The Effect of Peer Observation on Iranian EFL Teachers’ Self-efficacy

AbstractSelf-efficacy beliefs influence teaching process. Researcher believes that peer observation, as an instructional strategy might be effective for increasing self-efficacy beliefs. Also the lack of refreshment especially in Iranian context in this regard, is another reason of conducting it. The purpose of this study is to test the relationships between peer observation and teacher self-efficacy. The participants are 48 English teachers of English language Institutes in Mashhad. After manager's permission, the volunteer teachers are randomly assigned into two groups, to one of which the peer observation program administered and to the other the conventional program. OSTES and Metcalf are used to measure teacher self-efficacy and teacher instructional skills respectively. The comparison is made based on pre-test, post-test in control and experimental groups. After calculating the mean scores and standard deviations, paired and independent samples t-tests are utilized. Observation sessions are done two times after a 7-10 day intervals. Statistics illustrates that self-efficacy level of control group's participants and their instructional skills has no changes after participating in this program, but peer observation improves observer teacher's self-efficacy (as high as supervisors self efficacy) and observer's teaching skills

Coherent control of birefringence and optical activity

Control of polarization of light with light is demonstrated in thin slabs of linear material promising ultrafast all-optical data processing at arbitrarily low intensities. In proof-of-principle experiments we access any polarization azimuth and any ellipticity

Analysis of cracked functionally graded piezoelectric strip

AbstractThe fracture behavior of a cracked strip under antiplane mechanical and inplane electrical loading is studied. A functionally graded piezoelectric strip with exponential material gradation is under consideration. The mechanical and electrical loading is combined via loading coupling factor. The problem of a graded piezoelectric strip containing a screw dislocation is solved. This solution results in stress and electric displacement components with Cauchy singularity. Based on the solution achieved for the dislocation, the distributed dislocation technique (DDT) is utilized to form any geometry of multiple cracks and analyze the behavior of a cracked strip under antiplane mechanical and inplane electrical loading. This technique is capable of the analysis of a strip with a system of interacting cracks. Several examples including strips with single crack, two straight cracks and two curved cracks are presented

Prediction of labour based on psychological hardiness, social support and resiliency in Bushehr nulliparous women

Background and aims: Delivery in addition to being stressful situations for a pregnant person, it is an important phenomenon in the life of the mother and pain result from it, is unavoidable and is also more severe and longer in nulliparous women. Due to unfavorable labor, to investigate the factors influencing is important. Methods: This research is a correlation study that for the implementation among nulliparous women referred for delivery to Bushehr Persian Gulf Martyrs Hospital, a sample of 120 subjects was selected by convenience sampling in the period between February 2016 and June 2016. Samples were evaluated using Percent Behavioral Intensity (PBI), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Ahvaz hardiness inventory (AHI), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and Philips Social Support Inventory (PSSI). The data were analyzed using linear regression analysis with enter and stepwise method by SPSS. Results: The results showed that psychological hardiness, social support and resiliency are able to predict the severity of visual and behavioral changes of feeling labor pains in nulliparous women, So that these variables have a positive effect on labor in nulliparous women. Conclusion: According to research findings, it seems to promote resiliency, hardiness and social support in a pregnant woman can be effective in pain management and by overcoming on negative emotions and fear is provided a pleasure experience for women. It affects to prefer a normal delivery compared to cesarean section

Effect of different dietary protein levels and water salinities on biochemical heamolymph parameters of white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) juvenile

In this study, biochemical heamolymph parameters indices of the white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) with three dietry protein levels (25, 35 and 45%) in the three levels of water salinity(0-3, 12-15 and 32-35 ppt) was studied. For experimental 350 shrimps with the average weight of 5.55±0.18 g and length of 8.81±0.15 cm were distributed randomly in 27 ten tones (length: 600 cm, width: 170 cm and height: 100 cm) concrete tanks. Experimental group were fed to satiation 4 times a day the experimental period. The results showed that at dietary protein levels of 35 and 45% and the water salinity of 32-35 ppt the amount of protein, urea, HDL and LDL increased (p≤ 0/05). Cholesterol and triglycerides levels in treatment with dietry protein level of 45% and the salinity of 32-35 ppt had increased. The glucose level of the plasma changed only by the modification of the protein level and had a revers relation with this variable (p≤ 0/05). However, different levels of protein and salinity had no effect on the amount of hemolymph uric acid. So besed biochemical heamolymph parameters on the results of this study, in dietry protein level 35% and salinity of 32-35 ppt and at least stress in the levels

Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of heart failure: A systematic review of systematic reviews

Introduction: This article is an attempt to provide an overview of systematic reviews to determine the efficacy of CQ10 supplementation in the treatment of patients with CVD. Method and material: All reviews were identified through a systematic search of the following databases: Cochrane, DARE, Ovid, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, and PubMed. Check references studies and the quality of the studies was assessed by means of AMSTTAR. No meta-analyses were performed due to the heterogeneity of studies. Result: Extracted data for Seven systematic reviews for primary outcomes, net changes in cardiac output, cardiac index, New York Heart Association functional classification, improved survival, based on existing evidence, there is a case for use of CoQ10 as an adjunctive therapy in congestive heart failure, especially in those patients unable to tolerate mainstream medical therapies. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that the CoQ10 supplement may be a useful tool for managing patients with heart failure. © 2018

The Effect of Saccharomyces Strains and Fermentation Condition on the pH, Foam Property and CO2 Concentration of Non-alcoholic Beer (Ma-al-shaeer)

This study aims to determine the effect of fermentation condition and Saccharomyces strains on the pH, foam property and CO2 concentration of non-alcoholic beer (Ma-al-shaeer). For this, the beer samples were inoculated with four different species of Saccharomyces (Saccharomyces rouxii 70531, S. rouxii 70535, S. ludwigii 3447 and S. cerevisiae 70424) and fermented for 48h in both aerobic and periodic aeration at three different temperatures. Then their pH, CO2 concentration and foam property were analyzed in 12h intervals during 48h fermentation. The results shows that the treatments with 4×107 CFU.ml-1 and periodic aeration at 24˚C showed the greatest decrease in pH, and the treatments with 107 CFU.ml-1 and aerobic-periodic aeration at 4˚C showed the lowest decrease in pH. The highest and lowest amounts of CO2 and foam property were obtained in the treatments with 4×107 CFU.ml-1 inoculation, aerobic condition, and the treatments with 107 CFU.ml-1, periodic aeration, respectively. These results further demonstrated that the highest drop in pH, and the highest ability of producing CO2 and foam were for S. cerevisiae 70424, and the lowest belonged to S. rouxii 70531. The overall outcome of the study points to the fact that physico-chemical properties of Ma-al-shaeer is important from the consumers' point of view. Therefore, S. cerevisiae with 4×107 CFU.ml-1 inoculation and aerobic condition at 4˚C has promising potential for producing Ma-al-shaeer with good physicochemical properties

Antimicrobial agents and packaging systems in antimicrobial active food packaging: An overview of approaches and interactions

tMost of the scientific studies and innovations in food packaging have focused on the inhi-bition or prevention of microbial growth as well as avoiding further microbial deteriorationof food products. Among current food packaging techniques, active packaging, particular-ity antimicrobial active packaging, has attracted much attention due to the diversity in thematerials used, the methods of application, and the variety of food products that can be pro-tected. Direct and indirect techniques can be utilized to introduce antimicrobial compoundsinto food packaging materials. The increasing importance of the application of antimicrobialpackaging has inspired a better understanding of these materials and the factors influenc-ing the effectiveness of antimicrobial systems. This article is a review on the materials usedfor delivering antimicrobial substances with a focus on their main mechanisms of actionand release when used for food contact applications. In this regard, the effects of antimi-crobial agents on packaging properties will be discussed. Many challenges, including thecontrolled release of antimicrobial agents and the development of active packaging mate-rials (mainly bio-based materials) with adequate barrier properties, transparency, tensilestrength and other characteristics to meet the requirements of food protection and foodsafety, still remain to be solved in these new approaches to antimicrobial active packaging

Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of heart failure: A systematic review of systematic reviews

Introduction: This article is an attempt to provide an overview of systematic reviews to determine the efficacy of CQ10 supplementation in the treatment of patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Method and material: All reviews were identified through a systematic search of the following databases: Cochrane, DARE, Ovid, EMBASE, ISI Web of Knowledge, and PubMed. Check references studies and the quality of the studies was assessed by means of AMSTTAR. No meta-analyses were performed due to the heterogeneity of studies. Result: Extracted data for Seven systematic reviews for primary outcomes, net changes in cardiac output, cardiac index, New York Heart Association functional classification, improved survival, based on existing evidence, there is a case for use of CoQ10 as an adjunctive therapy in congestive heart failure, especially in those patients unable to tolerate mainstream medical therapies. Conclusion: Evidence suggests that the CoQ10 supplement may be a useful tool for managing patients with heart failure. © 201