The Movement of EFL learning Approaches toward Identity Constructs: A Gradual Development or a Social Turn

This article aimed to examine the theoretical assumptions underlying the tendencies of current studies toward identity constructs. Attempt was made to see whether or not the identity studies in language teaching have come into existence because of a major movement called social turn. To do so, a study on the relationship between EFL learning and the construction of national identity among Iranian university students residing in Tehran was conducted. Anattempt was also made to examine if any associations exist between students' major of study and national identity. The findings are expected to help educators gain insight into the influential role of social factors including national identity in learning a foreign language and the other way around. To compare the learners' performances on a national identity questionnaire, correlation analyses, independent samples t-tests, and a one-way ANOVA were run. The results indicated some differences in the measures of national identity between beginners and more advanced learners. Moreover, participants performed differently on national identity as far as their study majors were concerned. The results of the present study have implications for education professionals especially materials developers

The Movement of EFL learning Approaches toward Identity Constructs: A Gradual Development or a Social Turn

This article aimed to examine the theoretical assumptions underlying the tendencies of current studies toward identity constructs. Attempt was made to see whether or not the identity studies in language teaching have come into existence because of a major movement called social turn. To do so, a study on the relationship between EFL learning and the construction of national identity among Iranian university students residing in Tehran was conducted. Anattempt was also made to examine if any associations exist between students' major of study and national identity. The findings are expected to help educators gain insight into the influential role of social factors including national identity in learning a foreign language and the other way around. To compare the learners' performances on a national identity questionnaire, correlation analyses, independent samples t-tests, and a one-way ANOVA were run. The results indicated some differences in the measures of national identity between beginners and more advanced learners. Moreover, participants performed differently on national identity as far as their study majors were concerned. The results of the present study have implications for education professionals especially materials developers

Developing a numerical inverse-theory-based extraction of orientation-dependent relaxation rates from partially- relaxed spectra

Second-rank tensor interactions, such as quadrupolar interactions between the spin- 1 deuterium nuclei and the electric field gradients created by chemical bonds, are affected by rapid random molecular motions that modulate the orientation of the molecule with respect to the external magnetic field. In biological and model membrane systems, where a distribution of dynamically averaged anisotropies (quadrupolar splittings, chemical shift anisotropies, etc.) is present and where, in addition, various parts of the sample may undergo a partial magnetic alignment, the numerical analysis of the resulting Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectra is a mathematically ill-posed problem. However, numerical methods (de-Pakeing, Tikhonov regularization) exist that allow for a simultaneous determination of both the anisotropy and orientational distributions. An additional complication arises when relaxation is taken into account. This work presents a method of obtaining the orientation dependence of the relaxation rates that can be used for the analysis of the molecular motions on a broad range of time scales. An arbitrary set of exponential decay rates is described by a three-term truncated Legendre polynomial expansion in the orientation dependence, as appropriate for a second-rank tensor interaction, and a linear approximation to the individual decay rates is made. Thus a severe numerical instability caused by the presence of noise in the experimental data is avoided. At the same time, enough flexibility in the inversion algorithm is retained to achieve a meaningful mapping from raw experimental data to a set of intermediate, model-fre

The Mediating Role of Cognitive Flexibility in Relation with Personality Traits and Driving Behavior

Introduction: Driving behavior is a multifactor and high-risk behavior that was affected by severalfactors such as, individual, social and situational. Therefore, the present research aimed to study themediating role of cognitive flexibility on the relationship between personality traits and drivingbehavior.Method: Method was descriptive- correlation SEM. The statistical population comprised of all themale drivers of intercity buses in Tehran terminals. 210 participants were selected by multi clustersampling and completed the questionnaires of Manchester Driving Behavior (MDBQ), NEO FiveFactor (NEO-FFI) and Cognitive Flexibility (CFI). Data analyzed using structural equationmodeling (SEM) and the soft wares of Amos-21 and SPSS-19.Result: The results showed that the personality traits of neuroticism, agreeableness andconscientiousness have a direct effect on high-risk driving behaviors. Also, personality traits ofneuroticism, extroversion, and conscientiousness have an indirect effect on high-risk drivingbehaviors through cognitive flexibility (p<. 05).Conclusion: Cognitive flexibility mediates on the relationship of personality traits of neuroticism,extroversion and conscientiousness with high-risk driving behaviors. Therefore, according to theeffect of human factors in high-risk driving behaviors was suggested to develop a psychoeducational package for promoting safe driving behaviors in drivers

Detailed examination of a packet collision model for Bluetooth Low Energy advertising mode

The aim of this paper is to investigate the amount of energy that is required to successfully transmit information inside the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertising packets. There are applications that require more than one BLE node to simultaneously transmit data. The BLE protocol utilizes a specific communication method termed advertising mode to perform unidirectional broadcasts of data from the advertising devices. However, with an increased number of BLE devices advertising simultaneously, there will be inevitable packet collisions from the advertising devices. This results in a waste of energy, specifically in low-power applications where lower consumption is desirable to minimize the need for battery replacements. This paper examines a packet collision model for the BLE advertising mode with the results validated using experimental data. Our analysis shows that when the throughput of the BLE network starts to fall due to an increase in the number of packet collisions, the energy consumption of the BLE nodes increase exponentially with respect to the number of nodes

