Setting Reading Goals and the Ultimate Achievement of Persian EFL Learners in a Computer-Mediated Environment

This study aimed at investigating the effects of reading goals on L2 reading comprehension in a computer- mediated environment when reading is self-paced by the learners and students are responsible for their own comprehension. Sixty participants (30 males & 30 females) in three groups of 20 were provided with one of three reading goals: read to comprehend the text, read to take a test, and read to teach the material to another student. Then, the participants were asked to read two passages on a computer screen. A computer program, written in C#.NET program, presented the text on the screen four lines at a time, and measured the amount of time students would spend on each page initially, how many times students re-read pages, and how much time students would spend re-reading pages. L2 learners’ comprehension and learning strategies were measured in three ways: recall of materials, time spent reading each page of the text and time spent re-reading pages, and the number of times pages were re-read. Finally, after one month from the first test a posttest was administered to determine which group could remember materials better. The results revealed that recall of materials was significantly greater for the teaching-goal group than the other two groups in both first and second tests. Time spent re-reading was significantly greater for the teaching-goal group as well. These findings suggest that reading goals do have an effect on comprehension and recalling in a computer-mediated environment and students with a different reading goal performed differently while reading passages. This study proposed a way to reduce the burden of teaching on teachers and made the learners responsible for their study. Keywords: reading goals, computer-mediated reading environment, learning, immediate and delayed recall.

Teacher Role and Involvement in Curriculum Development and Mapping

In order for curriculum development to be effective and schools to be successful, teachers must be involved in the development process. An effective curriculum should reflect the philosophy, goals, objectives, learning experiences, instructional resources, and assessments that comprise a specific educational program (“Guide to curriculum development,” 2006). It can be subject specific or a generalized overview of expectation. It must be a usable tool to assists teachers in the development of individualized strategies and the methods and materials necessary for them to be successful. Keywords: curriculum development, teacher involvement, challenge in curriculum development DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-28-01 Publication date:October 31st 202

SELF-PACED READING AND THE ACHIEVEMENT OF PERSIAN EFL LEARNERS

Abstract: This study aimed at investigating the effects of reading goals on L2 reading comprehension in a computer-mediated environment when reading is self-paced by the learners and students are responsible for their own comprehension. Sixty participants (30 males 30 females) in three groups of 20 were involved. A computer program, written in C#.NET program, presented the text on the screen four lines at a time, and measured the amount of time students would spend on each page initially, how many times students re-read pages, and how much time students would spend re-reading pages. L2 learners’ comprehension and learning strategies were measured in three ways: recall of materials, time spent reading each page of the text and time spent re-reading pages, and the number of times pages were re-read. Finally, after one month from the first test a posttest was administered to determine which group could remember materials better. The results revealed that recall of materials was significantly greater for the teaching-goal group than the other two groups in both first and second tests. Time spent re-reading was significantly greater for the teaching-goal group as well. These findings suggest that reading goals do have an effect on comprehension and recalling in a computer-mediated environment and students with a different reading goal performed differently while reading passages. Keywords: reading goals, computer-mediated reading environment, learning, immediate and delayed recall

Lactation performance and serum biochemistry of dairy cows fed supplemental chromium in the transition period

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplemental chromium on performance and blood serum biochemistry of dairy cows. Thus, 20 multiparous Holstein cows (parity 3) were equally divided into two groups, group one (control), which received no chromium supplementation and group two (treatment) which received 5 g/day chromium methionine from week 5 prior to parturition until 12 weeks thereafter. Milk production and milk composition were evaluated on 4, 8 and 12 weeks after parturition. Serum biochemistry concentrations (serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, and cortisol and insulin concentration) and blood hematology (red blood cell, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration and percentage neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, basophiles, eosinophils and ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes) were measured on 2 and 5 weeks prior to parturition and 1 and 4 weeks thereafter. Results indicate that milk production was significantly affected by chromium-methionine supplementation during the entire period (P<0.01) but no significant effect on milk composition was found. Supplemental chromium had no significant effect on serum glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and insulin concentration and blood hematology parameters (P<0.05). However, chromium supplementation tended to increase significantly, serum total protein concentration and decrease cortisol concentration (P<0.05). The results of this experiment showed that chromium methionine supplementation in multiparous dairy cows diet may improve their milk yield in transition period.Key words: Dairy cow, transition period, chromium-methionine, milk yield, serum biochemistry

