h. abdi

Considering the inconsistent data on the relationship between vitamin D (VD) and autoimmune thyroid diseases, we aimed to investigate associations of VD with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb).

For this study, 695 subjects, including 369 women, were enrolled. TPOAb status was compared between different categories of VD deficiency (VDD), and correlations between TPOAb and VD were estimated. Multiple logistic regression analysis investigated the associations between VD status and TPOAb positivity.

The prevalence of VDD was 82%. There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of TPOAb positivity among different VD groups (p-value=0.18), a finding that did not change when TPOAb titer was considered a continuous variable. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed no significant relationships between VD status and TPOAb positivity. Regarding thyroid function, a weak negative correlation between 25(OH) D and TSH in men and a weak positive correlation between 25(OH) D and FT4 in women was demonstrated.

Our study in a population with a high prevalence of VDD revealed no statistically significant associations between serum VD levels and either TPOAb levels or TPOAb positivity.

The Amin wheat cultivar, with the pedigree "KAUZ/LUCO-M//PVN/STAR/3/ Yaco/2*Parus/4/Pishtaz", was developed through a national irrigated bread wheat breeding program for the temperate climate of Iran. Initial and advanced crosses were conducted at the Seed and Plant Improvement Institute in Karaj, Iran, while the evaluation and selection of segregating generations (F2-F6) carried out at the Zarghan Research Station in Fars Province. Selected lines, including M-94-14, advanced to both preliminary and advanced yield trials. Under optimal irrigation conditions in temperate climate adaptation trials, the M-94-14 line (Amin cultivar) achieved an average grain yield of 6950 kgha-1, representing a 3.9% and 5.7% yield advantage over the control cultivars Parsi and Baharan, which yielded 6688 and 6574 kgha-1, respectively. This line exhibited desirable baking quality traits, including favorable grain protein content, Zeleny sedimentation volume, bread loaf volume, grain hardness index, and SDS sedimentation height. Additionally, it demonstrated acceptable resistance to yellow and leaf rusts. On-farm trials across various regions showed that the Amin cultivar achieved a grain yield of 6820 kgha-1 under optimal irrigation conditions, outperforming the average grain yield of control cultivars, which was 6609 kgha-1. Given the superior performance of this line compared to existing cultivars in temperate climate of Iran, the M-94-14 line was officially released as the Amin cultivar in 2019.

In crop season 2012-2013 wheat genotype "Frncln/Rolf07" was introduced to Iran within an international nursery received from CIMMYT and was studied in experiment of evaluation of yield and agronomic characteristics of spring wheat genotypes in international nurseries in temperate regions. Then in 2013-2014 crop season, it was selected in a preliminary regional wheat yield trial under normal irrigation with an average yield of 8114 kgha-1 compared to the check cultivars Parsi, Sirvan, Pishtaz and sivand, respectively, with grain yield of 8.035, 8.022, 6.914 and 7.985 kgha-1. This cultivar was further investigated in the advanced regional wheat yield trial of temperate regions of the country during 2014-2015 and with average grain yield of 7093 kgha-1 compared to 6495 and 6423 kgha-1 yield of check cultivars Parsi and Sirvan, respectively, and was selected for adaptation evaluation. The average yield of M-94-15 line in temperate climate adaptation experiment during the 2015-2017 crop season under normal conditions was 7231 kgha-1 verses 6688 kgha-1 of Parsi cultivar and 6574 kgha-1 of Baharan cultivar and in general, total mean grain yield was 3% higher than the average of whole genotypes. Due to the good condition of M-94-15 line reaction to stripe rust (O-30MR) and leaf rust (O-30MSS) diseases, as well as the resistance to grain shattering and good bread making quality, this line was selected for study at the level of farmers' fields. Wheat line M-94-15 based on its favorable agronomic characteristics, suitable earliness and good bread making quality was released in 2019 as Farin for cultivation in temperate agro-climatic regions.

