The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of okra consumption on serum levels of lipid profiles and glycemic indices in Type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. The present study was a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, carried out in Kerman, Iran. Sixty T2D patients were randomized into intervention and control groups and received 10 g okra powder blended in 150 g conventional yogurt or conventional yogurt alone, along with dinner and lunch, for 8 weeks. Glycemic markers and lipid profile were assessed, as well as anthropometric measures, at the beginning and end of study. The findings showed that 8 weeks okra consumption resulted in a significant decrease in fasting plasma glucose (−15.61 ± 19.44 vs. −3.40 ± 24.78; p = .02), homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (−1.17 ± 1.61 vs. −0.14 ± 1.64; p = .01), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (0.01 ± 0.007 vs. 0.00 ± 0.01; p = .004), triacylglycerol (−22.30 ± 32.46 vs. −3.86 ± 30.57; p = .001), total cholesterol (−10.23 ± 10.36 vs. −2.03 ± 13.94; p = .004), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C; −8.15 ± 10.01 vs. −2.31 ± 9.37; p = .02), and LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio (−0.28 ± 0.37 vs. −0.08 ± 0.24; p = .01). No significant difference was observed between groups in HDL-C, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin levels, and anthropometric measures. The present study suggests that okra consumption can elicit improvements in lipid profile, as well as glycemic markers, among T2D patients.

Few studies have compared the nature of negotiation of meaning across face‐to‐face (FTF) and synchronous computer‐mediated communication (SCMC) modes with mixed‐proficiency dyads. Such comparisons can help identify important strengths and weaknesses of each mode. Therefore, this study explored whether FTF and SCMC modes differ in terms of frequency and quality of negotiations of meaning in English as a foreign language (EFL) learners’ interaction in mixed‐proficiency dyads. To this end, 32 EFL learners at elementary and upper‐intermediate levels were assigned to 16 mixed‐proficiency dyads to perform two information gap tasks (i.e., spot the differences task and jigsaw task). The participants’ interactions in both modes were coded based on Varonis and Gass's (1985) model of negotiation routines and Long's (1980) negotiation moves. The participants’ interactions in each mode were coded. The results show no significant differences between the frequency of negotiations in both modes. However, the results were controversial regarding the quality of negotiations. The quality of negotiation routines was examined by the number of indicators leading to modified output, which revealed that mode of interaction influenced the quality of negotiations and more modified output was produced in the SCMC mode than the FTF mode.

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Introduction: Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has been reported from all over the world since lower levels of vitamin D has been one of word’s problem in the 21st century; especially pregnant women are the most prominent one. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the relationship between mothers’ vitamin D level with infants’ birth-weight and head circumference. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of Akbarabadi hospital during 2017-2018. Regarding two groups, infants’ three main characteristics including their weight, head circumference and height were studied. Results: The mean blood levels of vitamin D in mothers with normal-born neonates were 15.23 ± 7.14 (ng/ mL) and in the mothers who gave birth to low-birth weight were 10.02 ± 8.06 (ng/mL), which was significantly lower than the mothers of normal-weight infants (P=0.018). The mean blood levels of vitamin D in mothers who gave birth to a normal head circumference neonate were 16.07 ± 8.1 (ng/mL) and in mothers with infants’ head circumference of less than 33 cm, was 9.87 ± 7.57 (ng/mL), which was significantly lower from mothers of normal-head circumference infants (P=0.007). The serum levels of vitamin D in mothers with normal-height infants were 14.74 ± 7.52 (ng/mL) and in the mothers with a height of less than 47 cm were 15.17 ± 7.91 (ng/mL), that does not suggest any significant difference (P=0.341). The mean serum vitamin D level in mothers who had normal vaginal delivery was lower than those with cesarean delivery, however there was no significant difference (P=0.174). Conclusion: Nutrition improvement and prescribing vitamin D supplements can positively be effective in the way of curbing low-birth weight infants. Moreover, Exposure to sunlight and letting rays strike skin is essential for maintaining a healthy vitamin D status for girls and women.

Metal-organic framework composites exhibit several advantages, including water stability which is critical for the actual applications of MOF in aqueous-phase media. In this regard, a new MnO2/IRMOF-3 composite material was synthesized via the bottle-around-ship method and characterized using different methods such as FT-IR, PXRD, BET, TGA SEM-EDX analyses. The diffraction peaks reveal the high crystallinity of prepared material. Decrease in surface area for the composite material compared to IRMOF-3 can be attributed to the partial filling of the IRMOF-3 pores by the MnO2 nanoparticles. The potential of the synthesized material was examined for the removal of methylene blue from an aqueous solution. The effect of adsorbent dosages, adsorbate concentration, pH of the solution, and adsorbant-adsorbate contact time was investigated. The synthesized material shows high efficiency in removing the methylene blue from an aqueous solution at almost neutral pH conditions with low contact time. The results reveal the advantages of composite material over parent MOF material for applications in aqueous media.

Metal-organic framework composites exhibit several advantages, including water stability which is critical for the actual applications of MOF in aqueous-phase media. In this regard, a new MnO2/IRMOF-3 composite material was synthesized via the bottle-around-ship method and characterized using different techniques. The potential of the synthesized material was examined for the removal of methylene blue from an aqueous solution, as the structure becomes more water-stable by embedding the MnO2 nanoparticles in the IRMOF-3 framework. The potential of this composite has been studied as an adsorbent to remove methylene blue from aqueous solutions. The effect of adsorbent dosages, adsorbate concentration, pH of the solution, and adsorbant-adsorbate contact time was investigated. The synthesized material shows high efficiency in removing the methylene blue from an aqueous solution at almost neutral pH conditions with low contact time.

Infertility had an increasing trend between couples in Iran. Several factors such as lifestyle, physical activity, unhealthy dietary habits and stress are associated with production of ROS in seminal uid. The aim of this study was to identify the role of dietary antioxidants and vitamins intake on semen quality parameters, among Iranian infertile men. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed on 400 newly diagnosed infertile men in Yazd Reproductive sciences Institute from July 2019 to December 2019. The presence of infertility was con rmed by an expert andrologist, based on WHO criteria. Dietary antioxidants and vitamins intake were assessed using a 168 items semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). ResultsWe found an association between semen volume and Alpha Carotene dietary intake, total motility and Beta Cryptoxanthin dietary intake, and sperm count with ribo avin intake (P = 0.03). ConclusionsWe concluded that dietary intake of Alpha Carotene, Beta Cryptoxanthin, and Ribo avin are related to sperm count, semen volume and total motility in Iranian infertile men, respectively. Our data suggest that that adhering to a diet that is rich in sources of antioxidant and vitamin can have a positive effect on men's sexual health. However, more research is needed to con rm these relations and provide the evidence needed to exert these ndings into clinical practice.