Spherical Collapse Approach for Non-standard Cold Dark Matter Models and Enhanced Early Galaxy Formation in JWST

We examine the impact of two alternative dark matter models that possess distinct non-zero equations of state, one constant and the other time-dependent, on the nonlinear regime using the spherical collapse approach. Specifically, we compare these models to standard cold dark matter (CDM) by analyzing their influence on the linear density threshold for nonrelativistic component collapse and virial overdensity. Additionally, we explore the number count of collapsed objects, or dark matter halos, which is analogous to the number count of galaxy clusters. Finally, in light of recent discoveries by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which indicate the potential for more efficient early galaxy formation at higher redshifts, we have been investigating how alternative dark matter assumptions can enhance structure formation efficiency during the early times.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

Age Effects on Decision-Making, Drift Diffusion Model

Training can improve human decision-making performance. After several training sessions, a person can quickly and accurately complete a task. However, decision-making is always a trade-off between accuracy and response time. Factors such as age and drug abuse can affect the decision-making process. This study examines how training can improve the performance of different age groups in completing a random dot motion (RDM) task. The participants are divided into two groups: old and young. They undergo a three-phase training and then repeat the same RDM task. The hierarchical drift-diffusion model analyzes the subjects' responses and determines how the model's parameters change after training for both age groups. The results show that after training, the participants were able to accumulate sensory information faster, and the model drift rate increased. However, their decision boundary decreased as they became more confident and had a lower decision-making threshold. Additionally, the old group had a higher boundary and lower drift rate in both pre and post-training, and there was less difference between the two group parameters after training

Structural Equation Model of Teachers' Mindsets, Self-Efficacy, and Emotional Experiences and Iranian EFL Learners' Willingness to Communicate and L2 Motivational Self System

This study aimed at investigating the interrelationships between EFL teachers' mindsets, self-efficacy, and emotional experiences and Iranian EFL learners' willingness to communicate (WTC) and L2 motivational self system (L2MSS). The participants of this study were 100 Iranian teachers and 501 students of the same EFL teachers, both male and female randomly selected from high schools. To fulfill the purpose of the study, teachers were asked to complete four questionnaires to measure their implicit theories of intelligence, efficacy, and emotional experiences including their burnout symptoms. Learners were required to complete two questionnaires to measure their willingness to communicate and L2 motivational self system. The results of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) revealed a significant structural relationship among all variables. Results also indicated that motivation was the strongest direct predictor of willingness to communicate. WTC was also indirectly correlated with teachers' implicit theories, efficacy, and emotional experiences through the mediating effect of L2MSS

The Effect of Regulatory Focus and Reference of Comparison Feedback on EFL Learners’ Achievement Emotions and Achievement Goals

This study aimed at examining the effects of the feedback types designed based on the regulatory focus theory (i.e., prevention vs. promotion) and reference of comparison (i.e., normative vs. self-referential) on achievement emotions and achievement goals. One hundred intermediate English language learners were assigned to four experimental groups, promotion, prevention, self-referential, normative, and one control group (N= 20 for each). The participants in the experimental groups received feedback based on their assignment for 16 sessions, and their achievement emotions and achievement goals were assessed before and after the intervention. ANCOVA analyses revealed that significant differences existed between the four experimental groups and the control group regarding achievement emotions and achievement goals. Self-referential feedback and promotion feedback increased positive emotions and led students to mastery-approach and mastery-avoidance goal adoption, while normative feedback and prevention feedback increased negative emotions. Furthermore, normative feedback positively affected performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals. Prevention-focused feedback had a positive effect on mastery-avoidance goals. The researchers recommended that teachers use feedback emphasizing learners’ growth and improvement as a means for progress check

The Translation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Persian Version of the Neuropsychological Vertigo Inventory

Background and Aim: Experiencing dizziness/vertigo is often an indication of dysfunction in the vestibular system. Recent findings show a connection between peripheral vestibular dysfunction and cognitive impairments. The Neuropsychological Vertigo Inventory (NVI) can assess physical, emotional, and cognitive issues in individuals with dizziness/vertigo. The aim of this research was to translate, cultural adaptation and evaluation of the reliability and validity of NVI to Persian. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the NVI scale was translated and adapted to the Iranian cultural context following the international quality of life assessment protocol for translation and equivalence. After obtaining face validity, the scale was administered to 140 patients with peripheral vestibular system dysfunction and 70 control group (age between 25 and 80 years). After one week, 50 participants were asked to complete the questionnaire again. Eventually, reliability was evaluated with both methods of internal consistency and test-retest reproducibility. Results: Out of the 28 items in the NVI scale, 3 items were modified to better align with the cultural conditions of Iranians. The impact scores for most items in this scale were found to be higher than 1.5. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient values for the overall scale (0.90) and test-retest reliability with intra-class correlation coefficient for the overall scale (0.91) were confirmed. Conclusion: The Persian version of NVI scale demonstrates excellent validity and reliability, and it exhibits a high level of content alignment with the original version. Therefore, it can be a useful tool to better understand the physical, emotional and cognitive disturbances in patients with vertigo/dizziness

