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Score equivalency of two Computer-Based Testing (henceforth CBT) and Paper-and-Pencil-Based Testing (henceforth PBT) versions has turned into a controversial issue during the last decade in Iran. The comparability of mean scores obtained from two CBT and PBT formats of test should be investigated to see if test takers' testing performance is influenced by the effects of testing administration mode. This research was conducted to examine score equivalency across modes as well as the relationship of gender, and testing mode preference with test takers' performance on computerized testing. The information on testing mode preference and attitudes towards CBT and its features was supported by a focus group interview. Findings indicated that the scores of test takers were not different in both modes and there was no statistically significant relationship between moderator above variables and CBT performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study tried to empirically examine the influence of enhancing Emotional Intelligence on writing skill. The method of doing the study was giving an "Interchange Placement Test" to the university students who majored in English (EFL learners) in Iran. After selecting intermediate level students for participating in the study, an IELTS test was administered to evaluate the proficiency of the participants at the beginning of the project. Next, the Emotional Quotient (EQ) of the subjects was measured and afterwards, teaching Emotional Intelligence (EI) was started. At the end of a one-educational-year course of simultaneously teaching EI and writing skill, the same EQ and IELTS test was given to the learners. The difference in scores of both EQ and IELTS test were statistically calculated to observe the progress in each issue. The results revealed a significant change both in EQ and in writing skill. The findings of the study could help further the knowledge in the related field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving development requires the essential factor; the most important of these factors is human factors. The overall objective of this study was to investigating the factors affecting the ability of agricultural higher education graduates in Iran. The number of samples using Cochran's formula was 280 people who were chosen from the different agricultural fields. The main tool for this study is a questionnaire that the formal validity is obtained with professors and experts opinions and reliability by using Cronbach's alpha research for component were 0.891, 0.940 and 0.944 respectively. The results of research showed that the role of theory courses is the most influential variable that effect the ability of agricultural higher education graduates in Iran. The effect of these variables in three dimensions, basic, technical and organizational ability agricultural graduates was 29%, 34%, and 38% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandibular second premolars and maxillary central incisors usually have one root, one canal, and one apical foramen. However, some studies have revealed anatomic variations in these teeth. The aim of the present study was to investigate such variations in canal configuration, foramina, lateral and accessory canals and apical deltas in the root apex of human maxillary central incisors and mandibular second premolars, using a clearing technique and stereomicroscopy. One hundred maxillary central incisors and 137 mandibular second premolars were collected, and India ink was injected into their canals. The teeth were then demineralized with 0.5 N nitric acid, cleared with methyl salicylate, and studied at×5 and × 16 magnification. The incidence of one canal and one apical foramen was 100% for maxillary central incisors and 94.16% for mandibular second premolars. The main apical foramen was located in the center of the root apex in 21.89% and 17% of mandibular second premolars and maxillary central incisors, respectively. Lateral and accessory canals were found in 84.50% and 77.15% of maxillary central incisors and mandibular second premolars, respectively. Several foramina were found in 11% of maxillary central incisors and 24.08% of mandibular second premolars. Apical deltas were seen in 4.38% and 2% of mandibular second premolars and maxillary central incisors, respectively. The rate of anatomic variations in the apical part of the tooth, especially in posterior teeth, is thus considered to be high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud window is an inseparable part of well design. It is so crucial for having a successful drilling operation, especially in gas fields. Reliable and accurate design of mud weight is the key to having a safe wellbore. Many wellbore stability problems occur because of the inaccurate mud weight in both gas and oil reservoirs. Inaccurate and even sometimes wrong mud weight is caused by lack of adequate knowledge about the field geomechanics. Quantifying the geomechanical uncertainties allows taking the knowledge incompleteness into account. It can reduce the risks of unreliable mud weight design. The geomechanical parameters are only known at some sparse points of measurements. Therefore, it is necessary to estimate the parameters in the whole reservoir as if there is a decision to drill an infill well or conduct a well work-over or side-track an old well. Geostatistical algorithms are utilized to create 3D mechanical earth modeling (MEM) of the system. Several MEM realizations are created to span the range of geomechanical uncertainty adequately. The mud window is designed under uncertainty based on Mohr-Coulomb failure criteria. In this article, at first, 1D MEMs at well locations are built by the available data, and then ordinary Kriging is used to propagate 1D MEMs onto 3D MEM. Smooth plus rough – nonlinear problem (LMAP) and Rough plus smooth – nonlinear problem (RML approximate) are the methodologies applied to quantify the geomechanical uncertainties. In the end, the optimum mud window and the corresponding uncertainty ranges are identified based on the posterior probability distribution of geomechanical parameters in one of the gas reservoirs in the south of Iran. The resulting mud window is narrower compared to the mud window designed with prior information. Consequently, mud window design would be more reliable with less possibility of kick or any wellbore instability. • A novel methodology is developed to design a reliable safe mud window based on updated geometrical uncertainty distribution • The used approach allows to estimate the uncertainty ranges for geomechanical parameters and their dependent parameters. • 1D and 3D Mechanical Earth Modeling were built to obtain geomechanical parameters, using Ordinary Kriging methods [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]