Exploring Cultural Conceptualisations and Metacultural Competence in Local EAP Textbooks: A Semiotic Approach

Ali Dabbagh,Mahmood Reza Atai 아시아테플 2022 The Journal of Asia TEFL Vol.19 No.1

Despite the surge of interest in evaluating culture representation in English language teaching (ELT) materials, the literature has not adequately addressed representations of culture in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) textbooks. To bridge this gap, the present study draws on the Cultural Linguistics semiotic approach to evaluate texts, tasks, and visuals in three locally-developed EAP textbooks in Iran. To this end, we triangulated interview data and narratives obtained from the materials developers of the selected textbooks and a local EAP policymaker with the analysis of texts, tasks, and images. The findings revealed that: (a) few instances of cultural schema and cultural categories were found in the textbooks; (b) mostly materials developers either were not cognizant of the notion of cultural conceptualisations when designing the textbooks or they did not consider it a significant priority in EAP textbooks due to some politico-religious reasons; (c) metacultural development tasks were barely presented in the pre-, while-, and post-reading tasks; and (d) an incompatibility prevailed among texts, tasks, and visuals regarding the presented cultural conceptualisations. The findings are discussed with reference to the need to raise EAP materials development stakeholders’ awareness about the effectiveness of cultural conceptualisations and metacultural competence in EAP education.

Density Functional Theory Demonstration of Anomeric Effect and Structure: Conformational and Configurational Analysis of N-2-(1,4-Dioxane)-N'-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-O-(4-methylphenoxy) Isourea

Dabbagh, Hossein A.,Najafi Chermahini, Ali Reza,Modarresi-Alam, Ali Reza Korean Chemical Society 2005 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.26 No.8

The conformational, configurtational behavior and the structure of N-2-(1,4-Dioxane)-N'-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-O-(4-methylphenoxy) isourea 1 has been studied using DFT method. Calculations predict the imidoyl amino group of the dioxane ring prefers axial conformation and that the tosyl and tolyl groups about the C=N bond retain E configuration. The anomeric effect controls the population of dioxane ring conformers, and anomers. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds contribute to the stability of E isomers. The computational analysis of 1 complements the X-ray findings.

Density Functional Theory Demonstration of Anomeric Effect and Structure: Conformational and Configurational Analysis of N-2-(1,4-Dioxane)-N'-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-O-(4-methylphenoxy) Isourea

Hossein A. Dabbagh,Ali Reza Najafi Chermahini,Ali Reza Modarresi-Alam 대한화학회 2005 Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society Vol.26 No.8

The conformational, configurtational behavior and the structure of N-2-(1,4-Dioxane)-N'-(4-methylbenzenesulfonyl)-O-(4-methylphenoxy) isourea 1 has been studied using DFT method. Calculations predict the imidoyl amino group of the dioxane ring prefers axial conformation and that the tosyl and tolyl groups about the C=N bond retain E configuration. The anomeric effect controls the population of dioxane ring conformers, and anomers. Intramolecular hydrogen bonds contribute to the stability of E isomers. The computational analysis of 1 complements the X-ray findings.

NSGT-based acoustical wave dispersion characteristics of thermo-magnetically actuated double-nanobeam systems

Farzad Ebrahimi,Ali Dabbagh 국제구조공학회 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.68 No.6

Herein, the thermo-magneto-elastic wave dispersion answers of functionally graded (FG) double-nanobeam systems (DNBSs) are surveyed implementing a nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT). The kinematic relations are derived employing the classical beam theory. Also, scale influences are covered precisely in the framework of NSGT. Moreover, Mori-Tanaka homogenization model is introduced in order to obtain the effective material properties of FG nanobeams. Meanwhile, effects of external forces such as thermal and Lorentz forces are included in this research. Also, based upon the Hamilton’s principle, the Euler-Lagrange equations are developed; afterwards, these equations are incorporated with those of NSGT to reach the nonlocal governing equations of FG-DNBSs. Furthermore, according to an analytical approach, the governing equations are solved to obtain the wave frequencies and phase velocities of FG-DNBSs. At the end, some illustrations are rendered to clarify the influences of a wide range of involved parameters.

