Arak University

A 42-day feeding trial was conducted to compare a diet supplemented with crystalline DL-methionine (control) with diets containing microencapsulated DL-methionine (MEM) supplied at 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100 % of the commercially recommended level in broiler chickens. A total of 1260 one-day-old Arian broilers were randomly allotted to six treatments, with seven replicates of 30 birds each. Body weight gain (BWG), feed intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) did not differ between birds fed the control diet and those fed MEM diets containing ≥70 % of the recommended level, whereas the 60 % MEM diet reduced BWG and increased FCR. Increasing the dietary MEM level resulted in a quadratic increase in leg yield and a linear decrease in abdominal fat, without affecting hematological traits or leukocyte differential counts. The 100 % MEM diet increased influenza (H9N2) antibody titers, and all MEM levels enhanced Newcastle disease virus titers compared with the 60 % MEM diet; moreover, titers in the 100 % MEM group also exceeded those of the control. Plasma methionine, serine, and total amino acid concentrations were higher in birds fed the 60 % MEM diet than in those fed the 90 % MEM diet, while plasma cysteine showed a quadratic response as MEM level increased. Diets providing 80-100 % MEM upregulated hepatic GHR expression, and diets providing 90-100 % MEM also increased mTOR expression compared with the 60 % MEM diet. Overall, microencapsulated DL-methionine enabled approximately a 30 % reduction in supplemental methionine without impairing performance, while higher inclusion levels (≥80 % of the recommended level) beneficially modulated immune responses and growth-related gene expression.

Introduction: Retinoic acid-binding protein-4 (RBP4) is an adipokine released from both visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues into the bloodstream, playing a crucial role in regulating systemic blood glucose metabolism through hepatic gluconeogenesis. This study was conducted to review and analyze existing studies on the effectiveness of various aerobic exercise protocols on changes in serum RBP4 levels and insulin resistance in adults suffering from metabolic disorders. Methods: In this systematic review, relevant information was systematically extracted by searching for keywords associated with the effects of aerobic exercise on RBP4 and insulin resistance in adults with metabolic disorders across several databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Magiran, Irandon, Noor Mags, and Sid. All studies published domestically in Persian and English from March 21, 2001 to February 7, 2025, by Iranian researchers in this field were systematically extracted. Results: The analysis of 8 studies involving 221 adults participants with metabolic disorders in this systematic review indicated that aerobic exercise improved RBP4 levels and reduced insulin resistance in adults with metabolic disorders through various physiological mechanisms. Conclusion: The findings of the present study demonstrated that aerobic exercise led to changes in serum RBP4 levels and insulin resistance in adults with metabolic disorders, suggesting it could serve as a vital strategy for the prevention and control of this metabolic disorder in adults.

Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton, a medicinally significant but understudied species, exhibits remarkable adaptability to arid environments. Despite its ecological and pharmacological value, the species remains poorly characterized morphologically. This study evaluated the morphological diversity of 50 C. procera accessions from Sistan-va-Baluchestan province, Iran, using multivariate statistical approaches to identify key phenotypic variations and their potential applications. Significant morphological variability was observed among the accessions, with 37 out of 53 traits exhibiting coefficients of variation greater than 20%. Fruit-related traits, such as fruit length and weight, exhibited the highest variability, with the first principal component (PC1) explaining 17.45% of the total variance. Leaf characteristics, including color and pubescence, were dominant in the second principal component (PC2), accounting for 14.53% of the variance. Multiple regression analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between fruit weight and fruit length (β = 0.73, p ≤ 0.00). A trade-off was observed between flower number and fruit weight (β = −0.32, p ≤ 0.00). Heat map analysis grouped the accessions into four distinct clusters, with ‘Roodan-10’ and ‘Bahoukalat-1’ standing out for their superior fruit and floral traits, respectively. Notably, accessions such as ‘Dargas-10’ (100-seed weight: 2.40 g), ‘Rask-8’ (seed hair length: 30.19 mm), and ‘Pishin-8,’ distinguished by its exceptional leaf dimensions (mature leaf width: 139.20 mm), were identified as potential candidates for breeding. The remarkable leaf size of ‘Pishin-8’ suggests a high level of photosynthetic efficiency, which could enhance biomass production, further contributing to the ecological and agronomic value of this accession due to its exceptional seed characteristics. This study provides the first comprehensive morphological evaluation of C. procera, highlighting its high phenotypic diversity and adaptive traits. The findings underscore the species’ potential for medicinal and ecological applications, with specific accessions offering valuable genetic resources for conservation and breeding programs. Future research integrating molecular analyses is recommended to elucidate the genetic basis of observed variations.

Background: Intercultural communicative competence (ICC) has become a central objective in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education due to increasing global interaction. However, EFL instruction in Iran has traditionally prioritized grammatical and lexical accuracy, offering limited opportunities for intercultural development. To address this gap, the Intercultural Communication Needs (ICN) model integrates three core macro-needs, language, emotion, and culture, into instructional practiceAims: This study examined the effectiveness of the ICN model in enhancing ICC among Iranian university EFL learners.Methods: A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was employed with 100 undergraduate students divided into experimental and control groups. Over a six-week period, the experimental group received ICN-based instruction, while the control group followed conventional EFL instruction. Data were collected using a researcher-developed 15-item ICC questionnaire measuring linguistic, emotional, and cultural needs. Paired-samples and independent-samples t-tests were conducted, and effect sizes were calculatedResults: The results indicated a significant improvement in the experimental group’s overall ICC, with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.735). Among the ICN components, language showed the greatest gains, followed by emotion and culture. In addition, students reported increased confidence, empathy, and curiosity toward intercultural interactionConclusion: The findings provide empirical support for the ICN model as an effective pedagogical framework for fostering holistic intercultural competence in EFL contexts and highlight the importance of integrating linguistic, emotional, and cultural dimensions in language instruction.