Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Application of Portfolios to Assess Progress in Writing of EFL Students at Secondary Schools in Banda Aceh.

Portfolios are one of the alternatives that can be used for writing assessment. Portfolios are not common in the curriculum. The lack of dissemination to language teachers have made portfolios disregarded. In order to encourage teachers to use portfolios for assessment of writing, they need to have adequate information about portfolios, how they can be used for assessment as well as the benefits of using them for assessment. This study discusses why teachers do not use portfolios for assessing writing done by senior high school students. It focuses on English teachers at Islamic senior high schools in Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar, and also looks at alternatives to help teachers use portfolios for assessment. The 26 teachers who participated in this study were given a questionnaire in order to find out their background knowledge related to portfolios and the difficulties they faced as teachers. Data from the questionnaire was supported by observations made by the researcher whilst monitoring their teaching. The results of this study showed that a large percentage of teachers found it difficult to design a rubric/set of instructions for using portfolios for writing assessment, whilst from the observation it was revealed that the complexities of correcting portfolios discouraged them from using portfolios as one of their means of assessment.
Power Systems Harmonics: Computer Modelling and Analysis

Deregulation has presented the electricity industry with many new challenges in power system planning and operation. Power engineers must understand the negative effect of harmonics on an electrical power network resulting from the extensive use of power electronics-based equipment. Serving as a complete reference to harmonics modelling, simulation and analysis, this book lays the foundations for optimising quality of power supply in the planning, design and operation phases. Features include: MATLAB function codes to aid the development of harmonic software and provide a hands-on approach to the theory presented; Insight into the use of alternative, increased efficiency, harmonic domain techniques; Examination of the harmonic modelling and analysis of FACTS, along with conventional and custom power plant equipment; Clear presentation of the basic analytical approaches to harmonic theory and techniques for the resolution of harmonic distortion. Advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students in electrical engineering will benefit from the unique combination of practical examples and theoretical grounding. Practising power engineers, managers and consultants will appreciate the detailed coverage of engineering practice and power networks world-wide.
preparing for blended e-learning

Blended and online learning skills are rapidly becoming essential for effective teaching and learning in universities and colleges. Covering theory where useful but maintaining an emphasis on practice, this book provides teachers and lecturers with an accessible introduction to e-learning.Beginning by exploring the meaning of 'e-learning', it supports tutors in identifying how they plan to use technology to support courses that blend online and face-to-face interactions. Illustrated by a range of case of studies, the book covers: designing quality, appropriate effective and online learning efficient and sustainable e-learning activity providing appropriate feedback to learnersdevising student activities and sourcing learning resources managing online and offline interactionsPacked with practical advice and ideas, this book provides the core skills and knowledge that teachers in HE and FE need when starting out and further developing their teaching course design for blended and online learning.
In Situ Measurements of the Hydration Behavior of Compacted Milos (SD80) Bentonite by Wet-Cell X-ray Diffraction in an Opalinus Clay Pore Water and a Diluted Cap Rock Brine

Compacted bentonite is currently being considered as a suitable backfill material for sealing underground repositories for radioactive waste as part of a multi-barrier concept. Although showing favorable properties for this purpose (swelling capability, low permeability, and high adsorption capacity), the best choice of material remains unclear. The goal of this study was to examine and compare the hydration behavior of a Milos (Greek) Ca-bentonite sample (SD80) in two types of simulated ground water: (i) Opalinus clay pore water, and (ii) a diluted saline cap rock brine using a confined volume, flow-through reaction cell adapted for in situ monitoring by X-ray diffraction. Based on wet-cell X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and calculations with the software CALCMIX of the smectite d(001) reflection, it was possible to quantify the abundance of water layers (WL) in the interlayer spaces and the amount of non-interlayer water uptake during hydration using the two types of solutions. This was done by varying WL distributions to fit the CALCMIX-simulated XRD model to the observed data. Hydrating SD80 bentonite with Opalinus clay pore water resulted in the formation of a dominant mixture of 3- and 4-WLs. The preservation of ca. 10% 1-WLs and the apparent disappearance of 2-WLs in this hydrated sample are attributed to small quantities of interlayer K (ca. 8% of exchangeable cations). The SD80 bentonite of equivalent packing density that was hydrated in diluted cap rock brine also contained ca. 15% 1-WLs, associated with a slightly higher concentration of interlayer K. However, this sample showed notable suppression of WL thickness with 2- and 3-WLs dominating in the steady-state condition. This effect is to be expected for the higher salt content of the brine but the observed generation of CO2 gas in this experiment, derived from enhanced dissolution of calcite, may have contributed to the suppression of WL thickness. Based on a comparison with all published wet-cell bentonite hydration experiments, the ratio of packing density to the total layer charge of smectite is suggested as a useful proxy for predicting the relative amounts of interlayer and non-interlayer water incorporated during hydration. Such information is important for assessing the subsequent rates of chemical transport through the bentonite barrier.
Transformation of Kikuyu traditional architecture : case study of homesteads in lower Mukurwe-ini, Nyeri, Kenya