Nowadays, the use of electric vehicles (EVs), in the form of distributed generation, as an appropriate solution is considered to replace combustion vehicles by reducing fuel consumption and supplying needed power. In this regard, the incorporation of EVs charging stations (EVCSs) in the power network can affect the distribution networks in different ways. On the other hand, the location of EVCS in distribution networks changes operational parameters includes electrical losses, and voltage deviations. Also, the probabilistic and uncertain behaviour of the loads and their daily changes can play a significant role on power distribution networks. To this end, in this paper, first, the modelling of the EVCSs affected by the behaviour of the EVs’ owner in a power distribution network is discussed. Then, the optimal location and size of EVCSs to reduce their negative effects on the network, including network losses (active and reactive) and voltage deviations are addressed in the presence of uncertain loads. The probabilistic model is investigated based on using the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) method. The simulation results in MATLAB software environment show a 10% increase in active and reactive power losses in most hours of the day, due to increased power flow, when EVCSs are located in the optimal placement. The power losses at 24:00-7:00. when the EVs load is very low, are reduced due to decreased power flow across the lines. The results also show that if the EVCSs are not optimally located, the voltage deviation will increase by an average of 30% over a day, while by optimal placement of EVCSs, the voltage deviation increases to a maximum of 8% of the nominal value.

Salinity stress is a major constrain of plant growth and limiting factor of crop production in arid and semi-arid regions in the world. Wheat cultivar Barzegar is derived from the cross between an Iranian highly adapted wheat, Pishtaz cultivar and Karchia cultivar (salt tolerant cultivar from India) as female and male parents, respectively, at Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Cereal Research Department in Karaj. Subsequent selection among segregating populations of this hybrid was done at experimental field of Yazd station. Results of yield trials and on-farm evaluations in the temperate zone showed that under salinity stress conditions (EcSoil =8-12 dsm-1 & EcWater =8-13 dsm-1), Barzegar exhibited a superior performance compared to the check cultivars Bam and Arg, and its average grain yield was 659 kg (16.5%) higher than average grain yield of check cultivars. Based on ranking method Barzegar had high stability and adaptability under saline conditions compared to the check cultivars. Under farmer's conditions trials its average grain yield was 4381 kgha-1, nearly 20% higher than average grain yield of check cultivars (3648 kgha-1). Barzegar exhibits lodging resistance and has non-shattering spikes, but has moderately resistant susceptible infection responses to rusts. However, under dry conditions of saline areas of Iran no susceptibility to these diseases is observed. Based on good agronomic performance consist of resistance to lodging and shattering, and high adaptability and stability and good quality in saline condition compared to checks (Bam, Arg and Ofogh), Barzegar released for cultivation in the saline areas (with saline water/soil) farms of temperate zone, in Iran.

The important role of electricity generation in the power system is evident and is growing more and more with innovative technologies and requirements. Hence, addressing the combined heat and power economic dispatch (CHPED) as one of the relatively new issues in the power system operation and control is more importance. Since the CHPED problem is a non-smooth, highly non-linear, and non-convex one, it is required to solve it so that an optimal global solution can be achieved. In this paper, by applying the piece-wise linearization approach the CHPED problem is solved so that the problem reformulated to a quadratic optimization problem with linear and quadratic constraints. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model, four case studies are implemented in the GAMS software environment and the results compared to the literature.

As a basic tool in power system control and operation, the optimal power flow (OPF) problem searches the optimal operation point via minimizing different objectives and maintaining the control variables within their applicable regions. In recent years, this problem has encountered many challenges due to the presence of renewable energy sources, which has led introducing of a combinatorial type of power networks known as AC/DC hybrid power systems. In this paper, the OPF problem is proposed in an AC/DC hybrid microgrid, including wind power plants. For the first time, the mentioned problem is considered as a multi-objective optimization problem via minimizing fuel cost and emission. The problem is modeled while considering the power flow equations, the voltage limits in AC and DC buses, the AC voltage angle limits, and the firing angle of the converters. Also, due to the uncertain power generated by wind power plants, the probabilistic OPF problem is modeled by the five-point estimation method.  To solve the problem, the "fmincon" function in MATLAB software is used by applying the IP algorithm. The simulation case study on a 13-bus sample MG verifies the effectiveness of the proposed method. The numerical results confirm that increasing the wind farm capacity from 14.54 MW to 113 MW, will be led to increasing the fuel cost from 10% to 61%, in case of including the power losses compared to the condition in which they are neglected. It is also observed that in terms of different weights, the total air pollution including the power losses is 2.30 to 2.40 times higher than the total pollution without electrical losses

