Comparative Effect of Presenting Vocabularies in Semantically Related and Unrelated Sets on Iranian EFL Learners’ short Term Retention

Teaching vocabulary in semantically related sets is common practice among EFL teachers. This research was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of teaching vocabulary items through related and unrelated set to elementary Iranian EFL students. It investigated two types of clustering, semantically-related sets, semantically-unrelated sets, and their effectiveness in Persian -speaking learner’s retrieval at the end of each session. To this end, an experimental approach using two groups of participants (i.e. experimental and control) was employed. The experimental group was taught using related vocabulary instructional method while the control group was taught using unrelated clustering method. Then they were asked to complete a recall matched post-test immediately after the study phase to measure the impact of both techniques on learning. In analyzing the data, the statistical techniques of ANCOVA and T-test were utilized. Results of this matching test showed that participants recalled more words from the unrelated list than from the semantically related list. And words from the semantically related list were the least to be recalled by all participants. So, the results manifested that, while both techniques successfully help the learners to acquire new words, presenting words in unrelated sets seems to be more effective, and this represented the preference of semantically unrelated clustering over instructing words in related sets during short period of time. Keywords: vocabulary; EFL; semantically related sets; semantically unrelated set

Ključna uloga faktora tumorske nekroze alfa (TNF-α) u kalifornijskih pastrva cijepljenih ozračenim trofontom parazita Ichthyophthirius multifiliis.

In this study, in order to characterize the immune response against Ichthyophthirius multifiliis (I. multifiliis) in the skin, liver, gills and head kidney of immunized rainbow trout, with two types of killed vaccines (γ-irradiation and formalin inactivation of trophont), the gene expression levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α1 and TNF-α2) were evaluated. The vaccinated fish showed significant protection against I. multifiliis 30 days after the second vaccination. We showed that the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α1, was expressed in rainbow trout after vaccination, not only in the skin but also in the head kidney and liver, whereas TNF-α2 expression was seen in the liver. Also, parasite-related changes in TNF-α1 expression could be detected only in the gills of fish that were exposed to live I. multifiliis trophonts during this experiment. Finally, according to previous reports and the current study, TNF-α1 could be involved in an immune mechanism that can control I. multifiliis infection in vaccinated rainbow trout.Istražen je imunosni odgovor u koži, jetri, škrgama i bubregu kalifornijskih pastrva cijepljenih dvjema vrstama inaktiviranih cjepiva pripravljenih od parazita Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Jedna je bilo pripravljena ozračivanjem trofonta γ-zrakama, a druga njegovim ubijanjem formalinom. Istražena je razina genske ekspresije proupalnih citokina odnosno faktora tumorske nekroze α (TNF-α1 i TNF-α2). Cijepljene ribe pokazivale su značajnu zaštitu protiv I. multifiliis 30 dana nakon drugog cijepljenja. Pokazalo se da je proupalni citokin TNF-α1 bio izražen u pastrva nakon cijepljenja ne samo u koži već i u bubregu i jetri, dok je ekspresija TNF-α2 bila dokazana samo u jetri. U ovom je pokusu također ustanovljeno da se promjene u ekspresiji TNF-α1 mogu dokazati samo u škrgama riba izloženima živim trofontima I. multifiliis. Na osnovi prijašnjih izvješća i ovog istraživanja može se zaključiti da bi TNF-α1 mogao biti upleten u imunosne mehanizme za kontrolu invazije vrstom I. multifiliis u cijepljenih kalifornijskih pastrva

Program Evaluation of the New English Textbook (Prospect 1) in the Iranian Ministry of Education

This study aimed at conducting a program evaluation of the newly developed textbook (Prospect 1) in the Iranian Ministry of education by applying the CIPP (context, input, process, and product) program evaluation model. To this end, the study was done in two different phases: in phase I, context, input, and process evaluation of the new textbook were conducted and the participants were 4 members of the textbook development team. In phase II, product evaluation of the new textbook was done and the participants were 30 junior high school teachers. For both phases of the study, a qualitative research method was adopted using interviews. The interviews were then analyzed using content analysis. The results of phase I indicated that there were some challenges with the textbook development project such as lack of suitable infrastructure, lack of enough budgets, and lack of necessary human and physical resources. The findings of the phase II showed that there were some pitfalls with the new English textbook such as using an unsuitable method of literacy instruction; over-localizing the content; complete abandoning of grammatical structures; and setting unrealistic objectives considering the time and resources constraints

The mediating role of success mechanism in work in the influence of positive personality traits on self-leadership with emphasis on the moderating role of active personality.

