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The purpose of the present research was to study the properties of natural habitats and growth status of the genus Tamarix in Miankangi, Sistan Province, South-eastern Iran. Selective sampling was used to examine the natural stands structure. Then, the one ha-rectangular sample plots were stablished in the stands and surrounding bare lands as control plots. Quantitative variables of stands viz. collar diameter, total height, canopy surface and density in the plots were recorded. In each plot, the soil sampling was carried out from 0-30 and 31-60 cm depths, and some physicochemical parameters of the soil including soil texture, pH, EC, SP, OC, total N, available P, K, Na, Ca and Mg were measured. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. The Duncan's test was used to compare the means. The soil texture of the region was loamy-silty and clay-sandy-loamy. The soil of Tamarix habitats was saline and alkaline. The results showed that the growth variables were different among the habitats. In addition, the soil clay and silt, pH, potassium and sodium absorption ratio (SAR) were significantly different among the habitats and the control. Correlation between vegetation and soil properties also showed that the diameter of Tamarix trees had positively correlated with the soil SP at also the first depth and with the clay viriable at the second depth. 

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In languages, which have free word-order property, different constituents of a sentence might be permuted due to scrambling. Miyagawa (2001) argues that in Azari Turkish, scrambling gets non-subject constituents to move to TP specifier while the subject remains in-situ in the specifier of vP. In the present study, resorting to the agreement operation in the probe-goal model of minimalism program and presenting examples, we attempt to propose that contrary to Miyagawa's argumentations, the constituent in vP specifier has to move to TP specifier to meet the double role agreement requirement (T[-interpretable] feature checking and receiving nominative case). In Azari-Turkish, because of scrambling, non-subject constituents like object in the process of agreement during syntactic derivation moves to the position preceding TP, which is labeled as focus position simply because TP specifier has already been filled by the subject. Then in Azari-Turkish, scrambling has to be assumed as topicalization, which makes non-subject constituents move to the focus position preceding TP specifier.  

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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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The present paper was an attempt to inquire into the morpho-syntactic features of light verb construction in Azeri-Turkish/Persian intra-sentential code-switching, employing the matrix language frame model. The analysis of data obtained from the interactions between bilingual teachers (n = 4) and students (n = 100) and from the conversation of 8 other bilingual teachers in a primary school revealed that Persian finite verbs do not participate in Azeri-Turkish morpho-syntactic frame simply because such verbs are [+ thematic role assigner] and carry more syntactic baggage. Persian preverbal elements, however, appeared to combine with Turkish light verbs showing more resistance to the syntactic frame of Azeri-Turkish in causative structures. Activation of embedded language preverbal element at predicate-argument level not only indicates the matrix language being far from the sole source for the grammatical shaping but also falsifies the independence of syntax from lexicon.

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There is a mismatch between the types of errors that receive corrective feedback (CF) and those that learners manage to notice; the beneficial effects of CF on some linguistic targets in comparison to some others have been reported. The present study explored the effectiveness of recasts and prompts with regard to different linguistic targets (grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation). Seventy six intermediate Iranian learners of English, randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group, were exposed to recasts, prompts, or no feedback condition. Fifty four hours of the interactional episodes were audio-recorded, transcribed, and later coded for types of error. Analyses of individualized immediate and delayed-posttest results indicated no significant difference in the performance of the prompt and recast groups in dealing with grammatical and lexical errors but outperformance of the recast group in pronunciation errors was observed in comparison to the prompt group. Also, the two experimental groups achieved statistically significant gains compared with the control group in all the linguistic domains targeted in this study.