Torabi wheat cultivar introduced to iranian wheat breeding program through an international nursery from CIMMIT (28th SAWSN) in 2010 and was evaluated under terminal drought stress implemented from the flowering stage in 2010-2011 cropping season. Then in 2011-2012 cropping season it was tested in the preliminary regional wheat yield trial under terminal drought stress in Karaj and was selected based on its average grain yield of (4878 kgha-1) compared to the average grain yield of (3939 kgha-1) Parsi check cultivar. This cultivar was further studied in the advanced regional wheat yield trial in the temperate regions of the country during 2012-2013 and with average grain yield of 6634 kgha-1 under drought stress condition compared to 6073 and 6768 kgha-1 yields of check cultivars Parsi and Sirvan, respectively, was selected for evaluation in the adaptability and yield stability. The average grain yield of Torabi (line M-92-20) in adaptability experiment during the years 2013-2015 under drought stress conditions was 6516 kgha-1 compared to 6110 kgha-1 of Sirvan check cultivar and 5697 kgha-1 of Parsi check cultivar and also its total grain yield mean was 3% higher than the average grain yields of all genotypes. Due to the resistant reaction of the line M-92-20 to stripe and leaf rust diseases, as well as the early maturity and very good bread making quality, this line was selected for evaluation in the on-farm trials in farmer’s fields. Overall in farmer’s fields, this line had grain yield mean of 8637 kgha-1 under normal irrigation, and 5672 kgha-1 under water deficit conditions compared to the average yield of check cultivars with 6150 kgha-1 under optimal conditions and 5104 kgha-1 under water deficit conditions.

Smoking affects heart function, lung function and vitamin D levels, and decrease in serum levels of vitamin D, heart rate variability (HRV) and drop in pulmonary function cause cardiovascular disease. So, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of one course of intense interval training on serum levels of vitamin D, HRV and lung function in male smokers.

In this quasi-experimental study 20 sedentary male voluntarily participated. They were randomly divided into experimental (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The experimental group participated in an intense interval training program for six weeks and control group did no exercise training. HRV and pulmonary function were assessed by spirometry device and serum levels of vitamin D 48 hours before the first session and 48 hours after the end of last session training. Collected data were analyzed by paired t-test and Multivariate analysis of covariance for within group and between group comparisons, respectively.

The results showed a significant increase in HRV values and pulmonary function and low frequency waves to high frequency waves in the training group compared to the pretest and also compared to the control group (p<0.05). But no significant difference was observed in serum levels of vitamin D both in within group and between group comparisons (p<0.05).

It can be concluded that six weeks of intense interval training, improves function of the autonomic nervous system and pulmonary function in male smokers.

In this study, adaptability and grain yield stability of 18 bread wheat promising lines and two commercial cultivars (Parsi and Baharan) were evaluated using randomized complete blocks design with three replications in 2015-17 cropping seasons in eight experimental stations; Karaj, Kermanshah, Zarghan, Broujerd and Mashhad (under normal irrigation), Neishabour, Isfahan and Varamin (cessation of irrigation at the 50% heading stage), Iran. Combined analysis of variance showed significant genotype × year × location and year × location interaction effects on grain yield. Due to the significant effects of these interactions, the grain yield stability of genotypes as well as genotypes × environments interaction effects were evaluated using non-parametric ranking statistic and AMMI multivariate stability analysis. Mean comparison of grain yield showed that promising lines 16, 12, 10 and 15 had the highest grain yield, respectively. Non-parametric ranking analysis showed that promising lines; 4, 12, 14, 15 and 16 with the lowest ranks and standard deviation of ranks had the highest grain yield stability, respectively. By using biplot graphic of the first two components of AMMI, genotypes 2, 4, 13 and 14 were identified as genotypes with high yield stability, respectively, which also had the least AMMI stability values. Considering grain yield and other agronomic characteristics, promising lines; 14, 15 and 16 that had high grain yield and yield stability and were selected for being released as new commercial cultivars in temperate regions of Iran.

