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Showing 24 results for Chu
Volume 0, Issue 1 (5-2011)
Abstract
A numerical model for two-phase debris flows is developed in this paper, on the basis of understanding of the physical characteristics of debris flows from field investigations and experiments. Employing a moving coordinate, the kinetic energy equation of gravel particles in unit volume in debris flow is developed by considering the potential energy of the particles, energy from the liquid phase, energy consumption due to inner friction-collision between the particles, energy dispersion through collisions between particles, energy for inertia force, energy consumption due to the friction with the rough bed and energy consumption at the debris front. The model is compared with measured results of two-phase debris flow experiments and the calculated velocity profiles agree well with the measured profiles. The gravel’s velocity at the debris flow head is much smaller than that of particles in the following part and the velocity profile at the front of the debris flow wave is almost linear, but the profile in the main flow shows an inverse ‘s’ shape. This is because the gravel particles in the main flow accelerate as they receive energy from the gravitational energy and flowing liquid and decelerate as they transmit the energy to the debris flow head and consume energy due to collision with the channel bed.
Volume 8, Issue 3 (Summer 2022)
Abstract
Backgrounds: The fungal pathogen Candida albicans is a cause of biofilm formation in patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. Saccharomyces boulardii is a nonpathogenic fungal probiotic that plays an important role in preventing or treating intestinal diseases. This research aimed to determine the inhibitory effect of S. boulardii probiotic yeast on biofilm formation capacity of C. albicans, which is one of the main virulence factors.
Materials & Methods: In this study, 33 oropharyngeal samples were collected from patients with suspected oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC). The inhibitory activity of S. boulardii against biofilm formation capacity of C. albicans was investigated by crystal violet-based staining (CVS) and MTT reduction reaction. The collected data were analyzed using student's t-test in SPSS statistical software.
Findings: In this study, the probiotic yeast S. boulardii reduced the pathogenicity and virulence of C. albicans in vitro. According to the results of CVS and MTT assays, a considerable reduction (p< .001) in the biomass and viability of C. albicans biofilms was observed after 48 hours of incubation in the presence of S. boulardii extract.
Conclusion: There was a significant association between S. boulardii extract concentration and biofilm formation in both CVS and MTT assays. Biofilm formation decreased with increasing S. boulardii extract concentration and incubation time in both methods compared to the control group.
Volume 8, Issue 35 (11-2020)
Abstract
Abstract
In textual criticism, it is necessary to pay attention to side sources and sometimes books of proverbs. Depending on the content and the main form of the proverbs, the editor can remove some of the ambiguities of the classical texts. Gradually, the use of these proverbs becomes more limited and turn into vague expressions for the scribes so that they may change them. For example, the phrase of "Shomar e khāne be bāzār rāst nemÎayad" (The counting of the house is not acceptable in the Bazar) is an ancient proverb, which means "Not matching a person's account at home with what he encounters in the market". This proverb at least has been used in Persian poetry and prose from the 5th century, and in our time, it has been used in Tajik Persian works. Sa'adi has used this proverb in the one of the verses of his Odes, but for the scribes of Saʿdī's Divan, it was not a familiar phrase, and hence, in most manuscripts and in all available editions of Divan and Odes, "arz e jame" (length of the clothes) has been distorted to the "arz e khane" (the length of the house). Most of the commentators of Sa'adi's Odes have trusted the text without paying attention to its transformation and distortion. They have interpreted the verse in such a way that it does not relate to Sa'adi's thought. In this article, the correct form of the Saʿdī's verse has been presented relying on some of the manuscripts of Sa'di's Divan and the background and meaning of this proverb.
Research Background
In this article, some distorted examples have been mentioned in the literary texts. For example, in the articles "The correction of some verses in Sanaī’s Hadiqa using Farhang-e jahāngīrī", "Pey e ŝirân gereftan va rân e gurân xordan", "The Necessity of re-correcting Katebi Neishaburi's Divan of Odes" (Khosravi, 2014, pp. 346-347; Harandi, 2018, pp. 99- 113; Bashiri et al., 2018, pp. 85-113), there are some evidence to show that the conversion and distortion of a proverb has taken the text away from its original form.
