purpose: to compare rose-k and conventional rgp contact lenses in terms of visual acuity, visual function and comfort in keratoconus patients. method: fifty-four patients with keratoconus were randomly fitted with rose-k and conventional rgp contact lens (wohlk contact lens), by one experienced ophthalmologist using a standard (three touch point) approach. general and demographic information, k...

background and aims: this research evaluated the effects of humanoid robots on improvement of eye contact in autistic children. methods and materials: this research used a multiple baseline, single-subject design with control to test 5 autistic children (2 girls and 3 boys) in tehran during 2010. the children aged 7 to 9 years and were tested by gilliam autism rating scales (gars) to ensure the...

in this paper, design and construction of a tactile sensor for measuring contact-force is presented. mechanism of measuring contact-force in this tactile sensor is based on impedance changing of piezoelectric crystal and voltage of different points in circuit as a result of applying force on the crystal. by considering a specific point in the circuit and recording the changes of its voltage, ma...

The repellent and contact toxicities of Alpinia officinarum rhizome extract on Lasioderma serricorne adults, and its ability to protect stored wheat flour from L. serricorne adults infestation were investigated. The A. officinarum extract exhibited strong repellent and contact toxicities against L. serricorne adults. The toxicities enhanced significantly with the increasing treatment time and t...

Contaminated touch surfaces have been implicated in the spread of hospital-acquired infections, and the use of biocidal surfaces could help to reduce this cross-contamination. In a previous study we reported the death of aqueous inocula of pathogenic Enterococcus faecalis or Enterococcus faecium isolates, simulating fomite surface contamination, in 1 h on copper alloys, compared to survival for...

Urea is the most commonly used nitrogen fertilizer worldwide. The overused urea in agricultural fields may affect the soil organisms especially, the earthworms which are known well for their role in soil fertility. Earthworms are typically inferred as soil indicators without which soil fertility cannot be measured directly. An acute toxicity test of urea to earthworm (Eisenia fetida) was perfor...

Microbes are susceptible to contaminant effects, and high concentrations of chemical in soil can impact on microbial growth, density, viability and development. As a result of relative sensitivity of microbes to contaminants, toxicity data are important in determining critical loads or safe levels for contaminants in soil. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess the impact of phenanthrene...

Plant essential oils (EOs) and a wide range of their individual components are involved in a variety of biological interactions with insect pests including stimulatory, deterrent, toxic and even hormetic effects. Both the beneficial and toxic properties of citrus EOs on the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly) have been experimentally evidenced over the last years. However, no information is availa...

This study aims to develop eco-friendly botanical pesticides. Dried fruits of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f. (Austrobaileyales: Schisandraceae)) were extracted with methyl alcohol (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), and petroleum ether (PE) at 25°C. The constituents were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the repellency and contact toxicity of the extracts against Sitophilus zeam...

The bioactivities of destruxins against whitefly, Bemisia tabaci and its natural enemy, ladybird beetle Serangium japonicum were evaluated. Destruxins A and B (DA and DB) showed insignificant ovicidal, oviposition deterrent and systemic insecticidal activities to B. tabaci; however, DA and DB had certain contact virulence to its nymphs. The LC(50) values of DA at 120h to 2nd, 3rd and 4th instar...