Evaluation of anti-oxidant and antimelanogenic effects of the essential oil and extracts of Rosa × damascena in B16F10 murine melanoma cell line

Objective(s): Rosa × damascena Herrm. belonging to the Rosaceae family has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects previously. Excessive production of free radicals and activation of tyrosinase enzyme caused by UV induces excessive concentration of melanin pigment and skin spots in the long term. Therefore, finding natural sources with anti-oxidant and antityrosinase effects helps to regulate the melanogenesis process.  In the current research, we investigated the antimelanogenic, anti-oxidant, and anti-tyrosinase effects of its essential oil, methanol extract (MeOH), and different fractions including n-hexane, dichloromethane (CH2Cl2), n-butanol (BuOH), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and H2O of R. × damascena in B16F10 cell line.Materials and Methods: For this purpose, impacts of extracts and essential oil of R. × damascena were investigated on cell viability, cellular tyrosinase, melanin content, mushroom tyrosinase, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, as well as the amount of tyrosinase protein in the B16F10 murine melanoma cell line.Results: Essential oil, MeOH, and different fractions of R. × damascena were not cytotoxic on B16F10 cells. However, they had significant reducing effects on mushroom tyrosinase activity, melanin content, and ROS production. Also, there is a significant decrease in tyrosinase protein levels at 200 µg/ml but not at other concentrations. Conclusion: Therefore, the essential oil, MeOH, and different fractions of R. × damascena had promising antimelanogenic activity via repression of mushroom tyrosinase activity and ROS production

Performance Based Review and Fine-Tuning of TRM-Concrete Bond Strength Existing Models

Textile reinforced mortars (TRMs) are new composite materials which were considered as a proper alternative for fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) to strengthen various structural elements. In comparison to FRPs, the TRMs have more fire resistance, more environmental consistency and are safer the structural elements because of their better bond to substrate and various failure modes. There are a lot of existing models to calculate the bond strength between TRMs and concrete substrate. But, most of them originated from the FRP-concrete bond models and are not accurate enough to estimate the TRM-concrete bond strength. In this paper, new TRM-concrete bond models were calibrated to predict the bond strength between various TRM composites and the concrete substrate. To achieve this goal, a database including 221 experimental direct shear tests were compiled and a simple existing model was selected to be calibrated via soft computing techniques. It was found that the presented novel models could be accurately utilized to anticipate the TRM-concrete bond strength with various types of fibers and different geometrical features with R value of 0.6909 and NMAE error value of 12.62%

Separation of Oil Pollution Plumes of Groundwater in The Industrial Area of South Tehran

Due to the high volume of oil activities, there is a possibility of groundwater oil pollution, which requires extensive source identification, remediation, management and monitoring. In Rey industrial area, despite widespread oil pollution, the source identification of groundwater oil pollution has not been carried out before the present study, and previous studies were limited to exploration and extraction of petroleum products. The purpose of this study was to determine and separate the sources of oil spills to groundwater in the Rey industrial area. For this purpose, subsurface geology and hydrogeology of the region were studied by digging exploratory wells and data analyzing, and a conceptual model of the region was prepared. Then, all potential sources of pollutants and monitoring wells in the area were sampled and distillation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and hydrogeological analyzes were performed. Based on the results of this study, five main contaminated plumes were identified. The research results show that if the contamination is single product, the distillation method is the fastest and cheaper method of identifying and separating the plumes of contamination. When the contamination is a combination of different compounds, the use of gas-mass chromatography analysis and different ratios of the compounds along with hydrogeological analyzes is required. The main leaks in the study area were from the transmission lines of petroleum products buried in the underground, which usually transport petroleum products with high pressure

Global, regional, and national burden of colorectal cancer and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Funding: F Carvalho and E Fernandes acknowledge support from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), in the scope of the project UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020 of the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences UCIBIO and the project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy i4HB; FCT/MCTES through the project UIDB/50006/2020. J Conde acknowledges the European Research Council Starting Grant (ERC-StG-2019-848325). V M Costa acknowledges the grant SFRH/BHD/110001/2015, received by Portuguese national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), IP, under the Norma Transitória DL57/2016/CP1334/CT0006.proofepub_ahead_of_prin