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Background:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a sight-threatening microvascular complication of diabetes in which the vascular endothelium is damaged due to oxidative stress and inflammation, and vitreous VEGF concentration becomes elevated. The aim of the present study was to assess the association of DR with genetic variations of the MnSOD, a major antioxidant enzyme, and VEGF, an important mediator of neovascularisation, in northern Iran. Methods: 70 patients with DR and 70 healthy control subjects matched for age and sex was recruited for this study. PCR-based RFLP assay was used to determine the genotypes of MnSODA16V and VEGF+405 C/G polymorphisms. Results and Conclusions:A higher frequency of the AV genotype (71.43%) of the MnSODA16V polymorphism was found in the patients compared with controls which had a 8.33-fold increase in risk of DR (OR= 8.33, 95% CI= 2.56-27.13, P= 0.0004). The frequency of GG, GC, and CC genotypes of VEGF +405 C/G polymorphism in controls were 42.86%, 45.71% and 11.43%, respectively, while in DR patients were 18.57%, 48.57%, and 32.86%, respectively.The +405C allele was considered as a high risk factor of DR (OR= 2.55, 95% CI= 1.57-4.14, P= 0.0001). In conclusion, It is suggested that the MnSODA16V and the VEGF+405 C/G polymorphisms may be associated with the risk of DR in northern Iran.

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Background: Cells have complex network of antioxidant enzymes that protect cells from induced damages by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Catalase and superoxide dismutase are known for their role as primary protection against oxidative stress. Oxidative damage is an important risk factor in age-related macular degeneration disease (AMD). For the first time in this study the impact of genetic polymorphisms of SOD1 and CAT with AMD has been examined. Hence, the association between genetic polymorphisms of catalase (CAT) C-262T, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) A251G and risk of exudative AMD has been investigated. Methods: This study was carried out on blood samples collected from 112 exudative AMD patients and 112 healthy individuals. Genotyping of CAT C-262T and SOD1A251G was done by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Differences in the frequencies were estimated using the χ2 test and risk was estimated with a logistic regression after adjusting for smoking, working place and age status. Results: There was significant difference between CAT CT+TT genotype and AMD disease (P=0.009, OR=0.38, 95%CI=0.18-0.78). Also T-allele has a significant association with risk of AMD and decreases risk of disease (P=0.036, OR=0.59, 95%CI=0.36-0.96), but there was no significant differences between SOD1A251G and variant homozygous and heterozygous frequencies in patients compared to controls (P=0.589, OR=0.77, 95%CI=0.3-1.96). Conclusions: The data presented suggest that the T-allele in CAT genotypes can increase catalase expression and activity, as a result of which generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can be decreased. Therefore it is suggested that increased expression of CAT as a result of T-allele in CAT genotypes and existence of T-allele in CAT genotypes is associated with decreased risk of AMD.

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Background: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is an lgA mediated small vessel systemic vasculitis disease in children. The etiology and pathogenesis of HSP disease remain unknown. However, environmental and genetic risk factors could play important roles in susceptibility to HSP disease. In this study we investigated the association of 5՛-untranslated region polymorphism (-634G/C) of VEGF gene with HSP among Iranian Azeri Turkish population. Methods: Thirty unrelated Iranian Azeri Turkish children with HSP and fifty healthy unrelated subjects without HSP and other inflammatory diseases were enrolled in this population. -634G/C polymorphism of VEGF gene was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) technique. Results: The distribution of CC genotype in VEGF -634G/C polymorphism statistically showed a significant difference in HSP patients in compare to that of control group (P= 0.009). Conclusions: The CC genotype of VEGF -634G/C polymorphism could be associated with susceptibility to HSP disease in Iranian Azeri Turkish ethnic group.

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Background: Accessory colonization factor is located immediately adjacent to and downstream of TCP cluster. These genes (acfA, B, C, D) are involved in bacterial colonization and pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to analyze the ACF cluster prevalence rate and gene content in clinical isolates of Vibrio cholerae.
Materials and Methods: All of the 21 V. cholerae isolates used in this study were collected during 2011-2012 outbreaks in Iran. All of the isolates were screened by biochemical tests and confirmed by specific PCR for 16srRNA-23srRNA intergenic space. The gene content of ACF cluster in the isolates was analyzed using 4 primer pairs with overlapping sequences and then subjected into Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) assay.
Results: Among the 21 V. cholerae isolates, all of them (100%) were identified as V. cholerae O1 Inaba, 20 (95%) isolates were determined with El Tor biotype specificity, and 1 isolate (5%) appeared as Classical biotype. A total of 18 strains (85.8 %) contained a complete set of ACF-associated genes, 3 strains (14.2 %) were negative for ACF cluster, and all of the strains showed similar RFLP pattern to each other and to V. cholerae ATCC 14035.