Determining the nutritional value of nutrients used in animal feed or diets using live livestock are costly and time-consuming; so, there is a great tendency to evaluate them using laboratory methods. Measurement of the gas production parameters from in vitro fermentation of feedstuffs was established by Menck et al. (1979). In this method, the fermentation of the feed sample and measurement of gas production parameters take place in glass syringes by a rotary incubator, which was positioned horizontally at specific locations to mimic ruminal conditions. In order to eliminate the disadvantages and improve the original method of gas production test proposed by Menek and Steingass (1988), several studies have been carried out by various researchers. Changing laboratory equipment’s of gas test was carried out mainly by Blümmel and Ørskov (1993), using a water bath or Bin Marie instead of a rotating incubator and the rotation of the syringes in the incubator was compensated by shaking the syringes by hand. In a report by Fedorak and Hrudey (1983), a simple method was used to measure the volume of produced gas using a graded petite-like, thin-walled glass tube attached to a culture medium containing bottle and based on the displacement of water inside the pet. In another report, Theodorou et al. (1994) also used a barometer to connect the hose to a bottle containing the culture medium to estimate the gas production. The cost of producing a rotary incubator for measuring the gas test with glass syringes is high and has the potential to be difficult to install and operate, due to the sensitivity and fragility of the syringes. It seems that most efforts of previous researchers have been based on the improvement and simplification of the original method. Glass syringes are an imported commodity and will cause the currency to exit the country; thus, replacing it with plastic syringes can reduce country's dependence on imports and reduce the costs of related research. A search of reliable scientific sources at home and abroad shows that there has been no report on the comparison of plastic syringes with glass in the gas production test. This study was conducted to evaluate the use of plastic syringes instead of glass syringes in the parameters of gas production of some feedstuffs.

The feedstuffs included alfalfa hay, perennial ryegrass, barley grain, corn grain, soybean meal, and rapeseed meal. Glass syringes and two types of plastic syringes of type I and II (high and medium quality respectively) were used. The gas production parameters were determined using commonly used models and the data were analyzed based on a completely randomized design.  Menke et al. (1979) method was used to measure the amount of gas production. The amounts of short chain fatty acids, digestibility of dry matter, organic matter in dry matter, and metabolizable energy were estimated using related equations (Menke and Steinggass, 1988). The data obtained from the method of gas production were analyzed based on a completely randomized design with repeated measurements design using SAS (2003) software.

The results of the net volume of gas produced from the feedstuffs (except barley grain) at 6 h did not show a significant difference between glass syringes and type I plastic syringes (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the three types of syringes at 6 h in rye forage. At 24 h, there was a significant difference between glass syringes and plastic syringes in terms of gas volume (P<0.05), except for corn grain and rapeseed meal. At 96 h, there was a significant difference between glass and plastic syringes in terms of volume of gas production (P<0.05), except for rapeseed meal. Between glass syringes and plastic syringes type I and II, there was a significant difference in terms of gas production potential for all feedstuffs (P<0.05), except for rapeseed meal. Overall, these results showed that the volume of gas production in type I and type II plastic syringes was lower than that of glass syringes. There was a significant difference between the glass and plastic syringes of types I and II in terms of A or gas production potential (P<0.05), except for rapeseed meal. The potential of gas production was lower than that of glass syringes, similar to the volume of gas production in plastic syringes, especially its second type. There was no significant difference between the glass and plastic syringes of the first type in terms of c parameter or gas production rate, except for alfalfa hay and barley grain. There was no significant difference between type I glass and plastic syringes in terms of lag or lag time for all feedstuffs, except for barley grain. In terms of lag time, there was a significant difference between type II syringes and plastic syringes for soybean meal and rapeseed. However, for alfalfa hay, ryegrass, barley grain, and corn grain, there were no significant differences in terms of Metabolizable energy, short-chain fatty acids, and organic matter digestibility estimated from feedstuffs showed that there was no significant difference between glass syringes and plastic syringes of type I only for corn grain and canola meal. High correlation coefficients (r = 0.90 to 0.98) were found between the results of glass syringes with type I plastic syringes.
When feed is fermented with ruminal liquid in vitro conditions, its carbohydrates are converted to short-chain fatty acids such as acetic, propionic, butyric, valeric, lactic, etc., and gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane (Blümmel and Ørskov, 1993). However, regression relationships do not take into account the different physical properties of feeds in the rumen, as well as digestive differences in the lower parts of the gastrointestinal tract. But, regression relations estimate only the total amount of volatile fatty acids (Parand and Taghizadeh, 2011, Mirshadi et al., 2016).

