Comparative Effect of Presenting Vocabularies in Semantically Related and Unrelated Sets on Iranian EFL Learners’ short Term Retention

Teaching vocabulary in semantically related sets is common practice among EFL teachers. This research was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of teaching vocabulary items through related and unrelated set to elementary Iranian EFL students. It investigated two types of clustering, semantically-related sets, semantically-unrelated sets, and their effectiveness in Persian -speaking learner’s retrieval at the end of each session. To this end, an experimental approach using two groups of participants (i.e. experimental and control) was employed. The experimental group was taught using related vocabulary instructional method while the control group was taught using unrelated clustering method. Then they were asked to complete a recall matched post-test immediately after the study phase to measure the impact of both techniques on learning. In analyzing the data, the statistical techniques of ANCOVA and T-test were utilized. Results of this matching test showed that participants recalled more words from the unrelated list than from the semantically related list. And words from the semantically related list were the least to be recalled by all participants. So, the results manifested that, while both techniques successfully help the learners to acquire new words, presenting words in unrelated sets seems to be more effective, and this represented the preference of semantically unrelated clustering over instructing words in related sets during short period of time. Keywords: vocabulary; EFL; semantically related sets; semantically unrelated set

Comparison Study on the Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Conditioned Medium Derived from Adipose and Wharton’s Jelly on Versican Gene Expression in Hypoxia

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells enhance tissue repair through paracrine effects following transplantation. The versican protein is one of the important factors contributing to this repair mechanism. Using MSC conditioned medium for cultivating monocytes may increase versican protein production and could be a good alternative for transplantation of MSCs. This study investigates the effect of culture medium conditioned by human MSCs on the expression of the versican gene in PBMCs under hypoxia-mimetic and normoxic conditions. METHODS: The conditioned media used were derived from either adipose tissue or from WJ. Flow cytometry for surface markers (CD105, CD73, and CD90) was used to confirm MSCs. The PBMCs were isolated and cultured with the culture media of the MSC derived from either the adipose tissue or WJ. Desferrioxamine and cobalt chloride (200 and 300 µM final concentrations, respectively) were added to monocytes media to induce hypoxia-mimetic conditions. Western blotting was applied to detect HIF-1α protein and confirm hypoxia-mimetic conditions in PBMC. Versican gene expression was assessed in PBMC using RT-PCR. Western blotting showed that the expression of HIF-1α in PBMC increased significantly (p < 0.01). RESULTS: RT-PCR results demonstrated that the expression of the versican and VEGF genes in PBMC increased significantly (p < 0.01) in hypoxia-mimetic conditions as compared to normoxia. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings in the present study, the secreted factors of MSCs can be replaced by direct use of MSCs to improve damaged tissues

An Evaluation of the Influence of Royal Jelly on Differentiation of Stem Cells into Neuronal Cells Invitro

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: P19 carcinoma stem cells are able to differentiate into embryonic cells with three germ layers. Given the fact that differentiated cells can reduce complications associated with degenerative diseases of the nervous system, in this study, we aimed to investigate the differentiation of P19 stem cells into neuronal cells under the influence of royal jelly. METHODS: In this basic-applied research, embryoid bodies, prepared in P19 cell suspension culture, were transferred to gelatinized containers and classified in six groups, receiving 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mg/ml of royal jelly, respectively; five wells were allocated to each group of cells. Morphological evaluation of cell differentiation was performed via cresyl violet staining. Also, immunofluorescence technique was used to track the expression of neuronal marker proteins such as synaptophysin and β-tubulin III. Finally, the findings were analyzed. FINDINGS: The present findings showed that cells exposed to royal jelly responded positively to specific staining of nerve cells. In groups receiving different concentrations of royal jelly, the mean percentage of cell differentiation was significantly higher than the negative control group (9±2.3). The highest percentage of cell differentiation was observed in groups treated with 200 and 300 mg/ml of royal jelly, respectively (98±4.8 and 99.3±2.2, respectively) (p<0.05). Based on the findings, the mean percentage of cell differentiation in the group receiving 200 mg/ml of royal jelly was not significantly different from the group receiving a concentration of 300 mg/ml. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that P19 cells are able to differentiate into neuronal cells, and therefore, they could be used in cell-based therapy for neurological disease

An Investigation of Gender Effects on Students’ Preferences for Literary and Non-literary Strokes

