The Effects of Using English Captions on Iranian Intermediate EFL Students Learning of Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are regularly used in spoken English. Because of the difficulties experienced by Iranian EFL students in learning phrasal verbs (Khatib & Ghannadi, 2011), the present study intended to examine the effects of using English captions on Iranian EFL learners’ learning of phrasal verbs in terms of recognition and production. A language proficiency test was managed to 68 EFL learners, among whom 60 intermediate learners were chosen as the participants of the study. They were randomly assigned into two groups: control group and experimental group. Prior to giving any instruction, the researcher administered a pre-test. Then, students in the experimental group watched video clip with captions whereas learners in the control group received video clips without captions. To compare improvement between and within each group t-test analyses were conducted. The result of the study indicated that the learners in the experimental group outperformed those of control group in their writing performance. So, watching English captioned movies affects student’s phrasal verb knowledge

Competition Indices of Safflower and Faba Bean Intercrops as Affected by Fertilizers

Cropping systems of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) with faba bean (Vicia faba L.) under different fertility were compared with sole cropping of each crop during 2015 and 2016 at the Research Farm of Tabriz University in Iran. The treatments were cropping systems (safflower and faba bean sole croppings, intercropping systems of safflower and faba bean with ratios of 1:1 and 2:1), and nutrient levels (100% chemical fertilizers, 60%, 30% chemical + biofertilizers and no fertilizer). A factorial set of treatments based on a randomized complete block design replicated three times was used. Cropping system and fertility effects were significant for yield and yield components of each crop. Yield and yield components were increased with the integrated use of 60% chemical plus biofertilizers for both years, while seed yield was reduced by intercropping. Maximum land equivalent ratio (LER), relative value total (RVT), system productivity index (SPI) and monetary advantage index (MAI) were achieved in nutritive level of 60% chemical plus biofertilizers as intercropped plants in ratio of 1:1 for both years. The total actual yield loss (AYL) values were positive and greater than zero in all mixtures, indicating an advantage from intercropping over sole crops. Intercropped safflower had a higher relative crowding coefficient (RCC) than intercropped faba bean, indicating that safflower was more competitive than faba bean in intercropping systems. From this study, it is inferred that intercropping (safflower and faba bean) with integrated use of the reduced chemical and biofertilizers may give better overall yield and income than sole cropping of each crop species

The current economics of fisheries (fishery and aquaculture) in Guilan, Mazandaran and Golestan provinces

Regarding the natural potential and socio-economic advantages of aquaculture development, extension of aquaculture has been raised as one of the priorities of the second to fifth national programs of the Islamic Republic of Ira in the fisheries sector in the past ten years. Proliferation and aquaculture development also plays an important role in increasing employment, exportation, and rural development in rural areas. Although the physical capacities of aquaculture development may be clear, it is necessary to analyze the profitability of farmers and fish market as well. In recent years, reproduction and breeding of new species, in order to increase the income of farmers, have been put on the agenda of the Fisheries Research Institute. In order to increase the maximum utilization of production capacity and increase the warm water pond valume per unit area of land, three species of Indian carp has been imported. The main problems of aquaculture economical research include inadequate information and lack of the collaboration between different experts and aquaculture farmers. The objective of the research was to survey of economical aspects for culturing the imported Indian carp. The fingerlings of the imported species were transferred to the target centers, Southern aquaculture Research institute and Inland waters Aquaculture Research institute. The experiment was carried out as three treatments in triplicates for 9 months. To determine the cost of production and the share of the cost of production factors for farmed fish carp, including the cost of labor, cost of fingerlings, feed and fertilizer costs, maintenance costs, energy costs, depreciation of structures, equipment and buildings for administrative and other costs; past experiences, information and other resources and external experiences questionnaire was employed

Comparing Effect of Safranal and Diazepam in Reducing Preoperative Anxiety and Improving Vital Symptoms

Aim: Preoperative anxiety is an unpleasant manner created by fear of surgery. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of diazepam pill with Safranal in reducing preoperative anxiety and improving vital symptoms. Material and Methods: In this double blind randomized clinical trial, 54 patients who were candidates of urology surgery (varicocele) in 15th Khordad Hospital, Gonabad, Iran, were selected by purposive sampling method, using a randomized numbers table; they were divided into intervention (n=29) and control group (n=25). The patients in intervention group received 15mg Safranal and the patients in control group received 5mg oral diazepam 3 hours before surgery. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire was completed by the patients prior to the intervention and just at the entrance to the surgery room, and the vital symptoms of the patient were evaluated. The data were analyzed by SPSS 11.5 software, using of Chi-square and independent sample t-test. Findings: After intervention, the trait anxiety in the Safranal group was significantly lower than diazepam group (p=0.007) and before the intervention (p=0.002). Also, diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly in the Safranal group compared with the diazepam group (p=0.049). Conclusion: Saffranal consumption before surgery is more effective than diazepam consumption in reducing the trait anxiety, but it does not affect state anxiety. Also, compared to diazepam, Saffranal consumption leads to a more reduction in diastolic blood pressure, while it does not affect systolic blood pressure and heart rate