Energy-efficient hybrid system for Wireless Body Area Network Applications

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) consist of a number of miniaturized wearable or implanted sensor nodes that are employed to monitor vital parameters of a patient over long duration of time. These sensors capture physiological data and wirelessly transfer the collected data to a local base station in order to be further processed. Almost all of these body sensors are expected to have low data-rate and to run on a battery. Since recharging or replacing the battery is not a simple task specifically in the case of implanted devices such as pacemakers, extending the lifetime of sensor nodes in WBANs is one of the greatest challenges. To achieve this goal, WBAN systems employ low-power communication transceivers and low duty cycle Medium Access Control (MAC) protocols. Although, currently used MAC protocols are able to reduce the energy consumption of devices for transmission and reception, yet they are still unable to offer an ultimate energy self-sustaining solution for low-power MAC protocols. This paper proposes to utilize energy harvesting technologies in low-power MAC protocols. This novel approach can further reduce energy consumption of devices in WBAN systems

Effectiveness of Object Relation Approach on Ego Strength and Communicational Patterns among Married Women with Breast Cancer

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of object relation approach on ego strength and communicational patterns among married women with breast cancer.  Method: The present experimental study included pre-test, post-test with the control group design. The statistical population of this study consisted of all 40-60 years old women with breast cancer in Tabriz. Thirty people were selected by sampling method and were randomly placed in both experimental and control groups. The Instruments used in this study were psychological inventory of ego strength (PIES) and Christensen & Suhhaway communicational patterns questionnaire (CPQ). The experimental group received object relations training for six 90-minutes sessions, one session in a week. Analysis of the data was done using descriptive and inferential tests such as covariance analysis was conducted. Results: The findings showed that difference between two groups of the experimental and control one was significant in terms of ego strength (p<0.001) and mutual constructive patterns (p<0.001) . Conclusion: Based on the results, the object relation approach has a significant impact on the modulation of the ego's strength, by modifying and improving the defense mechanisms of the patients. Also this approach improves the communication patterns of women with breast cancer. They were able to communicate more mature with the spouse and family thus they were able to improve their communication patterns. Object relation approach can be used in similar cases.  Declaration of Interest: None

The Mediating Role of Coping Strategies in Relation with Psychological Needs and Internet Addiction among College Student

Introduction: Internet addiction has negative consequences, including physical, psychological, social and educational problems. The current research intended to assess the mediation role of coping strategies in relation with psychological needs and internet addiction.Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed 375 students (129 male, 244 female) from Karaj Islamic Azad University in 2018 selected by stratified sampling. Data collected by self-report method. Research instruments were internet addiction test, satisfaction of psychological needs questionnaire and coping response scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS v.19 and using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficients and Concurrent hierarchical Regression analysis.Results: Pearson correlation coefficients showed negative correlations between autonomy, relatedness, competence and internet addiction (P<0.01). There is negative correlation between autonomy, relatedness, competence and maladaptive coping strategy (P<0.01) and positive correlation between maladaptive coping and internet addiction (P<0.01). Also, Hierarchical regression analysis by Baron and Kenny method showed that maladaptive coping is mediator between and satisfaction of psychological needs and internet addiction.Conclusion: in general, this results indicate that high level of satisfaction of psychological needs are associated with low level of internet addiction and unsatisfied of psychological needs has positive impact in maladaptive coping strategy, subsequently maladaptive coping increases internet addiction.Declaration interest: None.

EFL Learning, EFL Motivation Types, and National Identity: In Conflict or in Coalition

The present study was aimed at examining concerns about the social effects of EFL learning, a challenging area of research which has not been discussed sufficiently. It tried to investigate the relationship between EFL learning and national identity. In addition, attempt was made to find a relationship between language motivation types and national identity. Furthermore, the role of two demographic variables, gender and age was examined. To this end, a sample consisting of 350 undergraduates studying at Allameh Tabataba'i University in Tehran took part in the study. A questionnaire on national identity and another one on language motivation types followed by an interview were the instruments used. The questionnaires had already been developed. However, there were some major modifications for the former which consisted of 30 items measuring national identity for all participants. The latter contained 42 items measuring language motivation types for only EFL learners. The Regression analysis,  independent samples t-tests and a one-way ANOVA were run. The results revealed that claims over the harmful social effects of EFL learning were not arguably significant and it was found that among the eight language motivation types, going abroad and social responsibility were correlated with national identity. Furthermore, gender and age indicated significant differences among the participants' tendencies. The findings indicated that the social concerns about EFL learning are too pessimistic. So, materials developers, syllabus designers and teachers might consider the potentiality of some social elementsand demographic variables for the development of EFL learning

Comparison of Self-efficacy, Test Anxiety and Competitiveness between Students of Top Private Schools and Public Schools

This study compared the self-efficacy, test anxiety and competitiveness in top private1 and public2 high schools students by using Ex Post FactoResearch. The sample population consisted of 338 second grade math and physics high school students (172 males and 166 females) in Tehran, who were selected through Multi-stage cluster sampling.To measure the self-efficacy, it was used, Self-efficacy questionnaire for children (Muris, 2001), to measurethe test anxiety, it was used, Test anxiety inventory (Tai, 1992) and to measure the competitiveness it was used, Winning, mastery and performance questionnaire (Franken, 1994).The results showed that general self-efficacy, test anxiety and competitiveness were higher in TPS students (emotional and academic self-efficacy were higher and there was no significant difference for social self-efficacy). Compare to boys and girls, in terms of competitiveness and self-efficacy; boys earn higher scores and in test anxiety girls had higher grades (in terms of academic and social self-efficacy, there were no significant differences between them but in emotional self-efficacy boys were at a higher level). It can be said that: both strategies and management practices were efficient in self-efficacy, test anxiety and competitiveness of students and also the students are attracted to these schools that have these features more. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p274