هدف این پژوهش، بررسی نقش میانجی مکانیسم کامیابی در کار در تاثیرگذاری ویژگی­های شخصیتی بر خود رهبری با تاکید بر نقش تعدیل­گر شخصیت فعال می­باشد. پژوهش حاضر از نظر هدف کاربردی و از نظر ماهیت و روش، توصیفی ـ همبستگی است. جامعه آماری (300 نفر) کارکنان کارخانه سپاهان باطری بوده که با روش تصادفی ساده و از طریق فرمول کوکران (169 نفر) انتخاب شدند. از پرسش‌نامه‌های اسنایدر و همکاران (1996)، اشریر و کارور (1985) که شامل ویژگی­های شخصیتی مثبت، پرسش­نامه گرسیا و همکاران (2012) در خود رهبری، پرسش­نامه پورث و همکاران (2012) در مکانیسم کامیابی در کار و همچنین پرسش­نامه جانسن و همکاران (2017) در شخصیت فعال، استفاده شد. روایی و پایایی پرسش‌نامه‌ها حاکی از آن بود که ابزارهای اندازه‏گیری از روایی (همگرا و واگرا) و پایایی (بار عاملی، ضریب پایایی مرکب، ضریب آلفای کرونباخ)، خوبی برخوردار هستند. نتایج حاصل از آزمون فرضیه‌ها توسط نرم‏افزار SMART-PLS و با استفاده از آماره آزمون t و ضرایب مسیر (β)، نشان دهنده آن است که ویژگی­های شخصیتی مثبت بر مکانیسم کامیابی در کار و بر خودرهبری تأثیر دارد، مکانیسم کامیابی در کار بر خود رهبری تأثیر دارد، در نهایت نقش میانجی مکانیسم کامیابی در کار ‏ و نقش تعدیل­گری شخصیت فعال تأیید شدند. با این اوصاف مدیران باید بتواند به منظور افزایش خود رهبری به ویژگی­های شخصیتی مثبت کارکنان توجه کنند. بدین منظور نیز می­توانند از مکانیسم کامیابی در کار به عنوان نقش میانجی در جهت این افزایش بهره جویند. هرچند باید مواظب کاهش سطح شخصیت فعال باشند چرا که منجر به کاهش این نوع رابطه می­شود

A review on nuclear Overhauser enhancement (NOE) and rotating-frame Overhauser effect (ROE) NMR techniques in food science : basic principles and applications

Background: The characterization of the original chemical structure and induced changes of micro- and macromolecules using analytical techniques with concise and detailed outcomes is potentially one of the major challenges for food scientists. To this end, the non-invasive nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technique can play a significant role through employment of different NMR methods. The Nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) and rotating-frame Overhauser effect (ROE) techniques are powerful NMR methods that have attracted great interest because they provide precise information about the three dimensional spatial structure of the molecules, as well as about possible chemical reactions and interactions. Scope and approach: In this article, we reviewed the basic principles as well as applications of two NMR techniques: Nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (NOESY) and rotating-frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY). Hereby, we focused mainly on the applications and importance of these techniques in food science research. Both the structural (configuration and conformation) changes and the complexes formed by interacting compounds could be better studied using these techniques. Key findings and conclusions: The inter- and intra-molecular interactions within food-based ingredient mixtures, as well as configurational and conformational analyses can be more efficiently studied with the aid of NOESY and ROESY. These methods as complementary analysis tools can be exploited for the straightforward elucidation of the spatial proximity of either novel, native or modified compounds. In the future, these techniques may be helpful to better understand the interaction between polymers, such as protein-polysaccharide interactions

Job burnout and some of its risk factors on the health workers (Behvarz) in Koohrang County, I.R.Iran, in 2010

