Learning Pronunciation with Google Translate: Focus on English Past -ed

The limited amount of time is one of the most common problems that teachers and second language (L2) students face in language classrooms, particularly for pronunciation instruction. To address the problem, teachers often ask students to engage in self-directed and out-of-classroom activities (e.g., homework) by using technologies such as Text-to-Speech Synthesis (TTS) and Automatic-Speech-Recognition (ASR). However, little is known about the feasibility of using TTS and ASR combined (as found in Google Translate - GT) as pedagogical tools, nor do we understand what happens when the learner is asked to use the technology to learn on their own, outside of their classrooms. Following a pre-test-post-test design, this mixed-methods one-shot study investigates the pedagogical affordances of GT’s TTS and ASR speech capabilities and how their use can help learners acquire L2 pronunciation. More specifically, the present study focuses on the acquisition of English past -ed pronunciation, a challenging learning target (in terms of phonological awareness, listening discrimination or perception, and production) in a teacher-guided semi-autonomous out-of-class context. Emulating the completion of a homework assignment, 20 Farsi-speaking English learners used GT’s TTS and ASR functions to learn the pronunciation of past -ed allomorphy (/d/, /t/, /id/) through various listening (via TTS) and speaking activities (via ASR). Findings indicate that there were significant improvements in both the participants’ awareness and perception of the English past -ed allomorphy, thus confirming that GT and its speech capabilities can help learners acquire the target pronunciation feature in these two initial stages of L2 pronunciation development. However, in production (the subsequent stage), only one of the allomorphs (/id/) had improved by the end of the experiment

Valproate Effects on Chemophysical Properties of Human Serum Albumin

Albumin has a fundamental role in human body. Its main tasks in blood are to regulate osmotic blood pressure, maintaining the pH, and transporting metabolites and drugs throughout the vascular system.  Pharmacological studies of the interaction of drugs on HSA are important due to structural and functional changes of this vital protein; thus, here in this research the effect of valproate as a common drug for epilepsy disorders is evaluated in the presence of hexadecyl pyridinium bromide (HPB) as a positive surfactant in normal and fever condition. Electrochemical method was used to investigate the binding number of HPB molecules to HSA in the absence and presence of valproate by evaluating the concentration of free HPB in 37oC and 42oC temperatures. HSA affinity for valproate binding studied via ligand binding process for normal and fever temperatures. The findings indicate that, there is a significant difference in valproate binding to albumin at physiological and pathological temperatures. The consequences are the same in the presence of HPB; in other words, HSA binding tendency to HPB in the presence of valproate was totally altered because of HSA major conformational changes in fever condition. In conclusion, corrected dosage of valproate is needed for fever condition relative to normal temperature and the patients under prescription of different medications in fever condition should have different orders due to the interferences of drugs.

Prevalence of the molar incisor hypomineralization in seven to twelve-year-old students of Kerman, Iran, in 2015-2016

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Regarding the prevalence of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) among students and different populations and continuation of related problems, it seems necessary to assess the prevalence among students in Kerman, Iran. The aim of this study was to review the prevalence of MIH and its relation to the sex of 7-12-year-old students in Kerman during 2015-2016. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 779 students from different schools of Kerman were studied after examination. We used a checklist to keep the record of MIH cases, which was filled by an inspector. Discolored (milky white or yellow and brown) teeth were counted as defective. Diagnosis of the MIH was done on basis of similar studies. After extracting the results, the data were analyzed by SPSS software, considering the sex of participants. The confidence interval (CI) of 95% was considered. RESULTS: The prevalence of MIH was 6.5% among the studied students (51 students were diagnosed). There was no significant relationship between MIH and the students’ sex. Among the 169 obviously defective teeth, the most prevalence was for lower right molar (54.9%), upper right central (52.9%), and lower left molar (49.0%). CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of MIH among the students was relatively low, it seems that awareness among the students and their parents’ needs to be enhanced so that they can take better actions for the treatment of the defective teeth. KEYWORDS: Molar-Incisor; Hypomineralization; Molar Incisor Hypomineralization; Prevalence; Enamel Defect

Evaluation models and criteria of the quality of hospital websites: a systematic review study