Conclusion: The results showed that O1 Inaba was the dominant serotype and positive for ACF cluster in pathogenic V. cholerae isolates collected during 2011-2012 in Iran. The presence of some ACF negative strains with potentially pathogenic characteristics proposed that other colonization factors might have been involved in causing pathogenicity and diarrhea in these strains. 

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Aims: Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium with the capability of causing a variety of nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Evaluating the genetic structure, polymorphism, genotyping, and phylogeny of S. aureus isolates could contribute to the prevention and treatment of infections caused by this microorganism.
Materials & Methods: In this study, the polymorphisms of 16S rRNA, rpoB, and hsp70 genes were investigated in a total of 50 S. aureus isolates using S. aureus NCTC 8325 as the reference strain. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for the detection and amplification of the studied genes. The amplicons were then sequenced using a Sanger sequencing method. Moreover, phylogeny of the isolates was studied using Neighbor-joining and Maximum Parsimony methods for 16S rRNA, rpoB, and hsp70 genes individually and in combination.
Findings: After Sanger sequencing, data obtained by Sequencher and Mesquite software programs revealed several polymorphisms of S. aureus isolates 16S rRNA, rpoB, and hsp70 genes, respectively. These polymorphisms included transversion, transition, insertion, and deletion. Among the studied strains, 10 cases showed no polymorphism. Multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) showed several genetic diversities in S. aureus isolates.
Conclusion: It seems essential to rapidly and reliably identify the phylogenetic sources and characteristics of this microorganism and to have a better understanding of its molecular epidemiology in order for infection practical surveillance and control.

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  Dairy plants be able to produce tub margarine without using special machinery of emulsion solidifying. For formation of desired texture and stable tri-glycerides crystals, Solidifying time to optimum temperature of soya hydrogenated oil crystalization must beá30 Sec. Margarine production by this method needs a continuouse ice cream maker. Fast Solidifying leads to manufacture of a surface scraper heat exchanger (SSHE) that is suitable for hardening of ice cream blend, solidify of margarine emulsion and many of other food emulsions and blends. In Also, desired butter texture may be obtained by emulsion tempering (that solidified in 3-4 minutes) at  18-22 ^oC in Overnight resting.

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Objective: In peripheral blood polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells Nitric Oxide (NO) could be synthesized by an enzyme called inducible NO synthase (iNOS). iNOS gene (NOS2A) is located on chromosome 17 at position 17q11.2-q12. NO is released during inflammatory responses. In the present studies the frequency of NOS2A gene polymorphisms and their effects on NO production were investigated in the Peripheral Blood polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells of normal individuals. Materials and Methods: In this study the frequency of NOS2A gene polymorphisms at positions -1659 C/T and +150 C/T of 232 normal subjects were investigated using PCR-Allele specific and PCR-RFLP methods, respectively. To study the effect of -1659 C/T and +150 C/T polymorphisms on NO production, polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells of peripheral blood of 92 normal subjects were isolated and then stimulated by E.coli culture supernatants (ATCC 25922) for induction of iNOS enzyme and NO production. After 24h, the level of NO production in the culture supernatant were measured by Griess reaction. Polymorphisms as mentioned above were also studied in these normal cases. Results: The results showed no significant difference in the level of NO production of various genotypes in the polymorphonuclear and mononuclear cells of peripheral blood of normal subjects. Conclusion: Our results indicated no significant correlation between NOS2A genotypes and NO production. No significant difference was observed between Gambia and China normal population and normal subjects of this study in NOS2A -1659 C/T and +150 C/T polymorphisms. In Iran these differences are due to the genetic and ethnic differences among the studied populations, which indicates the importance of NOS2A polymorphism in the NO production, suggesting further studies in other ethnic groups.

