Explicit Instruction of English Articles : An Appraisal of Consciousness-Raising Instruction and Processing Instruction Frameworks

Mohammad Hassanzadeh,Faezeh Shahbazi 아시아영어교육학회 2021 The Journal of Asia TEFL Vol.18 No.4

The instructed acquisition of the English articles (EAs) has proved to be an ordeal for L2 learners, irrespective of their L1 background. Research suggests that as EAs are non-salient, misusing them may not spark a tangible breakdown in communication. The current study attempted to investigate the short- and long-term effects of explicit instruction on the retention of EAs. Participants were university-level Farsi-speaking EFL learners from three intact groups, namely “processing instruction” (PI) as a deductive intervention, “consciousness-raising instruction” (CRI) as an explicit-inductive intervention, and a “control” group. The PI group received explicit training on the target rules and processing challenges represented by the EAs, coupled with structured input activities. In the second group, through a so-called PACE model as a subcategory of CRI, the focus was on co-constructing the rules. The treatments were followed by three posttests at different intervals. The within-groups analysis of results revealed that CRI had a rather short-term effect on the learners’ productive ability, whereas PI had a late-emerging impact on their receptive performance. Nevertheless, the analysis of between-groups differences indicated that neither of the experimental conditions outdid the control group during any of the posttest phases. The implications for pedagogy and future research are discussed.

Deep learning for the classification of cervical maturation degree and pubertal growth spurts: A pilot study

Mohammad-Rahimi Hossein,Motamadian Saeed Reza,Nadimi Mohadeseh,Hassanzadeh-Samani Sahel,Minabi Mohammad A. S.,Mahmoudinia Erfan,Lee Victor Y.,Rohban Mohammad Hossein 대한치과교정학회 2022 대한치과교정학회지 Vol.52 No.2

Objective: This study aimed to present and evaluate a new deep learning model for determining cervical vertebral maturation (CVM) degree and growth spurts by analyzing lateral cephalometric radiographs. Methods: The study sample included 890 cephalograms. The images were classified into six cervical stages independently by two orthodontists. The images were also categorized into three degrees on the basis of the growth spurt: pre-pubertal, growth spurt, and post-pubertal. Subsequently, the samples were fed to a transfer learning model implemented using the Python programming language and PyTorch library. In the last step, the test set of cephalograms was randomly coded and provided to two new orthodontists in order to compare their diagnosis to the artificial intelligence (AI) model’s performance using weighted kappa and Cohen’s kappa statistical analyses. Results: The model’s validation and test accuracy for the six-class CVM diagnosis were 62.63% and 61.62%, respectively. Moreover, the model’s validation and test accuracy for the three-class classification were 75.76% and 82.83%, respectively. Furthermore, substantial agreements were observed between the two orthodontists as well as one of them and the AI model. Conclusions: The newly developed AI model had reasonable accuracy in detecting the CVM stage and high reliability in detecting the pubertal stage. However, its accuracy was still less than that of human observers. With further improvements in data quality, this model should be able to provide practical assistance to practicing dentists in the future.

Effect of turnip leaf and root extracts on renal function in diabetic rats

Mohammadmehdi Hassanzadeh-Taheri,Mehran Hosseini,Mohammad Hassanpour-Fard,Zahra Ghiravani,Khadijeh Vazifeshenas-Darmiyan,Somayeh Yousefi,Samira Ezi 경희대학교 융합한의과학연구소 2016 Oriental Pharmacy and Experimental Medicine Vol.31 No.4

