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Over the past decades, empirical studies regarding the application of data-driven learning (DDL) and its’ role in second and foreign language learning have increased. At the same time, several studies have investigated the association between working memory (WM) and different aspects of L2 and found that WM plays a significant role in the language performance of L2 learners, as SLA processes rely on cognitive resources. Nevertheless, the findings of such research are inconclusive. The role of WM in the relationship between DDL and second/foreign language learning is also a neglected area. Drawing on data from 84 Iranian female EFL learners, aged between 20 to 24, on three different measures of WM capacity (digit span, number-letter, and flanker), the findings of the present study showed that first, DDL was a significant predictor of English academic lecture comprehension. Second, regardless of which WM measure to use, WM was not a significant predictor of English academic lecture comprehension; and the interaction effect between DDL and WM was not a significant predictor of the students’ English academic lecture comprehension. That is, WM did not moderate the effect of DDL on the students’ comprehension of English academic lectures. Altogether, the results suggested that learning L2 at high levels of English academic lecture comprehension was mostly contingent upon automatic processing. The findings of this study may have implications for research and practice in second/foreign language teaching and learning, and more specifically in the application of DDL for L2 learners. 

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Mayetiola destructor (Say, 1817) originated in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East and is one of the most serious pests of wheat, rye and barley and more than 16 Poaceae wild species. Here, we report the occurrence of this species as an invasive pest for the first time in Iran. It was detected in wheat fields and rye in Qüshchï Pass, Urmia environ, West Azarbaijan province (September 2020) as well as in wheat fields in Bil-e Savar, Ardabil province (July 2024). The diagnostic characters and its life history as well as the photographs of the adult male and female, larvae, puparium, male genitalia and wing venation are provided. This is the second species from the genus Mayetiola that has been reported from Iran. To prevent the spread of this destructive pest in Iran, suitable management practices are urgently needed.

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The Russian wheat aphid (RWA), Diuraphis noxia has been known as a major pest of small grains, particularly wheat, worldwide. This study evaluated the biological responses of RWA to six wheat cultivars including Yavarus, Pishgam, Aadl, Omid, Darab 2 and Sepahan. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions of 25 ± 2 °C, 55 ± 10 % R. H. and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) h. Resistance or susceptibility of cultivares against the aphid nymphal development time, adult fecundity, daily reproduction, total longevity and adult longevity were investigated. The ANOVA of the data indicated that there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among cultivars regarding duration of nymphal development time, fecundity and daily reproduction. The longest mean nymphal development time was obtained on Omid and Sepahan, and the shortest on Yavarus. The highest and the lowest total fecundity were observed on Yavarus and Omid, respectively. Also, the highest and the lowest mean offspring produced per female per day (daily reproduction) was observed on Yavarus and Omid, respectively. On the whole, Yavarus appeared to be susceptible to the Russian wheat aphid while Omid was resistant.

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The hymenopteran family Platygastridae is a large group of parasitic wasps. A survey was carried out on the subfamily Sceliotrachelinae (Hym.: Platygastridae) in East Azerbaijan and Fars provinces of Iran. The genus Fidobia Ashmead and three species, Allotropa conventus Maneval, Fidiobia hofferi Kozlov and Isolia mongolica (Kozlov) are newly recorded from Iran. Illustrations of the morphological characteristics and their geographical distribution are presented.

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Backgrounds:  Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most abundant bacteria in human and animal infections. Many virulence genes in E. coli intensify its infectivity. This study explored the presence of two pathogenic genes, including fimH and bfpA, in E. coli strains isolated from pregnant women.
Materials & Methods: From autumn 2016 to spring 2017, a total of 100 E. coli isolates were collected from clinical samples (116) of pregnant women. The strains were identified using biochemical tests (catalase, Simmons citrate, indole, mobility, H₂S, MR, VP, TSI, and urease). The presence of pathogenic genes in these isolates was examined using colony PCR method. Finally, the relationship between the gene and the site of infection was analyzed in SPSS-23 software. 
Findings: PCR results indicated that out of 100 E. coli samples, 15 were bfpA positive (15%), and 64 were fimH positive (64%). A significant relationship was found between the presence of bfpA gene and samples taken from urine (p<.001), blood (p=.049), and stool (p<.001). 
Conclusion: None of the urinary strains harbored the bfpA gene, while the strains isolated from stool had a significant relationship with the presence of bfpA gene (OR = 18.667), which confirms that this gene is of great importance for EPEC (enteropathogenic E. coli). There was also a significant relationship between blood-isolated strains and the presence of bfpA gene. A significant relationship was also found between the fimH gene and strains isolated from urine samples (OR=36.733), while no relationship was observed between the presence of fimH gene and blood-isolated strains.
 