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Background: To evaluate the relationship between COVID-19 and IL-6 polymorphism, a meta- analysis was conducted on seven studies, comprising 2265 controls and 1686 cases.
Materials & Methods: The literature on IL-6 polymorphism and its correlation with COVID-19 severity was extensively reviewed, covering research up to August 2023. Various databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Embase were utilized for literature search. Data analysis was performed using Cochrane Rob Tool 2 and Review Manager 5 software.
Findings: In this meta-analysis, none of the models showed a correlation between IL-6 polymorphism and COVID-19, including the allelic (G vs C, OR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.63–1.64, p= .22, I2=91%), homozygote (GG vs. CC, OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.41–2.83, p= .87, I2=79%),
heterozygote (GC vs. CC, OR: 0.78, 95% CI: 0.34–1.78, p= .55, I2=73%), dominant (GG + GC vs CC, OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.32–1.95, p= .61, I2=81%), and recessive (OR: 1.26, 95% CI:
0.51–3.10, p= .61, I2=81%) models. Notably, funnel plot analysis revealed no indication of publication bias.
Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis indicated no significant correlation between IL-6 polymorphism and COVID-19 severity, suggesting insufficient data to establish a link between IL-6 (rs1800795) and more severe COVID-19 cases.

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The work described here is unique since the low seeded (0-6 seeds per fruit) Kinnow (Citrus reticulata) germplasm was grown in dense plantation (P P: 1foot and L L: 2 feet) in the NIAB (Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan) field. Growth and development patterns of the fruits were studied. The low seeded germ-plasm contains 3,500 plants developed through natural and induced variability in Kinnow mandarin. The area is surrounded by other cross compatible Citrus varieties. The germ-plasm flower was hermaphrodite, off-white, the color of the anthers yellow, and the num-ber of petals was five and all other flower characteristics were variable. In 2005 the fruit-ing was in 596 plants and the maximum fruit range was 21-40 in 99 plants followed by 41 to 75 in 98 plants. In 2006, 322 plants bore fruit and 1-5 fruits per plant were found in 93 plants followed by 6-10 fruits per plant in 61 plants. In 2007, 551 plants had first time bearing and the maximum fruit range per plant was 11-20 in 116 plants followed by 21-30 in 99 plants. It was found that the Kinnow fruit gains maximum weight during August-October whilst the volume of the fruit increases during August-November. Initially the height and diameter were identical in May giving the fruit a round shape and then the gradual increase in height slowed down, resulting in an oblate to subglobose shape of the fruit. In mid-January the average fruit weight was 192 grams and the average peel weight was 45 grams. Peel thickness was more at stalk end as compared to stylar end. All low seeded fruits had their navel at the stylar opening point. The maximum number of fruits had 11 segments but the segment range was 9-14 per fruit. In mid-January the juice pH, juice acidity and TSS had variable values in plants indicating variation in the fruit physiological maturity time within the germplasm. The growth of fruits was similar to that reported in low density orchards.

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Rye is one of Iran's most important crops, known as Secale, belonging to the Poaceae. In this research, genetic diversity of 39 families of rye populations from different regions of Iran, the USA, and the Soviet :union: was evaluated with the ISSR marker. The results showed that 8 ISSR initiators produced 48 bands which included 18 polymorphic bands (37.5% polymorphism). The mean of polymorphic information content (PIC) and marker index value (MI) for ISSR primers was 0.15 and 7.2 respectively. The highest PIC (3.0) was related to primer 5+6 and the highest MI (0.96) reached for primer 1+6. After observing polymerase chain reaction products on an agarose gel and scoring DNA bands, the analysis was performed with NTSYS software. The cluster analysis dendrogram of UPGMA and Jaccard's similarity coefficient divided the rye populations into 9 groups, the results were compiled with grouping by principal component analysis. The results of analysis of Molecular Variance indicated an in-species variation more than inter-species variation. The mean Nei genetic variation (h) was 350 and the mean of Shannon index (I) in rye species was 523, which indicates a relatively good variety within species. The results showed that the ISSR marker was a useful tool in determining genetic variation of inter and intra specific of rye.