The results showed that the measured volumes of gas production and estimated parameters in plastic syringes, especially its second type, were lower than those of glass syringes; though, in some feeds inclusions of maize seed and rapeseed were similar in most cases to glass and plastic syringes of the first type. The high correlation coefficients between the results of the syringes indicate that it is possible to develop mathematical models for estimating the desirable results when using plastic syringes. However, more research is needed and more feedstuffs should be used to provide regression models to estimate the results equivalent to glass syringes, when using plastic syringes. The lack of significance of the results in some feedstuffs and the high correlation coefficients between the results of the syringes show that it is possible to replace high-quality plastic syringes instead of glass syringes.

Inappropriate design of transmission line towers in areas with high lightning density increases the outage rate of the line due to direct lightning strikes. In this paper, The lightning activities of areas covered by western regional electricity company during five recent years were collected from weather stations. Based on collected datasets, the Isokeraunic level and the lightning density of different areas have been computed. This information were further used to investigate and predict the outage rate of double circuit 230 kV transmission lines with one shield wire (existing plan) due to direct lightning strikes. Due to high density of lightning activities in some areas, the calculation results show high outage rate in these areas, which has been confirmed by actual experiences. In order to overcome this problem, a tower design with two shield wires was proposed for new developments. The outage rate of the transmission line with the two shield wire design with extracted lightning densities were compared with the existing tower installed. The results show high degree of improvement in outage rates. In order to modify the existing transmission line outage rates, installation of surge arresters and their capabilities were studied. Due to statistic nature of lightning, Monte Carlo method along with EMTP simulations were used in investigations. Simulations results show placement of surge arresters on two upper phases can reduce the shielding failure outage rates in the transmission line, significantly. The pros and cons of surge arrester installations in transmission line to compensate inappropriate tower design are discussed. Results of this study can be used for further transmission line developments in these areas.

This paper deals with day-ahead programming under uncertainties in microgrids (MGs). A two-stage stochastic programming with the fixed recourse approach was adopted. The studied MG was considered in the grid-connected mode with the capability of power exchange with the upstream network. Uncertain electricity market prices, unpredictable load demand, and uncertain wind and solar power values, due to intrinsically stochastic weather changes, were also considered in the proposed method. To cope with uncertainties, the scenario-based stochastic approach was utilized, and the reduction of the environmental emissions generated by the power resources was regarded as the second objective, besides the cost of units’ operation. The ɛ-constraint method was employed to deal with the presented multi-objective optimization problem, and the simulations were performed on a sample MG with one month of real data. The results demonstrated the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed techniques in real-world conditions.

Thymes are native plants of Iran and are considered as the most important medicinal plants due to their unique properties. In this study, morphological, ecological and essential oil percentage variation of 15 thyme populations (eight populations of T. kotschyanus, three populations of T. migricus, two populations of T. fedtschenkoi and one population of T. fallax and T. pubescens) from natural habitats of the northwest and west regions of Iran, were studied. For essential oil measurement, the flowering shoots of the populations were harvested during flowering season and the essential oils were extracted using Kelevenjer apparatus by distilled water for three hours. By examining the soil characteristics, climatic parameters and geographical position of the habitats, it was found that despite the geographical proximity, there were significant differences between the locations in which thymes were collected. This, along with genetic differences among the populations, led to a remarkable variation for all measured traits. There was negative correlation between essential oil percentage and inflorescence length. Using principal component analysis, the first three components explained 85% of the total variation. Using cluster analysis, the 15 populations divided into three groups. The populations in the third group had the highest values for most traits followed by the second and the first groups, respectively. According to results, Ghoghjeh population had the highest values for morphological characteristics. There was also a significant difference among the populations in terms of essential oil content. The essential oil percentage of the populations ranged from 0.92 to 2.82%. The highest values of essential oil 2.82%, 1.9% and 1.7% were obtained from Sardasht, Qushchi and Naghadeh populations, respectively. According to the results, the populations of Sardasht from T. fedtschenkoi, Qushchi from T. migricus and Naghadeh from T. kotschyanus had the highest essential oil content, and suggested for cultivation and using in related industries, pharmaceuticals, and improve breeding varieties.