Aims, questions, and assumptions
The proverbs are one of the side sources that are effective in textual criticism. Sometimes, the proverbs have been changed due to the unfamiliarity of the scribes, but according to their prevalence in literary texts, the correct form of that text can be found.
To this aim, the following research questions are raised:
1. How do factors such as neglecting the meaning and ignoring proverbs have distorted the text?
2. How does investigating the use of proverbs in literary texts help the editor to edit the text?
3. How commentators' trust in correcting the meaning of proverbs written in some edited texts had diverted their minds from the original form of the text?
Discussion
In the study of classical texts, we find that the change and conversion of the proverb has sometimes taken the text away from its correct form. In this article, we have chosen a verse of Sa'di as an example to show that neglecting the proverb “Shomar e khāne be bāzār rāst nemÎayad" has caused ambiguity in the meaning of the verse. As in some manuscripts and all editions of Odes, “arz e jame” has been changed to " arz e khane” (Foroughi, 2007, p. 469; Yousefi, 2006, p. 19)
Searching this proverb in the classical texts, we found its other forms and mentioned its meaning and application in the literary texts, and showed that how researchers' trust in the Foroughi's edition of Sa'di's Odes prevented their minds from grasping the correct meaning of the verse and led to its misinterpretation and explanation.
The findings show that this proverb has been prevalent in Persian poetry and prose since, at least, the fifth century, and in texts such as Manouchehri Damghani's Divan (2006, p. 20), Nafsat ol- Masdoor (Zaidari Nesavi, 2002, p. 100) and Rouh-ol-Arvah (Samani, 2010, p. 538) and in our time has also been used in Tajik Persian works (also see Dehkhoda, 1984, 2/953; Zolfaghari, 2010, 1/834).
Conclusion
In textual criticism, it is necessary to pay attention to side sources. For example, the study of a hemistich of Sa'di's Odes and the commentators' descriptions of that verse clearly shows that due to the inaccuracy of the text, even the most meticulous scholars have misunderstood the meaning of the verse. The confidence in Foroughi's correction has prevented them to perceive the possibility of errors in the text, and consequently, the mistake in recording the hemistich is hidden. Most surprising of all is the distraction of Yousefi's precise notion, which did not pay attention to the correct recording of some manuscripts. The editors and commentators of Sa'di's Odes have not discussed the ambiguity of the second hemistich, but in explaining the verse according to the power of their imagination, they have made a new theme or taken it from someone else.
References
Bashiri, B., Amani, R., & Farzi, H. (2018). The necessity of re-correcting Katebi Neishaburi’s Divan of Ode. Textual Criticism of Persian Literature, 54, 85-113.
Dehkhoda, A. (1984). Dehkhoda's proverbs. Amirkabir.
Khosravi, M. (2014). The correction of some Verses in Sanaī’s Hadiqa using Farhang-e Jahāngīrī. Name-ye Farhangestan (Sub-continent), 3, 339-350.
Sa'di, M. (2007). Kolliāt (edited by Mohammad Ali Forughi). Amir Kabir.
Sa'di, M. (2006). Sa'di's Odes (edited by Gholamhossein Yusofi). Sokhan.
Samaani, Sh. (2010). Spirit of all spirits in understanding the names of the all good (edited by Najib Mile Heravi). Elmi va Farhangi.
Nandimi Harandi, M. (2018). Pey e ŝirân gereftan va rân e gurân xordan. Culture and Folk Literature, 20, 99-113.
Zolfaqari, H. (2010). The dictionary of Persian proverbs. Moin.
Zidari Nesavi, Sh. (2002). The sigh of a sad heart (edited by Amir Hassan Yazdgerdi). Toos.
In textual criticism, it is necessary to pay attention to side sources and sometimes books of proverbs. Depending on the content and the main form of the proverbs, the editor can remove some of the ambiguities of the classical texts. Gradually, the use of these proverbs becomes more limited and turn into vague expressions for the scribes so that they may change them. For example, the phrase of "Shomar e khāne be bāzār rāst nemÎayad" (The counting of the house is not acceptable in the Bazar) is an ancient proverb, which means "Not matching a person's account at home with what he encounters in the market". This proverb at least has been used in Persian poetry and prose from the 5th century, and in our time, it has been used in Tajik Persian works. Sa'adi has used this proverb in the one of the verses of his Odes, but for the scribes of Saʿdī's Divan, it was not a familiar phrase, and hence, in most manuscripts and in all available editions of Divan and Odes, "arz e jame" (length of the clothes) has been distorted to the "arz e khane" (the length of the house). Most of the commentators of Sa'adi's Odes have trusted the text without paying attention to its transformation and distortion. They have interpreted the verse in such a way that it does not relate to Sa'adi's thought. In this article, the correct form of the Saʿdī's verse has been presented relying on some of the manuscripts of Sa'di's Divan and the background and meaning of this proverb.
