Effect of Developing Pragmatic Competence through Telecollaboration on Improving English as Foreign Language Learners’ Writing Proficiency

The very information structure of written communication depends not just on the writer’s meaning and purpose but rather on the extent to which writer and reader share knowledge of pragmatic features of the language. To assess the actual effect of developing target language pragmatic competence through telecollaboration on improving English as Foreign Language learners’ target language writing proficiency, the current study was conducted on 60 Iranian learners of English at Razi Petrochemical Company in Iran. The study enjoyed a true experimental design by random assignment of participants to two equal groups, one group merely receiving writing instruction while the other being linked to target language speakers besides receiving writing instruction, and by administering three writing tasks immediately before intervention, immediately following intervention, and two months following intervention. The results of between-within subjects analysis of variance indicated that language learners who were linked to target language speakers not only demonstrated a better performance in writing according to the pragmatic features of target language following the intervention but also maintained their obtained knowledge to a greater extent than language learners who did not have contact with target language speakers. The pedagogical implications of the findings suggested providing opportunities for language learners in English as Foreign Language contexts to be virtually linked to target language speakers through telecollaboration. Keywords: Pragmatic Competence, Telecollaborative Partnership, Writing Proficienc

MicroRNAs and Periodontal Disease: Helpful Therapeutic Targets?

Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease. This disease can be considered as an inflammatory disease. The immune response to bacteria accumulated in the gum line plays a key role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. In addition to immune cells, periodontal ligament cells and gingival epithelial cells are also involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. miRNAs which are small RNA molecules with around 22 nucleotides have a considerable relationship with the immune system affecting a wide range of immunological events. These small molecules are also in relation with periodontium tissues especially periodontal ligament cells. Extensive studies have been performed in recent years on the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease. In this review paper, we have reviewed the results of these studies and discussed the role of miRNAs in the immunopathogenesis of periodontal disease comprehensively. miRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease and maybe helpful therapeutic targets for the treatment of periodontal disease

Evaluation of organophosphorus pesticide biodegradation by halophilic bacteria

Introduction: Organophosphorus pesticides are used extensively in agriculture. Most of them are released into the environment and have harmful effects on the health of ecosystems, wildlife and humans. Due to the increase of the salinity in the agriculture, especially drainage waters and the need for cleaning and reuse of the water due to water shortages, there is an increased demand for new treatment techniques. Bioremediation is the efficient and environmentally friendly way and can be used to remove these contaminants. Materials and methods: Halophilic bacteria that have the ability to use organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos as the sole source of carbon, were isolated through targeted enrichment. Based on the higher growth and tolerance in the presence of the pesticide, one isolate was selected. The ability of the selected strain to degrade chlorpyrifos was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The strain was identified by molecular method. To determine the optimal growth conditions, as an indicator of optimal pesticide removal, factors such as temperature, pH, concentration of salt and chlorpyrifos in the presence of pesticide (sole source of carbon) were examined. Results: The selected isolatenamed CDB5 showed 25.23% removal of chlorpyrifos in the basic conditions without addition of growth factors in 10 days. The molecular identification revealed that this halophilic strain belongs to the genus Halomonas sp. Investigation of the effect of factors in the presence of chlorpyrifos as the sole source of carbon showed that the strain has the highest growth at temperature 35℃, pH7, salt concentration of 10% and the chlorpyrifos concentration of 600 mg/l. Discussion and conclusion: Halophilic bacteria due to compatibility with the salty condition, can be a good option for the removal of organophosphorus pesticides in the contaminated salty environments

Comparison of Intensive Care Unit and General Wards Nurses’ Emotional Reactions and Health Status

AbstractBackground and aim:  Nurses in their work settings are exposed to pain,suffer and death of their patients which may affect their health status and emotional reactions . This study aimed to compare ICU and general wards’ nurses health status and emotional reactions .Method and materials.  This is a descriptive- cross sectional study which was performed on 103 intensive care unit nurses and 210 nurses in general wards in two of Baqhiatalah (a.j) university hospitals in 2010. The sample of the study was selected by systematic random sampling method’. Data were collected by GHQ12 &DASS21 questionnaires to evaluate emotional reactions and general health status of nurses. Data were analyzed by SPSS15 software descriptive analytical statistics such as chi-square tests.Results:  On average, 33% of nurses in the study had stress 33.9%, anxiety and 30.8% depression range of mild to very severe and showed that only was more depression in the intensive care units nursing (P <0.05).Although About 30% of nurses general health are not desirable in terms and the difference was not statistically significant in two groups of nurses studied.Conclusion:  The results demonstrated that approximately ⅓ of both groups intensive care units and other wards nurses had general health are not desirable in terms and at least one of emotional reactions (stress, anxiety or depression) even was more depression in the intensive care units nursing. Given the importance of nursing due and patient care, Management measures to assess and control factors to this problem is necessary.Keywords: general health, emotional reactions, nurse, intensive care unit

