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During the past decade, natural plant products as environmentally safe option have received attention for controlling phytopathogenic diseases. Investigation of plants containing natural antimicrobial metabolites for plant protection has been recognized as a desirable method of disease control. The fungus Fusarium oxysporum causes diseases such as root rot, damping off and Fusarium wilt and it infects many plant species and crops. Methanolic crude extracts of 30 plant species belonging to 17 families collected from the west of Iran were screened for antifungal activity against F. oxysporum during 2012. Bioassay of the extracts was conducted by agar dilution method with five replications. The inhibitory effect of the extracts was examined at concentration of 2000 ppm. Twenty out of 30 tested plant species (67%) showed inhibitory activity against mycelial growth of F. oxysporum. The most effective extracts with more than 50% inhibition belonged to Haplophyllum perforatum and Calendula officinalis. High number of plants with antifungal activity in this experiment showed that the flora in the west of Iran could be regarded as a rich source of plants with antifungal activity. Therefore, further screening of other plant species, identifying active fractions or metabolites and in vivo application of active extracts are in progress.  

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Research subject: Magnesium ethoxide is a metal alkoxide used as a support for preparation of Ziegler-Natta catalyst. This important material which is used in HDPE production plants is not produced in Iran. It forms a complex with the catalyst that results in increase of the number of the reacting transition metal atoms inside it. Therefore the catalyst activity increases. The chemical reaction between magnesium and ethanol, in presence of iodine, results in magnesium ethoxide production.
Research approach: In this work, by performing analyses such as thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), BET and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the effects of reaction conditions such as iodine/magnesium, ethanol/magnesium, temperature and mixer speed on morphology and characteristics of magnesium ethoxide were investigated.
Main results: By using Iodine, proper morphology of product was obtained. The mixer rotation speed didn't affect the reaction time. The particle size of the product was dependent on the magnesium amount and particle size and mixer speed. Increasing the rotation speed of the mixer at high amount of magnesium (low ethanol/magnesium) led to more collision of the particles and therefore finer product particles. Reaction at temperatures as low as 60 ^ₒC led to formation of fine particles with undesirable flake-like morphology. Magnesium with two average particle sizes (420 and 840μm) was used. It was shown that synthesis with magnesium of 840 μm(FW40) led to a sample similar to the commercial one with appropriate specific surface area. Lowering the temperature from 110 to 100 ^ₒC and reflux of ethanol at boiling point resulted in higher specific surface area.
 

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Subject
In this study, the steam reforming of the methanol process was analyzed based on three different inputs including temperature, pressure, and H₂O/CH₃OH ratio with the use of different Artificial Intelligence methods.
Methodology
In the first step, Cu-Zn/ZrO₂ catalysts were synthesized via the co-precipitation method, and then experimental tests of steam reforming of methanol were performed at a temperature range of 180 –500 °C, the pressure of 1-11 bar, and the H₂O/CH₃OH ratio of 0.75-3.75 on the Cu-Zn/ZrO₂ catalyst in a fixed bed reactor. Afterward, three different methods of Mamdani fuzzy type-1, Mamdani fuzzy type-2, and Sugeno fuzzy were applied in order to develop the models. Using these methods, the developed models only required the heuristics derived from the expert’s knowledge and some experimental data, without needing the calculation of complex kinetic as well as thermodynamic parameters related to the corresponding process. In addition, the structures of the developed fuzzy models were optimized to improve the model performance according to the analysis of the initial results. The model developments didn’t require a high number of experimental data, and this feature is especially interesting when dealing with the process conditions in which data gathering is expensive or the accuracy of data is low.
The main results
The overall accuracy as well as the properties of the developed models were compared. The type-2 Mamdani fuzzy model proved to be the best model, using which, the methanol conversion, H₂ yield, and CO yield were predicted with accuracies of 67%, 91%, and 83%, respectively.
 

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Abstract The amount of waste and agricultural wastes in Iran is very high due to the combination of resources that they have become suitable for ethanol production. Molasses is one of the most abundant and inexpensive carbon sources available and usable for ethanol production. With this application to prevent it from getting into the environment and the product is obtained as a clean and environmental fuel. The main objective of this study was to compare the production of ethanol from molasses by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zaymomonas Mobilis. In this study, the fermented juices of grapes are cultivated on the RM culture containing 1% Nystatin at Aerobic conditions and temperature is 30℃. Then the Zymomonas Mobilis was isolated and identified by using staining techniques, biochemical tests, growth in the presence of 7% ethanol and ribotyping. To determine the amount of ethanol production, 10% molasses medium was used. The amount of ethanol at 24, 48, 96, 120, 144 hours in 10% molasses were 1.45, 3.4 and 5.05% for Zymomonas mobili subsp. mobilis IRMH52, Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis ATCC 10988 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. In this study, a new strain of Zymomonas mobilis were isolated and compared the production of ethanol with the same conditions showed that this strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce less ethanol.

