The Effect of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Program on Learning Vocabulary among EFL Left and Right Hemispheric Dominant Learners

Vocabulary is a core component of language proficiency, and provides much of the basis for how well learners speak, listen, read, and write. Without  an extensive vocabulary and strategies  for acquiring new vocabulary, learners often achieve less than their potential and may be discouraged from making use  of  language learning  opportunities around them  such  as  listening  to  the radio, listening to native  speakers,  using  the  language  in  different  contexts,  reading  or  watching  television. CALL refers to the use of computer in the teaching and learning of a second or foreign language. The field of CALL includes the use of a computer in the language process. CALL programs aims to teach students in aspects of the language learning process via the medium of computers. Unfortunately, in Iran, textbook writers and syllabus designers have paid less attention to the role played by the CALL in classrooms. Teaching is not supplemented with modern technologies, specially CALL in teaching English. The use of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in the field of education has increased remarkably in recent years due to the modern changes in language software. However, CALL is not widely employed in the field of second/foreign (L2) language learning in Iran.  Interested in the application of CALL,  this  study  examines  two  methods  of  vocabulary  teaching/learning  (CALL-based  versus  non-CALL based). For this purpose, 38 male and 48 female elementary Iranian EFL learners participate in the study. They are randomly assigned into CALL-users   and non-CALL users and posttest control group design is employed.  To  collect data,  a proficiency  test will be used to homogenize the participants and  a multiple-choice vocabulary test  will be  used  as  posttests  to  find  out  the  effectiveness  of  the  methods. Finally, The results of  t-tests and the  pedagogical implications  of  this  study  for  L2  teachers  and learners will be presented

Identification and evaluation of factors influencing outsourcing of activities: A case study of gas company of Mazandaran Province

Outsourcing as a simple and economic executive instrument is increasingly being used by interested managers of business and industrial organizations. But, they encounter some conceptual problems in this process. Unfortunately, studies on service outsourcing are scarce while there is significant research on using outsourcing for hard product activities. Main goal of present study is to investigate and prioritize factors influencing outsourcing of activities. Six hypotheses are proposed. Main variables consist of quality promotion, cost, specialization, importance of activities and outsourcing. Present research is a descriptive-survey-causal and applied study. Gas Company of Mazandaran Province and Suburb was selected as statistical population. Data collected using questionnaires and research hypotheses were analyzed using structural equation model and LISREL software. Finally, some recommendations were provided based on research hypotheses

Identification and evaluation of factors influencing outsourcing of activities: A case study of gas company of Mazandaran Province

Outsourcing as a simple and economic executive instrument is increasingly being used by interested managers of business and industrial organizations. But, they encounter some conceptual problems in this process. Unfortunately, studies on service outsourcing are scarce while there is significant research on using outsourcing for hard product activities. Main goal of present study is to investigate and prioritize factors influencing outsourcing of activities. Six hypotheses are proposed. Main variables consist of quality promotion, cost, specialization, importance of activities and outsourcing. Present research is a descriptive-survey-causal and applied study. Gas Company of Mazandaran Province and Suburb was selected as statistical population. Data collected using questionnaires and research hypotheses were analyzed using structural equation model and LISREL software. Finally, some recommendations were provided based on research hypotheses

Identification and evaluation of factors influencing outsourcing of activities: A case study of gas company of Mazandaran Province

Outsourcing as a simple and economic executive instrument is increasingly being used by interested managers of business and industrial organizations. But, they encounter some conceptual problems in this process. Unfortunately, studies on service outsourcing are scarce while there is significant research on using outsourcing for hard product activities. Main goal of present study is to investigate and prioritize factors influencing outsourcing of activities. Six hypotheses are proposed. Main variables consist of quality promotion, cost, specialization, importance of activities and outsourcing. Present research is a descriptive-survey-causal and applied study. Gas Company of Mazandaran Province and Suburb was selected as statistical population. Data collected using questionnaires and research hypotheses were analyzed using structural equation model and LISREL software. Finally, some recommendations were provided based on research hypotheses

The Effect of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) Program on Learning Vocabulary among EFL Left and Right Hemispheric Dominant Learners

Vocabulary is a core component of language proficiency, and provides much of the basis for how well learners speak, listen, read, and write. Without  an extensive vocabulary and strategies  for acquiring new vocabulary, learners often achieve less than their potential and may be discouraged from making use  of  language learning  opportunities around them  such  as  listening  to  the radio, listening to native  speakers,  using  the  language  in  different  contexts,  reading  or  watching  television. CALL refers to the use of computer in the teaching and learning of a second or foreign language. The field of CALL includes the use of a computer in the language process. CALL programs aims to teach students in aspects of the language learning process via the medium of computers. Unfortunately, in Iran, textbook writers and syllabus designers have paid less attention to the role played by the CALL in classrooms. Teaching is not supplemented with modern technologies, specially CALL in teaching English. The use of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) in the field of education has increased remarkably in recent years due to the modern changes in language software. However, CALL is not widely employed in the field of second/foreign (L2) language learning in Iran.  Interested in the application of CALL,  this  study  examines  two  methods  of  vocabulary  teaching/learning  (CALL-based  versus  non-CALL based). For this purpose, 38 male and 48 female elementary Iranian EFL learners participate in the study. They are randomly assigned into CALL-users   and non-CALL users and posttest control group design is employed.  To  collect data,  a proficiency  test will be used to homogenize the participants and  a multiple-choice vocabulary test  will be  used  as  posttests  to  find  out  the  effectiveness  of  the  methods. Finally, The results of  t-tests and the  pedagogical implications  of  this  study  for  L2  teachers  and learners will be presented

