Archives-December 

This study aimed to investigate the effect of corpus-based instruction on Iranian EFL learners’ knowledge of idioms. To this end, 100 students from Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon Branch whose major was English Language Translation, was given an OPT in order to homogenize them. Out of this, 60 students whose score fell one standard deviation below the mean was selected and regarded as intermediate students. Then, the subjects were randomly assigned into an experimental group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). The students in both groups were given a pretest. The experimental and control group used the online British National corpus and a course book, namely Every day idioms for reference and practice, respectively. After the experiment, all the participants were given a post test. The results indicated that there was no significant difference between two groups in relation to dependent variable in pre-test (t58=1.58, p>0.05). The finding showed that the differences in pre-post test scores (2.92) clearly showed the efficacy of concordance in enhancing knowledge of idiom. It was showed that there were significance differences in knowledge of idiom between the groups in post test.

Effect of different heavy metals on Vibrio harveyi, V. fischeri, Photobacterium phosphoreum and P. leiognathi were examined. Checkerboard assay used for the detection of the natural metal tolerance levels of a large number of marine luminous eubacteria. In this purpose, we surveyed 57 strains of luminous bacteria for their natural patterns of heavy metal tolerance. The behaviors of these strains were not homogeneous with respect to all metals tested, even within the strains belonging to the same genus. At least 1 to 4 different MICs were detected for every metal except barium and cobalt. Isolated bacteria were tested for the presence of plasmids using the modified alkaline lysis method was effective for identification of plasmids of different sizes. This study revealed that the frequency of the occurrence of plasmids in heavy metal resistance bacteria and suggested that plasmids are highly ubiquitous and predominant in most heavy metal resistant bacteria.

In this article, wave propagation in non-homogenous transversely isotropic electro-magneto-elastic plate of polygonal cross-section is studied using the Fourier expansion collocation method. The frequency equations are obtained from the polygonal cross-sectional boundary conditions, since the boundary is irregular in shape; it is difficult to satisfy the boundary along the surface of the plate directly. Hence, the Fourier expansion collocation method is applied along the boundary to satisfy the boundary conditions. The roots of the frequency equations are obtained by using the secant method applicable for complex roots. The computed non-dimensional frequencies are plotted in the form of dispersion curves and their characteristics are discussed. This problem may be extended to any kinds of cross-sections using the proper geometrical relations.

Traditionally, educators have perceived television as not particularly beneficial to literacy development. Concerns were fueled by findings suggesting that with the introduction of television people spend less time reading books and reading scores decline. However, as the society is striving to make adjustments to the decline in literacy skills and new ways of learning and teaching are being explored, educators are becoming interested in exploring the educational potential of television and video for teaching basic literacy skills such as reading, writing, and math. The interest in television as an educational medium has increased for several reasons. The research literature suggests that the content of television can have four broad types of effects on children. They include behavior, attitudes, beliefs and values, knowledge, and cognitive skills. Many children's television series are educational, ranging from dedicated learning programs to those that indirectly teach the viewers. Some series are written to have a specific moral behind every episode, often explained at the end by the character that learned the lesson. Some television programs are designed with primarily educational purposes in mind, although they might rely heavily on entertainment to communicate their educational messages. In children's programming, edutainment becomes fun and interesting for the child but can still be educational.

Flyash particles are formed during the combustion of coal at very high temperature (above 1500⁰C); it contains some ions as Iron, Aluminium, Silica in their oxide form. It also contains Glass particle along with Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, Se, Pb, Zn, Fl, Hg, particles. Heavy metals from industries are known to have adverse effect on the environment. Similarly, fly ash coming from power plants also has adverse effect on every organism. It was observed that Spirogyra was not found in fly ash discharged water pond while it was present in all the nearby water bodies. ,disasterous effects of heavy metals present in flyash may be the reason. Thus, our present study is mainly focused to elucidate the effect of fly ash on green filamentous algae Spirogyra. It was already found that Microtubules are very sensitive especially to the presence of Cd ions (P. P?ibyl, V. Cepák and V. Zachleder,2008), depending on the Cd concentration present in fly ash and to the time of exposure the disintegration was seen. Microtubules got disintegrated into short fragments or some even completely disappeared.