 Selenium (Se), as an antioxidant element, is a neutralizing mineral for oxidative stress and urging apoptosis in stressed biological systems. Selenium is a necessary trace element for ruminants that participates in varied biological processes like antioxidant defense, production of thyroid hormone, and response of immune system. In recent years, researches have focused on the best supplementary sources of selenium to maximize biological performance. The studies about reproductive performance, such as that of Gabryszuk and Klewiec (2002), showed that injecting ewes with Se four weeks before breeding and again during the last four weeks of gestation caused a 32% increase in lambing percentage compared with Se-deficient ewes. Furthermore, adequate Se status of the newborn lambs not only ensures prevention of nutritional myopathy, but also decreases losses in lamb productivity. Lambs from Se-supplemented ewes showed faster progression to stand and nurse compared with lambs from unsupplemented ewes and leading to an overall decrease in lamb mortality (Muñoz et al. 2009). It has been observed that selenium mineral supplements, such as sodium selenite and sodium selenate, have the same bioavailability. However, organic selenium supplements such as yeast selenium more effectively increase the concentration of selenium in blood and milk and may have a better bioavailability. However, the recently developed red elemental selenium has promising uses in the environmental protection from the pollution of the excessive selenium (Zhang et al. 2007). Zhang et al. (2007) synthesized nano red elemental selenium (nano-Se) with the size of 5 – 100 nm and observed that nano-Se had a similar bioavailability in rat and much less acute toxicity in mice compared with selenite. Recently, Wang et al. (2007) showed that nano-Se (20 – 60 nm) possesses equal efficacy in increasing the activities of GSH-Px in plasma and liver from male Kunming mice compared with selenomethionine. The periparturient period is the foremost necessary stage in farm animals about health standing and production. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of different sources of selenium on blood and serum selenium concentration of Khalkhali goats during late pregnancy, as well as the effect of these sources on the concentration of selenium in their kids up to four weeks and serum and colostrum immunoglobulin concentration (IgG) of mothers and kids (immediately after birth).

The experiment was conducted using 40 Khalkhali goats in a completely randomized design devided into four groups with 10 goats per each group. The goats were randomly allocated to four treatments to receive supplementations of 0 (control), 0.6 mg Se head−1</sup> day−1</sup> of seleno-methionine (SM), 0.6 mg Se head−1</sup> day−1</sup> of nano-selenium (SN), and 0.6 mg Se head−1</sup> day−1</sup> of sodium selenite (SS) from four weeks before the expected day of delivery. Their blood samples were taken at that time and on the kidding day. In addition, colostrums were collected in pre-cleaned polyethylene bottles from the goats as immediately as possible after kidding. Instantly after delivery, newborn kids were taken apart from their dams. The control group did not receive any supplement and received only the basal ration containing 0.1 mg Se kg-1</sup> DM. Blood samples were collected from goats three weeks before the expected kidding. Blood samples of kids were taken from the jugular vein on the day of birth and 7 days after birth. Blood samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 15 minutes to prepare the serum. The ELISA method was used to determine the concentration of IgG and selenium concentration was measured using the ICP-OES device. The weight of kids at the birth and up to four weeks, colostrum production in the first three days and milk production of goats for four weeks were recorded and analyzed.

 There were no significant differences in birth weight, weight of kids up to four weeks, colostrum production in the first three days, and milk production until the fourth week in goats. There was a significant difference between the groups in serum IgG concentration, colostrum IgG, and blood IgG concentration of kids (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed between mineral selenium, nano-selenium, and control group. However, seleno-methionine had a significantly better performance than nano-selenium and sodium selenite. Serum and blood selenium concentrations were similar before kiding, but the concentration of selenium in serum and blood of supplemented goats was significantly higher than the control ones (P> 0.05). The results of this experiment showed that serum and blood selenium concentrations in nano-selenium recieved goats were significantly higher compared with other groups (P<0.05). Serum and blood selenium concentrations of kids at birth and colostral selenium concentration in the experimental groups were significantly higher than the control group (P <0.05), except for the goats supplemented with selenium nanoparticles, which significantly decreased compared to the control goats. The serum selenium and blood levels of selenomethionine recieved group showed the highest selenium levels in comparison with other groups. Selenium blood levels increased significantly in the first week of life of the kids only in the organic supplementation treatment (P <0.05).

