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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of organic pollutants, have been observed to exert deleterious effects on plant growth and various physiological processes. In this study, the effect of different concentrations of phenanthrene (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm) on growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, some antioxidant enzymes, and some biochemical compounds of the maize plant were investigated. The experiments were conducted as pot cultures of plants under controlled conditions using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications for each treatment. Increasing phenanthrene concentration reduced all studied growth parameters and significantly increased photosynthetic pigment contents. Phenanthrene led to the increase in catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase activities in the roots but in shoots, only the peroxidase activity was increased. Moreover, higher phenanthrene concentrations were associated with elevated levels of malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide, coupled with a marked reduction in soluble sugar content in both shoot and root tissues (p<0.05). Also, increase in phenanthrene concentration in the shoots decreased the total phenol and flavonoid contents compared to anthocyanin. Phenanthrene treatment led to a significant reduction in the concentrations of lauric acid, meric acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acid in maize shoots. In conclusion, it seems that high concentrations of phenanthrene induce oxidative stress in the maize, and plants improve their enzymatic antioxidant system to moderate the stress condition. In addition, damage of cell membranes by phenanthrene leads to weakening of plants root system as well as disordering in water and nutrient uptake and finally reduction in the plant growth.
 

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Background:Estrogens play a substantial role in the proliferation, progression and treatment of breast cancer by binding with two estrogen receptors, alpha and beta (ERα and ERβ). Resistance to endocrine therapy is a major problem in the treatment of breast cancers and, in some cases, may be related to loss of ER gene expression. We have already showed that ERα methylation occurs in high frequency and may be one of the important mechanisms for ERα gene silencing in a subset of Iranian primary sporadic breast cancers. In the other hand, the CpG Island methylation status of ERβ and the relationship between clinicopathological features and the pattern of ERβ methylation in sporadic breast cancer are still unknown, especially in Iranian women. Methods: In this study, we examined the exact role of DNA methylation in the estrogen receptors, alpha and beta genes using Combined Bisulfite Restriction enzyme Analysis (COBRA) and Methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) methods in 34 tissue and 40 peripheral white blood cells in the breast cancers. Results and Conclusions: ERα promoter methylation was identified in 29(72.5%) tissue samples and 35(87.5%) peripheral blood. Among these ERα-methylated cases, the co-occurrentmethylation of ER promoter in peripheral blood and tissue samples was evident in 25 (71.4%) patient (P=0.56). Furthermore, ERβ promoter methylation was detected in 13(32.5%) tissue samples and 4(10.0%) peripheral blood specimens. Of these ERα-methylated cases, the co-ocurrent methylation of ERβ promoter in the peripheral blood and tissue samples was evident in 1(7.7%) patient (P= 0.11). Based on COBRA analysis the percentage of DNA methylation at methylation-sensitive BstUI restriction site of the ERα promoter A ranged from 1% to 91%. The percentages at promoters A region showed a borderline associations with lymph node involvement (P=0.079, r=0.55) and a significant correlation with the grade of tumors (p= 0.27, r=0.65). No significant relation was found between ERα promoter and ERβ promoter methylation (Odds ratio =2.82, 95%, CI =0.28–28.5, P=0.36). The methylation of promoter ON was observed in only a subset of tumors without ER by IHC. In addition, we did not find any significant correlationbetween the prognostic factors such as grade, tumor size, lymph node involvement, and methylation status of this promoter. Our results indicate that methylation of ERβ promoter ON is not responsible for the loss of gene expression in of all breast tumors.

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The essential oils of aerial parts of three medicinal plants Artemisia khorassanica Podl., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Mentha longifolia L. were isolated by hydrodistillation and investigated for their toxicity and repellency against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. at 27 ± 1 ºC and 60 ± 5% RH in darkness. The mortality of the adults increased with concentration from 185 to 1111 μl/l air and with exposure time from 9 to 24 h. A concentration of 185 μl/l air and exposure time of 24 h was sufficient to obtain nearly 100% kill of the adults in all of the three essential oils tested. At the highest concentration (1111 μl/l air) R. officinalis oil caused 15% mortality for an exposure time of 6-h. whilst, the oil of A. khorassanica resulted in 1% mortality at the same exposure time. The oil of A. khorassanica at 1111 μl/l air caused 81% mortality for 12-h exposure time. No significant differences were observed between the lethal time (LT₅₀) values at essential oil concentrations of 741 and 1111 μl/l air. For 24-h exposure time, the LC₅₀ values of A. khorassanica, R. officinalis and M. longifolia essential oils were estimated to be 22.45, 22.14 and 39.96 μl/l air respectively. Based on LC₅₀ values, adults of T. confusum showed similar susceptibility to the A. khorassanica and R. officinalis oils, but M. longifolia oil proved to be less toxic. In contrast to their low fumigant properties, the essential oil of M. longifolia had significantly higher repellency to T. confusum adults than did the other two.  