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Ethanol as a renewable biofule is an appropriate and viable alternative to the challenging fossil fuels. Bacillus subtilis, a gram positive bacterium, seems to be a promising choice since it has many useful features. For example B.subtilis ferments broad range of sugars derived from lignocellulosic hydrolysis. Transformation of this cellulytic bacterium to an ethanologenic one was accomplished via metabolic engineering techniques and Ethanol production operon of Z.mobilis was introduced to the B.subtilis. SR1 and SR21 strains expressed plasmid-borne ethanologenic genes of Z.mobilis but the genes had been integrated into the SR22 genomic DNA. Also lactate dehydrogenase gene had been knocked-out in SR21 and SR22 strains. Defect of cell growth in SR21 and SR22, suggests that NAD+ oxidation by lactate dehydrogenase is important for anaerobic growth. Considering the impact of Fe2+ ion on alcohol dehydrogenase II activity, in further experiments Fe2+ was added to the culture media and improvement in growth rates was seen. Final yield of ethanol production of SR1, SR21, and SR22 strains were 53.8%, 86.7%, and 83.9% respectively.

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Nanotechnology is a principally attractive area of research related with production of nanoparticles of variable sizes, shapes, chemical compositions and their possible application for human being benefits. Creation, manipulation and utilization of metallic nanoparticles, because of reduction of materials dimensions, affect the physical properties and results in displaying extraordinary thermal, optical and electronic properties of nonmaterial. The biological approaches to synthesis of nanoparticles are better than chemical and physical procedures because of low energy and time expenditure.
In this study the possibility of production of nano-silver particles from dried flower buds of Clove was investigated and antibacterial and anti-fungal activities of produced nanoparticles were studied by diffusion disc and well methods. The displayed UV-visible spectra, with a wavelength of 300 to 600 nm, identifies formation of silver nanoparticles, whenever the colorless initial acclimated mixture turned to brown. The centrifuged powder samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) methods. Based on the results of this study, produced silver nanoparticles were spherical in the range of 27 to 69 nm and showed effective antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Therefore clove can be used as a biological source for the synthesis of nanoparticles in an industrial scale with a very low cost.

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Antioxidant properties of plant extracts are apparently related to the content of their phenolic compounds. In this study, phenolic compounds from two acorns varieties namely Q.branti var persica (Q.b) and Q.castaneifolia var castaneifolia (Q.c) were extracted with methanol (80%). After evaporation with rotary evaporator, extracts were dried with freeze drier. The concentrations of phenolic compounds in the extracts were determined according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and results were expressed as tannic acid equivalents per gram of dried extract (TAE/g d.e). Castaneifolia variety had the highest phenolic content with 217.65 (TAE/g d.e). Antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts were studied in sunflower oil and compared with synthetic antioxidants, by measuring their peroxide and thiobarbituric acid values during accelerated storage. Methanolic extracts of acorns at three different concentrations (250,500 and 1000 ppm) and synthetic antioxidant at two concentrations were added to sunflower oil. Both extracts retarded the oxidation of sunflower oil at 70°c more efficiently than BHA and BHT. The peroxide and thiobarbitoric acid values of control samles were raised to 328.88 (meq peroxide/ kg oil) and 0.58 (mg malon aldehyde/kg oil) after tewelve days storage while this values were 176.36 and 0.332 for oil sample contain 1000 ppm methanilic extract of Q.c  and 183.2 and for Q.b were 0.374, respectively.

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Introduction: Biofuel production from renewable resource has been extensively paid attention as a sustainable alternative for fossil fuel. As the feed of third-generation biofuels, microalgae can produce variety of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates in large quantities and in a relatively short time. Regarding the compatibility of these microorganisms with culture diffrent conditions and independence from the seasons of the year, the rapid growth rate, absorbing carbon dioxide and improving air quality, renewablity, non-competing with food supplies, the existence of large quantities of lipid and carbohydrate inside their cells, and abillity of biofuels production, microalgae are known as one of the most suitable options for the biofuels production. Biofuel production from microalgae consists of several stages, including cultivation, harvesting, drying, cell disruption, extraction (lipids or carbohydrates), and the production of biofuels.
Conclusion: In the present study, by reviewing each stage of the biofuels production from microalgae, its importance and application for bioenergy production is discussed. Algal biofuel is not yet competitive with fossil fuels due to its high costs. Researchers are trying to produce economic algal biofuel by improving the growth of microalgae and enriching their reserves of oil and carbohydrates, creating genetic changes, improving the design of photobioreactros, developing harvesting and drying methods, improving methods of extracting lipid and carbohydrate, and producing valuable products.