Research Background
In this article, some distorted examples have been mentioned in the literary texts. For example, in the articles "The correction of some verses in Sanaī’s Hadiqa using Farhang-e jahāngīrī", "Pey e ŝirân gereftan va rân e gurân xordan", "The Necessity of re-correcting Katebi Neishaburi's Divan of Odes" (Khosravi, 2014, pp. 346-347; Harandi, 2018, pp. 99- 113; Bashiri et al., 2018, pp. 85-113), there are some evidence to show that the conversion and distortion of a proverb has taken the text away from its original form.
Aims, questions, and assumptions
The proverbs are one of the side sources that are effective in textual criticism. Sometimes, the proverbs have been changed due to the unfamiliarity of the scribes, but according to their prevalence in literary texts, the correct form of that text can be found.
To this aim, the following research questions are raised:
1. How do factors such as neglecting the meaning and ignoring proverbs have distorted the text?
2. How does investigating the use of proverbs in literary texts help the editor to edit the text?
3. How commentators' trust in correcting the meaning of proverbs written in some edited texts had diverted their minds from the original form of the text?
Discussion
In the study of classical texts, we find that the change and conversion of the proverb has sometimes taken the text away from its correct form. In this article, we have chosen a verse of Sa'di as an example to show that neglecting the proverb “Shomar e khāne be bāzār rāst nemÎayad" has caused ambiguity in the meaning of the verse. As in some manuscripts and all editions of Odes, “arz e jame” has been changed to " arz e khane” (Foroughi, 2007, p. 469; Yousefi, 2006, p. 19)
Searching this proverb in the classical texts, we found its other forms and mentioned its meaning and application in the literary texts, and showed that how researchers' trust in the Foroughi's edition of Sa'di's Odes prevented their minds from grasping the correct meaning of the verse and led to its misinterpretation and explanation.
The findings show that this proverb has been prevalent in Persian poetry and prose since, at least, the fifth century, and in texts such as Manouchehri Damghani's Divan (2006, p. 20), Nafsat ol- Masdoor (Zaidari Nesavi, 2002, p. 100) and Rouh-ol-Arvah (Samani, 2010, p. 538) and in our time has also been used in Tajik Persian works (also see Dehkhoda, 1984, 2/953; Zolfaghari, 2010, 1/834).
Conclusion
In textual criticism, it is necessary to pay attention to side sources. For example, the study of a hemistich of Sa'di's Odes and the commentators' descriptions of that verse clearly shows that due to the inaccuracy of the text, even the most meticulous scholars have misunderstood the meaning of the verse. The confidence in Foroughi's correction has prevented them to perceive the possibility of errors in the text, and consequently, the mistake in recording the hemistich is hidden. Most surprising of all is the distraction of Yousefi's precise notion, which did not pay attention to the correct recording of some manuscripts. The editors and commentators of Sa'di's Odes have not discussed the ambiguity of the second hemistich, but in explaining the verse according to the power of their imagination, they have made a new theme or taken it from someone else.
References
Bashiri, B., Amani, R., & Farzi, H. (2018). The necessity of re-correcting Katebi Neishaburi’s Divan of Ode. Textual Criticism of Persian Literature, 54, 85-113.
Dehkhoda, A. (1984). Dehkhoda's proverbs. Amirkabir.
Khosravi, M. (2014). The correction of some Verses in Sanaī’s Hadiqa using Farhang-e Jahāngīrī. Name-ye Farhangestan (Sub-continent), 3, 339-350.
Sa'di, M. (2007). Kolliāt (edited by Mohammad Ali Forughi). Amir Kabir.
Sa'di, M. (2006). Sa'di's Odes (edited by Gholamhossein Yusofi). Sokhan.
