Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computer-based grammar instruction in an EFL context: improving the effectiveness of teaching adverbial clauses

This study aims to find out whether there are any statistically significant differences in participants’ achievements on three different types of instruction: computer-based instruction, teacher-driven instruction, and teacher-driven grammar supported by computer-based instruction. Each type of instruction follows the deductive approach. The sample of the study consists of 50 learners of English enrolled in a preparatory course for a high-stake language exam conducted in Turkey. The effectiveness is compared based on the results obtained from the post-test and the delayed post-test, which is conducted five weeks later. The participants instructed by using both computer-based and teacher-driven grammar instruction supported by computer-based materials score higher than those who receive traditional instruction. Moreover, supporting teacher-driven instruction with computer-based materials in learning adverbial clauses can lead to higher achievement through taking practice beyond the classroom.
MALL: the pedagogical challenges

In this paper the development of mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) over the past 20 years is reviewed with a particular focus on the pedagogical challenges facing its exploitation. Following a consideration of the definition of mobile learning, the paper describes the dominant mobile technologies upon which MALL applications have been based: MP3 players, personal digital assistants, and mobile phones. It then identifies the prevalent methodological approach that has underlain the great majority of MALL implementations: a behaviorist, teacher-centered, transmission model of instruction. However, though rarely implemented, MALL is equally capable of supporting more innovative constructivist, collaborative, learner-centered instruction, examples of which are examined. Besides being restricted by a pedagogical approach very much out of step with methodologies that have guided foreign language teaching for nearly four decades, MALL has also been constrained by access to technology. In part, this problem has been due to the necessity of acquiring mobile devices for student usage and the costs associated with mobile network and Internet connections. Even more so, the exploitation of mobile devices for language learning has been hampered by a lack of hardware standardization and entrenched operating system incompatibilities. The paper concludes that MALL has yet to realize its full potential and that achieving this aim is more a matter of pedagogy than technology. The financial and technological factors that have impeded the effective exploitation of MALL are likely to be resolved as operating system incompatibilities are overcome by market forces and students as well as teachers acquire suitable mobile devices for their own personal use. The future of MALL lies in the exploitation of the communication and multimedia affordances of mobile devices in ways that support collaborative, task-based learning both within and outside of the classroom.
Potential of ERS and RADARSAT data for surface roughness monitoring over bare agricultural fields affected by excessive runoff

The potential of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data for monitoring roughness states over bare agricultural fields has been investigated using one ERS image (23/spl deg/) and two RADARSAT images (39/spl deg/ and 47/spl deg/). At a high incidence angle (47/spl deg/), the influence of soil roughness on radar return predominates over the influence of other soil parameters, making it possible to discriminate and map various surface roughness classes over agricultural fields.
Use of Sound with Digital Text: Moving beyond Sound as an Add-On or Decoration.

The purpose of this interpretive case study was to explore—through a close analysis of one class project—students’ use of audio signs and the teacher's scaffolding of the use of audio signs. Two research questions guided this study: (a) In what ways did the fifth-grade students use audio signs, specifically transitions sounds, when constructing multimodal texts with different sign systems (e.g., visual, linguistic or audio signs)? ; (b) In what ways did the classroom teacher shape the specific social cultural environment for audio sign use? The findings of this study argue for professional development opportunities for teachers where they not only learn how to use various software programs but also learn the content knowledge necessary for communicating with multiple signs such as audio.
Naked into the World: IT experiences on a final primary school teaching practice—a second survey

This study reports a survey of 103 student teachers who were asked about their experiences of IT on their final teaching practice. Data are related to those from an earlier survey of the same group of students on their first teaching practice. The use of IT was higher than before, but still unacceptably low. A large majority of students will graduate with no classroom experience of databases and other applications software; a significant number will graduate without any classroom experiences using IT whatsoever. The patterns of IT use in class were most disappointing. A predominant use was for pupils to work on tasks unrelated to lesson plans, often practising basic skills. Those students who had taken a course in computer studies were more confident in their use of IT, made more use of IT in class, and experienced fewer technical problems than students who had not taken this course. However, students who had taken this course were no more likely to use a computer in class than those who had not. Students who do use IT in class reported increased confidence and a desire to make greater use of IT in the future. It is concluded that compulsory courses on the educational uses of IT, and use of IT early in teaching practice will help improve the current unacceptable situation, so long as they address the problem of ensuring appropriate classroom use of IT by students.
Collaborative-Adversarial Pair (CAP) Programming