Today, global interest in the use of herbal medicine is increasing and evaluation of their efficacy have become more important .There are several evidence that suggest some herbal extracts have beneficial effects on diabetic nephropathy. The present study has been designed to examine protective role of edible parts of turnip (leave and root) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats were intragastrically treated either with aqueous extract of turnip leave or root (AETL or AETR) at concentrations of 200, 400 mg/kg/d for consecutives 8 weeks. The effects of AETL and AETR on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and kidney functional markers including: urine volume, 24-hour urine total protein (UTP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma creatinine (Cr) and quantitative morphometric analysis of glomeruli including; mesangial matrix expansion (MME), urinary space, tuft-to capsule adhesion, Bowman’s capsule (BC) thickening, glomerulosclerosis, capillary dilatation, and hyalinosis were monitored by routine measurements, biochemically and pathologically. Our results showed that AETL significantly decreased FBG levels, urine volume, UTP, BUN and plasma Cr in diabetic rats. Moreover, AETL with a dose dependent manner remarkably decrease glomerular lesions such as MME, tuft-to-capsule adhesion and BC thickening. However, treatment of AETR had undistinguishable effects on these parameters in diabetic rats. In conclusion, the biochemical and pathological assessed indicators showed varying degrees of improvement in AETL treated diabetic nephropathy rats. The results obtained in this work indicate that turnip leaf may be considered as an easily accessible dietary source for diabetic nephropathy patients.

Spatial Analysis of Common Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers in Counties of Iran

Soleimani, Ali,Hassanzadeh, Jafar,Motlagh, Ali Ghanbari,Tabatabaee, Hamidreza,Partovipour, Elham,Keshavarzi, Sareh,Hossein, Mohammad Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.9

Background: Gastrointestinal tract cancers are among the most common cancers in Iran and comprise approximately 38% of all the reported cases of cancer. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and to investigate spatial clustering of common cancers of the gastrointestinal tract across the counties of Iran using full Bayesian smoothing and Moran I Index statistics. Materials and Methods: The data of the national registry cancer were used in this study. Besides, indirect standardized rates were calculated for 371 counties of Iranand smoothed using Winbug 1.4 software with a full Bayesian method. Global Moran I and local Moran I were also used to investigate clustering. Results: According to the results, 75,644 new cases of cancer were nationally registered in Iran among which 18,019 cases (23.8%) were esophagus, gastric, colorectal, and liver cancers. The results of Global Moran's I test were 0.60 (P=0.001), 0.47 (P=0.001), 0.29 (P=0.001), and 0.40 (P=0.001) for esophagus, gastric, colorectal, and liver cancers, respectively. This shows clustering of the four studied cancers in Iran at the national level. Conclusions: High level clustering of the cases was seen in northern, northwestern, western, and northeastern areas for esophagus, gastric, and colorectal cancers. Considering liver cancer, high clustering was observed in some counties in central, northeastern, and southern areas.

Sensitivity analysis based on complex variables in FEM for linear structures

Azqandi, Mojtaba Sheikhi,Hassanzadeh, Mahdi,Arjmand, Mohammad Techno-Press 2019 Advances in computational design Vol.4 No.1

One of the efficient and useful tools to achieve the optimal design of structures is employing the sensitivity analysis in the finite element model. In the numerical optimization process, often the semi-analytical method is used for estimation of derivatives of the objective function with respect to design variables. Numerical methods for calculation of sensitivities are susceptible to the step size in design parameters perturbation and this is one of the great disadvantages of these methods. This article uses complex variables method to calculate the sensitivity analysis and combine it with discrete sensitivity analysis. Finally, it provides a new method to obtain the sensitivity analysis for linear structures. The use of complex variables method for sensitivity analysis has several advantages compared to other numerical methods. Implementing the finite element to calculate first derivatives of sensitivity using this method has no complexity and only requires the change in finite element meshing in the imaginary axis. This means that the real value of coordinates does not change. Second, this method has the lower dependency on the step size. In this research, the process of sensitivity analysis calculation using a finite element model based on complex variables is explained for linear problems, and some examples that have known analytical solution are solved. Results obtained by using the presented method in comparison with exact solution and also finite difference method indicate the excellent efficiency of the proposed method, and it can predict the sustainable and accurate results with the several different step sizes, despite low dependence on step size.