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Biofuels are the main substitute to fossil fuels. These fuels are less polluting in compari-son to fossil fuels and can be produced from agricultural material residues for use in die-sel engines. In this research work bioethanol was produced from potato waste. It was de-hydrated in a vapor phase using 3A zeolite and was used in combination with sunflower methyl ester oil and diesel fuel blending which was evaluated thereafter. The sunflower methyl ester was also produced using a transesterification method. Considering the labo-ratory conditions and fuel stability limits to be used, the suitable blending proportion of bioethanol and diesel fuel was determined to be 12 to 88 and then, for maintaining fuel stability at temperatures lower than 15oC, the sunflower methyl ester was added to the mixture. The pour point of the fuel and different fuel blends, the viscosity, cetane number, flash point, amount of fuel ash, sulfur content and copper corrosion were determined in the laboratory. Experiments show that ethanol plays an important role on the flash point of the blends. With the addition of 3% bioethanol to diesel and sunflower methyl ester, the flash point was reduced to 16oC. The viscosity of the blends was reduced with the in-crease in the amount of ethanol. The sulfur content of bioethanol and sunflower methyl ester is very low compared with that of diesel fuel. The sulfur content of diesel is 500 ppm whereas that for ethanol and sunflower methyl ester is 0 and 15 ppm, respectively. The lower amount of sulfur content facilitates the use of fuel blends in diesel engines. For the ethanol and sunflower methyl ester combination, this amount is less than 20 ppm.

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DNA methylation detection by a novel fluorimetric nanobiosensor for early cancer diagnosis Quantum­ dots as a fluorescent probe are applied for cell biology, DNA transformation, biomedical imaging and cancer therapy. Biological based synthesis of nanoparticles would be more efficient and environment friendly rather than chemical approaches. In the present study, quantum dots have been synthesized through leaf methanolic extracts. The obtained results by UV-vis spectroscopy, TEM, FT-IR and fluorescence spectroscopy showed the presence of synthesized CdS quantum dots. Yellow and orange colors of obtained solution was also indicated the successful synthesis of CdS quantum dots. The maximum UV-Vis spectrum absorption of quantum dots was observed at 410 nm. Results of fluorescence analysis also showed that emission bands were at 475, 490 and 675 respectively which indicated the synthesis of different CdS quantum dots in different pH values. Obtained nanoparticle were spherical and at the range between 2-10 nm according to TEM analysis. FT-IR analysis also showed that the proteins, leucine and lysine amino acids, phenols and other functional groups present in physalis extracts would be determining factors for reducing CdS ions and converting them to quantum dots.  

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  Medicinal plants are valuable natural resources that because of large amount of active compounds have been concerned in modern societies. Black Cumin, Coriander and Dill are such resources which they have many therapeutic and medicinal properties. Our purpose of this research is To evaluate the antioxidant activity of water- methanol extract of Black Cumin, Coriander and Dill seeds in comparison with BHT. For the preparation of water- methanol extract, the mentioned seeds powders were mixed with methanol - water (80:20 v/v) solvent at ratio 1:4 w/v. The total phenolic compounds (TPC) was measured by Folin- Ciocalteau’s method. Antiradical and inhibitory activity of the extracts were evaluated by DPPH method and compared with synthetic antioxidant BHT. The antioxidant activity of above extracts was studied in soybean oil (oven test at 60 ⁰C) by measuring peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid value (TBA) and compared with BHT (at level 100 mg/ml). There water- methanol extracts of Black Cumin, Coriander and Dill seeds contained 955.77, 890.62 and 923.16 mg/kg phenolic compounds. The highest IC₅₀ related to water- methanol extract of Black Cumin (104.76 mg/ml) which demonstrated higher antiradical activity compared to the Coriander and Dill seeds extracts. In oven test, the water- methanol extract of Black Cumin showed the greatest antioxidant activity and at level 100 mg/ml acted as BHT at level 100 mg/ml. water-methanol extracts of Black Cumin, Coriander and Dill as natural antioxidants are capable of scavenging radicals derived from lipid oxidation and reduction of auto-oxidation rate.  

