The Impact of Using Task-Based Activities on Iranian EFL Learners’ Speaking Skill

This study explored the impacts of task-based activities on Iranian intermediate EFL learners’ speaking skill. To do the current study, the Oxford Quick Placement Test (OQPT) was given to 75 students and 50 intermediate participants whose scores were between 40 and 47 were selected. Then, the participants were randomly divided into two groups; one experimental group and one control group. Then they were given three topics to talk about in two minutes as a speaking pre-test.  Afterwards, the experimental group received the treatment through task-based activities while the control group received a traditional instruction. The whole instruction lasted eight sessions. In the first two sessions, the OQPT and the pre-test were administered, respectively; in five sessions, the participants received the treatment, and in the eighth session, the post-test of speaking was given to the participants of both groups to measure the effects of the treatment on their speaking improvement. The collected data were analyzed through independent and paired samples t-tests and the results indicated that the experimental group outperformed the control group on the post-test.  In other words, there was a significant difference between the speaking post-test of the two groups. The implications, the conclusions, the limitations, and the suggestions of the research were explained. &nbsp

Evaluation of shear bond strength of zirconia to composite resin using different adhesive systems

To evaluate shear bond strength of zirconia to composite resin using different universal and conventional adhesives and a zirconia primer. Forty zirconia blocks were fabricated of zirconium ingots (10×10×5 mm) and sintered at 1530°C for 2 hours. They were then air-abraded with Al2O3 particles. The specimens were divided into 4 groups and subjected to one of the following bonding agents: Futurabond U (group 1), Clearfil Universal Bond, universal adhesives (group 2), Z-Prime Plus, zirconia primer (group 3) and Adper Single Bond 2, conventional adhesive (group 4). Composite resin was then applied in a diameter of 5 mm and in a thickness of 2 mm. All the specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 24 hours and then thermocycled between 5°C and 55°C for 5000 cycles with a 30-second dwell time. The shear bond strength was then evaluated with a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 1 mm/min. Data (MPa) were analyzed using ANOVA and LSD test (P?0.05). The specimens were evaluated under a stereomicroscope to determine the mode of failure. The mean shear bond strength was 16,874 MPa in group I, 13.4434 MPa in group II, 11.6500 MPa in group III and 6.8700 MPa in group IV. ANOVA revealed that the shear bond strength in group IV was significantly lower than that in other groups (P?0.05). The shear bond strength in group I was significantly higher than that in groups III and IV. So Universal adhesives could provide higher shear bond strength of zirconia to composite resin after thermocycling compared to zirconia primers

Reducing destructive effects of drought stress on cucumber through seed priming with silicic acid, pyridoxine, and ascorbic acid along with foliar spraying with silicic acid

Cucumber is considered as a drought-sensitive plant so that a decrease in the soil moisture causes decreased yield and quality of cucumber. This study investigates the effects of seed priming and foliar application with silicic acid on biochemical traits of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) under drought stress through a split-split plot experiment with three replications. The main plot was allocated to different levels of drought stress including moderate drought stress (80-85% Field Capacity (FC)), severe drought stress (60-65% FC), and without stress – control (90-95% FC). The sub-plot was allocated to seed priming treatments at three levels: control (hydro-priming), ascorbic acid 150 mgL-1, and pyridoxine 0.04%. The sub-sub plot was assigned to foliar spraying with silicic acid at three levels: 0, 100, and 200 mgL-1. The results obtained from the evaluation of all traits showed that under free-stress condition, the best seed priming treatment belonged to pyridoxine 0.04% alone or along with foliar spraying of silicic acid at 100 mgL-1. In moderate drought stress, the best seed priming treatment belonged to pyridoxine 0.04% and foliar spraying with silicic acid at 200 mgL-1, and under severe drought stress, the best seed priming treatment belonged to pyridoxine 0.04% or ascorbic acid at 150 mgL-1

Speckle tracking echocardiography in hypokinetic non-dilated cardiomyopathy: comparison with dilated cardiomyopathy

