Second language learners have difficulty in vocabulary learning since many English words have two or more meanings especially when they occur in idioms or expressions and deciding the correct meaning is demanding for EFL learners. So, this study aimed at investiating how 54 Persian students of English at intermediate and advanced levels which included 28 advanced students and 26 intermediate students, used their first language knowledge to comprehend and produce 3 types of English idioms, namely COMPOSITIONAL, semi-COMPOSITIONAL, and non-COMPOSITIONAL ones. COMPOSITIONAL idioms, which are totally word for word translation of English idioms in learners mother tongue, like: Be on the tip of one’s tongue. Semi-COMPOSITIONAL idioms which are syntactically or semantically similar but differ in one or more words, such as: for a rainy day. Non-COMPOSITIONAL idioms which are totally different in translation from learners mother tongue, for example, drive someone up the heel. The students were divided into 4 groups; 2 experimentals and 2 controls. A pretest which included both comprehension and production tests was administered to each group. Then, the experimental groups received the treatment in the form of small conversations, but the control groups did not receive any treatment. In the last session all groups received an immediate posttest. After one month, a delayed posttest was adminstered. For the analysis of the data, a t-test and ANOVA were employed. Results in the four groups showed that COMPOSITIONAL idioms had the highest correct responses, followed by semi-COMPOSITIONAL idioms, and non-COMPOSITIONAL idioms were the most difficult to comprehend and produce. In addition, in all groups students performed better in comprehension rather than production test.

Tissue nutrient status of high yielding plant populations can be a reference norm for evaluation of growth and achievement of optimal yield. COMPOSITIONAL reference norms derived from generic models are important. Yield data of 382 sugar beet fields was analyzed and, using mathematical approach, cumulative variance ratio function[Fic()], and chi-squared distribution function, the low (n1= 259) and high (n2= 123) yielding subpopulations were separated from each other. Cutoff yield was obtained at 53.980 t.ha-1. Critical chi-squared value was found to be 7.3 and was confirmed by using data of leaf samples from 38 fields and Cate-Nelson statistical procedure. Preliminary CND norms of different elements were found as follows: V*N=3.442±0.145, V*P=0.765±0.139,V*K =3.197±0.187, V*Zn=-3.691±0.306, V*Fe=-3.317±0.321, V*Cu=-4.377±0.233, V*B =-3.487±0.293, V*S=1.359±0.283, V*Rd=6.589±0.076. Later, nutrient sufficiency range and critical intervals norms and nutrient indexes for CND were determined using analysis results of 38 sugar beet tissue samples. Satisfactory results were obtained when data of many fertilizer trials were investigated to arrive at preliminary validation of norms and indexes. These norms, indexes, nutrient sufficiency ranges, and critical intervals can be used for prediction of growth, yield, and nutrition disorders of sugar beet.

Finding a representative fluid in a hydrocarbon reservoir is crucial for integrated reservoir management. In this study, a systematic approach for screening and selecting consistent fluid samples in a reservoir was developed. The model integrated quality control (QC) of well conditioning before sampling, QC of PVT data, thermodynamic modeling and COMPOSITIONAL GRADIENT within a reservoir. Well and separator conditioning were examined as essential steps before sampling at equilibrium conditions. Sampling criteria were deduced according to available data, sampling standards, and tolerance of field measurement devices. Then, PVT data of consistent fluid samples were carefully screened for efficient phase behavior studies. This model suggests that thermodynamic modeling and equation of state (EOS) tuning be performed on screened fluids using only consistent experimental data. The proposed model was implemented on PVT samples of a supergiant gas condensate reservoir in the Middle East. Results show that only 10% of collected samples are at equilibrium, good candidates for PVT studies. Also, ±0.1% change in composition of C12+ causes ±300 psia changes in dew-point pressure, revealing no substantial difference between validated samples for the reservoir under study, and one representative fluid suffices throughout the reservoir.

Objective: To examine the efficiency of both the Zeta and density GRADIENT centrifugation (DGC) methods for the selection of normal chromatin sperm by TUNEL, sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD), acridine orange and chromomycin A3 (CMA3).Materials and Methods: The study was performed on 63 patients. Semen analysis was carried out according to WHO criteria. Semen samples were divided into three equal portions. One portion was used as the control, the second portion was used for the Zeta method and the third portion underwent DGC method. All portions were evaluated for sperm morphology (Diff Quick staining), protamine deficiency (CMA3) and DNA integrity (SCD, AO and TUNEL). Coefficients of correlation and student’s t test were carried out using SPSS 11.5.Results: The mean percentage of abnormal sperm, protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation in the Zeta and DGC methods were significantly decreased as compared to the control group (p<0.005). In addition, the DGC method was higher in comparison to the Zeta method in the selection of sperm with normal morphology (p<0.005). The Zeta method was higher in comparison to the DGC method in the selection of sperm with intact DNA (p<0.005).Conclusion: Both Zeta and DGC methods were effective in the selection of sperm with better quality in terms of normal morphology, normal protamine content and DNA integrity. Therefore, we suggested that the combined Zeta and DGC method should be used for selection of normal sperm.