Samaani, Sh. (2010). Spirit of all spirits in understanding the names of the all good (edited by Najib Mile Heravi). Elmi va Farhangi.
Nandimi Harandi, M. (2018). Pey e ŝirân gereftan va rân e gurân xordan. Culture and Folk Literature, 20, 99-113.
Zolfaqari, H. (2010). The dictionary of Persian proverbs. Moin.
Zidari Nesavi, Sh. (2002). The sigh of a sad heart (edited by Amir Hassan Yazdgerdi). Toos.
Volume 9, Issue 4 (Fall 2021)
Abstract
Introduction: Education in diabetes is a fundamental and important issue in achieving the desired quality of life. One of the most effective factors in the quality of education is choosing the right education. Diabetes self-management education is a key component of diabetes care. On the other hand, the high rate of patients' non-acceptance or adherence to the treatment regimen indicates that educating the patient to achieve self-management has shortcomings. This study aimed to help identify barriers to the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education.
Conclusion: Diabetes self-management education is an important building block of diabetes treatment. Diabetes self-management education is necessary for diabetes management and behavior change in individuals with diabetes. The results of the studies have found that group education is superior or not different from individual education. Diabetes self-management education should be chosen according to the characteristics of the individuals with diabetes, the purpose of the education, and the advantages and disadvantages of the education method to be selected.
Conclusion: Diabetes self-management education is an important building block of diabetes treatment. Diabetes self-management education is necessary for diabetes management and behavior change in individuals with diabetes. The results of the studies have found that group education is superior or not different from individual education. Diabetes self-management education should be chosen according to the characteristics of the individuals with diabetes, the purpose of the education, and the advantages and disadvantages of the education method to be selected.
Volume 9, Issue 4 (Fall 2021)
Abstract
Aims: The relevance of the issue under study is conditioned by functional changes in the sphere of both socio-economic functioning of the state and the psychological development of the population in particular. This review was aimed to study the psychoemotional state of the population of Ukraine in connection with changes in the social situation.
Information & Methods: The systematic review was done in 2021 and used theoretical methods, namely analysis, synthesis, comparison. For the study, authors investigated articles authored by respected world scientists published since the beginning of the pandemic. As part of a larger ongoing study that monitored various aspects of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, data was collected online using the Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) crowdsourcing platform.
Findings: The results of this study were demonstrated how destructive social changes were in the sustainable life of the population; in particular, there was a clear increase in the level of physical and verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. Emotional fluctuations affect both professional activity and interpersonal interaction, leading to negative consequences, so there was a need to maintain one's psychological state.
Conclusion: The analysis of the theoretical basis of the study makes it possible to see the relationship between changes in the social situation and changes in the emotional sphere of the individual. The research materials will be useful for specialists in psychology, sociology, and political science since the presented materials provide an opportunity for further more detailed practical study of this issue and the development of methods for preventing negative states in crises.
Information & Methods: The systematic review was done in 2021 and used theoretical methods, namely analysis, synthesis, comparison. For the study, authors investigated articles authored by respected world scientists published since the beginning of the pandemic. As part of a larger ongoing study that monitored various aspects of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, data was collected online using the Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) crowdsourcing platform.
Findings: The results of this study were demonstrated how destructive social changes were in the sustainable life of the population; in particular, there was a clear increase in the level of physical and verbal aggression, anger, and hostility. Emotional fluctuations affect both professional activity and interpersonal interaction, leading to negative consequences, so there was a need to maintain one's psychological state.
Conclusion: The analysis of the theoretical basis of the study makes it possible to see the relationship between changes in the social situation and changes in the emotional sphere of the individual. The research materials will be useful for specialists in psychology, sociology, and political science since the presented materials provide an opportunity for further more detailed practical study of this issue and the development of methods for preventing negative states in crises.
Volume 9, Issue 5 (Special Issue 2021)
Abstract
Introduction: As part of any program, it is essential to identify the multiple factors influencing behavior. In the present study, an attempt has been made to overview this model's concepts and mention some strategies for developing health behaviors using this model. The health belief model is one of the first models to introduce theories from behavioral sciences into the field of health to solve health problems. A group of psychologists first developed this model in the 1950s to help explain why people do not use health services such as chest x-rays for tuberculosis screening and smallpox immunization.
