NVivo software version 10, and two main themes were extracted: teacher-directed (TD) and self-directed (SD) pronunciation learning strategies. Regarding the TD strategies, some participants (46%) acknowledged actively engaging with structured tasks and assignments facilitated by teachers. They highlighted the role of in-class (36%) and out-of-class (64%) activities in their journey to master pronunciation. The SD strategies were reported by about half of the participants (54%) in their quest for pronunciation mastery, which included self-talk (48%), podcast listening (29%), shadowing (12%), and reading aloud (11%). This study contributes valuable insights into relevant literature and offers evidence of the interconnectedness of TD and SD strategies in pronunciation improvement. The findings have several implications for further research or practice about pronunciation mastery.

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Aims: Most of the world population who is at work and production age does not have appropriate and regular physical activity for various reasons. Accordingly, the researchers tried to evaluate the effect of physical activity predictors of employees through the path analysis based on the Pender's Health Promotion Model (HPM). Methods and Materials: We conducted this study on 359 employees of the milk and milk powder production factories in Mashhad. A questionnaire consisted of items related to the structure of the Pender's Health Promotion Model (Perceived Benefits, Perceived Barriers,  Prior Related Behavior, Perceived Self-Efficacy, Activity Related Affect, Personal Factors, Interpersonal Influences and Situational Influences) and the IPAQ standard questionnaire related to the physical activity were designed and applied in interviews as data collection instruments. Findings: One fourth of the employees had proper physical activity. Generally, structures of the Pender's Health Promotion Model predicted 34.8 % of the physical activity behavior variance. Regression analysis has shown that the predictability of Prior Related Behavior, Perceived Self-Efficacy, Personal Factors, Activity Related Affect and Interpersonal Influences are significant and Situational Influences are nearly significant. Prior Related Behavior (β = 0.45, P < 0.000) and Self-Efficacy (β = 0.17, PConclusions: The findings of the study revealed that HPM is efficient in identifying and predicting the physical activity behavior. This pattern can be used as a framework for planning and implementing educational interventions in order to improve the physical activity of the adult employees.

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Effects of neighbourhood environment and leisure time physical activity on the elderly

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Aim: Level of physical activity as key determinant of healthy lifestyle is less than what is required in individuals particularly women. Applying theories of behavioral change about complex behaviors such as physical activity leads to identify effective factors and their relations. The aim of this study was to determine predictors of exercise behavior based on developed Theory of Planned Behavior with planning constructs in military personnel’s wives. Methods: We performed this cross-sectional study on 150 military personnel’s spouses residing in organizational houses, in Tehran, Iran in 2013. The participants were randomly selected with multi-stage cluster sampling. The validity and reliability of developed scale were evaluated before conducting the path analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS.16 and LISREL8.8. Finding: The developed model predicted 48, 11, 12 and 35 percent of the variance in intention, action planning, coping planning and behavior, respectively. Subjective norms (Beta=0.35, p<0.01) and perceived behavioral control (Beta=0.28, p<0.01) were the predictors of intention. Determinants of behavior included action planning (Beta=0.40, p<0.01), coping planning (Beta=0.39, p<0.01), intention (Beta=0.23, p<0.01) and subjective norms (Beta=0.08, p<0.01). Instrumental and affective attitude had no significant path coefficient to dependent variables. The path of perceived behavioral control to behavior was non-significant. The developed theory fitted to data better than the original theory. Conclusion: This research demonstrated relative weights and relationships of Theory of Planned Behavior constructs with action and coping planning in physical activity behavior of military staffs' spouses. It is essential to consider these effective factors in designing of health education programs.

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City and physical activity

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Background: Sport and exercise therapy can be used for low back pain's prevention. This research was aimed to evaluate the level of functional disability, pain intensity difference between the two groups of patients with chronic low back pain.
Methods: this study was a cross-sectional-applied research conducted from December 2015 to March 2016 on the employed (N = 50) and nonemployee people (N = 40) suffering from chronic low back. Physical activity level and demographic properties in all subjects were measured by Baecke physical activity questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.
Results: Totally, two groups employees (N = 50) with an average age of 45.14 ± 0.85 years old and the non-employee (N = 40) people with an average age of 45.42 ± 0.98 years old took part in the study. No significant differences was observed between both groups on such variables as age, weight, height (P > .05). Significant difference was observed between the mean body mass indexes between two groups so that among the employed group was more than the non-employed (p < .05). Significant difference was observed about the physical activity (p < .05) and exercise (p < .05) between two mentioned groups in free time.
Conclusion: This study revealed the different groups of people who have different jobs may be different due to physical activity.