Identification of structural features of condensed tannins that affect protein aggregation

A diverse panel of condensed tannins was used to resolve the confounding effects of size and subunit composition seen previously in tannin-protein interactions. Turbidimetry revealed that size in terms of mean degree of polymerisation (mDP) or average molecular weight (amw) was the most important tannin parameter. The smallest tannin with the relatively largest effect on protein aggregation had an mDP of ~7. The average size was significantly correlated with aggregation of bovine serum albumin, BSA (mDP: r=-0.916; amw: r=-0.925; p<0.01; df=27), and gelatin (mDP: r=-0.961; amw: r=-0.981; p<0.01; df=12). The procyanidin/prodelphinidin and cis-/trans-flavan-3-ol ratios gave no significant correlations. Tryptophan fluorescence quenching indicated that procyanidins and cis-flavan-3-ol units contributed most to the tannin interactions on the BSA surface and in the hydrophobic binding pocket (r=0.677; p<0.05; df=9 and r=0.887; p<0.01; df=9, respectively). Circular dichroism revealed that higher proportions of prodelphinidins decreased the apparent α-helix content (r=-0.941; p<0.01; df=5) and increased the apparent β-sheet content (r=0.916; p<0.05; df=5) of BSA

The analysis of market structure and export comparative advantages for grapes & apples in Iran and the rest of the world (1990-2008)

Since the market structure and comparative advantages of exportable products affect economic growth & foreign exchange income of Iran, so, the analysis of factors affecting comparative advantages indices are very important. So, by using the indices such as RCA, RSCA, CR, HHI & the estimation of linear regression, we study the world market structure and comparative advantages of export of the most important countries & also the factors affecting export comparative advantages of two products, grapes & apple, of Iran.           The structure of the world market for these two products are monopolistic. But the concentration index for the market of apple is more than grapes. Its trend in this period was decreasing which shows the world market is becoming more competitive.           The estimation of the linear regression shows that the factors such as the world production (-), the export price for Iranian products (+), world import price of these products (-), concentration index (-) & the average of comparative advantage index of Iran competitors (-) affect the comparative advantage of these two Iranian products. To improve the Iranian export comparative advantage for these two products, we should implement appropriate export strategy and policies

Directors duties and liabilities in corporate insolvency in England and the US.

This thesis is an examination of directors duties and liabilities in the event of "0, insolvency in England including Wales and the US. The main aim of the study is to compare the two legal systems' stance towards directors when their company is in financial depression or technically insolvent. The thesis consists of ten chapters. The first chapter is a general introduction which draws a picture of the structure and scope of the study. Chapter two and six consider directors duties in general and in the event of corporate financial depression in England and the US respectively. Chapter three and seven examine the liabilities of directors of an insolvent company for breach of their duties in those two legal systems. In chapter four, disqualification of corporate directors in English law is studied. Chapters five and eight are an attempt to answer the question how directors of an English or American ailing company, accordingly, are provided with appropriate protection against the many liability provisions imposed by common law or statutes. In chapter nine, the unique device of the business judgment rule and its function in the US is reviewed. Finally, in chapter ten a detailed comparative study of the two laws concerned is carried out to analyse the solutions of each law for the questions and uncertainties in this area of the law

The Role of Fair and Equitable Treatment in the Settlement of Foreign Investment Disputes: With Particular Emphasis on Social Responsibility of Transnational Corporations

Like numerous developing countries, Iran strives to attract foreign investment in order to develop its economy. In recent years, Iran concluded many bilateral investment treaties (BIT) with a number of countries. The standard of fair and equitable treatment (FET) is one of the most significant standards, which has frequently been considered in investment arbitration. By referring to this standard, foreign investors seek protection from the host-State in relation to legal stability and non-discrimination. The focus of the BITs and investment arbitration jurisprudence has mainly been on obligations of the host-State. There has been little discussion as to obligations of investors. This article examines the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR), in transnational corporations, in the light of the FET. Although transnational corporation responsibility is substantially based on soft law and volunteer performance, a legal basis could be adopted by considering the FET. The existence of the FET in the vast majority of BITs requires transnational corporations to comply with a number of principles in the host-State, such as the right of development, labour, environment, competition and human rights laws