Conclusion: People are afraid of the disease, and the degree of fear or the perceived threat encourages people to take health practices. The Health Belief Model was used to develop messages that motivate people to make decisions. This model helps to identify behaviors, identify points where behavioral changes need to be made, and make decisions easier.
Conclusion: People are afraid of the disease, and the degree of fear or the perceived threat encourages people to take health practices. The Health Belief Model was used to develop messages that motivate people to make decisions. This model helps to identify behaviors, identify points where behavioral changes need to be made, and make decisions easier.
Volume 10, Issue 1 (Winter 2022)
Abstract
Aims: The aim was to analyze current ecological risk management systems, identify their shortcomings and implement solutions that will help avoid them, and study the ecological component when creating documents concerning the ecological modernization of enterprises.
Information & Methods: The present study investigates ecological and civil safety using logical analysis, comparative analysis, the formal-legal method, synthesis, deduction, and the analysis method of scientific literature.
Findings: The result of this paper is the identification of theoretical and practical foundations of ecological risk management systems, their effectiveness in preventing anthropogenic and ecological disasters, and the analysis of the regulatory framework for creating and implementing documentation to be used in the ecological modernization of enterprises.
Conclusion: The authors developed ecological risk management systems, eliminating shortcomings in their performance, introducing methods that will improve and make such systems more effective, as well as increasing the level of the ecological component during operations with documents that are cornerstones for ecological improvement of institutions and enterprises.
Volume 10, Issue 1 (Winter 2022)
Abstract
Aims: Experience in many wars and armed conflicts have shown that the security forces team should be monolithic to achieve the desired result. Gender dissonance is a factor that negatively affects the ability of the officer team to fulfill its assigned tasks. The purpose of the study lies in highlighting important gender issues in the education of cadets, namely female cadets of Ukrainian security forces universities, which were identified during their expert survey.
Instrument & Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in 2021 at the Central Research Institute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This research was conducted in a survey among third- and fourth-year female cadets between 19 and 22. A total of 100 future officers participated.
Findings: The study identified the following problems in the gender education of female cadets: relatively high levels of material motivation when enrolling in a security forces university, insufficient level of psychological readiness for service in combat units, low aspirations for career advancement, and unsuitable living environment.
Conclusion: The gender policy pursued by the state through the relevant governing bodies significantly lags behind the realities that spontaneously materialize, especially within the officer teams. When the need for certain changes has already become formalized among officials in the security forces, the reality is at a different level of development. The authors consider it appropriate to carry out further comprehensive scientific research work, which should reflect the social, psychological, legal, economic, and cultural aspects of the gender equality problem.
Volume 10, Issue 2 (Spring 2022)
Abstract
Aims: The article’s purpose was to consider the problematic issues of forming an understanding of such concepts as health, pain, and suffering.
Information & Methods: A set of general scientific and special methods was used in work: dialectical, dogmatic, hermeneutics, comparative legal method, statistic, and sociological method.
Findings: Considered the category of "health" in various humanities and compared the characteristics of "physical pain" and "physical and moral suffering" as possible consequences of criminal offenses that harm the health of the individual.
Conclusion: The research of such problematic issues allowed to development of a unified approach to the understanding of such concepts as “health”, “pain” and “suffering” this, in turn, will make it possible to unify legislation in this area.