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Special attention to physical activity in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic
 

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The subject of this article is to study the factors and criteria of urban street desirability and citizens' expectations from them. The problem of research is the lack of accurate knowledge of the components of urban street utility in its various sequences. The theoretical proposition of the research is that the existence of quality in the physical, spatial, semantic-symbolic and activity-social components leads to vitality, memory, safety and flexibility as dimensions of citizens' expectations of the urban street. . The research method of the article includes descriptive-analytical and survey methods. Data collection method Interview is an open and semi-structured questionnaire. The statistical population of citizens is three sequences from Valiasr Street.
The results of the research show that vitality and memory play an important role in meeting the expectations of citizens from the city street. The two dimensions of flexibility and safety play a lesser role than these other two dimensions. The proximity of the importance of the four components leads to greater desirability. For the desirability of an urban street, the role of physical, spatial, semantic and activity components is very different according to the nature of the street sequence, but the effectiveness of all four components in creating desirability and creating a unique street character is very important. Physical and spatial components lead to greater vitality and safety, and semantic and activity components lead to greater memory and flexibility.

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Aim: Physical inactivity, as the leading risk factor for death, is more common among women than men. Despite the effective role of extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with planning to promote exercise behavior, there is no Iranian standard scale in this regard. This research evaluated psychometric characteristics of the expanded TPB-based questionnaire regarding to the physical activity of military staff’s spouses in Tehran. Methods: Content, face, construct validity and reliability (internal consistency and stability) of this scale was assessed. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 200 women, who were living in organizational houses, in Tehran, Iran in 2014, in order to do exploratory factor analysis (EFA).The participants were chosen with multi-stage cluster random sampling. EFA was performed applying the principal component analysis and Varimax rotation. Data were analyzed using SPSS. v16. Findings: Content validity index, content validity ratio and impact score of the extended TPB scale were 0.8-0.97, 0.78-0.98 and 4.5-4.8, respectively. An eight-factor structure was extracted as a result of the EFA and accounted for 76.33% of the variance. The calculated KMO was 0.72 and the Bartlett’s test of sphericity was significant (P<0.001). Eight constructs consisted of behavior, affective attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, coping planning, instrumental attitude, intention and action planning. Cronbach’s alpha value (0.83-0.97) and the intraclass correlation coefficient (0.63-0.91) demonstrated satisfying reliability for the subscales. Conclusion: Validity and reliability of the first developed TPB-directed scale with planning about women's exercise perceptions and behavior in Iran was appraised and approved in this study. This instrument can be utilized by other health researchers.

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Aim: Insufficient physical activity in women exposes them to problems such as overweight, diabetes, depression and cardiovascular diseases on top. In between, employees have minimum physical activity due to type of their job. The goal of this study was determining psychological factors effective on the physical activity of women working in University of Tehran based on the theory of planned behavior. Methods: The research population included female office workers from the University of Tehran, who were selected through a call at this university in 2014 for this descriptive analytical cross-sectional study. For data gathering, a questionnaire was used with acceptable validity and reliability including demographic information and constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as well as International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS21. The statistical bivariate correlation test and stepwise regression test were employed at the significance level of 0.05. Findings: In this study, behavioral intention had a positive and significant relation with perceived behavioral control (P=0.000) and attitude (P=0.042). Also behavioral intention had a positive and significant relation with physical activity (P=0.000). Stepwise regression analysis was used to evaluate important factors effective on prediction of behavior and intention; it determined 40% of intention variance (R2= 0.408). Conclusion: The results of the study showed that constructs such as attitude and perceived behavioral control can be effective on the behavioral intention and physical behavior of female employees; therefore, these factors must be seriously considered in educational planning for this group of the society.

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Background: Low level Physical Activity (PA) among Chronic Low Back Pain for (CLBP) has been reported in many studies. The aim of this study was to predicting factors for physical activity behavior among CLBP patients referred to pain clinic in Yazd, Iran.
Methods and Materials: This cross sectional study was conducted on 182 eligible patients with CLBP who referred to pain clinic in Yazd, Iran from October to December 2016. A socio-demographic questionnaire as well as a 14-item researcher-made questionnaire regarding physical activity predictors based on Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) were used to collect data. Data were inserted into SPSS v.23 and AMOS v. 23 and analyzed using descriptive/analytical tests including linear regression analysis.
Results: Totally 182 individuals with mean age of 42.18 ± 13.12 completed the study. The results showed behavioral beliefs and evaluation of behavioral outcome of PA were predictors of patients' attitudes towards PA (P < 0.001). Normative beliefs and motivation to comply were also predictors of subjective norm (P < 0.001). Subjective norm was predictor for intention to perform the PA behavior (P < 0.001) that in turn was predictor for PA behavior (P < 0.001). However, attitudes towards PA was not predictor for intention to do PA (P = 0.085).
Conclusion: This study showed the individuals who had positive beliefs and evaluation regarding outcomes of PA were more likely to do this behavior.

