THE EFFECTS OF HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS PUSHED OUTPUT INSTRUCTIONS ON SPEAKING COMPLEXITY

This study was set out to investigate the efficacy of homogeneous and heterogeneous pushed output based instruction on upper-intermediate EFL learner’ speaking complexity. To do so, 41 (17 males and 24 females) EFL learners were selected from University of Zabol based on the results of OPT. Then, they were put in control and experimental groups based on the predetermined criteria. Retelling and decision making tasks were used in the treatments of experimental groups while control group received placebo during 15 sessions, twice a week. Public versions of IELTS speaking test were used as pre/post-test. The results of Independent sample t-test indicated that experimental groups outperformed control group. On the other hand, statistical analyses showed no significant differences between male and female speech complexity. To sum up, the findings demonstrated the fruitful effects of collaborative pushed output activities on speaking sub-skills. Likewise, the results suggested the implementation of similar strategies in the development of male and female speaking dimensions. Based on the findings, it can be claimed that teacher preparation programs should put teaching speaking on their list of priorities and provide courses on effective strategies for the development of speaking dimensions through implementing the main tenants of pushed output hypothesis.Keywords: homogeneous, heterogeneous, complexity, speaking, pushed outpu

Self-efficacy and Prediction of Note-taking Inclination among Undergraduate Translation Students

Self-efficacy is the self-perceived ability of an individual in performing the tasks assigned to him/her. Self-efficacy and its implications have been widely studied in the field of language teaching and learning. Yet, few studies have explored the relationship between self-efficacy and various aspects of interpreting ability. This article aims at investigating the role of self-efficacy in predicting the note-taking inclination of undergraduate translation students. In this regard, a total number of 53 junior and senior undergraduate translation students at the University of Zabol completed the Schwarzer’s General Self-efficacy Questionnaire, and took the note-taking ability test in which test-takers were supposed to listen to VOA Special News tracks (five 30-45 second audio tracks at lower-intermediate level of difficulty) and take notes. Prior to administration, test takers received a brief instruction of seven main note-taking skills, based on the guidelines proposed by Mazzei (noting the idea, abbreviation, links, negation, emphasis, verticality, and shift). Finally, the students’ notes were scored by two raters at a 0-35 point basis, according to the Mazzei’s note-taking skills; and a high inter-rater reliability was achieved. The obtained Pearson results revealed a significant positive relationship between the self-efficacy of the test-takers and their note-taking inclination. Our findings imply that learners’ self-efficacy should be more considered in interpreter training programs at B.A. level

Comparison of Available Soil Phosphorus by Anion Exchange Resin and Bray 20:1 Procedures

Agronom

Heavy Metals Accumulation in Two Types of Tree Leaves from Baghdad Urban Areas

It is well known that environmental pollution by many heavymetals is a serious problem to the natural ecosystem due to their toxiceffects. Most heavy metals such as Cu, Mn, Fe, and Zn are needed byvarious organisms but at certain concentrations is very necessary forboth plants and animals. However, it has been suggested that ever greenplant trees can assist in controlling such pollution via various methodswhere one method is the ability of these plant trees to absorb heavymetals from contaminated soils. The current work was designed to assessCd, Mn and Pb plant content in two tree species (Eucalyptus sp. andAlbizia sp.) collected from Tourist Baghdad Island (TBI) situated in AlFh’hama region. It seems very obvious that these examined trees can beregarded as certain heavy metals eliminator where eucalyptus tree hasshown considerable ability in removing all examined heavy metals whichwere significantly higher than that of Albizia trees

Ecological Risk Assessment of Chromium Pollution in the Soil of Industrial Area within Baghdad City

Thirty-five soil samples were collected from the Tanning Factory Industrial District within Baghdad city to investigate the soil pollution occur through four directions of the tanning plant. The soil samples exhibited high concentrations of Cr than the reported values of worldwide mean of unpolluted soils. The geoaccumulation index showed that the soil samples were moderately polluted by Cr at the north of the factory while the soil sample showed extremely polluted at the south and east of the factory. Moreover, the soil samples collected from west of the factory were strongly polluted. The result of the calculated enrichment factor (64.52-1075.22) showed to extremely high enriched and suggesting a significant role of anthropogenic pollution because of various industrial activities by the Tanning Factory

THE EFFECTS OF HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS PUSHED OUTPUT INSTRUCTIONS ON SPEAKING COMPLEXITY

This study was set out to investigate the efficacy of homogeneous and heterogeneous pushed output based instruction on upper-intermediate EFL learner’ speaking complexity. To do so, 41 (17 males and 24 females) EFL learners were selected from University of Zabol based on the results of OPT. Then, they were put in control and experimental groups based on the predetermined criteria. Retelling and decision making tasks were used in the treatments of experimental groups while control group received placebo during 15 sessions, twice a week. Public versions of IELTS speaking test were used as pre/post-test. The results of Independent sample t-test indicated that experimental groups outperformed control group. On the other hand, statistical analyses showed no significant differences between male and female speech complexity. To sum up, the findings demonstrated the fruitful effects of collaborative pushed output activities on speaking sub-skills. Likewise, the results suggested the implementation of similar strategies in the development of male and female speaking dimensions. Based on the findings, it can be claimed that teacher preparation programs should put teaching speaking on their list of priorities and provide courses on effective strategies for the development of speaking dimensions through implementing the main tenants of pushed output hypothesis

Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Users of Intrauterine Devices

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Introduction: The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of asymptomatic bacteriuria in women who use intrauterine devices (IUDs) as a contraceptive method with subjects who use tubal ligation (TL). Materials and Methods: A cohort study was conducted on women who were candidates for IUD insertion or TL (control). The patients were followed for 3 months, and urine cultures were assessed for bacteriuria at the end of the study. Results: Overall, 131 women (mean age, 31.9 ± 4.25 years) in the IUD group and 78 (mean age, 32.1 ± 4.0 years) in the control group were studied. The parity score was 2 or more in 72% of the women in the IUD group and in 74% of the controls. The average intercourse frequency was twice per week in 82% of IUD users and 80% of controls. Fifty-seven percent of the women in the IUD group and 55% of the women in the control group had graduated secondary school (high school). Asymptomatic bacteriuria was detected in 13 IUD users (9.9%) and in 1 woman (1.3%) in the control group (risk ratio = 7.74, confidence interval: 1.03 to 58.03; P = .019). The detected microorganism in the urine culture was Escherichia coli in 12 IUD users and in 1 patient in control group. Klebsiella was found in 1 IUD user. Conclusion: Use of an IUD is a risk factor for urinary tract infection and should be considered, especially in women with recurrent urinary tract infections.</p

Assessment of Some Heavy Metal Concentrations in Drilling Mud samples in Az Zubair Oil Field, Basra, Iraq

Analysis of eight heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn,Ni, Pb and Zn) of 14 drilling mud samples collected from oil well at differentdepths which is located in AZ Zubair oil field-Basra was done in this study .The samples were measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometry.Obtained results indicated that the heavy metal concentrations range from thelowest value of 1.66mg/kg for Cd to the highest value of 1235.86mg/kg forFe. The abundance trend for the heavy metals concentration was in thedescending order of Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, Pb, and Cd. Four parameters:Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF), Geo-accumulationIndex (Igeo) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were assessed in order toevaluate the degree of contamination

Efficiency of E. microtheica and E. camaldulensis Tree to Remove Lead Element (Pb) from the Province of Baghdad Environment

The lead concentration in soil and of plant (Eucalyptus) samples from different areas in Baghdad city (Zafarana, Sheikh Omar Street and Al Zawara Park). The results shows that the concentration of lead element is higher than the world average of uncontaminated soils. Depending on the results of the Geoaccumulation index it can be seen that the soil samples collected from Al Zawara Park were moderately polluted while the soil samples collected from the Zafarana district were moderate to severely contaminated and the soil samples collected from the Sheikh Omar street were heavily contaminated with lead element and this is clearly evident as a result of the impact of industrial activity in the region. Furthermore, the highest values of BCF were observed in Al Zawara Park and this evidence may be related to the plant age in this area

Pedo-Chemical Studies on Saline Playas in the Arabian Shelf

This research was undertaken to study the pedo-chemical characteristics of selected playas (sabkhahs) in the Arabian Shelf. Results indicated that most of the sabkhahs are flat to almost flat having salt crusts with variable thickness. Profiles representing the sabkhah surface are extremely saline compared with that of the surrounding landscapes. The dominant soluble salts are Cl- and SO4(2-) of Na+ followed by Ca2 + or Mg2+. The compositions of the coastal sabkhahs profile layers are closely related to the Gulf water composition while the inland playas are more associated with local conditions. This was continued from the similarity in salt levels, ion molar ratios and relatively high correlation coefficients between the electrical conductivity of soluble salts (EC) and either soluble B3+ (r2 =0.80) or soluble Mg2 (r2=0.60) in coastal compared with that of the inland sabkhahs (r2=0.17) and (r2 =O.37), respectively. The main pedological process affecting the formation of coastal sabkhahs is the upward movement of the water table which is rich in sales originating from the Gulf waters either directly or through wind action. Leaching, accumulation of sediments and evaporative concentrations of the solutes are the processes prevailing in the inland sabkhahs. Salt crusts are dominated by Cl-and SO4(2-) of Na+ , Mg2+ and Ca2+ salts while K+ salts are relatively low. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm the presence of halite, gypsum and carbonate minerals. Epsomite and bloedtte minerals were identified in both coastal and inland sabkhahs. Specific minerals and relative abundance was quite variable between the salt cmsts due to the characteristic conditions of each sabkhah. The major differences between the inland and coastal sablthahs are related to the source, composition and depth of the water table and consequently the composition and mineralogy of the surface salt crusts