مجید عسگری

In the present study the impact of employing interesting class materials on FL learners' interest level and their achievement in foreign language reading was investigated. The interaction pattern between interest and age in the context of Interest-Based Language Teaching (IBLT) was examined as well. Sixty-six university students of law and accounting in Hidaj IAU, Iran were used in the investigation. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of experimental (N=33) and control (N=33). Unlike the control group who received the instruction in the usual way, the experimental group received it in a way in which the reading texts were selected based on learners’ interest. The results indicated that the use of IBLT increased learners' situational interest and improved their performance in FL reading, though it was not statistically significant. Moreover, some patterns of interaction between interest and age were observed with respect to the participants' performances in FL learning. The study findings could offer efficient uses for FL teaching researchers, teachers, and particularly syllabus designers as applying interest-based materials in ELT instruction will bring considerable benefits for FL learners when materials are matched with their interest areas.

Student Question Generation (SQG) is one of the learner-centered constructive learning techniques which might be a helpful too for engaging students in the learning and assessment processes and increase their interest in the learning materials. This study attempted to investigate the effect of this technique on ESP learners’ achievement in an English course and to study the learners' views on the efficacy of using this technique in teaching English. To reach the said aims, a mixed-method research design was employed to answer the questions. The research was conducted at Islamic Azad University in Hidaj with 60 participants (male and female) who were majoring at accounting and civil engineering and were divided into experimental and control groups. Data were collected through an achievement test which was administered at the end of the course and a focus-group interview held in experimental group class. Independent samples t-test was used to analyze the quantitative data, while the learners' responses were analyzed through content analysis. The results revealed that using SQG helped the students in learning the course materials significantly. The analysis of the qualitative data revealed seven themes related to the effectiveness of using SGQ, of which the most important ones were usefulness of the technique, creating a relaxed and cooperative atmosphere, and increased motivation. They further reported that their interest in the course increased, and the quality of their learning increased. Based on the results, some instructional implications are provided for the teachers, syllabus designers and researchers.

This study investigated the effect of transcribing group-discussion tasks on the development of university students' autonomy and oral proficiency. A quasi-experimental research design was followed to compare the performances of four groups: two experimental groups and two control groups (each group divided into low and high proficiency students). The study lasted for 12 weeks, and the teacher assigned a classroom oral discussion task in each session. The students were divided into discussion groups of three or four students, with low and high proficiency learners in different groups. The participants had to record their group discussion tasks. Control groups’ students had to submit their recorded conversations to their instructor, but they did not do any post-task activity. However, the experimental groups’ students had to transcribe their recorded speaking tasks, to find their own and their peers' grammatical mistakes, and to correct them. Finally, while working in groups, students discussed the texts and reformulated their mistakes. Employing ANCOVA to analyze the results, researchers found that experimental groups significantly outperformed the students of the control groups on post-tests of oral proficiency and learner autonomy. Thus, transcription followed by reflection on inaccurate production contributed to the superior performance of participants in the experimental groups.

Tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), is considered as the most important tomato pest in the world. The pest is also devastated tomato fields and considered as a big threat for tomato production especially in greenhouses in Iran. The exceptional speed and extent of T. absoluta enforced to use several pest control methods for controlling the damages. The strategies might be applied a complex of different approaches from cultural to biological and finally chemicals control. Chemical pesticides are often used to control this pest, which not only pose a risk for environment, but also is harmful for public health (due to the fresh use of the product). Therefore, the use of other pests control methods should be considered. Mass trapping of the adults are could significantly reduce the percentage of infested leaves and fruits. Given that the adults are nocturnal, they fly towards a light source, since the night light traps are developed to capture adult. The use of light traps is one of the low-cost and low-risk methods for capturing adult’s moths, and as a consequence of reducing the pest damages.
Methods and Materials: Cylindrical transparent containers (8.5 cm diameter and 15 cm height), which were made from clear plastic (polyethylene terephthalate (PET)) were chosen as traps. For entering the attracted moths, several holes (0.5 cm in diameter) were embedded in the traps walls, except the below part (2.5 cm) that some 0.5% detergent solution were poured in there to entrap the captured moths. Then a BLB bulb was installed in each trap as light sources. The traps were installed at about 70 cm above the infested plants, with four different density (2, 4, 6 and 8 in a 1000 m2 of greenhouses) to find out the best density of traps. The comparisons were done in a completely randomized design with six replications (six days). The light of the traps were turn on from the sunset until next morning. The numbers of captured moths from each trap were recorded and were analyzed using generalized linear models.