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This study aimed to investigate the role of behavioral sciences in the management and promotion of students' physical activity and sports participation behavior. This research is in the category of applied knowledge development research and was conducted by a descriptive method. The study population consisted of all students in the country in each degree and field of study, which was conducted with a sample size of 400 people. Samples were randomly selected. Data collection tools were three questionnaires including demographic information, the third part of the questionnaire (GPAQ) of the World Health Organization, which was designed to measure participation in sports activities, and a questionnaire on the role of behavioral sciences on sports participation behavior (α = 0.87). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, Friedman ranking test, independent t-test, and multiple linear regression test. The results showed that behavioral sciences affect sports participation behavior. There is a positive and significant relationship between them and prioritizing behavioral science components on sports participation behavior, including beliefs and concerns, attitudes, habits and lifestyle, health literacy, self-perception; perception is the consumption of others. Also, there is not much difference between men and women in their physical activity and sports from behavioral sciences.

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This study aimed to provide a model for improving the quality of women's and girls' leisure time in the family with an approach based on physical activity in Isfahan province. This research was carried out using a qualitative method with a systematic approach of grounded theory. The theoretical population consisted of knowledgeable and experienced women's sports and leisure professors who also used the snowball method for sampling. The data collection tool and method were semi-structured individual interviews, and the interviews continued until the theoretical saturation of 15 interviews. For data analysis, a systematic approach includes three main steps: open coding, axial coding and selective coding. In the axial coding stage, the connection between the following categories of causal conditions (support of important others, organizing, applicability of activities, institutionalization of activities); context factors (environmental attractions, environmental conditions, sports attractions(; interfering factors (evolutionary changes, cultural and social barriers, gender hegemony, macro trends, structural barriers); strategies (education and culture building, measures to support women's recreational sports, promotion and development of physical activities, respect for the dignity of women and girls, justice in the implementation of activities, media support) and consequences of qualifying women's leisure time (reducing behavioral disorders, individual empowerment, collective empowerment, increasing participation) in terms of coding paradigm in Sports manufacturing corporations was determined; also in selective coding phases, each component of coding paradigm described. The province's sports managers can use the signs, concepts and categories identified in their plans to improve the leisure time of women and girls in the family with an approach based on physical activity and use the proposed appropriate strategies to compensate for the backwardness and development of women's sports.

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Papain (EC2.22.4.3) is a thiol protease with high level of activity that has widespread industrial applications. The use of immobilized papain provides many advantages over its free form. In many applications, cysteine must be added as an activator. On the other hand, certain bivalent metal ions including Ca²⁺ behave as the inhibitors of papaein. In the present study, after preparation of Sepharose 6B with CNBr, a 5 mg/ml-protein solution was added to activate the gel for covalent attachment of enzyme and, subsequently, 2M glycine solution was added to block the remaining active groups on the gel.  The immobilization process brought about significant enhancement of storage, thermal stability, stability at extreme pHs, and resistance against the inhibitory effect of bivalent metal ions with respect to papain. The optimum temperature of papain was increased by 20 °C (from 60 to 80 °C) and its optimum pH was shifted from 7 to 8.0 upon immobilization. Also k_m and k_cat of the enzyme altered due to the immobilization process.These results are important in particular if one considers that the major problem in enzyme immobilization is the loss of enzyme activity and catalytic efficiency.

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Aim: Pediatric sleep problems can result in negative consequences for both mothers and children. Considering the relatively high prevalence of sleep disorders among children with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), this study was designed to investigate the impact of a sleep hygiene intervention to promote sleep problems in children with ADHD and maternal mental health.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 62 children aged 7-13 years with the diagnosis of ADHD and comorbid sleep disorders accompanied by their mothers. Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) were completed by the children's mothers, and then the participants were allocated randomly into experimental and control groups. Mothers of the children in the experimental group received a sleep hygiene educational intervention, which was delivered through a training session and a booklet followed by two telephone calls and educational text messages. Participants in the control group received usual clinical care. The post-test was performed two months after intervention.
Findings: 56 participants (experimental group: n=28, control group: n=28) completed the survey. Data analysis showed that, compared with the control group, the experimental group had a significant reduction in mean scores of CSHQ (P=0.001) and stress subscale scores (F= 0.106, P= 0/015), after controlling pre-test. Besides, the mothers' stress was correlated with the children's CSHQ overall scores (r= 0.52, P= 0.001).
Conclusion: Implementing a sleep hygiene intervention in a sample of children with ADHD could result in improved children sleep problems and maternal well-being.