A strong, healthy teacher-student connection helps to create an environment conducive to personal and academic progress. Stroke is the point at which a healthy relationship starts to deviate from an unhealthy one in terms of behavior and words. Generally, strokes have been given in a conventional and non-literary manner, but the literary form of strokes has been advocated as a way to open up an opportunity for the creative use of language, as well as the construction of a relationship between language, culture, and literature. The purpose of this quantitative research is to determine students' preferences for literary and non-literary strokes. Gender disparities in preference for literary and non-literary strokes are investigated to account for males' and females' preferences. Despite growing up in the same biological and cultural environment, they may have opposing viewpoints. The convenience sample technique was used to choose 411 students (133 men and 278 females) from a variety of majors and stages of study. The data was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire with literary and non-literary strokes. Results suggested that female students tended to choose non-literary strokes, while male students favored literary strokes. The reason for female students’ preference for non-literary strokes and male students’ preference for literary strokes may be attributed to their personality traits, communication styles and social status. Other contributing aspects include the lack of intimate relationships between teachers and students of the opposite gender as well as differences in literary and non-literary language features

Neuronal differentiation of GFP expressing P19 embryonal carcinoma cells by deprenyl, an antiparkinson drug

زمینه و هدف: سلول های P19 دودمانی از سلول های کار سینومای جنینی چند استعدادی هستند که قادرند در محیط کشت حاوی سرم رشد نموده و برای تمایز به هر سه دودمان مزودرمی، آندودرمی و اکتودرمی القا شوند. با استفاده از روش های استاندارد ترانسفکشن می توان توالی DNA خارجی را به این سلول ها وارد کرده و عملکرد و تمایز سلولی را بررسی کرد. این تحقیق با هدف القای فنوتیپ عصبی در سلول های P19 ترانسفکت شده با ژن پروتئین فلوئورسانت سبز (GFP) با استفاده از داروی ضد پارکینسونی دپرنیل صورت گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه توصیفی آزمایشگاهی از روش رسوب کلسیم فسفات جهت وارد کردن پلاسمید pML8 حاوی ژن GFP و ژن مقاوم به پیورومایسین به این سلول ها استفاده شد. سلول ها با استفاده از محیط کشت MEM-A (Minimum Essential Medium Alpha) حاوی 15 درصد سرم گاوی جنینی کشت داده شدند. در اینجا غلظت 8-10 مولار دپرنیل برای القای تمایز اجسام شبه جنینی به دودمان عصبی استفاده شد. جهت ارزیابی تمایز سلول های P19 بررسی موفولوژی با استفاده از رنگ آمیزی اختصاصی کرزیل ویوله انجام شد. به علاوه برای ردیابی پروتئین های ویژه سلول های عصبی مانند سیناپتوفیزین و بتاتوبولین III از روش ایمنوفلورسنس استفاده شد. یافته ها: ضمن تولید سلول های P19 ترانسفکت شده پایدار، تمایز عصبی این سلول ها تحت تأثیر عامل القایی دپرنیل انجام شد. نورون های GFP مثبت مشتق شده از سلول های کار سینومای جنینی نشانگرهای ویژه سلول های عصبی را بیان کردند. نتیجه گیری: سلول های تمایز یافته GFP مثبت می توانند در مطالعات پیوندی و پژوهش های پایه ای مرتبط با سلول درمانی و بیماری های تحلیل سیستم عصبی مورد استفاده قرار گیرند

Salinity Stress: Toward Sustainable Plant Strategies and Using Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria Encapsulation for Reducing It

Salinity is one of the most important abiotic stresses that influences plant growth and productivity worldwide. Salinity affects plant growth by ionic toxicity, osmotic stress, hormonal imbalance, nutrient mobilization reduction, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). To survive in saline soils, plants have developed various physiological and biochemical strategies such as ion exchange, activation of antioxidant enzymes, and hormonal stimulation. In addition to plant adaption mechanisms, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can enhance salt tolerance in plants via ion homeostasis, production of antioxidants, ACC deaminase, phytohormones, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), volatile organic compounds, accumulation of osmolytes, activation of plant antioxidative enzymes, and improvement of nutrients uptake. One of the important issues in microbial biotechnology is establishing a link between the beneficial strains screened in the laboratory with industry and the consumer. Therefore, in the development of biocontrol agents, it is necessary to study the optimization of conditions for mass reproduction and the selection of a suitable carrier for their final formulation. Toward sustainable agriculture, the use of appropriate formulations of bacterial agents as high-performance biofertilizers, including microbial biocapsules, is necessary to improve salt tolerance and crop productivity

Debonding Time and Dental Pulp Temperature With the Er, Cr: YSGG Laser for Debonding Feldespathic and Lithium Disilicate Veneers

