Unraveling Advanced EFL Learners’ L2 Willingness to Communicate in Extramural Digital Settings

Alimorad, Zahra 범태평양 응용언어학회 2022 범태평양응용언어학회지 Vol.26 No.1

Considering the importance of willingness to communicate (WTC) as a critical component of effective pedagogy (MacIntyre et al., 1998), the present qualitative study investigated the affordances extramural digital settings (EDSs), as newly emerged popular environments, offer to advanced EFL learners. To this aim, we asked a purposeful sample of 8 Iranian undergraduate English students of both genders (4 males, 4 females), with an age range of 19 to 21, to partake in the study. Results of the analysis of semi-structured interviews suggested that despite providing advanced EFL learners with unique opportunities for the use of the target language, different aspects of EDSs might have diverse effects on each individual's L2 WTC. More specifically, L2 WTC was subject to considerable fluctuations because of the simultaneous and aggregate effect of different factors and the fluctuations exhibited substantial variation from learner to learner, moment to moment and in accordance with different purposes. The factors identified were classified into three major categories: Affective (attitude and self-confidence), contextual (interlocutor, social disapproval and cultural influences), and linguistic (language proficiency) variables. The findings of the study may offer insights into materials development by suggesting the integration of some activities and tasks which focus on the use of various social media platforms to the course materials. Moreover, English instructors need to acquire information on which social media platforms are more appropriate and could create an interesting and collaborative environment for students to communicate in the target language. For instance, they could form groups on social media to engage students in regular authentic interaction in L2 outside of the classroom context.

Preparation of nanoporous activated carbon and its application as nano adsorbent for CO2 storage

Alimorad Rashidi,Davood Kazemi,Nosrat Izadi,Mahnaz Pourkhalil,Abbas Jorsaraei,Enseyeh Ganji,Roghayeh Lotfi 한국화학공학회 2016 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.33 No.2

Nanoporous activated carbons, as adsorbent for CO2 storage, were prepared from walnut shells via two chemical processes including phosphoric acid treatment and KOH activation at high temperature. Specific surface area and porosities were controlled by KOH concentration and activation temperature. The obtained adsorbents were characterized by N2 adsorption at 77.3 K. Their carbon dioxide adsorption capacities were measured at different pressures at 290 K by using volumetric adsorption equipment. The KOH-treated nanoporous carbons typically led to the production of high specific surface areas and high micropore volumes and showed better performance for CO2 adsorptions. The maximum experimental value for adsorption capacity happened when pressure increased from 5 to 10 bar (1.861- 2.873mmol·g−1). It was found that in order to improve the highest capacity of CO2 adsorption for KOH-modified carbon (9.830-18.208mmol·g−1), a KOH: C weight ratio of 3.5 and activation temperature of 973 K were more suitable for pore development and micro-mesopore volume enhancement.

Persian Native Speakers Reading Persian and English Texts: Their Strategic Behavior to Overcome Syntactic and Semantic Problems

( Zahra Alimorad ) 범태평양응용언어학회 2015 범태평양응용언어학회지 Vol.19 No.1

This study aimed to discover semantic and syntactic problems Persian native speakers might have while reading English and Persian texts and different strategies they use to overcome those problems. To this end, a convenient sample of 40 intermediate students studying English Literature at Shiraz University was selected. Twenty of them were asked to do a cloze test in Persian (Ll) and the rest to do the English version of the same text (L2). Then, a questionnaire was administered to find out the strategies they used while doing the cloze tests. Results showed that Persian native speakers mostly used syntactic strategies while reading an English text and semantic ones while reading the Persian version of the same text. This tinding highlights the need for a stronger emphasis on ditlerent syntactic features of language in the teaching of reading English to Persian native speakers.

Is Field Dependence/Independence a Source of Test Bias in Iranian EFL Majors" Cloze Test Performance?

( Zahra Alimorad ) 범태평양응용언어학회 2013 범태평양응용언어학회지 Vol.17 No.2

Recent language testing research investigates factors other than language proficiency that may be responsible for systematic variance in languagetest performance. One such factor is the test takers`` cognitive styles. The present study was carried out with the aim of finding the probable effects of Iranian EFL learners`` cognitive styles on their performance on cloze tests. For purposes of the present study, it was hypothesized that field (in)dependence would introduce systematic variance into Iranian EFL learners`` cloze test performance. 30 female students all majoring in English Translation at Shiraz Islamic Azad University took the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT), a reduced version of TOEFL test, and a cloze test. The results of the present study provided evidence that the field-dependent (FD, hereafter) subjects performed the same as their field independent (FI, hereafter) counterparts on the cloze test. It was, therefore, concluded that test takers`` cognitive styles may not be viewed as a source of systematic variance in performance on cloze tests and hence, may not be a source of test bias.

N-doped reduced graphene oxide aerogel for the selective adsorption of oil pollutants from water: Isotherm and kinetic study

Zahra Rahmani,Alimorad Rashidi,Abbass kazemi,Mohhammad Taghi Samadi,Ali Reza Rahmani 한국공업화학회 2018 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.61 No.-

N-doped graphene aerogel with a 3D inter-connected network was synthesized using graphene oxide and pyrrole in an aqueous medium with ammonia. Hydrothermal and thermal annealing methods were employed to do it so. The structure and surface properties of the synthesized aerogel were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), XPS, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements. The prepared n-doped aerogel exhibited elevated specific surface area (340 m2/g), hydrophobic nature, and excellent adsorption capacity (210 g/g for crude oil removal). Adsorbent recyclability was also investigated; it is worth noting that after ten subsequent cycles, only just a negligible decrement in adsorption capacity was observed. Furthermore, the effect of salts and temperature on adsorption capacity was studied. Isotherm and kinetic studies were last examined. The conformity of various adsorption models, including Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) to the equilibrium data was evaluated among which Langmuir isotherm model gave the best fitting result. The sorption kinetics data were well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. As a consequence, oil spills adsorption using n-doped graphene aerogel is a relatively cost-effective method which can be scaled up, and it could be a promising material for removal of organic contaminants from water.