In the greenhouse assessment in Hormozgan province, the mean numbers of moths were 27.75 in the two-trap and 14.39 in the four-trap, while for the four-trap were 11.67 compare to the six- traps 7.87, and finally for the six-trap were 112.67 compare to the eight-trap 113.33. In Qazvin province, the average numbers of moths were 10.93 in the two-trap compare to 13.61 for the four traps, while, the number of moths for the four-trap were 11.38 and for the six-trap were 11.91. In the Markazi province (Greenhouse complex of Aveh), the mean numbers of moths were 27.70 for the two-trap treatment and 18.95 for the four-trap treatment. In the second step, the mean numbers of moths were 8.25 in the four-trap compare to 9.47 for the six-traps. Mass tapping is an approach of pest control methods in several crops. This technique is non-poisonous and non-hazardous to natural enemies as a part of the integrated pest control program, and environmentally friendly. The light traps can captured not only males, but also a large number of females. Therefore, light traps are more effective than conventional pheromone-baited water traps in reducing the damage especially at low/moderate T. absoluta population density. Up to now most of the used light traps for capturing T. absoluta, were installed on the ground. However, the adult’s moths can fly very well (250 matters in two hours) and could fly from one place to another place and disperse easily and quickly. The present study demonstrates the success of mass trapping of T. absoluta by hanging up the light traps above the infested tomato plants.

installing the light trap up to the height of the host plants could capture more adults and could reduce the damages. Based on the results we can say that, during the growing season, four traps light with a BLB source is sufficient for 1000 m2 of greenhouses that should be installed above the plants canopy. This technique can be used in the IPM programs in greenhouses. Where, the isolation of area will strongly raise the chances of the mass trapping methods by reducing the possibility of immigration of adult’s pests from adjacent area. Of course, combination with other pest control methods should also be considered.

This study reports the findings of the research conducted on the effects of Interest-Based Language Teaching (IBLT) on Persian students’ interest in L2 learning, and their achievement in reading comprehension. With the aim of improving L2 learning in the university level, the study investigated whether selecting instructional materials based on learners’ interest areas could impact their interest in language learning. Furthermore, it examined whether selecting instructional materials based on interest would have any influence on learners’ performance in L2 reading. It also examined any significant differences between the learners with high and low L2 reading levels in terms of interest. The participants were sixty first-year nursing students in a nursing college. Both questionnaires and tests were employed to collect the data. The collected data were closely examined and analyzed using independent-samples t-test. The results revealed that (1) personalizing the materials could make a significant contribution to the development and enhancement of students' interest level in L2 learning; (2) selecting the instructional materials based on learners’ interest areas could improve their performance in L2 reading comprehension; and (3) in using IBLT, there was no significant difference between learners with different levels of reading proficiency in learning the course materials.

Longevity, host preference, length of life stages and the number of offspring of Habrobracon hebetor were evaluated on the host larvae of Ephestia kuehniella treated with lethal and sub-lethal doses of Bacillus thuringiensis Experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design under laboratory condition. The number of eggs decreased from 3.9 in control to 1.4 and 2.7 in lethal and sub-lethal doses, respectively. By reducing the number of parasitoid offspring from 3.7 in control to 0.6 and 1.2 in lethal and sub-lethal doses, also the adult parasitoid longevity decreased from 15.6 days in control to 12.3 and 13.7 days in lethal and sub-lethal doses, respectively. In the lethal dose of Bt treatment, duration of embryonic and larval stages of the wasp showed a significant increase compared to control, but pupal stage duration decreased in both lethal and sub-lethal doses of Bt treatment. Generally, by reducing the usage dose of Bt and avoiding its application during the critical stages of parasitoid life, the efficiency of their use in integrated pest management can be improved.

Interest plays a key role in education and language learning. This study investigated if selecting and using interest-based instructional materials could impact learners' performance in L2 reading. It also examined whether there were meaningful differences between male and female learners' performance, concerning the use of interest-based materials. Sixty first-grade university students participated in the study. To answer the research questions, a quantitative method using the 'interest survey questionnaire' and the 'achievement test,' was employed. The collected data were compared and analyzed using t-test, and through SPSS. The results revealed that the use of Interest-Based Language Teaching (IBLT) made a significant contribution to the improvement of learners' performance in L2 reading. They also revealed some interaction of interest and gender, not at significant level though, with respect to the learners' performance in learning. Thus, language teaching researchers, teachers, and particularly material developers are suggested to notice the use and importance of applying interest-based materials in L2 teaching. They should be aware that such materials can lead to better performance in L2 learning.

