“I Wanna Sound Like You so Why Don’t I?” Expectations Versus Reality for Egyptian Learners of English

We all come with our preconceived notions. The expectations of 180 Egyptian learners of EFL at a private institution in Egypt revealed that the majority of learners expect to sound like native speakers by the end of the 3-month course and teachers to do all the work and provide them with a textbook. This could be attributed to the learners’ previous experience with language learning. Still, teachers need to be able to anticipate and fulfill their needs

Spin polaron in the J1-J2 Heisenberg model

We have studied the validity of the spin polaron picture in the frustrated J1-J2 Heisenberg model. For this purpose, we have computed the hole spectral functions for the Neel, collinear, and disordered phases of this model, by means of the self-consistent Born approximation and Lanczos exact diagonalization on finite-size clusters. We have found that the spin polaron quasiparticle excitation is always well defined for the magnetically ordered Neel and collinear phases, even in the vicinity of the magnetic quantum critical points, where the local magnetization vanishes. As a general feature, the effect of frustration is to increase the amplitude of the multimagnon states that build up the spin polaron wave function, leading to the reduction of the quasiparticle coherence. Based on Lanczos results, we discuss the validity of the spin polaron picture in the disordered phase.Comment: 9 pages, 12 figure

Comparative study on the using of PEG and PAM as curing agents for self-curing concrete

There are many factors, which may affect on concrete quality. One of those is concrete curing. Self-curing concrete is the solution. It may produce by using chemical curing agents. The concept of those agents is to reduce the water evaporation from concrete. This research aims to study the effect of chemical curing agents on the behavior of self-curing concrete. Two different chemical curing agents were used to study the main mechanical properties of concrete. The main variables are; the type of curing agent (Polyethylene glycol "PEG400"–Poly Acrylamide "PAM") and its dosages. The results obtained in terms of compressive, tensile and flexure strength values. Test results showed that the self-curing concrete cured by each agent performed better in hardened properties compared to none cured concrete. Also, curing using the both agents together perform better than using each one individually

Investigation of pressure drop in horizontal pipes with different diameters

The pressure drop has a significant importance in multiphase flow systems. In this paper, the effect of the volumetric quality and mixture velocity on pressure drop of gas-liquid flow in horizontal pipes of different diameters are investigated experimentally and numerically. The experimental facility was designed and built to measure the pressure drop in three pipes of 12.70, 19.05 and 25.40 mm. The water and air flow rates can be adjusted to control the mixture velocity and void fraction. The measurements are performed under constant water flow rate (CWF) by adding air to the water and constant total flow rate (CTF) in which the flow rates for both phases are changed to give same CTF. The drift-flux model is also used to predict the pressure drop for same cases. The present data is also compared with a number of empirical models from the literature. The results show that: i) the pressure drop increases with higher volumetric qualities for the cases of constant water flow rate but decreases for higher volumetric qualities of constant total flow rate due to the change in flow pattern. ii) The drift-flux model and homogenous model are the most suitable models for pressure drop prediction. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.9112012

THE POSSIBLE CARDIOPROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF DIFFERENT FRACTIONS OF ARTICHOKE EXTRACTS AGAINST 5-FU INDUCED CARDIOTOXICITY IN ALBINO RATS

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of ethyl acetate and methanolartichoke extracts(Cynara scolymus L.) against 5-Flurouracil (5-FU) induced cardiotoxicity in rats.Methods: Thirty-six albino rats were divided randomly and equallyin to six groups (each group with 6 rats): I, negative control, received (2 ml/kg/d)of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) orally for 30 successive d; II, positive control, received (2 ml/kg/d) of (DMSO) orally for 30 successive d, and subsequently administered a single dose of 5-FU (150 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection on 27thd in assossiation with DSMO; III and V, received (200 mg/kg/d) of oral methanol and ethyl acetate artichoke extracts respectivelyfor 30 successive d; V and VI, received(200 mg/kg/d) of oral methanol and ethyl acetate artichoke extracts respectively for 30 successive d,with a subsequently received single dose of 5-FU (150 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection on 27th d of the experiment.Results: Prophylactic treatment of ethyl acetate and methanol artichoke extracts significantly attenuates the increased level of serum cardiac troponin T (CTn-T) and tumor necrosis factor-a(TNF-a)caused by 5-FU-induced cardiotoxicity in experimental albino rats while it increases the serum level of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC).Conclusion: Results of the present study suggest that methanol and ethyl acetate artichoke extracts may be an effective modulator in mitigating 5-FU induced cardiotoxicity.Â

Measurement Natural Radioactivity in Soil Samples from Important historical locals in Alnajaf Alashraf city, Iraq.

Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf city one of the most important ,oldest, historical and religious cities in Iraqi country which includes hundreds of holy shrines and historical mosques which over the built hundreds of years. The natural radiation of  forty two  samples of soil which collected randomly in June  2013 from different religious and historical places were  measured using  3"×3" Na(Tl) detection. The mean values activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K  was ( 23.59±4.37, 12.10±0.54 and 60.68±2.30) Bq kg-1  respectively , specific activity for all soil sample were in the worldwide average. The  average values of the Radium equivalent activity and  annual effective dose  were (22.455 Bq/kg and 25.375 μSv/y) less than the world average .The heist  external and internal hazard and gamma activity concentration index were (0.274 , 0.412 and 0.705) lower than unity

Distinct requirements for Ras oncogenesis in human versus mouse cells

The spectrum of tumors associated with oncogenic Ras in humans often differs from those in mice either treated with carcinogens or engineered to sporadically express oncogenic Ras, suggesting that the mechanism of Ras transformation may be different in humans. Ras stimulates primarily three main classes of effector proteins, Rafs, PI3-kinase, and RalGEFs, with Raf generally being the most potent at transforming murine cells. Using oncogenic Ras mutants that activate single effectors as well as constitutively active effectors, we find that the RalGEF, and not the Raf or PI3-kinase pathway, is sufficient for Ras transformation in human cells. Thus, oncogenic Ras may transform murine and human cells by distinct mechanisms, and the RalGEF pathway—previously deemed to play a secondary role in Ras transformation—could represent a new target for anti-cancer therapy