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Aim: Regular physical activity has several physical, psychological and social benefits. However, it is a global health problem, especially among ICU nurses. Therefore, in order to improve nurses’ physical activity, it is required to determine the effective correlated factors. The aim of this study was to delineate predictive factors on the physical activity of ICU nurses based on a trans-theoretical model (TTM) using path analysis.
Method: Accordingly, in this cross-sectional study, 82 nurses from eight intensive care units of six hospitals in Guilan University of Medical Sciences completed the translated version of Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and another questionnaire, which included a range of constructs from the TTM. Data were analyzed using bivariate correlation and path analysis.
Findings: It was revealed that self-efficacy (β=0.24) and Pros (β=0.18) had a direct effect on the participants’ physical activities. It is important to state that self-efficacy was effective on the participants, behavioral physical activity both directly and indirectly. Totally, self-efficacy with the path coefficient of 0.62 was considered as the strongest predictive factor of physical activity among the ICU nurses.
Conclusion: To enclose, the determined effective factors in improving the ICU nurses’ physical activity were expected to be of more concern, especially self-efficacy as the strongest one.

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Entomopathogenic fungi produce a variety of degrading enzymes, including proteases, chitinases and lipases, to facilitate their entry through the massive barriers of insect cuticle. Isolates of the entomopathogenic fungi vary considerably in their proteolytic activity and virulence. The proteolytic activity of different isolates has been hypothesized to reflect their virulence toward the host. In this study, we evaluated the virulence and proteolytic activity of 17 Beauveria bassiana sensu lato isolates collected from different geographical regions in Iran. The selective medium D0C2 was used for isolating B. bassiana from soil samples. Casein substrate was used for protease assay. Total mortalities caused by different B. bassiana isolates through the dipping method, ranged from 25 to 60% with the highest and lowest rates for isolates BA and MITE, respectively. Our results revealed a wide variation in both proteolytic activity and virulence among the studied isolates. Additionally, we found a strong positive correlation between the proteolytic activity on Casein substrate and virulence of the isolates against the Khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium. This finding will facilitate the screening and selection process of virulent fungal isolates as efficient agents for use in biological control programs of insect pests.  

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Background: Emergence of drug-resistant bacteria has highlighted the need to identify new and more efficient antibacterial agents. The aims of this study were to evaluate the antibacterial activity of dill (Anethum graveolens) seeds essential oil and to investigate the effect of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seeds alcoholic extract on biofilm formation ability of Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Materials and methods: This experimental study was carried out at the Faculty of Medicine of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences in 2014. Activity of dill seeds essential oil was evaluated based on the inhibition zone diameter and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against some important pathogenic bacteria including: Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, the effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of cumin seeds alcoholic extract was evaluated on biofilm formation ability of K. pneumoniae. The biofilms were formed on semi-glass lamellas and observed by a scanning electron microscope.
Results: Dill essential oil showed a good to moderate activity against the tested strains. The highest antibacterial activity was observed against S. aureus (inhibition zone of 15 mm and MIC of 0.62 mg.mL^-1) and V. cholerae (inhibition zone of 14 mm and MIC of 0.7 mg..mL^-1). The cumin alcoholic extract had no effect on biofilm formation ability of K. pneumoniae.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed the presence of antimicrobial compounds in dill extract. The cumin alcoholic extract was not able to inhibit biofilm formation ability of K. pneumoniae. Because of the medicinal plants properties, it is valuable to search for promising herbs and novel chemical compounds.

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Effect of fa contet of milk (2.7%, 5%, 7% and 9%) on the growth and metabolic activity of starter cultures during fermentation of concentrated yoghurt (23% total solid), was studied.Sensory assessment of yoghurt samples were also obtained. The characteristics that was measured during fermentation include: PH, acidity, count of starter bacteria (stereptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) , and the characteristics that measured in final product were sensory properties.The experiments were done in three replications . Statistical evaluation showed that increase in fat content of milk, had no significant effect on PH but resulted decreasing of acidity of samples. Addition of fat content from 2.7% upto 9% decreased acidity from 0.97% to 0.78%.with increasing in fat content from 2.7% upto 9% count of stereptococcus thermophilus decreased from 391×106 cfu/ml to 279×106 cfu/ml where fat content had no significant effect on growth of Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Addition of fat content did not influenced the sensory acceptability of final product.