Volume 10, Issue 2 (6-2024)
Abstract
Planococcus Ferris (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha, Pseudococcidae) is a genus of mealybug containing 49 species worldwide. Many species of Planococcus are important pests of agricultural crops. Surveys have been set up in Bengkulu Province, Sumatra-Indonesia, on coffee plantations, in 2023. Planococcus bengkuluensis Zarkani & Kaydan sp. nov. was found in association with Coffea robusta Lindl. ex De Will. (Rubiaceae), described and illustrated. The new species has multilocular disc pores and oral collar tubular ducts on the posterior dorsum in limited numbers. It is another species of Planococcus possessing dorsal multilocular disc pores. An identification key to the known Planococcus species of southern Asia is also provided
Volume 13, Issue 3 (July & August 2022 (Articles in English & French) 2022)
Abstract
A close look at the education system reveals that too much attention is attached to text while visuals, such as pictures and cartoons, are often deemed as “decoration”, or are not incorporated in the textbooks at all. Visual texts constitute a part of daily communication, which can potentially bear many layers of meaning. Such a complexity involved in visuals turns them into an ideal resource for not only L2 learning but also the improvement of intercultural communicative competence (ICC), along with cultural awareness. The status of cultural elements and representation of culture in English instruction has proved to be a tricky issue. This is mainly because of the diverse range of contexts where English is used on an international scale globally. Given the integral relationship between language and culture, it is essential to teach cultural elements in L2 classes, in particular, the representation of cultural values and elements as an integral part of the L2 curriculum of English language teaching (ELT). Furthermore, from a critical linguistics viewpoint, language textbooks should be viewed as social and cultural vehicles. Therefore, the incorporation of cultural symbols and raising cultural awareness are considered essential issues in ELT textbooks, particularly in the context of English as a foreign language (EFL). Furthermore, multiple approaches to the analysis of textbooks and cultural contents have been adopted by different researchers. Here, the present study is based on the core principles of semiotic analysis which implies that texts, pictures, and other modes of communication can be used as potential semiotic resources. This review study can yield important theoretical and pedagogical implications for researchers, L2 instructors, and the developers of ELT textbooks to take the images into account to represent culture in the textbook.
Volume 13, Issue 5 (November & December 2022 (Articles in English & French) 2022)
Abstract
The Analects of Confucius is one of the representative works of traditional Chinese culture and has been translated into different versions. Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version is one of the most popular among the different translated versions. It has a considerable potential to spread Chinese culture by multimodal means. A brief review shows that so far, there have been few studies on Tsai Chih-Chung's Chinese classic comics from the perspective of multimodality. This study applies the analytical framework based on Kress and van Leeuwen’s “Visual Grammar” to Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version of The Analects of Confucius, attempting to explore how the visual modes realize three meta-meanings in the English comic version. Through the analysis, it is found that the images in Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version fully realize the representational meaning, interactive meaning and compositional meaning. Furthermore, most of the images in Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version realize more than just one meta-meaning, and more frequently include all three meta-meanings. By combining the texts and images organically, Tsai Chih-Chung's English comic version has been successful in attracting readers to read the classic, deepening the readers’ understanding of the classic and finally making them accept the cultural essence embedded in it. This study provides a case reference for the analysis of multimodal discourse in Chinese classic comics, and also contributes to optimizing Chinese classic comics’ design and innovation.
Volume 14, Issue 5 (November & December 2023 (Articles in English & French) 2023)
Abstract
Professional learning community (PLC) has been a generally recognized model for promoting teacher development, including EFL teachers’ writing assessment literacy, intercultural teaching competence, digital literacy, and so on. However, research on whether the changes in beliefs of teachers engaging in a PLC affects their teaching competence is relatively scant. To fill this gap, the present study investigated the extent to which a PLC with intercultural components changed EFL teachers’ beliefs in intercultural teaching, which in turn affected their intercultural teaching competence. In doing so, adopting an exploratory sequential method, qualitative data from teachers and a questionnaire from students were collected and analyzed through NVIVO 12 and SPSS 26.0. The data analyses revealed significant changes in the EFL teachers’ knowledge construction, motivation inspired by peer interaction, and reflection on intercultural learning and teaching practices. These changes led to the transformations in their beliefs and practices concerning intercultural instruction, although individual orientations were observed in their pedagogical approaches. Furthermore, the study’s findings were supported by evidence of corresponding changes in students’ learning outcomes in the development of intercultural competence. The study highlights the significance of PLCs in enhancing EFL teachers’ intercultural teaching competence and their professional development.
Volume 15, Issue 2 (3-2013)
Abstract
Water quality assessment provides a scientific basis for water resources development and management. This case study proposes a Factor analysis- Hopfield neural network model (FHNN) based on factor analysis method and Hopfield neural network method. The results showed that the factor analysis (FA) technique was introduced to identify important water quality parameters. Results revealed that biochemical oxygen demand, permanganate index, ammonia nitrogen, nitrogen, Cu, Zn and Pb were the most important parameters in assessing water quality variations of the study area. Considering these parameters, water samples of the sampling sites were classified as follows: six into Class III, eight into Class IV, and six into Class V. Afterwards, a water quality map was based on the results of water quality assessment by Factor analysis-Hopfield neural network model. It showed that the southwestern part of the study area had a generally optimum water quality, while in the northeastern part, the quality was seriously degraded. Factor Analysis-Hopfield Neural Network was much better than the Hopfield Neural Network in effectively reducing the degree of Hopfield neural network over-fitting caused by the inputs, thereby achieving more reasonable results. The comparisons with BPANN, fuzzy assessment method, and the Nemerow index method indicated that the FHNN model provided more reliable judgment and valuable information than the three other water quality classification methods.
