An Inquiry into the Implementation of ICT among Pre-Service English Teachers

In recent years, the trend toward globalization and the needs of an information-oriented society have become a focus of attention for science educators. However, many teachers are still struggling to adopt and implement computers into their classrooms. Some researchers contend that beginning teachers are not adequately prepared to integrate computers into their teaching. Furthermore, among teachers, differences exist in instructional decision-making and behaviors when implementing new innovations into their teaching practice. This  study examines the implementation of  ICT (Information and Communication Technology) into English language instruction. Through studying aspects of learning among pre-service teachers, the study seeks to review the studies done on the impact on their new understanding of teaching and decision-making.  The results of this study can provide pre-service teachers with a direction that enables them to make the best use of technology such as ICT in learning to teach English and other core subject areas is necessary

Multiscaling behavior of atomic-scale friction

The scaling behavior of friction between rough surfaces is a well-known phenomenon. It might be asked whether such a scaling feature also exists for friction at an atomic scale despite the absence of roughness on atomically flat surfaces. Indeed, other types of fluctuations, e.g., thermal and instrumental fluctuations, become appreciable at this length scale and can lead to scaling behavior of the measured atomic-scale friction. We investigate this using the lateral force exerted on the tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM) when the tip is dragged over the clean NaCl (001) surface in ultra-high vacuum at room temperature. Here the focus is on the fluctuations of the lateral force profile rather than its saw-tooth trend; we first eliminate the trend using the singular value decomposition technique and then explore the scaling behavior of the detrended data, which contains only fluctuations, using the multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis. The results demonstrate a scaling behavior for the friction data ranging from 0.2 to 2 nm with the Hurst exponent H = 0.61 +/- 0.02 at a 1 sigma confidence interval. Moreover, the dependence of the generalized Hurst exponent, h(q), on the index variable q confirms the multifractal or multiscaling behavior of the nanofriction data. These results prove that fluctuation of nanofriction empirical data has a multifractal behavior which deviates from white noise

Nanoporous solid-state membranes modified with multi-wall carbon nanotubes with anti-biofouling property

Ameneh Alizadeh,1 Amir Razmjou,1,2 Mehrorang Ghaedi,3 Ramin Jannesar4,51Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technologies, University of Isfahan, Isfahan 8174673441, Iran; 2UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, NSW, Australia; 3Department of Chemistry, Yasouj University, Yasouj 75918-74831, Iran; 4Department of Pathology, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj 7591741417, Iran; 5Department of Biotechnology and Microbial Nanotechnology, Dena Pathobiology Laboratory, Yasuj 7591774414, IranPurpose: Nanoporous membranes have been employing more than before in applications such as biomedical due to nanometer hexagonal pores array. Biofouling is one of the important problems in these applications that used nanoporous membranes and are in close contact with microorganisms. Surface modification of the membrane is one way to prevent biofilm formation; therefore, the membrane made in this work is modified with carbon nanotubes.Methods: In this work, nanoporous solid-state membrane (NSSM) was made by a two-step anodization method, and then modified with carbon nanotubes (NSSM-multi-wall carbon nanotubes [MWCNT]) by a simple chemical reaction. Techniques such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDAX), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), contact angle (CA), surface free energy (SFE), protein adsorption, flow cytometry, and MTT assay were used for membrane characterization. Results: The BSA protein adsorption capacity reduced from 992.54 to 97.24 (µg mL-1 cm-2) after modification. The findings of flow cytometry and MTT assay confirmed that the number of dead bacteria was higher on the NSSM-MWCNT surface than that of control. Adsorption models of Freundlich and Langmuir and kinetics models were studied to understand the governing mechanism by which bacteria migrate to the membrane surface.Conclusion: The cell viability of absorbed bacteria on the NSSM-MWCNT was disrupted in direct physical contact with carbon nanotubes. Then, the dead bacteria were desorbed from the surface of the hydrophilic membrane. The results of this research showed that NSSM-MWCNT containing carbon nanotubes have significant antimicrobial and self-cleaning property that can be used in many biomedical devices without facing the eminent problem of biofouling. Keywords: anodizing, alumina anodic membrane, antibacterial, anti-biofil

Effective factors of Pediatric Urolithiasis in Children under 14 years old that Refer to pediatric and urologic Medical Center of Yasuj at 2010

Abstract Background & aim: Urinary stone is one of the important causes of morbidity among children. The aim of this study was to determine the effective factors of Pediatric Urolithiasis in Children under the age of 14. Methods: In this case-control study, among children under 14 years of age referring to the Shahid Beheshti Clinic of Yasuj with the diagnosis of urolithiasis confirmed twice by ultrasound, 48 children were selected as eligible cases for the questionnaire containing demographic information, the location, and size of the stone were completed. Of 48 healthy children younger than 14 years referring to the clinic for evaluation of growth and health were selected as the control group. Affecting parameters of serum and urinary stone formation in both groups were controlled. The collected data were analyzed by using statistical mean tests, chi-square and t-tests. Results: In 70.8% of the group case, children had a positive family history of urolithiasis. Hypercalciuria, Hyperoxaluria, hyperuricosuria, and Hypocitraturia were found 35.4%, 17.8%, 13.6%, and 13.6% in group case respectively. Mean urinary calcium level of the case group was 0.47 and in controls, 0. 24. The mean urinary uric acid level of the case group was 0.91 and for the control was 0.54 (05/0> p). In 58.3% of the cases, a single kidney stone was seen and in 95.8% of the cases, the size of 4 mm or less were observed. The most common symptoms of urolithiasis (58.1%) at admission were restlessness and irritation during urination. Conclusion: According to the results of study, Hypercalciuria, Hyperoxaluria, Hyperuricosuria and positive family history are the major cases of urinary stones in children which are often individual with the size of 4 mm. Key words: urolithiasis, children, hypercalciuri