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Task-based language teaching (TBLT) characterized by involving language learners in meaning-focused activities with some focus-on-form has enjoyed increasing popularity in the past two decades. Meanwhile, ample theoretical and empirical evidence has been presented to account for different task design features that influence language learning and learners’ performance. However, selecting and sequencing suitable tasks as well as recognizing appropriate task combinations that can provide a good opportunity for learning are still topical issues in SLA research (Robinson, 2011; Skehan, 2014).
Considering this interest, this study set out to examine whether changes in the cognitive demands of tasks and their implementation condition (operationalized by individual and collaborative writing) would lead to differential improvement in language learners’ writing performance. The study also explored the relationship between an under-researched learner factor (self-regulation) and EFL learners’ written performance in individual and collaborative tasks varying in terms of cognitive complexity. The novelty of the present study lies primarily in its considering the combined effect of task complexity and task condition on writing—which is a somewhat neglected mode in research on TBLT—of EFL learners.
Although different models and criteria have been proposed to account for task complexity, psycholinguistic rationales have drawn more support recently. Skehan’s (1998, 2009) trade-off hypothesis and Robinson’s (2001, 2003, 2009) cognition hypothesis are two influential models in vogue toady. Different views on attentional capacity of human beings have led Skehan and Robinson to have almost contradicting predictions on learners’ performance in tasks with different levels of cognitive complexity. Robinson (2001, 2003), assuming multiple-resource model of attention, holds the view that performing some complex tasks (e.g., those made complex by the number of elements) pushes learners to make efficient use of their attentional resources and produce more accurate and complex output. Contrarily, Skehan (1998), acknowledging the limited attentional capacity of learners, claims that simultaneous increase in accuracy and syntactic complexity of linguistic output is not feasible just due to the manipulation of task complexity. He claims that learners carrying out cognitively demanding tasks have to prioritize one (accuracy or complexity) at the expense of the other.
Two research questions were formulated for the present study: (a) Do task complexity, task condition, and their interaction affect the accuracy, syntactic complexity, and fluency (CAF) of language learners’ written performance? (b) Is there any relationship between self-regulation of language learners and their performance in individual and collaborative writing tasks varying in terms of cognitive complexity? To answer these questions, 122 EFL learners whose homogeneity was ensured by Nelson English Language Proficiency Test were recruited. They were randomly assigned into four groups. The participants in four groups carried out the tasks which were different in terms of cognitive demands (simple/complex) and their implementation conditions (individual/collaborative). Task complexity was manipulated by the number of elements that participants had to consider while performing the writing task.
The collected data were analyzed by MANOVA and Pearson correlation after checking for the assumptions underlying these statistical analyses. Findings revealed that task condition had a significant effect on the writing accuracy of language learners but manipulation of task complexity did not affect three writing dimensions, i.e., syntactic complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF) significantly. These findings lent partial support to Skehan’s (2009) trade-off approach toward task design and also Vygotsky’s (1978) social constructivism. Moreover, self-regulation of learners who performed the complex writing task in isolation showed a positive significant correlation with the accuracy of their writing. Robinson (2011) has made a similar prediction regarding the role of individual differences in learners’ performance in complex tasks. The findings add support to the view that selecting appropriate levels of task complexity and suitable task implementation conditions enhance different dimensions of the written performance of language learners. The study calls for more prominent place for task condition and individual differences of learners in the frameworks and models put forward for task designing and sequencing.
 
 

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Hairsine and Rose (1991) developed a process-based soil erosion model which described the erosion transport of multiparticle sizes in sediment for rain-impacted flow in the absence of entrainment in overland flow. In order to test this model laboratory experiments were carried out in a detachment tray using simulated rainfall. Three contrasting soil types were subjected to simulated rainfall at different rates (25-110 mm h-1) in a 3530 10 cm detachment tray. Rainfall was applied using a rainfall simulator with a single scanning nozzle located four meters above the soil surface that emitted drops with a mean diameter (volumetric D50) of 1.5 mm. Results showed that the Hairsine and Rose model can clearly describe the sensitivity of different soils to erosion by introducing three terms of detachability, re-detachability and settling velocity, though the model is unable to describe aggregate breakdown which takes place in one of the soil at higher rainfall rates. The experimentally observed relationship between ponding water depth and soil detachability parameters did not agree with previously proposed theories. In addition, the results showed that the Hairsine and Rose model tends to over-predict values at the lower end of the scale, and under-predict values at the upper end, although the average sediment concentration predicted for the entire data set is not greatly different from the average measured values.