Organic selenium supplementation in late pregnancy was effective in transferring blood immunity from the goats to the kids and led to changes in serum and colostrum IgG levels of goats. The supplementation of different Se forms (sodium selenite, selenomethionine and elemental nano-Se) into pregnant goats’ diet increased Se status in the whole blood and serum compared with controls. Among Se sources, nano-selenium exhibited an excellent increasing Se status in pregnant goats. Current results showed differences in the transplacental Se transfer capacities of sodium selenite, selenium nanoparticles, and selenomethionine. When comparing these three Se sources, the results of the study clearly demonstrated that kids from goats receiving selenomethionine had higher whole-blood and serum-Se concentrations compared with kids from goats receiving sodium selenite and selenium nanoparticles. There was a failure of nano-selenium to increase newborn Se concentrations as compared with control. Seleno-methionine had higher transplacental transfer of Se and also resulted in higher Se concentrations in colostrum. Goats supplemented with seleno-methionine had greater colostral Se concentrations than goats supplemented with sodium selenite and selenium nanoparticles.

Barley cultivar Goharan with pedigree of "Rhn-03//L.527/NK1272", was selected among barley genotypes from ICARDA and was identified as is a suitable cultivar for temperate regions under both terminal drought stress and non-stress conditions with different irrigation water management. Preliminary, advanced and elite yield trialsof this cultivar under two conditions (terminal droughtstress and non-stress) were carried out at Karaj, Birjand, Isfahan and Varamin stations. The results of the experiments showed that under non stress conditions, Goharan cultivar had a mean grain yield of 6269 kgha-1 versus 5244 kgha-1 of Rihane ( 20% increase), and under terminal drought stress had mean yield of 4720 kgha-1 versus 4035 kgha-1 of Rihane ( 17% increase). This cultivar, had a mean protein content of 12 percent which indicates its good quality. Study on status of irrigation water use productivity in some drought tolerance barley genotypes showed that cultivar Goharan had the highest amount of water use productivity among genotypes. Results of on-farm trials showed that in average Goharan had 1196 and 623 kgha-1 higher grain yield than Nosrat and Yousef cultivars, respectively under both drought stress and non-stress conditions.Based on importance of water in recent years, drought and lowering of groundwater resources, especially in arid and semi-arid regions of the country,where, there is a competition for irrigation water to cultivate spring products,cultivar Goharan was released for cultivation in non- stress areas and under drought stress in the temperate zone of the country for the sustainability of the barley production.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between learning style and language learning strategy use among pre-university students. For this purpose, 132 male and female students were asked to fill out two questionnaires. One questionnaire for identifying perceptual learning style preferences and the other one for identifying language learning strategy use. The results showed that visual learning style was considered as major among participants and the overall use of other learning styles was minor and it was also revealed that most of the participants were medium strategy users. In this study all learning styles except group learning style proved to influence language learning strategy use. There was a positive but weak correlation between auditory, visual, tactile, and kinesthetic learning styles and language learning strategy use, but in the case of individual learning style the correlation was negative. The results of the study and their implications for language learning and teaching are further discussed.

Since the purpose of clinical education is to provide opportunities for students to connect theoretical knowledge to practical realities; promotion of its quality can lead to train satisfactory students in different clinical fields. This study has been done in order to assessing the medical students viewpoints about the quality of education in department of dermatology in a hospital in northern of Iran.

This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducting on 198 medical students in 2010-2012. First we defined purpose of the research to all of the medical students involving at the department of dermatology. Data had been gathered through Questionnaire in the form of five choices Likert about education quality in the department of Dermatology including fruitfulness of the theoretical classes، the responsiveness of professors and residents to educational requirements، the appropriateness of the final exam and educational conditions. The validity and reliability determined by content validity and alpha kronbach (0. 85) respectively. Finally data were analyzed using independent t-test، ANOVAand SPSS soft ware version 16.

of 198، 189 questionnaires were appreciable included 40 interns and 149 externs. The mean of answers to each of questions were above 3. Generally، the mean of questions about the quality of education was 3. 31 and the mean assessment of educational conditions was 3. 47. The results showed that there was significant difference between interns and externs about time period in department) p=0. 001).

Totally، quality of education of dermatology department in Razi Hospital was favorable (above 3). The time period of interns’ presence was assessed short.