Marinobacter iranensis sp. nov., a slightly halophilic bacterium from a hypersaline lake

A novel halophilic bacterium, strain 71-iT, was isolated from Inche-Broun hypersaline lake in Golestan province, in the north of Iran. It was a Gram-stain-negative, non-endospore forming, rod-shaped bacterium. It grew at 4–40 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 6.0–11.0 (optimum pH 7.5) and with 0.5–15 % (w/v) NaCl [optimum 3 % (w/v) NaCl]. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison indicated its affiliation to the genus Marinobacter and the low percentage of identity with the most closely related species (97.5 %), indicated its placement as a novel species within this genus. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses of this strain against closely related species confirmed its condition of novel taxon. On the other hand, the percentage of the average amino acid identity (AAI) affiliated strain 71-iT within the genus Marinobacter. The DNA G+C content of this isolate was 57.7 mol%. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c. Ubiquinone-9 was the major isoprenoid quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the main polar lipids of this strain. On the basis of the phylogenomic and phenotypic (including chemotaxonomic) features, we propose strain 71-iT (= IBRC M 11023T = CECT 30160T = LMG 29252T) as the type strain of a novel species within the genus Marinobacter, with the name Marinobacter iranensis sp. nov. Genomic detections of this strain in various metagenomic databases indicate that it is a relatively abundant species in environments with low salinities (approximately 5 % salinity), but not in hypersaline habitats with high salt concentrations.MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y fondos FEDER - PID2020-118136GB-I00Junta de Andalucía y fondos FEDER - P20_01066 y BIO-21

Artificial Intelligence in Cancer Care: From Diagnosis to Prevention and Beyond

<p>Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made significant strides in revolutionizing cancer care, encompassing various aspects from diagnosis to prevention and beyond. With its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, recognize patterns, and make accurate predictions, AI has emerged as a powerful tool in the fight against cancer. This article explores the applications of AI in cancer care, highlighting its role in diagnosis, treatment decision-making, prevention, and ongoing management. In the realm of cancer diagnosis, AI has demonstrated remarkable potential. By processing patient data, including medical imaging, pathology reports, and genetic profiles, AI algorithms can assist in early detection and accurate diagnosis. Image recognition algorithms can analyze radiological images, such as mammograms or CT scans, to detect subtle abnormalities and assist radiologists in identifying potential tumors. AI can also aid pathologists in analyzing tissue samples, leading to more precise and efficient cancer diagnoses. AI's impact extends beyond diagnosis into treatment decision-making. The integration of AI algorithms with clinical data allows for personalized treatment approaches. By analyzing patient characteristics, disease stage, genetic markers, and treatment outcomes, AI can provide valuable insights to oncologists, aiding in treatment planning and predicting response to specific therapies. This can lead to more targeted and effective treatment strategies, improving patient outcomes and reducing unnecessary treatments and side effects. Furthermore, AI plays a crucial role in cancer prevention. By analyzing genetic and environmental risk factors, AI algorithms can identify individuals at higher risk of developing certain cancers. This enables targeted screening programs and early interventions, allowing for timely detection and prevention of cancer. Additionally, AI can analyze population-level data to identify trends and patterns, contributing to the development of public health strategies for cancer prevention and control. AI's involvement in cancer care goes beyond diagnosis and treatment, encompassing ongoing management and survivorship. AI-powered systems can monitor treatment response, track disease progression, and detect recurrence at an early stage. By continuously analyzing patient data, including imaging, laboratory results, and clinical assessments, AI algorithms can provide real-time insights, facilitating timely interventions and adjustments to treatment plans. This proactive approach to disease management improves patient outcomes and enhances quality of life.</p&gt