The paper sought to establish the effect of involvement culture on performance of selected 5-star Chain affiliated hotels in Kenya. The study employed descriptive research design. The study was undertaken in Nairobi Central Business District (CBD). The target population of this study comprised of employees and managers of four 5-star chain hotels. The researcher employed purposive sampling, stratified sampling and simple random sampling techniques. Questionnaires and interview schedule was used in data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics; frequencies and percentages while correlation analysis was used to assess the effect of involvement culture on performance. Involvement culture was found to have a positive but weak relationship with performance. The study indicated that, the organization should ensure that the employees have shared belief, values and expectation to ensure realization of performance. The researcher therefore recommends that, for organizations to achieve the desired performance all the employees in the organization should be involved to drive the performance agenda.

Background: Iron oxide nanoparticles as contrast elements causing the cancer cells used in MRI and heat therapy are extensive. However, the effects of nanoparticles on human health has not been fully investigated. Objectives: In this study, iron oxide nanoparticles effects on thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and TSH in adult male Wistar rats were studied. Materials and methods: Three experimental groups of mice daily for 15 days, with concentrations of iron oxide nanoparticles ?g/kg20, ?g/kg50 and ?g/kg150 was dissolved in one ml of distilled water, by gavage tube. Results: Serum T3 levels in experimental and control groups showed no significant change Serum T4 levels in the experimental group receiving the highest dose showed a significant increase compared to control group. Also Yrmy TSH hormone concentration in the groups receiving the medium and maximum doses significantly lower than the control group shows. Conclusion: Experimental results show that iron oxide nanoparticles at high concentrations inhibits the Ndkryny pituitary axis - the hypothalamus And thyroid gland can cause malfunctions Appear to be iron oxide nanoparticles at high concentrations is toxic effect on thyroid function.

In practical problems involving flow past a porous lining, it is necessary to involve directly the thickness of the porous lining to have an increase in the mass flow rate. The peristaltic pumping of a Newtonian fluid in an inclined channel lined with porous material is investigated under long wavelength and low Reynolds number assumptions. The velocity distribution, the volume flow rate, the pressure rise and the frictional force are obtained. The effect of thickness of porous lining on the peristaltic pumping is discussed.

In an effort to achieve increased cocoa production in Nigeria, a number of initiatives were introduced towards increasing yields with the aim of reviving the old glory of cocoa and make it an engine of Nigerian economy. Despite this, farmers still produce below expected cocoa production figure due to conditions associated with their farmland. Tenure insecurity hindered acceptability of the established initiatives since majority of the farmers in the cocoa industries are holding the farmland in possession through different arrangements which provide the legal and normative framework within which all agricultural as well as other economic activities are conducted. On this note, this study aims to investigate the effects of tenure arrangement on adoption of CRTs. Result shows that respondents were mostly males, Christians, members of CFAN with mean age of 59.0+10.18 with average household size of 8 people, cultivating an average farm size of 17.38 acres, obtained mostly through different tenural patterns and scattered in different locations. Findings further reveals that age, membership to CFAN and tenure arrangement had significant relationship with adoption of cocoa rehabilitation techniques. And also, there was significant difference in the perception, as well as adoption of selective tree replanting, planting under old cocoa trees, chupon regeneration, coppicing, gapping up between tenant farmers and farm owners at p=0.05. Cocoa industry is mostly populated with tenant farmers who had unfavourable perception about cocoa rehabilitation resulting in low adoption rate due to challenge of insecurity of tenure. Thus, there is need for development of technological packages that meet the need of different categories of farmers based on their respective tenure. Also there is the need for securing land-use rights through improved tenancy arrangements to better meet the interests of small, tenant and landless farmers.

Weight loss, thermometric and potentiometric methods have been used to study the corrosion inhibition of aluminum in HCl solution by four newly synthesised Mannich bases viz 3-oxo, 3-phenyl, N,N-dimethyl propanamine hydrochloride (MB₁), 3,5-dioxo,5-phenyl N,N-dimethyl pentanamine hydrochloride(MB₂), 2,2-dimethyl,3-oxo N,N dimethyl butanamine hydrochloride (MB₃) and 3-oxo N,N-dimethyl butanamine hydrochloride((MB₄).Results of inhibition efficacies obtained from said methods are in good agreement with each other. Efficacy of inhibitor increases with increasing concentration of inhibitor as well as that of HCl solution.