Effects of supplemental microbial phytase enzyme on performance and phytate phosphorus digestibility of a corn-wheat-soybean meal diet in broiler chicks

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of supplemental phytase in a corn-wheatsoybean meal basal diet on phosphorus (P) digestibility and performance of broiler chicks. 378 one-day old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to 3×3 factorial arrangements with three levels of phytase enzyme (0, 500 and 1000 FTU/kg) and three levels of non-phytate P (100, 80 and 60% of NRC requirements). Broiler chicks received experimental diets from 7 to 49 days of age. Phytase significantly (P < 0.05) improved body weight gain and feed intake. Tibial ash and P contents increased significantly by phytase supplementation. Ileal P digestibility increased and P excretion reduced by added phytase. The greatest response due to supplemental phytase regarding P digestibility and utilization was obtained at the lowest dietary non-phytate P (NPP) level (60% of NRC requirements). Difference between various levels of added phytase (500 and 1000 FTU/kg) regarding P excretion and utilization was not significant. The interactions between supplemental phytase and dietary NPP for P utilization, tibial ash and P contents were significant (P < 0.05). The results indicate that, supplemental microbial phytase (500 FTU/kg of diet) added to diet containing NPP lower than NRC requirements (60%) can improve growth performance, tibial ash and phytate P utilization in broiler chickens.Key words: Broiler, phytase, phosphorus digestibility, growth performance, tibia

Performance, immunity, serum biochemical and hematological parameters in broiler chicks fed dietary thyme as alternative for an antibiotic growth promoter

A research study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary inclusion of thyme powder as an antibiotic growth promoter substitution on performance, immune responses, hematological and biochemical parameters in broiler chicks. In this study, 192 day old chicks (Ross 308) were allocated to four treatments with four replicates based on a completely randomized design. Dietary treatments included control, antibiotic (flavophospholipol), and 5 and 10 g/kg thyme powder. Supplementing the diet with antibiotic and 5 g/kg thyme resulted in a significant increase in body weight (P<0.05). Feed intake of broilers was not markedly influenced by treatments but birds fed diets containing antibiotic had the lowest FCR (P<0.05). None of the immune related parameters tested differed significantly among experimental treatments (P>0.05). Thyme powder at 10 g/kg level significantly (P<0.05) increased HDL-cholesterol concentration but protein, albumin, triglyceride, total and LDL cholesterol concentrations were not influenced. Treatments also failed to induce any statistical impacts on hematological parameters of broilers including red and white blood cell count, hemoglobin and hematocrit values. The obtained results suggest that supplementing broilers’ diet with 5 g/kg thyme can indicate favorable influences of antibiotic growth promoter on performance without any detrimental impacts on immune responses and blood parameters.Key words: Broiler, thyme, growth performance, immunity, serum biochemistry, hematology

Reproductive performance by dairy cows fed supplemental chromium-methionine (Cr-Met) in transition period

This study was conducted to study the effect of supplemental chromium on reproductive performance of dairy cows. Thus, forty multiparous Holstein cows (parity 3) were allocated to two treatments and 20 replicates in a completely randomized design. In this study, treatments consisted of: control group, which received no chromium supplementation and treatment group, which received 6 g/day chromium from chromium  methionine. The cows allocated to this experiment from week 3 prior to parturition until 9 weeks thereafter.  Reproduction parameters consisted of: insemination index and numbers of open days, clinical metabolic  disorders which include acidosis, milk fever, retained placenta and displaced abomasums, and also clinical  puerperal complications consisting of: mastitis, endometritis and ovarian cysts were determined. Results  indicate that Cr supplementation significantly causes decrease in the numbers of open days (p < 0.05). Clinical metabolic disorders and clinical puerperal complications were not affected by chromium methionine  supplementation. The results of this experiment showed that chromium methionine supplementation in  multiparous dairy cows diet may improve their reproductive performance in transition period.Key words: Dairy cow, Chromium methionine, reproductive performance