Cobalt-based amorphous alloys attracted the attention of many researchers to carry out fundamental research for their application in electronics¡ sensors and magnetic memory due to their special magnetic properties including close to zero Magnetostriction¡ magnetic permeability and high saturation magnetization. The purpose of this study is the formation and evaluation of microstructure and magnetic properties of cobalt-based amorphous alloy produced by melt spinning and mechanical alloying. The final compositions produced by both methods were studied by scanning electron microscopy¡ X-ray diffraction and vibrating magnetoresistance. The results showed that compound produced by chill block melt spinning has a better magnetic properties .

Citrus Greening disease is one of the most serious diseases in the world, which has recently been reported from some parts of Iran. Due to the presence of its vector, Diaphorina citri, in our country, study on the vector is essential. In order to identify the host species and population dynamism of Asian Citrus Psylla on different hosts, three citrus orchards of the same condition, each with three cultivars in Kerman, Hormozgan and Baluchestan provinces were selected. Ten selected trees of each cultivar and weeds were sampled every two weeks and collected insects were selected. The yellow sticky traps to capture adult was installed every other one in orchards. The mean number of psylla per tree on lemon were calculated 15.47±12.55, 11.49 ±1.11and 8.48±2.75 psylla in Baluchestan, Jiroft and Hormozgan, respectively and lemon is preferred host of this pest. Diagrams drawn from data showed that the insect population often increased in early March but the peak of population, depending on weather condition and time of bud formation of trees in each region is different. Population peak time is from late April to mid-May and late September in Jiroft, March, Late May and early June in Baluchistan and in March and April in Hormozgan. As a result, the control time in any studied region is different according to population peak time.

The spacer grids in nuclear fuel assembly are one of the equipments that affect the fluid flow distribution with the creation of turbulence and driven fluid flow in a sub-channel. In the present paper, the fuel bundle in the VVER-440 nuclear reactor that contains 60 fuel rods and 4 spacer grids has been simulated and solved by a numerical method. Three turbulent models were used. The results showed that using spacer grids over the fuel bundle led to an increase in the heat transfer coefficients. However, these grids increase the pressure drop. The results of this research can be used to design and manufacture the fuel assembly and obtain the relevant thermo hydraulic parameters to optimize the heat transfer of fuel rods.

Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor)is an important date palm pest orchard in Iran and other date growing in the world. Direct mite incidence along feeding on date fruit caused 100% losses on commercial date varieties. Chemical date palm spider mite (DPSM) control initiated in 1960 in southwestern part of Iran through Tetradifen application and today extended in large date orchards in the country. Water spray application on DPSM under taken through block randomized designed with four replications during period of 2000-2001 on date varieties i.e. Mordarsangh, Kabkab, Berhi, Mazafati, Halileh in Hormozghan, Bushehr, Khuzestan, Kerman and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces of Iran respectively. Amount of 8 to 10 little water spray with help of concern instrument during late morning hours. The mobile mite mortality% was evaluated through Henderson–Tilton method by collecting 20 date fruits which two date clusters selected randomly from each replication and counted with help of stereo-microscope. Mite sampling followed at interval of one day before, 3, 7, 14 and 25 days after treatments. Light copious webbing around date clusters observed in late April in Kuzestan province and this type of injuries recorded after three months interval (July) on date palm's of Sistan and Baluchestan provinces in south eastern part of country. Mean date palm infested by DPSM was found higher in year of 2001 in comparison of the first year study. Max & min mean of mite's densities on a date fruit recorded 14.9 and 2.08 mites on Kabkab and Berhi var. in Bushehr and Kuzestan respectively while Halileh var. in Sistan and Baluchestan province possess higher number of mite during two years of investigation. Mean of mite mortality% statistically observed significant at level of 5% during sampling period with maximum control of mite at seven days interval whereas longer effects of water spray recorded up to 25 days in Kerman province. Two years mite mortalities% analysis result over 90% mite control in date orchards of Khuzestan, Hormozgan and Kerman provinces during first and second year respectively. Max water spray effect can expected when mean of mite on a date fruit was recorded below three mites with three consequent spray at 7 to 10 days interval which make possible organic date production in Iran with regard further mite resistance and hazardous of pesticides to the environment.