Geographical distribution of Trissolcus grandis (Scelionidae), egg parasitoid of sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Hemiptera: Scutelleridae) in Iran

Maryam Yasemi,Alimorad Sarafrazi,Mahmoud Shojaii 한국응용곤충학회 2016 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.19 No.1

Trissolcus grandis, as an egg parasitoid, shows variations in its parasitization rate on the sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps Puton, under different climatic conditions.Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) was used to predict the potential distribution of T. grandis populations in Iran. The records of 1699 specimens collected from 24 climates of Iran besides the altitude and climate variable datawere used for modeling analysis. Mainly southwestern of Caspian Sea and northwestern Iran with climatic characteristics of cool to cold winters with warm summers and semiarid humidity regimewere themost suitable areas for T. grandis, while the central, southwestern, and southeastern parts of Iran with very high temperatures were predicted to be less suitable. Based on training and test data, AUC above 0.85 implies that the model is appropriate to make inferences on the distribution of the given species. These new data could be applied practically for the design of integrated pest management and crop development programs.

Particle size control effect on activity and selectivity of functionalized CNT-supported cobalt catalyst in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Ali Karimi,Bahram Nasernejad,Alimorad Rashidi 한국화학공학회 2012 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.29 No.11

The influence of cobalt particle size on catalyst performance in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) has been investigated using functionalized carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported nano catalyst. The catalysts were synthesized by wet impregnation and special sol-gel technique. The catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, H2 chemisorption,TPR, and TEM. According to TEM analysis, small Co particles (3-8 nm) synthesized by sol-gel technique have very narrow particle size distributions and are mostly confined inside the CNT. The deposition of cobalt nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel technique on the functionalized CNT shifted the reduction peaks to a low temperature, indicating higher reducibility for uniform cobalt particles. The proposed sol-gel technique increased the FTS rate from 0.62 to 0.71 g HC/gcat./h, C5+ selectivity increased 7% and CH4 selectivity decreased 4%, compared to that prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. This new catalyst preparation method may offer an attractive alternative for nanoparticles synthesis with uniform, and various size distributions.

Preparation of Co–Mo supported multi-wall carbon nanotube for hydrocracking of extra heavy oil

Mohsen Rahimi Rad,Alimorad Rashidi,Leila Vafajoo,Maryam Rashtchi 한국공업화학회 2014 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.20 No.6

In this study, multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) supported Co–Mo nanocatalysts with changes insynthesis steps, one and two-step, were prepared through impregnation to be used in extra heavy oilhydrocracking process. In both of the synthesized nanocatalysts, the Co/Mo weight ratio was 1/3. Thenanocatalysts were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electronmicroscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and accelerated surface area and porosimetry (ASAP)methods. The results showed that the nanocatalysts prepared through a two-step impregnation methodhad higher surface area and pore volume than the other synthesized nanocatalysts. The nanocatalysts were used in hydrocracking process under mild operating conditions, 260–300 ℃and at H2 initial pressure of 5 MPa. Hydrocracking of extra heavy oil was conducted in an autoclavereactor. The results indicated that both nanocatalysts were capable of hydrocracking heavy oil at mildoperating conditions. However, the nanocatalysts synthesized through the two-step impregnationexhibited higher performance, better heavy oil to light oil conversion, and better sulfur removal than theother methods. This superiority is due to the nanocatalyst’s structure and better distribution of metalclusters on the support.

A highly efficient MIL-101(Cr)-Graphene-molybdenum oxide nano composite for selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide into elemental sulfur

Alimohammad Pourreza,Saeed Askari,Alimorad Rashidi,Saeed Fakhraie,Mohammad Kooti,Marzieh Shafiei-Alavijeh 한국공업화학회 2019 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.71 No.-

Hybrid composites of MIL-101(Cr) and Nanoporous Graphene with ratios in the range of 10-50% wereprepared via hydrothermal synthesis method. This study deals with an experimental investigation onselective oxidation of H2S into elemental sulfur in the range of 200-270 C, the catalyst activity andselectivity toward sulfur was studied. High-temperature reactor tests indicated that the MIL-101(Cr)-NPG50-Mo could be a promising candidate with conversion and selectivity of 100% and 99.5% at 200 C. The MIL-101(Cr)-NPG50-Mo stability showed there were not any significant changes in physicalproperties, the activity was evaluated after 20 h which was completely stable without any changes.

Nanoclays as nano adsorbent for oxidation of H_2S into elemental sulfur

Ali Mohamadalizadeh,Jafar Towfighi,Alimorad Rashidi,Mehrdad Manteghian,Ali Mohajeri,Rohollah Arasteh 한국화학공학회 2011 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.28 No.5

Modified bentonites were used for the oxidation of H_2S into elemental sulfur. Active phases such as iron and cobalt sulfide were added to supports Cloisite 30B and 15A. The produced nano adsorbents were characterized by X-Ray diffraction, ICP, BET surface area and SEM. Selective oxidation of H_2S was carried out over the nano adsorbent in the experimental setup. The tests were performed at 70 and 180℃, under atmospheric pressure and in the presence of 5,000 ppm of H_2S in the inlet gas stream. The results confirmed the increase in the distribution of active metals and activity of Cloisite 30B, in comparison with Cloisite 15A. Cobalt-containing support showed significant improvement in the capacity of H_2S removal, and in the outlet stream less than 50 ppm of H_2S was detected.