Analysis of propagation characteristics of elastic waves in heterogeneous nanobeams employing a new two-step porosity-dependent homogenization scheme

Ebrahimi, Farzad,Dabbagh, Ali,Rabczuk, Timon,Tornabene, Francesco Techno-Press 2019 Advances in nano research Vol.7 No.2

The important effect of porosity on the mechanical behaviors of a continua makes it necessary to account for such an effect while analyzing a structure. motivated by this fact, a new two-step porosity dependent homogenization scheme is presented in this article to investigate the wave propagation responses of functionally graded (FG) porous nanobeams. In the introduced homogenization method, which is a modified form of the power-law model, the effects of porosity distributions are considered. Based on Hamilton's principle, the Navier equations are developed using the Euler-Bernoulli beam model. Thereafter, the constitutive equations are obtained employing the nonlocal elasticity theory of Eringen. Next, the governing equations are solved in order to reach the wave frequency. Once the validity of presented methodology is proved, a set of parametric studies are adapted to put emphasis on the role of each variant on the wave dispersion behaviors of porous FG nanobeams.

Wave dispersion characteristics of nonlocal strain gradient double-layered graphene sheets in hygro-thermal environments

Ebrahimi, Farzad,Dabbagh, Ali Techno-Press 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.65 No.6

Importance of procuring adequate knowledge about the mechanical behavior of double-layered graphene sheets (DLGSs) incensed the authors to investigate wave propagation responses of mentioned element while rested on a visco-Pasternak medium under hygro-thermal loading. A nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) is exploited to present a more reliable size-dependent mechanical analysis by capturing both softening and hardening effects of small scale. Furthermore, in the framework of a classical plate theory the kinematic relations are developed. Incorporating kinematic relations with the definition of Hamilton's principle, the Euler-Lagrange equations of each of the layers are derived separately. Afterwards, combining Euler-Lagrange equations with those of the NSGT the nonlocal governing equations are written in terms of displacement fields. Interaction of the each of the graphene sheets with another one is regarded by the means of vdW model. Then, a widespread analytical solution is employed to solve the derived equations and obtain wave frequency values. Subsequently, influence of each participant variable containing nonlocal parameter, length scale parameter, foundation parameters, temperature gradient and moisture concentration is studied by plotting various figures.

Interlanguage Pragmatic Test Tasks: Does a Low-Stakes Test Have Washback to L2 Teachers and Learners?

Zia Tajeddin,Ali Dabbagh 아시아테플 2015 The Journal of Asia TEFL Vol.12 No.4

Despite the international surge of interest in the measurement of L2 pragmatic competence, the washback of pragmatic test tasks has remained a noticeably under-researched issue. To bridge this gap, this study sought to investigate the washback of a written discourse completion task (WDCT), as a pragmatic measure, to L2 teachers and learners in two different testing contexts, i.e., one with the addition of WDCT as part of summative assessment (pragmatic testing context) and the other with no such addition to the tests (non-pragmatic testing context). Data from teacher and learner interviews and classroom observations were subjected to content analysis. The results revealed various aspects of pragmatic assessment washback. First, the added pragmatic test tasks in the pragmatic testing context enhanced learners’ noticing of pragmatic aspects of listening materials and teacher talk, whereas learners in the non-pragmatic testing context expressed more concern for lexical and grammatical features. Second, pragmatic context learners specified the production of pragmatically appropriate discourse as the ultimate objective of language learning. Finally, most teachers in the pragmatic testing context emphasized the utility of pragmatic-based teaching activities. The findings indicate that lowstakes pragmatic assessment has a positive washback to learning and teaching activities.