Combating Antimicrobial Resistance With New-To-Nature Lanthipeptides Created by Genetic Code Expansion

Due to the rapid emergence of multi-resistant bacterial strains in recent decades, the commercially available effective antibiotics are becoming increasingly limited. On the other hand, widespread antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as the lantibiotic nisin has been used worldwide for more than 40 years without the appearance of significant bacterial resistance. Lantibiotics are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobials generated by posttranslational modifications. Their biotechnological production is of particular interest to redesign natural scaffolds improving their pharmaceutical properties, which has great potential for therapeutic use in human medicine and other areas. However, conventional protein engineering methods are limited to 20 canonical amino acids prescribed by the genetic code. Therefore, the expansion of the genetic code as the most advanced approach in Synthetic Biology allows the addition of new amino acid building blocks (non-canonical amino acids, ncAAs) during protein translation. We now have solid proof-of-principle evidence that bioexpression with these novel building blocks enabled lantibiotics with chemical properties transcending those produced by natural evolution. The unique scaffolds with novel structural and functional properties are the result of this bioengineering. Here we will critically examine and evaluate the use of the expanded genetic code and its alternatives in lantibiotics research over the last 7 years. We anticipate that Synthetic Biology, using engineered lantibiotics and even more complex scaffolds will be a promising tool to address an urgent problem of antibiotic resistance, especially in a class of multi-drug resistant microbes known as superbugs.EC/H2020/764591/EU/Synthetic Circuits for Robust Orthogonal Production/SynCro

The impact of transformational leadership on public service motivation

In this study, the impact of transformational leadership on dimensions of public service motivation has been investigated among employees of 78 branches of banks in Semnan Province in Iran. Based on random sampling method, 286 employees completed multi-dimensional questionnaire of leadership measuring leadership style and a reviewed version of Perry & Wise (1990) questionnaire of public service motivation. The analysis of correlation analysis using SPSS software showed that there is a relationship between elements of transformational leadership and 3 dimensions of commitment to public interest, compassion, and self-sacrifice. Among elements of transformational leadership, 2 elements of inspirational leadership and individualized consideration had a more significant relationship with dimensions of public service motivation. Based on multiple regression results, 52 percents of changes in indexes of public service motivation is predictable by the elements of transformational leadership

The impact of transformational leadership on public service motivation

In this study, the impact of transformational leadership on dimensions of public service motivation has been investigated among employees of 78 branches of banks in Semnan Province in Iran. Based on random sampling method, 286 employees completed multi-dimensional questionnaire of leadership measuring leadership style and a reviewed version of Perry & Wise (1990) questionnaire of public service motivation. The analysis of correlation analysis using SPSS software showed that there is a relationship between elements of transformational leadership and 3 dimensions of commitment to public interest, compassion, and self-sacrifice. Among elements of transformational leadership, 2 elements of inspirational leadership and individualized consideration had a more significant relationship with dimensions of public service motivation. Based on multiple regression results, 52 percents of changes in indexes of public service motivation is predictable by the elements of transformational leadership

The impact of transformational leadership on public service motivation

In this study, the impact of transformational leadership on dimensions of public service motivation has been investigated among employees of 78 branches of banks in Semnan Province in Iran. Based on random sampling method, 286 employees completed multi-dimensional questionnaire of leadership measuring leadership style and a reviewed version of Perry & Wise (1990) questionnaire of public service motivation. The analysis of correlation analysis using SPSS software showed that there is a relationship between elements of transformational leadership and 3 dimensions of commitment to public interest, compassion, and self-sacrifice. Among elements of transformational leadership, 2 elements of inspirational leadership and individualized consideration had a more significant relationship with dimensions of public service motivation. Based on multiple regression results, 52 percents of changes in indexes of public service motivation is predictable by the elements of transformational leadership

Targeted Codelivery of Prodigiosin and Simvastatin Using Smart BioMOF: Functionalization by Recombinant Anti-VEGFR1 scFv

Biological metal-organic frameworks (BioMOFs) are hybrid compounds in which metal nodes are linked to biocompatible organic ligands and have potential for medical application. Herein, we developed a novel BioMOF modified with an anti-VEGFR1 scFv antibody (D16F7 scFv). Our BioMOF is co-loaded with a combination of an anticancer compound and a lipid-lowering drug to simultaneously suppress the proliferation, growth rate and metastases of cancer cells in cell culture model system. In particular, Prodigiosin (PG) and Simvastatin (SIM) were co-loaded into the newly synthesized Ca-Gly BioMOF nanoparticles coated with maltose and functionalized with a recombinant maltose binding protein-scFv fragment of anti-VEGFR1 (Ca-Gly-Maltose-D16F7). The nanoformulation, termed PG + SIM-NP-D16F7, has been shown to have strong active targeting behavior towards VEGFR1-overexpresing cancer cells. Moreover, the co-delivery of PG and SIM not only effectively inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells, but also prevents their invasion and metastasis. The PG + SIM-NP-D16F7 nanocarrier exhibited stronger cytotoxic and anti-metastatic effects compared to mono-treatment of free drugs and drug-loaded nanoparticles. Smart co-delivery of PG and SIM on BioMOF nanoparticles had synergistic effects on growth inhibition and prevented cancer cell metastasis. The present nanoplatform can be introduced as a promising tool for chemotherapy compared with mono-treatment and/or non-targeted formulations