Volume 15, Issue 2 (6-2012)
Abstract
Objective: Dermatophytosis is one of the most common pandemic fungal infections that is a major health problem in cities and villages. This study aims to evaluate PCR sensitivity and accuracy in the detection of nail dermatophytosis compared to conventional direct and culture detection methods, and performs an assessment of Trichophyton rubrum in patients suspected of having nail dermatophytosis. Methods: This experiment was a descriptive-experimental study carried out on 71 nail samples obtained from patients with suspected nail dermatophytosis. All clinical samples of nails or chips were divided into three sections and each section underwent direct examination, culture and molecular tests. In the molecular test, we used fungal rRNA universal primers (ITS1 and ITS4) and Trichophyton rubrum-specific primers. Results: In this study, for the first time in Iran and based on a modified protocol, DNA was directly extracted from tissues of infected nails in less than five hours. Additionally a comparison of the results obtained from routine laboratory methods such as direct examination and culture with PCR verified the high sensitivity and accuracy of PCR compared to the other studied methods. Conclusion: PCR, as a rapid, accurate method, can be a good replacement for conventional culture and direct examination.
Volume 15, Issue 4 (2-2012)
Abstract
Customer churn management consist of three main phases: identifying churners, discovering the causes of churn and adapting appropriate strategies against this problem. Most of studies in this field focused on prediction of customer churn. Few studies about discovering causes of churn are just about testing primary hypothesis about probable causes. This study because of the shortage of previous studies in this field has made lots of innovations. Some of these innovations are: designing a new framework for discovering causes of churn and designing a hybrid approach from data mining and survey techniques which carried out without benchmarking from any similar study. Proposed framework includes four main steps: feature construction and selection, identification of churners, discovering the causes of churn, and validating the results. Current account customers of Keshavarzi Bank are selected as casestudy of this research and the required data is gathered trough questionnaire. The approach used for discovering causes of churn is extracting the rules which lead to churn in various clusters of customers. For this purpose, decision tree technique with target variable of churn label is utilized. Validating the results is carried out by testing it on validation data set and calculating the top lift and overall error rate. The extracted rules represent that there is a tendency to churn among big segment of keshavarzi's customers. The most important reason (specially among higher salary customers) is about manner of bank agents not reasons expressed by experts such as the way of lending or the profit of backup accounts.
Volume 15, Issue 5 (November & December (Articles in English & French) 2024)
Abstract
Request is used quite often in Malaysian Chinese people’s daily life. Most previous researchers focused on request speech act in mainland Chinese language. However, very little attention is paid to the request speech act in Malaysian Chinese. This study aims to investigate the request speech act in Malaysian Chinese Mandarin. Role play method was employed to elicit data needed for this study. 25 Malaysian Chinese participants and 1 Malaysian Chinese interlocutor were recruited to role play 12 scenarios. The collected data underwent analysis using a revised framework for coding. The results unveiled that the most commonly utilized strategy was conventionally indirect strategy, followed by direct strategy. The least frequently used one was non-conventionally indirect strategy. More external modifiers were used than internal modifiers. Variables of social distance, and ranking of imposition had impacts on request speech act in Malaysian Chinese Mandarin. Social power did not influence the use of ‘query preparatory’ and ‘want statements’ strategy. This study can be of great value with regard to theory and practice. Theoretically, it revises and validates the CCSARP theoretical framework with Malaysian Chinese Mandarin data. Practically, it can improve communication skills in Malaysian Chinese people’s everyday interactions and help them maintain positive relationships.