The effect of adjuvant midazolam compared with fentanyl on the duration of spinal anesthesia with 0.5% bupivacaine in opium abusers

Farhad Safari,Ali Dabbagh,Mansour Sharifnia 대한마취통증의학회 2012 Korean Journal of Anesthesiology Vol.63 No.6

Background: There are a number of adjuvants to be used for local anesthetics in spinal block. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the possible effect of intrathecal midazolam compared with bupivacaine as adjuvants in spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine in chronic opium abuses. Methods: In a double blind, randomized clinical trial, 90 opium abuser patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery were selected and randomly assigned into 3 groups (30 cases each). The patients received 15 mg plain bupivacaine, or 15 mg bupivacaine plus 25 mcg fentanyl or 15 mg bupivacaine plus 1 mg midazolam, intrathecally. Results: The duration of anesthesia was much longer in the bupivacaine-midazolam group than the bupivacaine-fentanyl group; both were longer than the plain bupivacaine group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Subarachnoid injection of adjuvant midazolam or fentanyl with plain 0.5% bupivacaine in opium abusers in lower limb orthopedic surgery increases the duration of sensory block. Therefore midazolam is more effective than fentanyl in such cases. Background: There are a number of adjuvants to be used for local anesthetics in spinal block. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the possible effect of intrathecal midazolam compared with bupivacaine as adjuvants in spinal anesthesia with bupivacaine in chronic opium abuses. Methods: In a double blind, randomized clinical trial, 90 opium abuser patients undergoing lower limb orthopedic surgery were selected and randomly assigned into 3 groups (30 cases each). The patients received 15 mg plain bupivacaine, or 15 mg bupivacaine plus 25 mcg fentanyl or 15 mg bupivacaine plus 1 mg midazolam, intrathecally. Results: The duration of anesthesia was much longer in the bupivacaine-midazolam group than the bupivacaine-fentanyl group; both were longer than the plain bupivacaine group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Subarachnoid injection of adjuvant midazolam or fentanyl with plain 0.5% bupivacaine in opium abusers in lower limb orthopedic surgery increases the duration of sensory block. Therefore midazolam is more effective than fentanyl in such cases.

Wave dispersion characteristics of nonlocal strain gradient double-layered graphene sheets in hygro-thermal environments

Farzad Ebrahimi,Ali Dabbagh 국제구조공학회 2018 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.65 No.6

Importance of procuring adequate knowledge about the mechanical behavior of double-layered graphene sheets (DLGSs) incensed the authors to investigate wave propagation responses of mentioned element while rested on a visco-Pasternak medium under hygro-thermal loading. A nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT) is exploited to present a more reliable size-dependent mechanical analysis by capturing both softening and hardening effects of small scale. Furthermore, in the framework of a classical plate theory the kinematic relations are developed. Incorporating kinematic relations with the definition of Hamilton's principle, the Euler-Lagrange equations of each of the layers are derived separately. Afterwards, combining Euler-Lagrange equations with those of the NSGT the nonlocal governing equations are written in terms of displacement fields. Interaction of the each of the graphene sheets with another one is regarded by the means of vdW model. Then, a widespread analytical solution is employed to solve the derived equations and obtain wave frequency values. Subsequently, influence of each participant variable containing nonlocal parameter, length scale parameter, foundation parameters, temperature gradient and moisture concentration is studied by plotting various figures.

Hygro-thermal effects on wave dispersion responses of magnetostrictive sandwich nanoplates

Ebrahimi, Farzad,Dabbagh, Ali,Tornabene, Francesco,Civalek, Omer Techno-Press 2019 Advances in nano research Vol.7 No.3

In this paper, a classical plate model is utilized to formulate the wave propagation problem of magnetostrictive sandwich nanoplates (MSNPs) while subjected to hygrothermal loading with respect to the scale effects. Herein, magnetostriction effect is considered and controlled on the basis of a feedback control system. The nanoplate is supposed to be embedded on a visco-Pasternak substrate. The kinematic relations are derived based on the Kirchhoff plate theory; also, combining these obtained equations with Hamilton's principle, the local equations of motion are achieved. According to a nonlocal strain gradient theory (NSGT), the small scale influences are covered precisely by introducing two scale coefficients. Afterwards, the nonlocal governing equations can be derived coupling the local equations with those of the NSGT. Applying an analytical solution, the wave frequency and phase velocity of propagated waves can be gathered solving an eigenvalue problem. On the other hand, accuracy and efficiency of presented model is verified by setting a comparison between the obtained results with those of previous published researches. Effects of different variants are plotted in some figures and the highlights are discussed in detail.