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Based on materials recently collected in Iran and Armenia, jewel-beetle Sphenoptera (Chrysoblemma) orichalcea (Pallas, 1781) is reported for the first time for Iranian fauna, and occurrence of the species in Armenia is also reconfirmed. Some diagnostic characters, ecological and biological notes along with photographs are provided.

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The gall midges, Janetiella convolvuli Mirumyan & Skuhravá, 2017 and Orseolia cynodontis Kieffer & Massalongo, 1902 are discovered in Iran for the first time based on adult specimens reared from galls on Convolvulus arvensis L. (Convolvulaceae) and Cynodon dactylon (L.) Persoon (Poaceae), respectively. The galls of J. convolvuli and O. cynodontis were previously recorded only in Armenia and European/African sections of the western part of the Palaearctic region, respectively. Some relevant diagnostic characters, photographs, ecological and biological notes, and distributional data for the newly recorded species are provided.

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 Three species of the genus Inostemma Haliday (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), i.e. Inostemma discessus Szelenyi, I. koponeni Buhl and I. contariniae Szelenyi are reported as new records for the Iranian fauna. Inostemma discessus was reared for the first time from Ephedra gall midge, Ephedromyia debilopalpis Marikovskij (Dip.: Cecidomyiidae) on Ephedra sp. (Plantae: Ephedraceae) in the northwest Iran. The Iranian species of the genus Inostemma were listed.

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This is the first case of host record for parasitoid wasps of the genus Diglyphus Walker (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from the Anthomyiidae (Diptera) family. This result is based on specimens of D. anadolucus Doğanlar, 1982 which reared from parasitized larval specimen of Pegomya terebrans (Rondani) as a leaf miner of cotton thistle, Onopordum acanthium L. (Asteraceae). Diglyphus anadolucus is reported from Iran for the first time. Some biological notes and morphological characteristics of D. anadolucus along with related photographs are given. An updated checklist of the twelve known Diglyphus species in Iran togther with their host associations is also provided.

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The longhorn beetle, Hesperophanes pilosus Bodungen, 1908, (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) is recorded as new for the Iranian fauna. The adult specimens were obtained by rearing its larvae and pupa in the root crown of Halocnemum strobilaceum (Pall.) Bieb. (Amaranthaceae), which were collected around of Soldoz wetland in West Azarbaijan province. Hesperophanes pilosus has been reported only from the Republic of Azerbaijan. This is the first case of host identification for H. pilosus. Notes on diagnostic characters, life history along with related photographs are provided.

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Through a survey conducted in West Azarbaijan province, northwestern Iran in 2022, infested fruits of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. (Elaeagnaceae) were collected. Anarsia eleagnella Kuznetsov, 1957 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) was obtained from laboratory rearing. A parasitic wasp was collected in the rearing container that was identified under Hyssopus geniculatus (Hartig, 1838) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). This parasitoid is a primary ectoparasitoid and a new record of H. geniculatus on A. eleagnella. Also, the association of H. geniculatus with E. angustifolia and the family Elaeagnaceae is new. Notes on the diagnostic characters of H. geniculatus are provided and illustrations of A. eleagnella and H. geniculatus are presented. The feeding behaviour of A. eleagnella larvae is preliminarily studied. Finally, the colour variations of the collected H. geniculatus specimens compared to the published literature are discussed.