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Aim: Multiple sclerosis is important in Iran because of its high prevalence and low age of onset. It exerts a large burden on affected people and the health care system. Studies have shown that the genetic content of humans has a critical role in MS. The histocompatibility loci which their products present the foreign antigenic peptides for detection by lymphocytes are of MS associated genetic elements. In this study, the association of HLA-DQB1*03 with MS was studied in Tehran, using a PCR-based system.
Methods: In this case-control study, a total of 367 blood samples were collected from 172 patients and 195 healthy people. Both groups were similar in age and gender. Blood DNA was extracted, and PCR technique was used to identify the presence of the allele.
Results: In this study, the HLA-DQB1*03 allele in men was significantly higher than that of women (p = 0.002). Also, the allele was less frequent in patients than in healthy subjects (53% versus 67%), and this difference is significant (p = 0.02).
Conclusions: The DQB1*03 allele is significantly lower in patients with MS than in healthy people, and this relationship is more pronounced in male subjects. Therefore, it seems that this allele plays a protective role against MS disease.

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Objective: Low density Lipo-protein Receptor- related Protein (LRP) is the most important cholesterol receptor in neurons. It serves as a receptor for APOE protein which is the most important risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease. LRP also contributes to the ligation of lipoproteins with APOE in neurons. Association between LRP C766T and Alzheimer’s disease in Iranian patients with late onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD) was investigated in this research. Materials and Methods: 100 patients with LOAD were selected based on DSM-IV-TR and NINCDS-ADRDA diagnostic criteria and 100 normal controls without any personal and family history of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia were included in this case- control study. AD patients and control subjects were matched for age and sex. PCR-RFLP was set up to detect LRP C766T polymorphism. Results: LRP C/C genotype and C allele distribution were more frequent in AD patients than in control subjects. However, this difference was not statistically significant. When association between LRP C/C genotype and AD was categorized by the gender, in both genders, there was not any significant correlation. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that 766C allele of LRP gene could not significantly alter the risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease in Iranian patients. Analysis of other genetic factors and environmental factors are promoted in Iranian population.

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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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Molecular characterization of 19 Jatropha accessions that included 15 accessions of J.curcas and 4 different species was carried out using 3 different markers systems. Highest polymorphism (96.67%) was recorded by RAPD followed by DAMD (91.02%) and ISSR (90%). Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) was higher for DAMD (0.873) and almost equal for RAPD (0.863) and ISSR (0.862) markers, whereas Resolving Power (Rp) was found to be higher for RAPD as compared to the other two marker systems. Marker Index (MI) values varied greatly with highest (19.07) in RAPD. Shannon index (i), observed number of alleles (na), effective number of alleles (ne) and Nei’s genetic diversity (h) values were found to be significantly higher for ISSR as compared to RAPD and DAMD markers. Thus, all the markers proved to be equally efficient for diversity studies in Jatropha. Several alleles in all the markers indicated J. gossypiifolia as one of the parents of J. tanjorensis. Dendrograms and PCA plots generated based on RAPD showed three major clusters with J. integerrima and J. podagrica falling in group I, fifteen J. curcas accessions in group II, and J. gossypiifolia as an outlier in group III. DAMD markers also showed similar clustering pattern whereas ISSR showed last cluster of J. gossypiifolia and J. tanjorensis. These results may provide a future base for conservation and characterization of available Jatropha genetic resources.

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Baluchi sheep is considered as the most common breed in Iran, constituting about 30% of total sheep population, approximately 15 million heads. This research was designed to study the incidence of mutation in two loci of IGF-I (Exon 3) and ADRB3 (Intron) along with their association with body weight traits in Baluchi sheep population. Following DNA extraction from 190 Baluchi sheep, two pairs of primers were designed to amplify each gene. PCR-SSCP (Single-Strand Conformation Polymorphism) and DNA sequencing were employed to detect polymorphism of the mentioned genes. Two banding patterns were detected for IGF-I locus. The frequencies of AA, AB were recorded as 0.89, 0.11, respectively in IGF-I locus. As for ADRB3, two patterns corresponding with two genotypes (their frequencies mentioned in parentheses) of AA (0.85) and AB (0.15) were identified. One SNP change was observed in ADRB3, and one in IGF-I. A previously reported SNP was detected in exon 3 of IGF-I. The effects of IGF-I and ADRB3 polymorphism on the corrected phenotypes for body weight at birth (BW), weaning (WW), 6 months of age (6MW), 9 months of age (9MW) and 12 months of age or Yearling Weight (YW) were examined using least square methods. No significant association was detected between the polymorphism of IGF-I and body weights. As for ADRB3, the genotype AA was found out to exert a significant positive effect on 6MW (AA, 30.20±1.85 kg day^-1; AB, 27.67±1.98 kg day^-1; P<0.05).