This paper presents a study called collaborative-adversarial pair (CAP) programming which is an alternative to pair programming (PP). Its objective is to exploit the advantages of pair programming while at the same time downplaying its disadvantages. Unlike traditional pairs, where two people work together in all the phases of software development, CAPs start by designing together; splitting into independent test construction and code implementation roles; then joining again for testing. An empirical study was conducted in fall 2008 and in spring 2009 with twenty-six computer science and software engineering senior and graduate students at Auburn University. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups (CAP/experimental group and PP/control group). The subjects used Eclipse and JUnit to perform three programming tasks with different degrees of complexity. The results of this experiment point in favor of CAP development methodology and do not support the claim that pair programming in general reduces the software development duration, overall software development cost or increases the program quality or correctness.
Criterion-Related Validity in Multiple-Hurdle Designs: Estimation and Bias

Employee selection often involves a series of sequential tests (or hurdles). However, validation strategies under this complex design are not found in the literature. Missing is a discussion of the statistical properties important in establishing criterion-related validity in multiple-hurdle designs. The authors address this gap in the literature by suggesting a general statistical model for range restriction corrections. Because the multiple-hurdle design includes as special cases predictive and concurrent designs, the corrections apply also to these designs. The general correction model is based on algorithms from the missing data literature. Two missing data procedures are examined: the estimation-maximization procedure and the Bayesian multiple imputation (MI) procedure. These procedures are large-sample equivalent and often yield similar results. The MI procedure, however, has the added advantage of providing easily obtainable standard errors. A hypothetical example of a multiple-hurdle design is used to illustrate the procedures.
Bounded Rationality and Organizational Learning

Abstract : If organization theory finds it useful to draw upon some of the ideas that have emerged in cognitive psychology, it will be advantageous to borrow also the terminology used in discussing these ideas. Without working toward a higher level of consistency in terminology than prevails in organization theory today, it will be difficult or impossible to cumulate and assemble into a coherent structure the knowledge we are gaining from individual case studies and experiments. We will be continually reinventing wheels. That is a luxury we cannot afford. The happy band of researchers on organization theory is sufficiently small to be kept fully occupied discovering and verifying the theory just once. (Author) (kr)
Base-Dependent Cascade Synthesis of Novel Pyrano[3,2-c]coumarin Derivatives from Baylis–Hillman Bromide

5-Oxo-2,3,4,5-tetrahydropyrano[3,2-c]chromene-3-carboxylates derived from 4-hydroxycoumarin and Baylis–Hillman bromides are efficiently obtained in excellent yields within a short time. The transformation is depends on a base, which goes through SN2-SN2 nucleophilic substitution and intramolecular Michael addition. The product structures are confirmed by x-ray crystallography, and a tentative mechanism of the cascade process is presented.
The Architectural Development of the Historic Masjids in Cairo and its Acoustical Impact

This work examines the acoustical characteristics of the four patterns that represent the architectural development of the historic Masjids (Mosques) in Cairo: the semi-closed Rewaq pattern; the semi-closed Iwan pattern; the closed Iwan pattern and the closed simple geometrical pattern. Detailed architectural and acoustical analyses were performed on samples collected through a comprehensive historical survey of Masjids that were built between the ninth and eighteenth centuries. The architectural analysis included consideration of: room area; volume; shape; form; finishing materials; roof type and room aspect ratio. The acoustical analysis involved the application of geometrical acoustics using the RAYNOISE program ver3.1 to investigate the acoustical qualities of two Mamluk Masjids. The acoustics of two other Masjids are also briefly discussed. Results of the computer simulations showed that the semi-closed Rewaq pattern has the most problematic acoustic environment due to its enormous volume and the use of massive pillars that tend to confine the sound rays in a limited area around the source. The semi-closed Iwan pattern yields the best acoustical qualities relative to the other three patterns with high values of speech SPL (65-70dB(A)) and a D50 value that is equates to speech intelligibility of 70% or higher. In the closed Iwan pattern, only the worshipers in the Qibla Iwan experience a good acoustic environment whereas the other worshipers may experience some difficulties in hearing and understanding clearly the voice of the Imam. The closed simple pattern has fair acoustical qualities with most of the worshipers receiving a speech SPL equal to or higher than 50dB(A). This is due to its excessive height and the resulting long distance travelled by the rays reflected from the ceiling (about 42m) before reaching the plane of the worshipers. This results in their intensity being severely diminished. The three patterns for which simulations were carried out all have long reverberation times (RT) at the low and mid frequencies. This long RT is considered appropriate for the spiritual nature of these places and in addition in some cases it helps in increasing the speech SPL in the room.
Effects of the collector current fall time on the class E tuned power amplifier