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Species of the genus Necremnus Thomson, 1878 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in Iran are reviewed based on published data and the newly collected specimens in West Azarbaijan province. The genus in Iran is represented by only two species N. leucarthros (Nees, 1834) and N. tidius (Walker, 1839). Hereby, two additional species N. artynes (Walker, 1839) and N. cosmopterix Ribes & Bernardo, 2015 are also identified as new records for the fauna of Iran. Necremnus tidius (Walker, 1839) was also found in Northwestern Iran as a new local distributional record. An illustrated key for identifying the known Necremnus species from Iran and a short description of the newly recorded species are provided. The distribution map of the Iranian species is also presented.

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Samples of the common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (Poaceae), were collected in a survey conducted in the south of West Azarbaijan province, Iran, from 2021 to 2023. The plant tissues were transported to the Entomology Laboratory of Urmia University, where chalcidoid wasps were obtained through laboratory rearing. The chalcidoid wasps obtained from the laboratory rearing included 11 species in 10 genera belonging to six families: Eurytoma crassinervis Thomson, 1876; E. ochraceipes Kalina, 1970; Sycophila mellea Curtis, 1831; Tetramesa albomaculatum Ashmead, 1894 (Eurytomidae), Cerchysius subplanus Dalman, 1820; Mayridia formosula Mercet, 1921 (Encyrtidae), Asaphes suspensus Nees, 1834; Halticoptera patellana Dalman, 1818; Homoporus arestor Walker, 1848, Sphegigaster nigricornis Nees, 1834 (Pteromalidae) and Oodera formosa Giraud, 1863 (Ooderidae). Among the identified species, two are new records for the Iranian fauna: Eurytoma crassinervis and Tetramesa albomaculatum.

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The study aimed to examine whether and the extent to which children’s self-concept of ability is predicted by their gender, parental and teacher’s beliefs. Next, this study aimed to investigate whether and the extent to which children’s dictation performance in their native language is predicted by their gender, parental and teacher’s beliefs, and self-concept of ability. Finally, the study investigated whether and to what extent children’s reading performance in their native language is predicted by their gender, parental and teacher’s beliefs, and self-concept of ability. A total of 89 Iranian Persian-speaking elementary school fourth-graders, along with their parents and teachers, took part in the study. Five instruments were used in the study: two tests measuring the students’ reading and dictation levels in their native language, one questionnaire assessing the children’s reading and dictation-related self-concept of ability, and two questionnaires assessing the teachers’ and parents’ beliefs regarding reading and dictation level of children. Descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression were run to analyze the data. The findings indicate that children’s self-concept of ability is affected by parental and teacher’s beliefs. Moreover, the results showed that children’s dictation performance is affected by their gender, self-concept of ability, parental and teacher’s beliefs. Finally, the study showed that children’s reading performance is affected by their gender, parental and teacher’s beliefs. Overall, the findings of the present study highlight the importance of children’s self-concept of ability and teachers and parents’ awareness of how their beliefs benefit students’ attainment and development of self-concept of ability.

 

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 Two experiments were performed for in vitro establishment, proliferation and shoot growth in axillary bud explants of Sebri pear cultivar. In the first experiment, the effect of different concentrations of IBA(Indole-3-butyric acid) on explants’ establishment was evaluated. In a second experiment, the influence of several combinations of PGRs (Plant growth regulators)on shoot proliferation and shoot growth was investigated. IBA at 0 and 0.1 mg L^-1 concentration led to successful bud establishment. At higher IBA concentrations, callus was induced, but fewer explants were successfully initiated. BAP increased shoot proliferation, while TDZ(Phenyl-N'-(1, 2, 3-thiadiazol-5-yl) urea) did not show any effect on shoot proliferation. BAP, at 3 mg L^-1 was more effective than 2 mg L^-1 on the number of proliferated shoots. Maximum shoot length was obtained for the medium containing BAP(6-benzylaminopurine) (2.0 and 3.0 mg L^-1)+IBA (0.1 mg L^-1) and BAP (2.0 and 3.0 mg L^-1)+IBA (0.1 mg L^-1)+GA₃ (0.5 mg L^-1). IBA in BAP combinations induced lateral bud swelling, while GA₃ (Gibberelic acid) inhibited it. Maximum leaf number was obtained for MS medium with 2.0 mg L^-1 TDZ and 0.5 mg L^-1 GA₃. Moreover, medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L^-1 BAP+IBA (0.1 mg L^-1)+GA₃ (0.5 mg L^-1) and 2.0 mg L^-1 TDZ+GA₃ (0.5 mg L^-1)produced maximum shoot length. Vegetative growth habit varied with different combinations and BAP concentrations, being the highest in BAP (2.0 mg L^-1)+IBA (0.1 mg L^-1) treatment. The combination of BAP at 2 mg L^-1 and 0.5 mg L^-1 of GA₃ is finally recommended for a proliferation of Sebri pear cultivar.