Conceptual Design of Solid-State Li-Battery for Urban Air Mobility

The negative impact of internal combustion engines on the environment is a major concern in metropolitan areas due to the continued rapid growth and high overall level in the number of vehicles, population, and traffic congestion. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft promises a new era for urban regional transportation and air mobility to address the challenges mentioned above. Nonetheless, providing electrical energy storage systems, like batteries, is one of the key issues with such aircraft. Here, the non-flammable technology of all-solid-state Li batteries with high theoretical gravimetric energy is an attractive option. Modelling allows for a knowledge-driven assessment of the potential of this technology. We here used a combination of a pseudo-2-dimensional cell model with a microstructure surrogate model approach to acquire a better understanding of the effect of the cathode microstructure on the internal process limitations. This model is incorporated into a global optimisation algorithm to predict optimum battery size with respect to the dynamic load demand of eVTOL. When carbon black and active materials are premixed, the battery performs better than when solid electrolyte and active materials are premixed, particularly for low amounts of carbon black in the cathode combination, i.e., 5%. Further, results indicate that future electrification of transportation powertrains would necessitate optimising the composition and distribution of electrode components to fulfil the high demands for power and energy density. By enhancing transport through the microstructure and improving the material\u27s intrinsic conductivity, it is possible to significantly increase the effective diffusivity and conductivity of ASSB, and hence the mission range

Analysis of Superheroes in Shahnameh (Based on Semantic Contradictions in the Structures of the Gilbert-era Imagination System)

In Shahnameh, there are superheroes who are separated from the human context of the narratives and are placed on higher levels, but their common features and selfishness connect them to each other and to the body of the narrative. In this research, the structures of Gilbert Doran's imagination system have been used to identify Shahnameh superheroes. The structure of the imagination of the age is the "fundamental" binaries, opposite poles, and "contradictory semantic" pairs, and meaning arises from the reciprocal relationship of these pairs. Distinctions create semantic meanings, and poles are defined by their opposites. In Shahnameh, understanding the concept of "self" and "other" causes a struggle to take possession of the "object of value" in which the concept of enemy and superhero is formed. According to this system, Divan in one body, Dahhak, and Afrasiab (who represented the Turan army against Iran from being a crown prince in the time of Nozer until he was killed) are considered enemies of Iranians and in this framework, Fereydon, Rostam, and Key Khosrow, who have the main role and duty in confronting and defeating the opposite pole and Ahura's victory over Ahriman, are considered superheroes. All of Iran's enemies, by virtue of their characteristics, are essentially symbolic of drought and barrenness, and superheroes are solar figures who must bring rain and fertility back to Iran after victory

Efficiency of different levels of Satureja hortensis L. (Savory) in comparison with an antibiotic growth promoter on performance, carcass traits, immune responses and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens

This study was conducted to examine the effects of different levels of Satureja hortensis L. (Savory) in comparison with an antibiotic growth promoter (flavophospholipol) on performance, carcass characteristics, immune responses and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chicks. In this study, 240 one-day-old mixed sex broiler chicks (Ross 308) were weighed and randomly allocated to the 4 treatment groups, each with 4 replicates and with 15 broilers in each replicate. The dietary treatments consisted of the basal diet (control), antibiotic group receiving 4.5 mg/kg flavophospholipol, and 5 and 10 g/kg savory powder added to the basal diet. Performance parameters were measured in the growth periods. At day 42, two birds per replicate were slaughtered for the determination of carcass traits. Antibody titers against newcastle, influenza viruses and sheep red blood cell (SRBC) were determined. At day 42, biochemical parameters such as albumin, protein, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) of cholesterol were determined. The results show that supplementing 5 g/kg savory improved body weight of broilers at days 14, 28 and 42 but differences did not show statistical significance. Feed intake and feed conversion ratio (FCR) index were not markedly affected by dietary treatments. Internal organ weights and carcass characteristics were not significantly influenced by the dietary treatments at day 42. The use of 5 g/kg savory powder led to the highest antibody titers against SRBC as compared to other groups (P<0.05). The serum biochemical parameters were not affected by dietary treatments. The results suggest that dietary inclusion of 5 g/kg savory can be applied as alternatives to in-feed antibiotics for broiler diets.Key words: Broiler, growth performance, immunity, Satureja hortensis L., biochemical parameters