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One of the problems for use of rubber in various industries is the surface tension at the surface of rubbers, which results in the crack on the surface, fracture of the rubber and reduces its service life. These tensions are caused by contacting the rubber component with the metal surface and the friction between two surfaces. Roughness of the surface, the composition of the rubber compound, the environmental factors, test conditions and etc. affect the friction between rubbers – metal. Surface roughness plays an important role in sliding between two surfaces and mainly controls friction behavior. On the other hand, roughness effect on the coefficient of friction is controllable using a suitable lubricant. In the present study regarding to the application of JP4 as an aviation fuel, the effect of JP4 fuel as a lubricant was investigated in the reduction of the sliding friction coefficient between the NBR and aluminum surfaces with different roughness. Experimental studies showed, friction coefficient has a good correlation with the mean surface roughness (Ra). By applying JP4 lubricant, the coefficient of friction decreased by about 75%. JP4 fuel as lubricant has changed the trend of varying friction coefficient from decreasing to increasing regard to the surface roughness.

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The cypress family, Cupressaceae, has a global dispersion. Currently, endophytic microorganisms from plants are being investigated for their diversity and bioactivities. Here, we aimed at exploration and characterization of cultivable endophytic fungi from foliar tissues of Cupressaceae, i.e. Cupressus arizonica, C. sempervirens var. cereiformis, C. sempervirens var. fastigiata, Juniperus excelsa, Juniperus sp. and Thuja orientalis. Asymptomatic fresh foliar tissues, collected from mature healthy plants, were sterilized and the inner layers were plated on culture media at 26-28 °C for 2-12 weeks, until fungal colonies emerged and were purified. Endophytic Penicillia i.e. Penicillium aurantiogriseum, P. chrysogenum, P. commune, P. echinulatum, P. expansum and P. viridicatum were the dominant fungi recovered. Results indicated that both host plant and geographical location of sampling affected the biodiversity and bioactivity of endophytic Penicillia. Results also indicated that those endophytic Penicillia had significant bioactivities. According to our results, both intra-and extra-cellular secondary metabolites from all isolated Penicillia had significant cytotoxic and antifungal effects against the model fungus Pyricularia oryzae and cypress fungal phytopathogens Diplodia seriata, Phaeobotryon cupressi and Spencermartinsia viticola. Further studies indicated the significant antimicrobial bioactivities of superior Penicillia against model bacteria. Altogether, this study highlights, for the first time, the biodiversity of endophytic Penicillia from Cupressaceae plants and documents their significance for agrochemical/drug discovery and for plant disease biocontrol.  

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The present study was conducted to assess the effect of dung beetles on sheep dung removal and seed dispersal in semi steppe rangelands of Shahrekord province with poor condition located in Iran. Therefore, the large (1 cm²) and small size (1 mm²) meshes were used and filled by sheep dung in six treatments. To evaluate the role of the insects in seeds translocation, three sizes of plastic beads used as seed mimic. The results illustrated that the maximum function of the insect was observed in the possible treatment of the presence of dwellers, absent of large tuneller and large roller beetles and present of small tuneller and small roller beetles. The least dung removal was calculated in the control treatment and possible treatment of dwellers, large and small tunneler and also absent of large rollers and presence of small rollers respectively. Seed removal decreased in the order of small size (29) > medium size (5) > large size (2). In general, dung beetles play an important role in dung removal and secondary seed dispersal, but their function relates depended on habitat condition. In a degraded ecosystem, this insect will disappear. Considering the various factors affecting the function of these insects, further studies would be needed for investigating deeply different seasons and dung of different livestock feeding on the rangelands.