زمینه و هدف : فرسودگی شغلی، شامل خستگی عاطفی ، مسخ شخصیت و کاهش موفقیت فردی است و زمانی که توانایی های فرد برای تقاضاهای محیط کار کافی نباشد علائم آن آشکار می شود. کارکنان نظام سلامت به دلیل مواجهه با استرس های فیزیکی و روانی در معرض فرسودگی می باشند. این مطالعه با هدف تعیین میزان فرسودگی شغلی بهورزان و بررسی ارتباط خصوصیات جمعیت شناختی با آن انجام گرفت . روش بررسی: این پژوهش توصیفی-تحلیلی، بر روی همه بهورزان شهرستان کوهرنگ ( 81 نفر) در آبانماه سال 1389 انجام شد . ابزار گردآوری داده ها پرسشنامه­ای شامل اطلاعات جمعیت شناختی و پرسشنامه فرسودگی شغلی مازلاک ( MBI ) بود. پرسشنامه توسط بهورزان تکمیل و داده­ها با استفاده از آزمون های آماری ANOVA ، ضریب همبستگی اسپیرمن و آزمون تی مستقل تحلیل گردید. یافته ها: از نظر فراوانی، کاهش موفقیت فردی زیاد ( 5/24 ) ، خستگی عاطفی زیاد ( 6/4 ) و مسخ شخصیت زیاد ( 7/2 ) ، به ترتیب از بیشترین فراوانی و از نظر شدت، خستگی عاطفی شدید ( 7/6 ) و مسخ شخصیت شدید ( 3/1 ) ، به ترتیب از بیشترین شدت برخوردار بودند. هیچ یک از بهورزان کاهش شدید موفقیت فردی را گزارش ننمود. میزان خستگی عاطفی با مسخ شخصیت و میزان کاهش موفقیت فردی با خستگی عاطفی رابطه معنی داری داشت (001/0 > P ) . بین جنس، سن، وضعیت تأهل، سابقه کار، نوع استخدام و میزان تحصیلات بهورزان و فرسودگی رابطه معنی داری دیده نشد. نتیجه گیری: این مطالعه نشان داد که فراوانی و شدت فرسودگی شغلی در بهورزان شهرستان کوهرنگ پایین است که از دلایل آن می توان به موقعیت اجتماعی مناسب، نزدیکی محل کار و زندگی، درآمد متناسب با حجم کار و تحصیلات، امنیت شغلی، سطح توقع پایین و شرایط آب و هوایی و فرهنگی منطقه اشاره کر

Rehabilitation Educators′ Perceptions of Clinical Education Challenges in Iran: Is COVID-19 Having Redundant Effects?

Background: Clinical education is a core component of the curriculum of undergraduate rehabilitation students. Nevertheless, this field more than any other field of education has many shortcomings that should be addressed.Methods: The aim of this study was to explore the challenges of clinical education from the perspective of rehabilitation educators with particular focus on the new challenges created bythe COVID-19 outbreak. This qualitative study was conducted through purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 rehabilitation clinical educators of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Data analysis was accomplished according to conventional content analysis. To prove the trustworthiness of the data, credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability were assessed.Results: Through data analysis, 240 initial codes were extracted in three main categories and nine sub-categories, indicating redundant challenges imposed by COVID-19 comprising restricted clinical resources (inadequate patient number and diversity, inadequate equipment, limited clinical space, inadequate manpower), an inefficient clinical education system (poor management of clinical education programs, insufficient clinical evaluation), and personal and professional characteristics of the students (lack of students’ practical knowledge, lack of motivation, fear).Conclusion: The results of this study provide deeper insight into the perceptions and experiences of rehabilitation educators regarding clinical education challenges. At present, an accidental and unexpected problematic event (COVID-19 pandemic) has inflicted detrimental effects on various aspects of clinical rehabilitation sciences. It is necessary to implement changes in future plans which include adaptations for COVID-19

Assessment of bacterial bioaerosols and particulate matter characteristics in indoor air of dentistry clinics

Objectives: Air pollutants in dentistry offices may cause problems for the health of staff and patients. Accordingly, the present study was performed to the assessment of bacterial bioaerosols and particulate matter (PM) characteristics in the indoor air of dentistry clinics.Methods: The sampling points were restoration, endodontics, and prosthesis wards. The PM specimens were taken using Grimm Dust Monitor and the microbial specimens were taken using QuickTake 30.Results: The maximum and minimum PM10 concentration across the different measure wards occurred as 70.31 and 30.32 μg/m3 in the Ketabchi Clinic restoration and its endodontics ward, respectively. The total number of bioaerosols was 2079. Gram‑positive Staphylococcus spp.(872), Gram‑positive Micrococcus spp.(706), and Gram‑negative Bacillus spp.(501) were present in the indoor air. The results showed a significant relationship for PM1 and PM2.5 in each sampling site.Conclusions: The low PM and bacterial bioaerosols contamination can be due to the coincidence with coronavirus pandemic, as during this period, health and hygienic protocols have been strictly observed