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The present study aimed to investigate the effects of injecting different hormonal agents on sex steroids levels and biochemical parameters of the blood plasma in females Caspian roach (Rutilus caspicus). In order to perform the experiment, groups of five fish were injected intraperitoneally as follows: 1) two injections of Ovaprim (Ova), 2) two injections of Ovopel (Ovo), 3) a priming dose of Ovopel with a resolving dose of Ovaprim (Comb1), 4) a priming dose of Ovaprim with a resolving dose of Ovopel (Comb2), and 5) sterile 0.9% saline. According to the observations, the highest concentrations of progesterone and estradiol were measured in control group and concentrations of these hormones sharply declined after spawning in the experimental treatments (P < 0.05). Moreover, the lowest testosterone concentration was observed in the control group and after spawning, its concentration showed a significant increase in hormone-induced treatments (P < 0.05). The highest plasma glucose concentration was obtained in the control group, and the lowest concentration was observed in the Comb1 treatment (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed between experimental treatments in the concentration of plasma biochemical parameters (P > 0.05). Overall, the present study showed that hormonal agents can significantly affect the levels of sex steroids in the blood plasma of Caspian roach breeders. These results showed the need to consider the proper induction strategies and welfare conditions of Caspian roach breeders in captivity.
 

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Sardari is one of the most important landraces of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) that is mainly cultivated in drylands and mountainous area of Iran. Moreover, it shows a high level of genetic diversity. In the present research a total of 73 Sardari wheat ecotypes were evaluated for drought tolerance. Genetic diversity was analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) marker based on three pairs of primer combinations. Of the 2,431 AFLP bands detected, 1,582 (73.92%) were polymorphic. Cluster analysis divided all ecotypes into eight major groups. Ecotypes also showed genetic diversity for drought tolerance and were classified into three groups. The first group consisted of forty-two of the 73 landraces and had a low stress tolerance index (STI), ranging from 0.165 to 0.401, while the second (23 landraces) and the third group (7 landraces) had a medium and high STI ranging from 0.425 to 0.640 and 0.662 to 0.817, respectively. Discriminant analysis (DA) identified twenty-four markers selected from 218 AFLP markers that accounted for the difference between the three phenotypic groups. By using the selected markers, DA validated the phenotypic grouping, with a zero error rate. The results showed a high degree of genetic diversity between the Sardari ecotypes, suggesting that Sardari can be used as a germplasm source for wheat improvement toward releasing more desirable cultivars.

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Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are pathogens that have the ability to form biofilms and cause disease in food products. Due to the fact that the enterotoxins produced by these two pathogens remain in a wide range of temperature, pH and saline conditions, they cause severe infections in humans. Melittin is a natural peptide derived from bee venom that can show its antimicrobial and anti-biofilm potential through disrupting the membrane of bacterial cells. For this purpose, in this study, the antimicrobial effect of this peptide on Gram positive and negative bacteria was investigated and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined as 100 µg/mL and 300 µg/mL, respectively. Also, the scanning electron microscope images confirmed the antimicrobial effect of the peptide on these two bacteria. Peptide melittin caused wrinkling, deformation and creation of holes in the cell membrane of treated bacteria, compared to the control sample. On the other hand, the results of the biofilm inhibition test showed that the addition of the peptide at a concentration of 2MIC completely prevented the biofilm formation of S. aureus prevented, while this value was equal to 91.00 ± 2.82 in E. coli bacteria. Also, the increase in peptide concentration caused an increase in the destruction of adult biofilms of both bacteria. On the other hand, this peptide decreased the invasion and adhesion of these two bacteria to HT-29 and Caco-2 cells by reducing the mobility of pathogens. Therefore, according to the obtained results, melittin peptide can be a suitable alternative to chemical disinfectants that are harmful to the environment.