The purpose of the present study was to identify any significant relationship between critical thinking ability, L2 vocabulary knowledge, and L2 vocabulary learning strategies of Iranian EFL learners. To this aim, the productive vocabulary levels test was administered to measure the learner’s L2 vocabulary knowledge and observe homogeneity in terms of vocabulary knowledge. At the second stage, ...

This study reports on the development and validation of a questionnaire for exploring the different types of EFL teachers’ possible selves. First, a theoretical framework behind possible selves theory and its types was cultivated through an extensive review of the related literature and content analysis of 24 transcribed semi-structured interviews with ELT experts. Second, the questionn...

Differential regulation of gonadotropin hormone production in the pituitary is critical for fertility. Activin and progesterone signaling in gonadotrope cells is important for Fshb gene expression. Previously, we reported that synergy between activin and progestins required the binding of SMAD proteins and the progesterone receptor (PR) to the murine Fshb promoter. In this study, we demonstrate...

Polyamines (PAs) are small aliphatic polycations that are found ubiquitously in all organisms. In plants, PAs are involved in diverse biological processes such as growth, development, and stress responses. In Arabidopsis thaliana, the arginine decarboxylase enzymes (ADC1 and 2) catalyze the first step of PA biosynthesis. For a better understanding of PA biological functions, mutants in PA biosy...

Clinical translation of therapies based on small interfering RNA (siRNA) is hampered by siRNA's comprehensively poor pharmacokinetic properties, which necessitate molecule modifications and complex delivery strategies. We sought an alternative approach to commonly used nanoparticle carriers by leveraging the long-lived endogenous serum protein albumin as an siRNA carrier. We synthesized siRNA c...

The lumbar spine is subjected to considerable stress during many athletic efforts. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of physiological loading on the lumbar spine in national male players of different games, which may be predictive of the future development of low back pain and injury symptoms. Thirty-four national players (12 cricket players, 12 field hockey players, and 10 ba...

Title of dissertation: BAYESIAN MODEL OF CATEGORICAL EFFECTS IN L1 AND L2 SPEECH PERCEPTION Yakov Kronrod, Doctor of Philosophy, 2014 Dissertation directed by: Professor Naomi Feldman Department of Linguistics In this dissertation I present a model that captures categorical effects in both first language (L1) and second language (L2) speech perception. In L1 perception, categorical effects rang...

Group dynamic assessment (G-DA) grounded in Vygotsky’s socio-cultural theory (SCT) is believed to have the potential to provide a context for capturing a group of learners’ Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) (Poehner & Lantolf, 2010; Shabani, 2010). The present study aims at testing the applicability of G-DA in identifying the mediational strategies offered by a mediator during his G-DA interac...

Abstract Dynamic assessment is heavily based on Vygotskian socio-cultural theory and in recent years researchers have shown interest the as a way to facilitate learning. This study attempted examine comparative effect of group dynamic (GDA) computerized (CDA) listening development, L2 learners’ perfectionism, anxiety, intrinsic motivation. To this end, 91 intermediate learners English were sele...