The validity supporting factors of the EPT reading comprehension test, a standard language proficiency test held monthly in Iran, were investigated in this research paper. To this end, each of the test questions was assigned to one of the known effective linguistic and non-linguistic components used by different readers in comprehending a reading text. Our ability to read in a second language, at first, depends on our familiarity with linguistic knowledge, which is the words and grammar of the target language, and under the influence of our non-linguistic knowledge,that if the assessment of reading comprehension ability is unfairly mixed with our "non-linguistic knowledge", the result will not reflect the content validity of the test. Since high-stake tests like EPT are designed for examinees with different experiences and other intrapersonal cognitive abilities, balancing the content of the test will lead us to more favorable results. 85 questions from 22 expository texts were randomly selected, and 150 female students graduated from the theoretical fields of humanities, experimental, and mathematics from Malayer city participated in the test. The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation statistical analysis, Heterotrait-monotrait ratio, Exploratory Factor Analysis, and the Partial Least Square model. The results showed that non-linguistic knowledge has a significant and more than expected effect on the performance of the testees. Teachers, lecturers, and institutes implementing and designing second language reading comprehension standardized tests will use the results of this research.

Present study was carried out on Zayandeh-Rud River, in a 30km distance downstream the Koohrang water supply tunnel to Sudetjan Bridge, all located in Charmahal province during 2008-2009. 6 study stations were determined and river benthic macroinvertebrates were monthly collected using a Surber sampler (1600 cm2, 250mmesh). According to the results, a total of 31 benthic taxa including 22 aquatic insect larvae (11 EPT or sensitive taxa) and 9 other groups such as worms and Gammarids, were identified. Individuals belong to Ephemeroptera and Diptera were dominant in most study sites excEPT for station 2 (Cheshme Dimmeh), which Gammarids had dense population over there. Among sampling sites, station 3 just after a 200 metric tons rainbow trout farm effluent, had the highest taxa richness and the subsequent stations had more EPT richness. Comparing the Hilsenhoff family level biotic index at different stations reveals that a remediation of water quality occurs downstream the effluent receiving point and are classified as "good" water quality (HBI: 4.2-4.8). Organic materials and nutrients coming both from river catchment's area and human activities such as fish farms and adjacent agricultural lands in addition to own life span of macrobenthic animals, seems to be the main determinants of fluctuation in community structure of macroinvertebrates fauna in Zayandeh-Rud River.

M. Tuberculosis infects one third of the world's population. Although considered primarily a pulmonary disease, tuberculosis can affect any organ system. One third of patients with tuberculosis wi11develop an extrapulmonary manifestation.The study of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPT) has been performed in low scale in our country and the relevant information is too low.This research is an analytic descriptive study, Which conducted to determine the epidemiological characteristics of extrapulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed in population of Mashhad during 5 years period from (1997-2001).During 5 years period, in Mashhad we retrospectively collected epidemiological data on all patients with newly diagnosed EPT. We found 1526 cases of EPT giving a mean annual incidence of 15.2 per 105 in that period.The results showed that 23 forms of EPT were diagnosed and tuberculous lymphadenitis was the most common form of EPT. The most common age of patients was 15-24 years (19.9%). The disease was more common in the female (63.3%). Foreign immigrants in Mashhad accounted for 397(26%) of 1526 cases of EPT diagnosed in Mashhad during 5 years period.In this study it was found that there is no significant changes in incidence of total cases of tuberculosis (Pulmonary and extrapulmonary) during 5 years period. The rate of EPT to total cases of tuberculosis was 33.53%.

This study was conducted to assess water quality level of Zarin Gol stream on macrobenthic invertebrates. Macrobenthic fauna were sampled from 9 selected sampling stations along the stream with an average distance of 22 km by using a Surber sampler every 45 days during the year. Sampling was replicated 9 times in each sampling station. Collected samples were fixed with 4% formalin, isolated, and then identified. The number of total abundance of macrobenthic fauna were counted to 2749.021 ± 1301.8 (ind/m2) belonging to 15 orders and 81 groups (families and genus). The minimum and maximum of total abundance (ind/m2) was at station 1 (370.63 ± 231.1) and at station 5 (215. 73 ± 101.75), respectively. The main orders of macro benthic invertebrate communities in Zaringol stream included Diptera, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Plecoptera, Oligocheta, Odonata and Amphipoda. Population structure of macro benthic invertebrates were analyzed by biotic Indices and the results showed significant differences in EPT and EPT/CHIR indices at different sampling stations (p<0.05). Hilsenhoff and Shannon diversity indices indicated no significant differences (p>0.05) along the stream. Evaluation of indicators revealed less water quality at stations 2 and 5 where located at the lowermost of fish farms. This reduction might be implicated to the effluents of water damps from fish farms running into the stream as diversity and total abundance (%) of succible macro-invertebrates decreased and that of resistant macrofauna increased due to water pollution. Hence, from the obtained results, this can be concluded that the use of benthic macro-invertebrates as bioindicator for the assessment of water quality of the stream is desirable.

The effect of Rainbow trout farms effluents on benthic macro-invertebrates of Marber River in Semirom city was investigated in spring and summer of 2013. Sampling from benthic macro-invertebrates was done monthly using Surber sampler (mouth area of 30.5*30.5 cm with a 500 mesh net) at entrance, discharge and far from three fish farms. In addition to measuring physical and chemical parameters of water, a number of 5326 samples from benthic macro-invertebrates were identified totally, which belonged to 34 genus, 22 families and 8 orders. Indices of EPT richness and EPT/Chir were lower at stations immediately located after the farms in compare to the upstream stations. These indices were improved by getting far from the farms. Hilsenhoff family biotic index categorized the quality of water in the range of fair to excellent. Based on the results, Marber River in Semirom has got the ability of self-purification and at the distance of two kilometers from trout farms, its water quality has been improved.

Benthic macroinvertebrate-based indices are suitable tools for assessment of stream health and human impacts on its biological integrity. Since Ghale Rudkhan River is an attractive tourist destination and its surrounding population is growing, its water quality was examined usning biological indicators. Macroinvertebrate samples were taken monthly by a Surber sampler (mesh = 300 μ,and area = 900 cm2) at five stations from May to December 2017. Samples were preserved in ethanol 96% and transported to laboratory for analysis. Total abundance, EPT index, EPT richness and percentage, EPT/CHIR ratios were determined. In total 5134 macroinvertebrates that belong to 35 genera, 30 families, 10 orders, 4 classes and 3 phyla were identified. The highest EPT richness was observed at the station no. 4 in May (607 ind. m-1) and the lowest was at the station no. 5 in October (7 ind. m-1). The presence of pollution sensitive species such as Epeorus sp. Rithrogena sp., Rhyacophila sp., Isopela sp., Gomphus sp., Cordulegaster sp., Coenagrion sp., Oligoneuriella sp., HEPTagenia sp., Philorus sp. in Ghale Rudkhan River indicated the optimal quality of the river water.