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Nonlinear behavior is a common feature of all real-world systems. However, for the sake of simplicity, a linear model is often used in the controller design procedure. Nevertheless, the neglected nonlinear dynamics could degrade the performance of controller drastically. This study presents a new method of designing a model predictive controller (MPC) for a class of nonlinear systems. In the proposed method, an MPC is first designed in state space based on a linear model and then modified by using modal series to compensate for the effect of the neglected nonlinear dynamics in the linear model. Because the proposed controller adjusts a linear controller instead of designing a new one, it can be easily applied in industries to modify controllers that have been designed based on linear models. In addition, its computational burden is much less than that of nonlinear MPC methods. In this study, the proposed technique is used to control two real-world systems, and the results of its application are discussed.

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Abstract: This paper presents robust optimal control of an uncertain nonlinear switched system with forced subsystems. The uncertainties include external disturbance and parametric uncertainties. Switching signal and control input are designed to minimize a given cost function. Approximate dynamic programming (ADP) has been efficiently applied to certain switched systems as an optimal control strategy. Since approximate dynamic programming method is model based, there would seem to be some difficulties to apply approximate dynamic programming to uncertain switched system. To overcome these mentioned problems, this paper presents an appropriate model. In order to apply proposed control approach, robust time-delay controller is added with ADP control. At first uncertainties are compensated by robust time-delay controller. Then the switching signal and the control input are design by approximate dynamic programming that provides a feedback solution for unspecified initial conditions. The discussing boundedness of states and simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed control approach.

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In this paper, the dynamic behavior of atomic force microscope (AFM) based on non-classical strain gradient theory was analyzed. For this aim atomic force microscope micro-beam with attached tip has been modeled as a lumped mass. Micro-beam has stimulated via a piezoelectric element attached to the end of clamped and non-linear partial differential equation of the system has extracted based on Euler-Bernoulli theory and to be converted into ordinary differential equation by using Galerkin and separation method. The classic continuum theory because of lack of consideration size effect that has been observed in many experimental studies, has little accuracy in predicting the mechanical behavior of Nano devices. In this study, the stability region of micro-beam are determined analytically and validated by comparison with numerical results. Difference between presented analysis in dynamic behavior of micro-beam by classic and non-classic theories has been shown with variety of diagrams. It is clear that consideration the size effect changes the dynamical behavior of the problem completely and it is possible while classical theory predicts stable behavior for microscope the size effect is caused bi-stability. The results in this paper are very useful for the design and analysis of atomic force microscope.

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In recent years, Mg alloys have received much attention as a promising candidate for raw material in biodegradable vascular stent. Forming of Mg alloys is difficult because of poor workability of them at room temperature. Hence this presents a technological barrier to the fabrication of initial micro-tube for a biodegradable stent. With regard to high biodegradability of the magnesium alloy WE43 to manufacture biodegradable stent, it has been selected as initial with casted structure. In this study, for enhancing mechanical properties and attaining micro tube a combination of equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) with extrusion and micro extrusion was used and Mg bars were fabricated to high-quality micro-tubes with refined microstructure. Fine-grained size billets of the WE43 alloy were obtained by one-pass of ECAP. The processed Mg bar was extruded into a bar with 5 mm in diameter. Finally, a UFG and high strength micro tubes with an outside diameter of 3.4mm and a wall thickness of 0.25mm were successfully produced by micro extrusion process. Mentioned processes were simulated using finite element (FE) simulations. The result shows the grain size of Mg incredibly reduced after this combined method and mechanical properties were significantly improved.