Volume 16, Issue 3 (12-2013)
Abstract
Objective: Fusarium species are prevalent contaminants of foodstuffs and agricultural crops. They produce fumonisins, which are carcinogenic mycotoxins. The present study has evaluated maize and wheat samples from ten provinces in Iran that were contaminated with Fusarium species. Special attention was paid to the ability of the isolates to produce fumonisin B1 (FB1) as a public health hazard. Methods: We collected 32 maize and 15 wheat samples from ten provinces that were major cultivation areas. Samples surface disinfected with a 1% sodium hypochlorite solution for 2 minutes. Fusarium species were isolated by the flotation method on malachite green agar. Pure cultures on potato dextrose agar (PDA) were identified using a combination of macroscopic and microscopic morphological criteria. The ability of the isolates to produce FB1 was evaluated by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and the amounts of fumonisin B1 produced were assessed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results: A total of 55 Fusarium isolates that belonged to five species were isolated. There were 27 of the 32 maize samples (84.4%) and 11 of 15 wheat samples (73.3%) that were contaminated with Fusarium species. Species consisted of F. verticillioides (23 isolates), F. proliferatum (22 isolates), F. subglutinans (5 isolates), F. nygamai (4 isolates) and F. redolens (1 isolate) based on morphological criteria. Twenty-two of the 55 (40%) Fusarium isolates produced FB1 in a total range from 230.4 to 9565 µg/ml. The highest amounts of FB1 production were related to toxigenic isolates of F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum. Conclusion: Results of the present work indicates a high degree of contamination of maize and wheat with Fusarium strains that belong to the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex وparticularly F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum. This contamination is a potential public health threat due to food spoilage and subsequent production of high levels of carcinogenic FB1.
Volume 17, Issue 2 (6-2014)
Abstract
Objective: Erythrasma is a chronic superficial infection of the intertriginous areas. Most laboratories use methylene blue stain and 10% KOH smear to identify Corynebacterium minutissimum (C. minutissimum) by direct observation of filamentous bacilli. Occasionally atypical forms can be seen that create problems in diagnosis. This study aims to use the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in order to definitively identify C. minutissimum as an agent of erythrasma. Methods: This research was performed during 2013 on 100 skin scrapings suspicious for erythrasmawhich were obtained from various medical mycology laboratories in Tehran. Samples were tested by three methods - direct examination, culture and PCR. DNA was extracted by the modified phenol-chloroform method after which PCR was performed using designed primers. We sequenced some of the PCR products. The sensitivity and specificity of the PCR method was compared to the direct and culture examinations. Results: Of the 100 samples, there were 25 positive samples according to PCR analysis, 13 positive by direct examination and 23 that cultured positive. DNA sequencing results showed the presence of C. minutissimum. The PCR method in comparison with direct examination had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 86.2%. The study also showed that the PCR method in comparison with culture had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 97.4%. Conclusion: This study showed that the PCR method in comparison with the direct method and culture had a higher sensitivity in the detection of C. minutissimum. The present PCR method confirmed all typical and some of the atypical forms of C. minutissimum which indicated the importance of this method in the definitive diagnosis of erythrasma.
Volume 21, Issue 1 (1-2019)
Abstract
Nine tomato genotypes (‘NACGRAB-1’, ‘NACGRAB-2’, ‘NACGRAB-3’, ‘NACGRAB-4’, ‘NACGRAB-5’, ‘NACGRAB-6’, ‘NACGRAB-7’, ‘NACGRAB-8’and ‘NACGRAB-9’) from the National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (NACGRAB), Ibadan, Nigeria; with four commercial varieties (‘Petomech’, ‘Uc 82B’, ‘Yolince’ and ‘Derica’) and two landraces (‘Ekwunato’ and ‘Tomato Mmiri’) were evaluated for their agronomic performance in a derived savannah region. Morphological and floral data were collected on them. At maturity, forty tomato fruits, each from five selected genotypes, were immersed in 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 g L-1 AgNO3 varying concentrations of silver/neem (Azadirachta indica) solutions and a control to study the storability of the fruits. During storage, number of days to 10, 50, and 100% fruit rot incidences were monitored on the treated fruits. ‘NACGRAB-7' took the longest number of days to 10, 50, and 100% fruit rot and was significantly different from the other genotypes. The lowest number of days to fruit rot was obtained from 'NACGRAB-6'. Solution-B containing (8 g L-1 neem extract plus 0.2 g L-1 AgNo3) had the highest number of days to 10 and 50% fruit rot. The fruits that were not treated rotted faster than the treated fruits.