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Background: Lung adenocarcinoma is the most primary histologic subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Oxypeucedanin methanolate, a member of furanocoumarin, is a naturally occurring compound, which is isolated from Ferulago trifida Boiss, an endemic species in North-West of Iran.
Purpose: We attempt to uncover the capacities of oxypeucedanin methanolate to induce apoptosis and autophagy in NSCLC cells, as well as the underlying mechanism involved in this process.
Methods: The effect of oxypeucedanin methanolate on cell viability was evaluated on A549 cells by MTT assay. Flow cytometry assay was used to detect cellular apoptosis. Expression levels of BAX, caspase-3, BCL2 and LC3 in A549 cells were measured by Real time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (Real time RT-PCR). A549 cells migration were analyzed using a wound‐healing assay.
Results: Oxypeucedanin methanolate inhibited A549 cell proliferation in dose- and time- dependent manner, as evaluated by MTT assay. The total apoptosis rate was (5.46%) for A549 cells not treated with oxypeucedanin methanolate. In contrast, the apoptosis rate was (29.6%) for A549 cells treated with oxypeucedanin methanolate at the concentration of 0.4 mM. Real time RT-PCR revealed that the mRNA expression of BAX, caspase-3 and LC3 were upregulated, while mRNA expression of BCL2 was downregulated. Untreated cell migration increased significantly after 72 hours.
Conclusion: Oxypeucedanin methanolate inhibits proliferation and it could induce apoptosis and autophagy of human non-small cell lung cancer cell line A549. Oxypeucedanin methanolate may be a good candidate for reducing of A549 cells metastasis. 

 

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  With emerging of infectious diseases and spread of antibiotic resistant strains, use of antimicrobial compounds with plant origin seems necessary. In this study, ethanolic extract of Cordia myxa fruit was used to evaluate antimicrobial effects against microorganisms including Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was performed to investigate three independent variables: time (5- 40 min), temperature (20- 50°C) and sonic power (20- 100%). Response surface methodology was also employed to optimize multiple variables to predict the best process conditions. Antimicrobial activity was done by methods including disk diffusion agar, pour-plate, minimum inhibition concentration and minimum bactericide (fungicide) concentration. The results showed that the highest amount of extraction rate of ethanolic extract which was equal to 8.5%, was obtained in extraction time of 39.8 min, temperature of 42.2°C and sonic power of 94.4%.In all above-mentioned methods, inhibitory effect of optimum ethanolic extract was more significant againstBacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicansthan other strains (p≤0.05).

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This Research was to investigate the antibacterial effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Aloe Vera on pathogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923), Escherichia coli (ATCC25922), Listeria monocytogenes (ATCC33090) using disk diffusion and broth Microdilution methods. The results illustrated that gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to ethanolic extract of Aloe Vera as compared with gram-negatives bacteria. This phenomenon is due to the structure and the strength of cell wall in gram-negative bacteria as well as the nature and active compounds of Aloe Vera. Ethanolic extract of Aloe Vera showed that the maximum antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes in whichthe minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 0.132 and 0.625 mg/ml respectively. The maximum inhibition zone was observed on Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes with 12 and 8 mm respectively. On the other hand, aqueous extract of Aloe Vera did not show any antibacterial activity. It is supposed that antibacterial compounds such as Anthraquinone, Hydroxyanthra and Saponin had the most roles for antibacterial activity in ethanolic extract on Aloe Vera.

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There is currently a very high demand for all forms and preparations of medicinal plants worldwide. Accordingly, hops has been drawing significant attention in recent years. Hops is a medicinal plant with various applications in traditional medicine. In the present research work, antifungal effect of hops flower ethanolic extract on S. cerevisiae and some bread spoilage molds (Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, Rhizopus oryzae and Rhizomucorspp. ) was investigated. The antifungal effect was determined by using broth dilution susceptibility test. Results showed that the ethanolic extract of hops flower had the ability to prevent mold growth on bread samples. Inhibitory concentration of the extract was in the range of 1.875 to 3.3 mg/ml. The extract had no effect on Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the concentrations of 0-15 mg/ml. It was concluded that ethalonic extract of hops flower has remarkable negative effects on food spoilage mold growth, especially bread spoilage molds. To apply this extract as a natural food preservative, further researches are required.