Halide (Cl^-, Br^-, I^-) Influence on the Electronic Properties of Macrocyclic Nickel(II) Complexes: Ab-initio DFT Study

Zarei, Seyed Amir,Akhtari, Keivan,Hassanzadeh, Keyumars,Piltan, Mohammad,Saaidpour, Saadi,Abedi, Marjan Korean Chemical Society 2013 대한화학회지 Vol.57 No.3

The geometry structures of hexa-coordinated [NiLX]X complexes ($X=Cl^-,\;Br^-,\;I^-$) {L = 8,9,18,19-tetrahydro-7H,17H-dibenzo[f,o] [1,5,9,13]dioxadiaza cyclohexadecine-8,18-diol} are optimized by density functional theory (DFT) using B3LYP/LANL2DZ. The calculated geometric parameters are in good agreement with the corresponding experimental values. Calculation results about these complexes show that dipole moment decreases, and the energy levels of HOMOs descend from iodo-complex to chloro-complex. The energy levels of HOMOs descend gently from iodo-complex to chloro-complex, while the energy levels of LUMOs in the present complexes are almost similar; therefore the energy gapes between HOMOs and LUMOs increased from iodo-complex to chloro-complex.

Ethanol and Methanol Concentration in Commonly Used Brands of Ma-al-shaeer in Iran: Estimation of Dietary Intakes and Risk Assessment

Kobra Shirani,Hassan Badie Bostan,Ashkan Baroti,Mohammad Hassanzadeh,Zahra Khashyarmanesh,Hamideh Moalemzadeh Haghighi,Gholamreza Karimi 대한약침학회 2018 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.21 No.3

Objectives: Ma-al-shaeer is a popular beverage in Islamic countries. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of methanol and ethanol in most consumed brands of Ma-al-shaeer in Iran. Methods: Eighty-one Ma-al-shaeer samples which commonly used in Iran were provided. Methanol and ethanol contents were determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. Results: The mean methanol concentrations in Iranian and foreign brands was 129.84±205.38 mg/L and 110.157±135.98 mg/L, respectively. Although mean ethanol contents of Iranian brands was 1.2±2.41 mg/L, ethanol level in foreign ones was lower than LOQ. Conclusion: Since the most Ma-al-shaeer brands had methanol pollution at different levels establishment of a definitive relationship between the methanol content and toxicological effects seem to be vital. EDI of methanol for Iranian people through consumption of Ma-al-shaeer was determined 0.023mg/kg bw/day.

Ethanol and Methanol Concentration in Commonly Used Brands of Ma-al-shaeer in Iran: Estimation of Dietary Intakes and Risk Assessment

Shirani, Kobra,Bostan, Hassan Badie,Baroti, Ashkan,Hassanzadeh, Mohammad,Khashyarmanesh, Zahra,Haghighi, Hamideh Moalemzadeh,Karimi, Gholamreza KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE 2018 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.21 No.3

Objectives: Ma-al-shaeer is a popular beverage in Islamic countries. The aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of methanol and ethanol in most consumed brands of Ma-al-shaeer in Iran. Methods: Eighty-one Ma-al-shaeer samples which commonly used in Iran were provided. Methanol and ethanol contents were determined by gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. Results: The mean methanol concentrations in Iranian and foreign brands was $129.84{\pm}205.38mg/L$ and $110.157{\pm}135.98mg/L$, respectively. Although mean ethanol contents of Iranian brands was $1.2{\pm}2.41mg/L$, ethanol level in foreign ones was lower than LOQ. Conclusion: Since the most Ma-al-shaeer brands had methanol pollution at different levels establishment of a definitive relationship between the methanol content and toxicological effects seem to be vital. EDI of methanol for Iranian people through consumption of Maal-shaeer was determined 0.023mg/kg bw/day.

