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Being a promising component of educational and occupational success, the inclusion of critical thinking in various aspects of schooling has gained momentum in recent years. Therefore, the present study investigated the Iranian 12th grade English language final examinations based on Bloom’s revised taxonomy in terms of “knowledge dimension” and “cognitive process dimension” over the last five years of exam administration. Using a quantitative content analysis design, the items of the aforementioned examinations administered from 2019 to 2023 were analyzed. The findings of the study showed that the frequency of “conceptual knowledge” items in the “knowledge dimension” and “understand” items in the “cognitive process dimension” were significantly higher based on the results of Chi-square test. Moreover, the frequency of items relevant to lower-order thinking skills was found to be considerably higher than that of the items related to higher-order thinking skills, although instances of top cognitive level items could be traced in these examinations. It was also revealed that there was no considerable change with regard to the inclusion of the two dimensions of Bloom’s revised taxonomy over the five years of administration under study. The results of this study can be a fillip for policy makers, textbook developers, and teachers to accelerate the required changes regarding the consideration of inclusion of critical thinking-based tasks in textbooks, lesson plans and examinations.
 

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Background: The role of the hospital environment as a source of dissemination of pathogens is critical. Environmental surfaces in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are suitable for the growth of Gram-negative bacteria that normally circulate between the environment and patients and can cause outbreaks of nosocomial infections. In this study, the prevalence of Gram-negative bacilli in the environment of the ICUs and neonatal ICU (NICU) of hospitals in the city of Qom was evaluated. Materials and Methods: During a 6 month period from November 2012 to April 2013, samples were collected from environmental surfaces of ICUs of four hospitals and NICU of one hospital located in the city of Qom. Sampling was done from equipment, fluids, and surfaces and identification was carried out based on culture and biochemical tests for Gram-negative bacilli. Results: A total of 230 swab samples was collected and 50 colonies of Gram-negative bacilli were isolated from environmental surfaces. Overall, 64% of the isolates belonged to non-fermentative bacteria and 36% of the isolates belonged to Enterobacteriaceae family.  Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii complex accounted for the highest rates of environmental isolates. In addition, Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from NICU. Conclusion: The high frequency of genus Acinetobacter among Gram negative bacteria isolated from environmental surfaces has a public health impact and Acinetobacter spp. should be considered in the infection control programs in hospitals. Isolation of K. pneumoniae should be regarded as a risk factor for fatal neonatal infections.

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The fauna of the subfamily Opiinae was studied in northern parts of Iran. A total of eight species including Biosteres rusticus (Haliday, 1837), Phaedrotoma depeculator Foerster, 1862, Phaedrotoma exigua (Wesmael, 1835), Phaedrotoma pulchriventris (Fischer, 1958), Phaedrotoma variegatus (Szepligeti, 1896), Xynobius curtifemur (Fischer, 1961), Xynobius caelatus (Haliday, 1837), and Utetes rotundiventris (Thomson, 1895) were identified of which the four last species are reported for the first time from Iran. A key for identification of the collected species as well as the general distribution of each species either in the world or within Iran has been provided.

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Electrohydrodynamic actuator is one of the newest devices in flow control techniques which can delay separation point and reduce the drag coefficient by inducing external momentum to the boundary layer of the flow. In this paper, a 2-D numerical approach was implemented to analyze the presence of electrohydrodynamic actuator on the incompressible, turbulent, steady flow over a NACA 4412 asymmetric airfoil. In this regards, the flow field and aerodynamic characteristics such as the drag and pressure coefficient were evaluated through the variety of attack angles, applied voltages, the location of emitting electrode, and the distance from the upper surface of the airfoil. The numerical results indicate that the drag coefficient with the presence of an electric field decreases with the enhancement of the supplied voltage but increases when the attack angle is augmented. In addition, the location of separation point significantly depends on the position of emitting electrode and the distance between the emitting electrode and the collecting electrode. On the other hand, according to the results, the Electrohydrodynamic effects cause the diminution of the wake region over the airfoil.

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Plasma actuator is one of the newest ways in vortex generation and flow control techniques which can enhance heat transfer rate by inducing external momentum to the boundary layer of the flow. In this paper, a 2-D numerical approach was implemented to analyze the presence of plasma actuator on the incompressible, turbulent, steady flow in a flat channel. In this approach, the flow field and heat transfer characteristics such as the stream function and heat transfer coefficient were evaluated through the variety of Reynolds number, at the presence and absence of applied voltages. The present computed results are firstly compared with the numerical data in case of rectangular flat channel and the results agree very well. The numerical results indicate that at a constant Reynolds number with the presence of a plasma actuator, the heat transfer coefficient will be increased but in a constant applied voltage the heat transfer coefficient will increase to the Reynolds of 250 and then will be decreased respectively. In addition, the size of generated vortexes significantly depends on the applied voltage and the upstream flow speed. On the other hand, according to the results, the flow speed affects the size of generated vortex and vanish the actuator effect at high Reynolds. According to the results, there is an optimized point for the applied voltage and flow speed.

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In this paper, a two-dimensional numerical approach is used to study the mass transfer in drying process of a moist object affected by electric field in a smooth channel. Finite volume method is used to solve governing equations of electric, flow, temperature, and the concentration fields in flow phase, as well as the temperature and the moisture fields in the moist object. The computational methodology includes the use of a structured, non-uniform quadrilateral grid, and the Standard K-ɛ model was adopted as the turbulence model. The initial temperature of moist object is equal to the air temperature. In this study, firstly, the computed results are compared with the experimental data and the results agree very well. Secondly, the effect of Reynolds number, applied voltage and the position of the emitting electrode on the drying rate of moist object is evaluated. The numerical results show that the drying rate of moist object with increment Reynolds number enhances without the electric field. Also, in presence of electric field, in constant Reynolds the influence of EHD phenomenon on the drying rate increases with increment of applied voltage. In addition, the results show that as the electrode position is established toward the leading edge of moist object, the maximum moisture evaporation reaches.

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Numerical investigation of failure modes of composite plates subjected to the hail ice impact presented in this paper. Compare to rain and snow, hail is known as a serious threat to the aircraft exterior structure and engine due to its high density. First, numerical simulation of composite plate subjected to a rigid projectile impact is conducted using commercial finite element software, LS-DYNA and validated with previous investigations. After validation, a numerical study is performed for a composite plate subjected to the hail impact and the effect of stacking sequences of composite plate, velocity and shape of projectile are investigated. Results show, for identical mass and velocity, only the matrix extensional mode occurs in hail impact while for the rigid impact all failure modes are observed. Also, increased fiber angle produced higher damage threshold velocity in ice impact. Highest and lowest damage showed for ±15° and ±45° orientations. Moreover, it has been observed that more layers damaged with larger velocity ice impact. Result illustrate that the cylindrical shape hail caused more damage compared with hemispherical shape.

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Species of the genus Opius Wesmael, 1835 (Hym.: Braconidae, Opiinae) was faunistically studied in northern provinces of Iran. Malaise traps were used to obtain adult specimens from various habitats during 2010–2011. A total of 17 species, belonging to 12 subgenera, were identified, of which six species including O. (Hypocynodus) larissa Fischer, 1968; O. (Allotypus) saevus Haliday, 1837; O. (Merotrachys) schmidti Fischer, 1960; O. (Misophthora) pulicariae Fischer, 1969; O. (Thoracosema) repentinus Papp, 1980; and O. (Nosopaeopius) ochrogaster Wesmael, 1835 were recorded for the first time from Iran. A key for identification of the collected species is provided.