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This study suggests a new effective chemical pretreatment to hydrolyze rice straw for efficient ethanol production. It introduces a new yeast strain that ferments rice straw hydrolyzate more efficiently than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results proved the effectiveness of alkali application before HCl to delignify rice straw and to make it more appropriate for hydrolysis. The application of the hydrolyzing enzymes (cellulase and pectinase) resulted in hydrolysis of pretreated rice straw up to 94.3%. The total sugars released due to pretreatment-enzyme system was about 624 mg g^–1 dry mass and the glucose fraction was 198 mg g^–1. The results indicated that Pichia guilliermondii is more effective to ferment rice straw hydrolyzate than S. cerevisiae. P. guilliermondii produced larger amounts of bioethanol (7.72 g L^–1) than S. cerevisiae (6.13 g L^–1)under the same conditions. Our results suggest an appropriate pretreatment system (the cold dilute alkali-acid) and a new effective yeast strain to ferment the rice straw hydrolyzate to produce large amounts of bioethanol.

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In this study, spray behavior of bio-ethanol as a regenerative fuel that reduces emissions such as NOX and CO is investigated in a combustion chamber and compared to its different blends with gasoline. For this purpose, microscopic and macroscopic spray characteristics and also evaporated fuel mass after the injection are modeled and investigated using Fire 2013. It is concluded by increasing bio-ethanol content in the fuel, evaporated fuel mass, spray cone angle, spray area and sauter mean diameter increases, however spray tip penetration remains roughly constant. Increase of injection pressure, decreases spray cone angle and suater mean diameter and increases evaporated fuel mass, spray area and spray tip penetration. If the energy content and time of injection of bio-ethanol and gasoline be equivalent the results vary significantly compared to previous cases. In this case bio-ethanol has a longer spray tip penetration and spray area, higher fuel mass evaporated and smaller spray cone angle and sauter mean diameter compared to gasoline. The increased spray tip penetration and spray area in this case may lead to piston impingement and bore wetting resulting increased hydrocarbon emissions and decreasing engine efficiency.

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Electrospray is an atomization method which produces monodisperse and fine droplets by applying a high potential difference between a nozzle and a counter electrode. Therefore liquid meniscus shows different behaviors when flow rate or applied voltage varies in the electrospray method. Here we report experimental study of these modes based on observation of the liquid meniscus shape emitted from the nozzle. The formation of different modes is reported and forces acting on the meniscus in each mode is discussed. In this work classification of electrospray modes is reviewed for wide range of flow rates, between 0-80 ml⁄h, and voltage, between 0-8.5 kV. Electrospraying of ethanol is studied as a promising clean fuel for wide range of voltages and flow rates. Formation of dripping, sibling, spindle, micro spindle, intermittent cone jet, oscillating Jet, precession, cone-jet, multi jet, simple jet and ramified jet modes is observed. It should be noted that all of this study such as identification of mode shapes have been done according to taking photo from electrospray phenomenon by method of shadowgraphy, and this method has been done by using a high speed camera and a high resolution camera. In present configuration, for all of flow rates, there is the dripping and sibling mode for all of voltages which are lower than 3kV, for voltages between 3-4kV the spindle mode will be seen and for the voltages which are more than 5.5kV the multi jet mode will be observed. There are the other mode shapes for voltages between 4-5.5kV.

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In the present study, the effect of ultrasonic waves on the antioxidant activity of aqueous-ethanolic extract (50:50) of wheat germ of Tajan, N8019 and Morvarid cultivars was investigated. The results showed that ultrasonic waves increased the amount of, although their effect on the extraction of polyphenol compounds was much better. The amount of polyphenolic compounds of Tajan, N8019 and Morvarid wheat germ extracts were 679, 783 and 545 mg / kg, respectively. After applying ultrasonic waves, these compounds were 777, 891 and 593 mg/kg increased. Also, antioxidant activity (DPPH radical-scavenging assay, β-carotene bleaching assay and Rancimat test) of different treatments showed that the extracted extracts from wheat germ of N8019 under ultrasonic process was the best sample and then were 100 ppm TBHQ, extract of Tajan wheat germ under ultrasonic process, extract of Morvarid wheat germ under ultrasonic process, extracts of common wheat germ of N8019  and Tajan and extract of common Morvarid  wheat germ, respectively. The results showed that there is a strong correlation between the amount of antioxidant compounds of different extracts extracted from wheat germ, especially phenolic compounds and their antioxidant power. Also, the results of oven test (at 60 ºC during 24 day) indicated TBHQ was the best treatment and followed by extracted extracts from wheat germ of N8019 under ultrasonic process, Tajan under ultrasonic and Morvarid under ultrasonic and extracts of common wheat germ of N8019, Tajan and Morvarid, respectively.