Introduction: The removal of ceramic veneers is a time-consuming procedure in a dentaloffice. Little research has been done in alternative removal techniques for ceramic veneers.The objective of this study was to evaluate the removal of feldspathic and lithium disilicatereinforced glass ceramic veneers by Er, Cr: YSGG and to measure debonding time and pulpaltemperature increase during veneer removal.Methods: Fifty-seven bovine incisor teeth were prepared and divided into 3 groups. Ceramicspecimens with a thickness of 0.7mm, a width of 4mm and a length of 8 mm were fabricatedfrom feldspathic ceramic, lithium disilicate reinforced glass ceramic HT (high translucency) andlithium disilicate reinforced glass ceramic MO (medium opacity) (19 for each group). Specimenswere cemented on the labial surface of incisors using resin cement. The Er, Cr: YSGG laserwas applied to each specimen at 2.5 W and 25 Hz. Debonding time was measured for eachspecimen, and the intrapulpal temperature was detected in 3 specimens for each group. Datawere analyzed via one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at significance level of 0.05 (α = 0.05).Results: Mean debonding time was 103.68 (26.76), 106.58 (47.22) and 103.84 (32.90) secondsfor feldspathic, lithium disilicate MO, and lithium disilicate HT respectively. There was nosignificant statistical difference among the groups (P value = 0.96). The intrapulpal temperatureincrease was less than 1°C in all groups.Conclusion: Er, Cr: YSGG can successfully be used to efficiently debond feldspathic and lithiumdisilicate reinforced glass ceramic veneers. There was no significant difference for debondingtime among these ceramic materials. During ceramic laminate veneer removal by laserirradiation, no irritating temperature rise was detected

Knowledge and Information Sources of Standard Precautions among Physicians in Mashhad, Iran

Introduction: Health care workers are exposed to percutaneous injuries. They are at risk of infection from bloodborne pathogens during routine clinical duties. Adherence to standard precautions can protect health care workers. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of knowledge of physicians about standard precautions and the use of information resources in the field of infection control. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted during January and March 2015, on 308 physicians working in the five academic hospitals affiliated with Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Demographic and additional related data were obtained by questionnaire from all participants. Data were analyzed in SPSS 16. Result: most of the participants were Specialists and female (60.7%). Specialists for some items related to standard precautions scores were over 90%; However for items related to “knowing the standard precautions, a goal of standard precautions and washing hand after taking off the gloves” scores were below 70%. There was no significant difference in knowledge of standard precautions among different medical groups (p-value=0.87). The most frequently mentioned information sources by specialists (90%) were “local instructions” but residents and interns (76%) preferred “discussion with colleagues” as the first source information in relation to standard precautions. The most Specialists had not received enough training about standard precautions (52.2%). Conclusion: There is a need for guidelines for training the standard precautions among health care workers

Banking, Monetary target policy and Stock market shock

This research has been investigated, economy and balance-sheet effects of the money growth rate targeting. According to financial statements of the banking network and national accounts, using dynamic stochastic general equilibrium New Keynesian and statistical data for the period 1991-2019.For estimating parameters, is used New Keynesian DSGE model and Bayesian method. This paper verify the validity of the model by analyzing the impulse response functions and Brooks and Goleman test. The results of the model indicate that the effect of negative the money growth rate targeting, reduce deposits, reduce loans interest rates, lead to reducing banks' resources, bank lending and then the health of the banks would compromise. In this way, investment and production will be reduced. Also, the effect of stock prices increasing, deposit, loan decrease and investment and production increase. Therefore, this research suggests the policy of negative the money growth rate targeting coincide with the policy of raising interest rates and stock price rising

Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Chevil (Ferulago angulata) on glucose and lipid in diabetic male rats

Introduction: Diabetes is a metabolic disease characterised by chronic hyperglycemia. Considering the properties antioxidant of the Chevil plant compounds, this study performed to determine the effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Chevil on serum glucose and lipid in diabetic male rats. Materials and Methods: In this study, 54 male Wistar rats weighing 200-250 g were divided into 6 groups (n=9 each) and studied for 4 weeks. The groups were as follows: Control, diabetic, diabetic groups treated 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight of the Chevil extract, respectively and the diabetic rats treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of metformin. At the end of study, FBS, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL-C, and LDL-C levels were measured. Results were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Results: Findings showed a significant reduction (P<0.05) of FBS in all groups with three doses of the extract, 26%, 59.3%, 69.4% respectively), Triglycerides (at 200 and 400 mg/kg of the extract respectively 16.1% and 34.1%), Cholesterol (800 mg/kg of the extract, 20.9%), LDL-C in all three doses of the extract, 25.9%, 49.1% and 53% respectively and a significant increase (P<0.05) in HDL-C in all three doses of the extract, 32.6%, 36.4% and 37.1% respectively compared to the control group was observed in diabetic rats treated with Chevil. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Chevil extract reduces blood sugar and improves blood lipid profiles in diabetic rats