Effect of aortic spiral blood flow on wall shear stress in stenosed left main coronary arteries with varying take-off angle, stenosis severity and eccentricity

Abouzar Moshfegh,Ashkan Javadzadegan,Zhaoqi Zhang,Hamid Hassanzadeh Afrouzi,Mohammad Omidi 대한기계학회 2018 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.32 No.8

It is well accepted that blood flow in the human aorta is spiral by nature, with beneficial impacts for the cardiovascular system in the form of improved haemodynamics and efficient perfusion. This study investigates the effect of aortic spiral blood flow on wall shear stress (WSS) in computer-generated models of the left main trunk (LMT), also known as left main coronary artery, with varying take-off angle, stenosis severity and eccentricity. The results show that the spirality effect causes a substantial reduction in maximum WSS (WSS max ), average WSS (WSS ave ) and size of regions with low WSS. The effects of spiral flow on WSS max become more significant with increasing LMT take-off angle and stenosis eccentricity, and they become less significant with increasing stenosis severity. The aortic spiral blood flow intensity, LMT take-off angle, stenosis severity and eccentricity statistically significantly predict the WSS; however, the strongest predictor of WSS is stenosis severity (F(4, 399) = 3653.85, p < 0.001 for WSS max and F(4, 399) = 913.46, p < 0.001 for WSS ave ), followed by LMT take-off angle (F(4, 399) = 582.735, p < 0.001 for WSS max and F(4, 399) = 163.16, p < 0.001 for WSS ave ), stenosis eccentricity (F(4, 399) = 230.15, p < 0.001 for WSS max and F(4, 399) = 52.94, p < 0.001 for WSS ave ) and blood flow spirality (F(4, 399) = 112.37, p < 0.001 for WSS max and F(4, 399) = 32.18, p < 0.001 for WSS ave ). Our findings suggest that naturally or artificially induced spiral flow in the aorta potentially has atheroprotective effects in the LMT.

Effects of nine weeks L-Carnitine supplementation on exercise performance, anaerobic power, and exercise-induced oxidative stress in resistance-trained males

Majid S. Koozehchian,Amin Daneshfar,Ebrahim Fallah,Hamid Agha-alinejad,Mohammad Samadi,Mojtaba Kaviani,Maryam Kaveh B,Y. Peter Jung,Mozhgan Hassanzadeh Sablouei,Najmeh Moradi,Conrad P. Earnest,T. Jeff 한국운동영양학회 2018 Physical Activity and Nutrition (Phys Act Nutr) Vol.22 No.4

[Purpose] Studies of L-carnitine in healthy athletic populations have yielded equivocal results. Further scientific-based knowledge is needed to clarify the ability of L-carnitine to improve exercise capacity and expedite the recovery process by reducing oxidative stress. This study aimed to examine the 9-week effects of L-carnitine supplementation on exercise performance, anaerobic capacity, and exercise-induced oxidative stress markers in resistance-trained males. [Methods] In a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled treatment, 23 men (age, 25±2y; weight, 81.2±8.31 kg; body fat, 17.1±5.9%) ingested either a placebo (2 g/d, n=11) or L-carnitine (2 g/d, n=12) for 9 weeks in conjunction with resistance training. Primary outcome measurements were analyzed at baseline and at weeks 3, 6, and 9. Participants underwent a similar resistance training (4 d/w, upper/lower body split) for a 9-week period. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used for statistical analysis. [Results] There were significant increases in bench press lifting volume at wk-6 (146 kg, 95% CI 21.1, 272) and wk-9 (245 kg, 95% CI 127, 362) with L-carnitine. A similar trend was observed for leg press. In the L-carnitine group, at wk-9, there were significant increases in mean power (63.4 W, 95% CI 32.0, 94.8) and peak power (239 W, 95% CI 86.6, 392), reduction in post-exercise blood lactate levels (-1.60 mmol/L, 95% CI -2.44, -0.75) and beneficial changes in total antioxidant capacity (0.18 mmol/L, 95% CI 0.07, 0.28). [Conclusion] L-carnitine supplementation enhances exercise performance while attenuating blood lactate and oxidative stress responses to resistance training.