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The study was carried out to investigate the effective soil and topographic features on distribution of plant types in Sanib Taftan Watershed in Sistan-and-Balouchestan Province, Iran. Initially, land units map was specified by combining three maps of slope, aspect and altitude. Five types including Artemisia santolina- Hammada salicornica, Artemisia sieberi- Amygdalus lycioides, Artemisia lehmaniana- Amygdalu slycioides, Amygdalus lycioides-Amygdalus scoparia, Pistacia atlantica- Amygdalus scoparia were identified. Sampling of vegetation in the land units was conducted using linear transect method, so that presence and absence of the plant species, canopy cover, stone and pebbles, litter and bare soil percent were catculated in 50 or 100 m transects (2-4 m2 plots) in a randomized systematic method. Soil sampling was done with respect to the width of each land unit (from 0-30 cm depth). Principal component analysis (PCA) was conducted on vegetation and plant type-environmental variables matrix. The most important and effective factors in vegetation distribution of the studied area were slope, altitude, soil texture (silt and sand) and total nitrogen and the factors related to topography (slope and altitude) were more effective than those related to the soil.

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Pot experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on some morphological characteristics of Thlaspi caerulescens L., and also on the accumulation of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in roots and shoots of T. caerulescens L.. Experiments were then set up in three treated pots with doses of 3, 6 and 9 mmol kg^-1 of EDTA and control pots (C: uncontaminated soil and W: contaminated soil). The results indicated the significant effect of EDTA on morphological characteristics and accumulation of heavy metals in the plant (P<0.05). Data revealed that the maximum of germination (99.11 and 96.00%), maximum of root length (73.31 and 70.14 mm) and maximum of shoot length (51.64 and 44.14 mm) and maximum of biomass weight (61.31 and 52.18 mg) were achieved by C treatment followed by W treatment. The maximum bioconcentration factor (3.57) and translocation factor (0.89) was observed on 9 mmol kg^-1 EDTA. In addition, the effect of EDTA on Tolerance Index (TI) showed that the TI decreased with increasing doses of EDTA. The findings indicated that the study species tolerated heavy metals concentration. EDTA had potential to promote the uptake of heavy metals for T. caerulescens L., butwith respect to non-significant differences between 6 mmol kg^-1 EDTA and 9 mmol kg^-1 EDTA treatments. Thereore, low dose of EDTA suggested to be applied because of its environmental risk.

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The study was conducted to investigate the effect of humic acid on the germination properties of medicinal plants Borago officinalis and Cichorium intybus in a completely randomized design with five replications. Experimental treatment comprised the following dosages 0, 15, and 30 g l^-1. The results revealed that effect of humic acid on the germination properties of C. intybus was significant (p<0.01) except for the germination percentage and mean germination time (p< 0.01). In addition, humic acid was effective on the morphological properties of C. intybus except for radical and pedicel dry weight. Humic acid was also effective on the germination properties of B. officinalis except for the germination percentage (p<1%); it was only effective on morphological properties viz. radical fresh weight, seedlings’ pedical length and allometric coefficient. The most effect was obtained in the 30 g l^-1 humic acid.The control treatment had the least effect on the plant's properties. In conclusion, the results showed that application of 30 g l^-1 humic acid was effective in germination of the plant species and stimulated the plants germination.

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Aims: Urban space is one of the main places for people's social interactions, which includes squares, streets, accesses, etc. these spaces require a comprehensive design that means comfortable and easy to use for all people with physical and mobility limitations. A significant part of the citizens are people with disabilities, so special attention should be paid to addressing their needs and problems in the city. People with disabilities include Persons with physical, mental, sensory, and internal disabilities, pregnant women, children, and the elderlyIn this regard, the purpose of this article is to identify the physical problems of people with disabilities in the study area and evaluate them for the presence of people with disabilities.

Methods: after recognizing the current situation by studying library resources, by conducting a field survey, it has been analyzed by SWOT method and Wizard scenario. After prioritizing the developed strategies, executive solutions have been designed. 

Finding and Conclusion: The results obtained from this study show that one of the most aim problems in the target axis is the lack of adaptation of furniture for the use of people with disabilities, lack of proper flooring, lack of adaptation of transportation stations. Appeared. Also, performing solutions such as adapting service uses, adapting transportation stations, standard flooring for all types of low-power groups, locating suitable urban furniture, designing urban furniture for the use of all citizens, and creating sensory and audio panels to adapt spaces. A city helps for the presence of people with disabilities.