Presents the equations governing the operation of the amplifier when the collector current fall time during the on-to-off transition of the transistor is an appreciable fraction of the signal period. A current-source model of the transistor with a linearly decreasing collector current during the fall time is used. The following basic amplifier parameters are determined: the waveforms of the collector current, the collector-to-emitter voltage, the instantaneous power dissipated in the transistor, the optimum values of the load-network components, the output power, the power-output capability, and the collector efficiency. The decrease of the collector efficiency is e.g. 10 percent at 60/spl deg/ fall time. Experimental results are also given. The author shows the behavior of the class E amplifier at higher operating frequencies and provides more accurate circuit design procedure.
Understanding Jazz Audiences: Listening and Learning at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival

Abstract This paper considers the ways in which jazz audiences participate in and contribute to musical events, and examines the roles that music plays in their lives and identities. Analysis of a large-scale survey and in-depth interviews, carried out at the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival in 2007, reveals a sense of community and atmosphere within which audience members value the opportunity to be amongst like-minded jazz enthusiasts. The jazz festival is shown to be enhanced by the city and the context of the larger Edinburgh Festival, with the size and character of the venues also contributing significantly to the intimacy and success of each event. The findings challenge the prevailing view that jazz audiences tend to be younger than those for classical music (S. Oakes, 2003, Demographic and sponsorship considerations for jazz and classical music festivals, The Service Industries Journal, 23(3), 165–178), and offer points of comparison with recent studies of classical music audiences (S.E. Pitts, 2005, What makes an audience? Investigating the roles and experiences of listeners at a chamber music festival, Music and Letters, 86(2), 257–269; S.E. Pitts, 2005, Valuing Musical Participation. Aldershot: Ashgate; S.E. Pitts & C.P. Spencer, 2008, Loyalty and longevity in audience listening: Investigating experiences of attendance at a chamber music festival, Music and Letters, 89(2), 227–238), showing a stronger sense of individual taste amongst jazz listeners, expressed through loyalty to performers and genres, rather than to the festival itself.
Using Explanatory Knowledge During Collaborative Problem Solving in Science

This research evaluates the effects of a scaffolded explanation-based approach to collaborative discussion on students' understanding of photosynthesis. This approach consists of instruction and prompts encouraging students to engage in the processes of explaining and justifying one's personal knowledge and comparing it to scientific knowledge. Forty-eight 4thand 5th-grade students, identified as having high or average "intentional" approaches to learning, were divided into 3 groups (high, average control [AC], and average intervention [AI]). Students worked both collaboratively and individually on 2 reasoning tasks (problem-explanation and concept maps) in the domain of photosynthesis. The results of the concept-mapping tasks indicated that the students in the AI group developed a more accurate scientific and functional understanding of photosynthesis than the AC group who did not receive the intervention. This study also confirmed the prediction that the AI group would more closely resemble the high intentional learning group by constructing explanations that were conceptually more advanced as well as retaining and acquiring more subject matter knowledge than those of the AC group. The scaffolded explanationbased intervention did not have a significant effect on the structure of students' explanations. This research supports the importance of the nature of students' discussion (i.e., explanation) to advance their beliefs about scientific phenomena and emphasizes the usefulness of explanation and concept-mapping techniques as evaluative measures of student knowledge during collaborative problem solving.
Wrist movement discrimination in single-trial EEG for Brain–Computer Interface using band powers

This paper proposes the use of Wavelet Transform (WT)-based descriptive features for analysing the Electroencephalogram (EEG) data for wrist movements. The interest is in analysing the EEG data to determine the left and right wrist movements using a small set of features. The methodology uses wavelet decomposition up to a specified decomposition level and calculates Power Spectral Density (PSD) in each subband. Features extracted from these bands are input to the Radial Basis Function (RBF) classifier to test classification accuracy. Results reveal the existence of significant change in power distribution in the two types of wrist movements. The classification rate was up to 91% with an average of 86% in the four subjects. These results show further improvement in recognition rate when compared with the groups’ effort earlier on same database.
Haptic modelling of cochlear implantation