Aims: Hypokinetic non-dilated cardiomyopathy (HNDC), which is determined by impaired left ventricular (LV) systolic function despite normal LV size, has been categorized as a subgroup of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) spectrum. Lack of data regarding advanced echocardiographic data in this population motivated us to design the present study in order to assess LV myocardial deformation properties of HNDC patients against the ones with dilated left ventricle. Methods and results: Thirty-one HNDC patients and 23 DCM patients were enrolled in the study consecutively. Myocardial deformation parameters including global longitudinal strain, global circumferential strain, LV basal and apical rotation, LV twist, and LV mechanical dispersion were obtained with the use of two-dimensional speckle tracking-based methods in all patients. Left cardiac chamber volume was also measured using three-dimensional HeartModel application. Patients with enlarged left ventricle tend to have lower LV ejection fraction. Comparing with HNDC group, DCM patients showed worse global circumferential strain (coefficient ± standard error 3.59 ± 0.94, P < 0.001) and LV mechanical dispersion (coefficient ± standard error 16.46 ± 7.09, P = 0.02) after regression analysis, while neither the global longitudinal strain nor the LV twist was not significantly different between two study population. Conclusions: Left ventricular enlargement has a substantial effect on the circumferential strain and mechanical dispersion more than other deformation parameters that may play a role in the assumed poor prognosis of heart failure patients with dilated left ventricle. © 2020 The Authors. ESC Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the European Society of Cardiolog

Effects of total protein and cholesterol on spermatology traits of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Seminal plasma has contained organics factors same as proteins and cholesterol. The information about role and variety of fish seminal plasma and relationship with other factors especially in common carp is rare. The aim of this study was evaluation of effects of total protein and cholesterol on physical and biochemical factors of cultural common carp milt in Khouzestan province. For this study 40 fish have been bought (20 in March and 20 in April) and examinations of physical and biochemical were tested. Base on the results, total protein in March and April was 0.29±0.14 and 0.37±0.35 g/dl respectively, cholesterol in March and April was 9/95±8.83 and 14/12±12.73 mg/dl respectively. The total protein and cholesterol in April compared to March increased non significantly. The ions of calcium, chloride, sodium and potassium in April compared to March increased. Based on the results there was significant and positive correlation between total protein and Albumin, cholesterol and K in march and significant and negative correlation with Cl but total protein in April had significant and positive with Cl, P, spermatocrite, cholesterol and Albumin and negative and significant correlation with weight of fish. Cholesterol in March had significant and positive with albumin and negative significant correlation with Cl and P but cholesterol in April had positive significant correlation with spermatocrite, Albumin, P and Cl. According to the data of this study, total protein, cholesterol, calcium, chloride, sodium, potassium of the Common carp seminal plasma increased in April compared to March. So because of these factors have effects on fertility, quality and quantity of common carp sperm so it is possible to adjust the parameters of protein, cholesterol and minerals of dietary in spawning season increase the quality of common carp sperm

Myocardial strain analysis as a non-invasive screening test in the diagnosis of stable coronary artery disease

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the most prevalent diseases around the world; however, finding the best noninvasive, low-cost, and more easily accessible test for its screening has been a challenge for several years. Eighty-nine patients suspected of stable CAD underwent 2D-speckle-tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) at resting position and offline longitudinal myocardial strain analysis, followed by coronary angiography. The correlation of the global longitudinal strain (GLS) and territorial longitudinal strain (TLS) with significant CAD (70 and more stenosis in at least one coronary artery) was then evaluated. Results: The statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between low GLS and significant CAD (P=0.0001). The results also showed a significant correlation between low TLS and significant CAD in the left and right coronary artery territories. The optimal cut-off point of GLS for the detection of significant CAD was �19.25, with a sensitivity of 76.5 and specificity of 76.6. Conclusion: This study confirmed the usefulness of 2DSTE myocardial strain analysis in diagnosis of CAD for detecting the affected coronary arteries using GLS and SLS. © 2021, The Author(s)