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The beet armyworm Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) is a serious and economically important pest of solanaceous crops worldwide. The nutritional indices of this pest on three host plants including pepper Capsicum frutescens, eggplant Solanum melongena and tomato Solanum lycopersicum were determined under laboratory conditions at 26 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and 16: 8 (L: D) h. The highest relative consumption rate (9.40 mg/mg/day) and approximate digestibility (95.20%) were recorded on eggplant. The relative growth rate (RGR) (0.08 mg/mg/day) was the highest on tomato. The efficiency of the conversion of ingested food (ECI) (1.66%) and efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD) (2.22%) were significantly highest on pepper. Results showed that pepper was the most nutritionally suitable food and even small amount of this food could successfully support maximum RGR as evidenced by high value of ECI and ECD.

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In a completely randomized design, the effect of the extract from Trifolium alexandrium (0, 0.2 and 0.4%) on the germination, some morphological characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, and nutrients uptake of Prosopis cineraria was evaluated. The highest germination rate and percentage (9.16 and 21%, respectively) were recorded in the 0.2% treatment. The maximum and minimum lengths of radicle (6.58 and 3.16 cm) and pedicel (6.56 and 14.23 cm), and dry weight were recorded in the control and 0.4% treatments, respectively. The highest level of chlorophyll a (16.80 mg g^-1 fresh weight) was found in the control. The highest and lowest chlorophyll b (9.65 and 7.96 mg g^-1 fresh weight) were measured in the 0.2%and control, respectively. The extract adversely affected the nutrient uptake by P. cineraria, the minimum and maximum of which were recorded at the 0.4%and control treatments, respectively. In general, although the extract of T. alexandrium increased the P. cineraria germination in the 0.2% treatment, the increased concentrations led to its reduced growth and nutrient uptake. Therefore, the simultaneous cultivation of these two species in the dry lands is not recommended.

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The effect of soil and topographic features on distribution of Amygdalus scoparia in Nehbandan (Iran) was investigated. Slope, aspect and altitudinal maps were overlaid to prepare a working map unit. Quantitative and qualitative traits, including height, number, collar diameter of sprout with the highest diameter, crown diameter and trunk health were recorded in 1000 m² plots (27 plots). In each plot, soil was sampled at depth 0-30 cm. The regression model of the traits with topographical and edaphic factors showed that 70% of variations of A.scoparia sprout height was explained with calcium carbonate, 50% variations of the number of sprouts was explained with clay, and 77% variations of the crown diameter was explained with calcium carbonate. Correlation results revealed that some soil properties such as clay, potassium, organic matter, sand, acidity and lime accounted for A.scoparia distribution. Future work on other indicating factors will help us to determine the optimum range of these factors for this plant species.

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Goals: The emergence of new issues in various economic, social and political fields, physical and environmental issues in cities, forces urban management to respond effectively and actively. Extensive developments in the Tehran metropolis have led to more attention to urban green space as green infrastructure , and planning for managing the development and protection of urban green areas has been put on the agenda. Therefore, the development policy of this field or use in the future has been in the focus of attention. Therefore, with the aim of identifying the driving forces affecting the future of Tehran's green spaces, this research tries to take an effective step in this direction by using the intellectual base of future research and foresight.
Methods: This study is analytical and exploratory in nature and uses the environmental scanning method based on the STEEP model, document study, holding brainstorming sessions and distributing questionnaires among experts and elites.
Findings: In this research, 32driving forces affecting the future of Tehran's green space in 6 categories, including 3 driving forces in the technological field, 6 driving forces in the demographic and social field, 8 driving forces in the environmental field, 6 driving forces in the economic field, 4driving forces in the political-institutional field and 5 drivers were identified in the field of physical and urban development.
Conclusion: The results of this research show that the environmental, economic and demographic and social axes have a more effective role in the future of the green space of Tehran.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of some insecticides with novel modes of action on Liriomyza sativae Blanchard and their sublethal effects on pupal mortality, pupal weight and sex ratio in adult insects. The effects of hexaflumuron, chromafenozide, chlorfluazuron, cyromazine, lufenuron + fenoxycarb and azadirachtin and chlorantraniliprole were evaluated on 1^st instar larvae of L. sativae using a leaf dip method. Dose - response lines were constructed for insecticides which caused higher mortality of the larvae at field recommended doses. LC₅₀ values for chlorantraniliprole, cyromazine, azadirachtin and hexaflumuron were 0.24, 0.49, 8.51 and 67.6 mg ai/l, respectively. A significant reduction in pupal weight and adult emergence was observed in all of the treatments except chromafenozide; but the adult sex ratio did not change significantly compared with control. Most of the insecticides used in this study are fairly new compounds with unique modes of action and had considerable lethal and sublethal effects on L. sativae. If these results also hold true in the field and commercial greenhouse conditions, these compounds could be suitable candidates in management of vegetable leafminer.
 