A surgical simulator with real-time tactile perception is produced to replicate cochlear implantation. Visual and force feedback are provided during electrode insertion into a virtual 3D model of the human Scala Tympani (ST). The haptic representation is based on real-world, physical data. Force profiles are compared with experimental insertion studies for system validation. This system is the first of its kind to offer haptic modelling and force quantification during real-time insertion of a virtual Cochlear Implant (CI). The methods presented may be applied to other medical procedures where visual feedback is precluded, to enhance tactile perception and medical instruction.
Decision Making as a Factor in the Ease of Using Numerical Tables

The speed and accuracy with which people could obtain information from numerical tables was examined for a variety of presentation formats. All tables contained 10 numerical coll values arranged either as a 4 × 4 matrix or as a 16 × 1 row. It was found that for both these arrangements people were slower and more error-prone when they had to make four successive binary decisions than when making two decisions each time selecting among four alternatives. People also made more errors when the presentation format required them to combine decisions along two different spatial dimensions (using both row and column headings) compared with u format for which the decisions could he made successively along a single dimension (nosted column headings). This latter format approximates a logical tree structure and the present findings support other evidence that such formats are particularly useful for problems having extraneous information.
Technologies Across Our Curriculum: A Study of Technology Integration in the Classroom

The availability of microcomputers and specialty software has dramatically changed the classroom instruction in many areas of business education. In this study, the authors investigated the effectiveness of the technology-enhanced instruction in their classrooms, where they had successfully integrated the use of technology in their courses. The instruments of the experiments were a survey to derive a computer comfort scale and an Excel-based assessment to determine computer proficiency. The analysis shows that increased comfort levels (i.e., decreases in apprehension as well as increases in enjoyment and confidence) relate positively to an objective skills-based computer-proficiency test as well as subjective self-reports of computer expertise.
Online communication and students’ pragmatic choices in English

Abstract This study examined the opening and closing sequences of requestive e–mails written by 66 native English speaking (NES) students and 34 Iranian (NNES) students sent to a faculty member in an American university. Three hundred requestive e–mails from NES students and NNES students sent to a professor were collected over six semesters and were analyzed for the cultural and social variation that exists in e–mail communication. Students’ choices of opening and closing strategies were examined with respect to different interpersonal styles of politeness (solidarity vs. deference). Quantitative and qualitative findings revealed that solidarity and deference towards the professor were expressed differently in the e–mails of NES students and NNES students.
The Evolution of Critical Standards as Students Design Hypermedia Documents.

We conducted a 2-year design experiment in which 6thand 7th-grade students designed hypermedia documents that were used by their classmates as tools for learning. In the process of creating these documents, the students learned about research and communication skills as they developed an understanding of topics in social studies. Consensual patterns of student beliefs, which we refer to as critical standards, emerged in the classrooms and were fostered by teachers. Critical standards exemplified and made communal the research and design skills that sustained inquiry. They became a means by which classroom discourse was transformed into a language of learning. We illustrate longitudinal transitions in students' critical standards by focusing on changes in those standards developed for judging the appropriateness of a research question and for evaluating the quality of a hypermedia design. Questions that students considered "good" evolved over the course of the study, from those requiring little effort to answer and even less to evaluate to those affording opportunities for building knowledge. Standards for good hypermedia design evolved from eye-catching presentation to clarity of communication and consideration of audience. We discuss the means by which teachers assisted these transitions in students' beliefs and conclude with some observations about how
Energy-efficient handling of electric multiple unit based on maximum principle

Optimizing train handling to achieve energy-efficient operation is a cost-effective means for energy saving. The minimization of traction energy consumption of Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) train is chosen as the optimization goal and the necessary conditions of energy-efficient handling are deduced on the basis of the maximum principle. By analyzing the continuity of co-state variable without consideration of the influence of speed limitations and the jump conditions of co-state variable with consideration of the influence of speed limitations, the switching rules of optimal train operation states are obtained. On this basis, a numerical algorithm for searching the optimal sequence of train operation states is proposed and the correctness and effectiveness of the algorithm are verified by simulation. The simulation results show that when given 2.1% and 11.4% slack of journey time, up to 22.2% and 44.2% reduction of train traction energy consumption compared with that of flat-out running can be achieved correspondingly. The proposed algorithm is applicable for on-line generation of mode profiles for EMU trains.