Introduction: Hospital websites are important tools in establishing communication and exchanging information between patients and staff, and thus should enjoy an acceptable level of quality. The aim of this study was to identify proper models and criteria to evaluate the quality of hospital websites. Methods: This research was a systematic review study. The international databases such as Science Direct, Google Scholar, PubMed, Proquest, Ovid, Elsevier, Springer, and EBSCO together with regional database such as Magiran, Scientific Information Database, Persian Journal Citation Report (PJCR) and IranMedex were searched. Suitable keywords including website, evaluation, and quality of website were used. Full text papers related to the research were included. The criteria and sub criteria of the evaluation of website quality were extracted and classified. Results: To evaluate the quality of the websites, various models and criteria were presented. The WEB-Q-IM, Mile, Minerva, Seruni Luci, and Web-Qual models were the designed models. The criteria of accessibility, content and apparent features of the websites, the design procedure, the graphics applied in the website, and the page’s attractions have been mentioned in the majority of studies. Conclusion: The criteria of accessibility, content, design method, security, and confidentiality of personal information are the essential criteria in the evaluation of all websites. It is suggested that the ease of use, graphics, attractiveness and other apparent properties of websites are considered as the user-friendliness sub criteria. Further, the criteria of speed and accessibility of the website should be considered as sub criterion of efficiency. When determining the evaluation criteria of the quality of websites, attention to major differences in the specific features of any website is essential

Comparative evaluation of root canal morphology of mandibular premolars using clearing and cone beam computed tomography

Background: Different techniques are used to evaluate the anatomy of root canal system. The present study was aimed to evaluate the root canal morphology of mandibular premolars using clearing and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) techniques. Materials and Methods: A total of 182 mandibular first and second premolars were evaluated in vitro using 100 μm CBCT cross sections. The root canal morphology of the teeth was determined based on Vertucci classification in relation to the prevalence of C-shaped canals, lateral canals, and furcation location. Having removed the pulp tissue with NaOCl solution and staining the root canals with India ink, the samples were decalcified with 5% nitric acid and dehydrated with isopropyl alcohol. Finally, the samples were cleared with methyl salicylate. Data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software using McNamara, t-test, and Kappa coefficient. Results: After Type I, the most frequent morphologies in both first and second premolars were Type V followed by Type IV. The prevalence rates of C-shaped morphology in first premolars using clearing and CBCT were 4.4% and 6.6%, respectively. However, no C-shaped morphology was found in second premolars. The maximum and minimum levels of agreement between the two techniques were observed in Type IV and Type V root canal morphologies, respectively. Extra root canals were identified in 25% and 13% of the first and second premolars, respectively. Conclusion: CBCT showed a higher accuracy in determining C-shaped root canal morphology than the clearing technique. It also showed the least accuracy in diagnosing lateral root canals

Paleoenvironment of geomorphic surfaces of an alluvial fan in the eastern Isfahan, Iran, in the light of micromorphology and clay mineralogy

Alluvial fans are one of the most important landforms in geomorphological and paloenvironmental studies. The objective of this study was the application of clay mineral assemblages and micromorphological properties of the studied paleosols in the geomorphic surfaces of an alluvial fan in the eastern Isfahan as proxies for paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes. Micromorphology, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy approaches were used to study the representative pedons. The results indicated that the illuviation process in the calcareous soils of the arid regions of the eastern Isfahan was probably in response to Quaternary moist conditions. There was no significant difference between clay coating properties of the studied relict and buried paleosols. Clay mineralogical study suggested that kaolinite and illite were inherited from the parent materials, while smectite and palygorskite were formed in the soil environment. Paleoargillic horizon was characterized by smectite and calcic (especially the calcrete) horizons were dominated by palygorskite. Palygorskite was accumulated by both neoformation and illuviation processes. High clay content, high intensity of smectite peak, and activity of the illuviation process in paleoargillic horizon demonstrated the seasonality of climate (rainfall) even in the moist periods of Quaternary in Central Iran. Clay mineralogical assemblages suggested a trend of increasing environmental aridity in the study area. This study, therefore, highlighted the role of clay mineralogical investigations in arid lands’ geomorphological and paleoenvironmental researches

Corrections and additions to Leptus Latreille (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) of the world: revised classification and keys

Saboori, Alireza, Hakimitabar, Masoud, Khademi, Narjes, Masoumi, Hamidreza, Katouzian, Ahmad-Reza (2019): Corrections and additions to Leptus Latreille (Trombidiformes: Erythraeidae) of the world: revised classification and keys. Persian Journal of Acarology 9 (2): 209-212, DOI: 10.22073/pja.v9i2.6081