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The flowering and fructification period of the Chilean strawberry (Fragaria chiloensis (L.) Duch.) is restricted to approximately 2 mo, which seriously limits the commercial development of the species. The objective of the current investigation was to identify Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) polymorphisms associated with flowering duration in accessions of F. chiloensis. The flowering duration data related to 41 accessions obtained over 3 years were analyzed, and a set of 40 ISSR primers tested. Two clusters were obtained through the Partitioning Around Medoids algorithm, with 23 vs. 18 accessions, and 64.1 vs. 95.6 days of flowering, respectively. Flowering duration, between the two groups, was significantly different. The years also revealed a significant effect, on flowering duration, between the two groups. Ten of the ISSR primers tested revealed reproducible and consistent banding patterns, displaying a total of 106 putative loci, of which 79 were polymorphic. Three ISSR loci (811₇₇₉, 844₆₇₀, 841₉₈₀) were identified owing to their significant contribution to the differentiation among the accessions. Similarly, three ISSR loci (811₆₀₀, 812₁₁₈₀, 841₉₈₀) exhibited a significant correlation with the flowering duration variation. Locus 841₉₈₀, which presented the highest level of correlation with flowering duration, was isolated, cloned and sequenced, but it showed only a low level of homology with the relevant sequences published in the GenBank database. The identified loci showing high correlation with the flowering time could help build Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) maps for selection and improvement programs in the Fragaria sp. genus or other related species.

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ABCG2 (ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 2) gene, located on chromosome 6 encodes the ABCG2 protein that transports various xenobiotics, cytostatic drugs across the plasma membrane as well as cholesterol into milk. A single nucleotide change (A/C) in base 86 of exon 14 is capable of encoding a substitution of tyrosine with serine in the ABCG2 gene and increase milk yield while decreasing milk fat and protein concentrations. The major aim followed in this research was to study Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of ABCG2 gene and their association with milk production traits in Iranian Holstein bulls. Genomic DNA of 105 ified bulls was extracted from semen samples using highly Pure PCR template preparation kit. Primers were designed through Oligo software (Version 5.0) and utilized in PCR. Then the PCR fragments were sequenced. The A/C substitution in base number 86 of exon 14 was observed with 2% frequency which affected protein percentage (P< 0.05). Some SNPs were detected for the first time in intron 13, exon and intron 14 in comparison with sequences in the NCBI database. A deletion mutation in base number 20 (T/-) and a missense mutation in base number 67 (A/G) of exon 14 that cause the substitution of serine with glycine were discovered which were significantly associated with protein yield and fat percentage, respectively (P< 0.05). Furthermore, significant association was observed between fat percentage and mutations in base numbers 4,133 (T/C) and 4,137 (T/G) of intron 13 (P< 0.05). Substitutions in base numbers 2 (T/C) and 55 (G/C) of intron 14 resulted in a significant effect on fat yield and fat percentage (P< 0.05).

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In the present study, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to estimate genetic diversity and relationships among 35 cluster bean [Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub] genotypes. For RAPD analysis, 20 random primers were used which amplified 164 bands, 147 of which were polymorphic with an average polymorphism of 90.3%. The amplified products varied in size from 250 to 2,050 bp. For ISSR analysis, 10 primers were used which produced 105 bands, 102 of which were polymorphic (97%). The size of amplified bands ranged from 450 to 3,500 bp. The efficiency of primers in generating sufficient information for genetic diversity analysis was computed using discriminatory power (D_j), which ranged from 0.40 to 0.98 for RAPDs and 0.44 to 0.99 for ISSRs. Jaccard similarity coefficients were used to estimate the genotypic association with each other, which varied from 0.38 to 0.91 for RAPDs and from 0.20 to 0.88 for ISSRs. Cluster analysis indicated that all 35 genotypes could be distinguished by both RAPD and ISSR markers. Both of the methods (RAPD and ISSR) showed significant correlation (r= 0.69), implying their equal importance in cluster bean diversity analysis.