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Consumer behavior is a controversial and challenging issue including people, what, why and how they buy, as well as marketing and combination of marketing and market. In contemporary, man is not considered as merely a consumer of the created-value by the producers, but has rather an undeniable role in production cycle and through this seeks to gain identity, imagination, sense, value and experience. Thus, regarding the significance of the topic and the fewer research conducted, present study examined the impact of consumption values on purchase intention. In terms of aim, this study is applied and in terms of data collection procedures it is descriptive using correlation. For collecting data, a standard questionnaire were used and the data was analyzed through statistical. Statistical population and sample size were users of two Iranian mobile operators, HamrahAval and Irancell. Sample Size was determined using indefinite population formula. Results indicated that the consumption value of services provided by the mobile operators affects customers' purchase intention. In addition, among consumption values factors, functional and conditional values have significant effects on purchase intention; however, the impact of social, emotional and epistemic values on purchase intention was not confirmed.

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Research subject: Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer that is used in a wide range of applications, including films and sheets, blow molding, injection molding, food packaging, textiles, laboratory and medical equipment, pipes, industrial and construction applications, and the manufacture of automotive components. In the applications of this polymer, improving the surface of PP has been considered. One of the usual methods for improving the surface is the cold plasma method. Plasma is a chemically highly active environment where there are many ions and radicals. In this research, atmospheric pressure gliding discharge plasma was used to increase the hydrophobicity of PP and the surface and depth changes of PP were investigated.
Research approach: The depth and surface changes of PP were investigated by radiating the gliding discharge plasma to the PP polymer surface at the different times. FTIR and XRD tests were performed to investigate volume changes and FESEM investigated the surface changes. The hydrophobicity of PP was investigated by contact angle (CA) test and positron lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) was used to investigate shallow depth changes.
Main results: The results show that the applied cold plasma did not cause volumetric changes in PP, but caused surface changes and roughness. In this polymer, the contact angle has increased from 30.1 ± 0.1 to 34.4 ± 0.1 and the hydrophobicity of the surface has increased. Examining the changes in holes by PALS test shows that after plasma irradiation the volume of the holes increased from 217 ų to 222 ų and their intensity decreased. This is due to the heat of the plasma and the energy of its particles.:
The results show that the cold plasma caused surface and depth changes and the contact angle increased from 30.1 ± 0.1 to 34.4 ± 0.1 and the hydrophobicity of the surface increased.
 

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Backgrounds: Carbapenem resistance among Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains is alarming. This study aimed to investigate the relative frequency of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains by phenotypic and genotypic methods.
Materials & Methods: The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of 60 P. aeruginosa isolates was determined by disk diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer). BD Phoenix automated microbiology system was used to identify carbapenem-resistant isolates, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using E-Test. In addition, mCIM (modified carbapenem inactivation method) phenotypic test was performed to evaluate carbapenem resistance genes in P. aeruginosa isolates. The prevalence of metallo-beta-lactamase (MβL) genes in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates was determined using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Findings: The frequency of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates was 36% (22 of 60). The highest resistance was observed to imipenem and meropenem (36.6%), and the highest sensitivity was observed to amikacin (75%). All carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates were confirmed by the BD Phoenix automated system (MIC> 8 µg/mL for imipenem and meropenem), E-test (MIC ˂32 µg/mL), and mCIM assay (the growth inhibition zone diameter was 6-8 mm).  In carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa isolates, the frequency of bla_VIM, bla_IMP, and bla_SPM genes was 9.1% (2 of 22), 4.5% (1 of 22), and 4.5% (1 of 22), respectively. Bla_KPC and bla_NDM genes were not found in any of the isolates.
Conclusion: Based on the present study results, all phenotypic tests used to identify carbapenemase-producing isolates had the same sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%).