vii TABLE OF CONTENTS ix LIST OF FIGURES xiii CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1.1. 0 Study Background and Literature. 1 1.2. 0. The Terms Traditional and Vernacular 8 1.3. 0 Dynamics of Transformation of Vernacular Architecture 11 1.4. 0 The Research Strategy and structure 14 1.4. 1 The Objectives of the Research. 14 1.4. 2 Significance of the Study 14 1.4. 3 Limitations of the study 15 1.4. 4 Choise of case study area 16 1.4. 5 Methodology 17 The Archival Information 17
Hybrid power system with a controlled energy storage

We investigated a small isolated hybrid power system that used two types of power generation; wind turbine and diesel generation. The interaction of diesel generation, the wind turbine, and the local load is complicated because both the load and the wind turbine fluctuate during the day. These fluctuations create imbalances in power distribution (energy sources are not equal to energy sinks) that can affect the frequency and the voltage in the power system. The addition of energy storage will help balance the distribution of power in the power network. For this paper, we studied the interaction among hybrid power system components and the relative size of the components. We also show how the contribution of wind energy affects the entire power system and distribution and the role of energy storage under the transient conditions caused by load changes and wind turbine start ups.
Good CoP: what makes a community of practice successful?

We have established a community of practice focussed on student learning in first-year science. It is recognised that transition, whether from school to university or other possible transitions, is an issue that is a concern for the entire sector, and this is acknowledged both at Faculty and University level. One of the factors to which we attribute the success of this CoP is that we are working within the context of a well-established set of transition pedagogies which have been strongly promoted and supported within UTS. There is also an internal grants scheme that provides small amounts of funding for initiatives aimed at improving transition and engagement as part of the widening participation strategy. Another factor for the success of this group is the leadership and active engagement of a senior staff member. This CoP has not evolved organically as a grass-roots group, nor has it been commissioned from on-high. The Faculty of Science has also recently appointed an academic developer to support course renewal and the mapping of graduate attributes, and this role includes the support of initiatives like setting up CoPs.
Using the academic timetable to influence student trip-making behaviour

The university academic timetable is the framework which defines the rhythm of the term-time student activities that occur on campus. This thesis explores how the design of the academic timetable affects student trip-making behaviour to and from campus and is motivated by concerns around the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the campus-based university. The thesis investigates the current understanding of student trip-making behaviour and shows that whilst it is informally generally accepted that students may plan their trips to campus around the demands placed on their time by the academic timetable, this appointment based approach is not generally recognised in student trip models. The thesis demonstrates that it is the timetable which is the main driver of student travel demand, that changes to the timetable can influence trip-making behaviour, and that a policy of timetable compression, combined with a greater use of online resources could be employed to reduce student trips to/from campus and student presence on it, thereby making the university more environmentally sustainable. However, students with compressed timetables appear to be less engaged with their studies, and exhibit a greater degree of variation in terms of their attainment level compared with students whose timetables force them to be on campus on an almost full-time basis. Students appear to prefer timetables that limit the time they need to spend on campus, and the thesis suggests that addressing this mismatch between what students currently appear to want, and what seems to offer them the best potential academic outcome represents a major future challenge to the long term academic sustainability of the campus based university.
The Idiosyncratic Volatility Puzzle: A Time-Specific Anomaly

Given the availability of daily data over 1926-1962, it is surprising that there is no research examining the idiosyncratic volatility (IV) puzzle over this early period. This paper conducts an out-of-sample test on the IV phenomenon. We find that the negative relation between IV and expected returns only exists during the period 07/1963-12/1989, implying that the puzzle may be a result of data snooping bias. The result on time-special anomaly is robust for different sorting breakpoints and alternative measure of idiosyncratic volatility. Infrequent trading cannot account for the low average returns of stocks with high idiosyncratic volatility. With a striking contrast, the involving of short-term return reversals eliminates this dilemma.
Technological innovation and operational effectiveness: their role in achieving performance improvements

The purpose of this article is to examine the role of the alignment between technological innovation effectiveness and operational effectiveness after the implementation of enterprise information systems, and the impact of this alignment on the improvement in operational performance. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine structural relationships between the set of observed variables and the set of continuous latent variables. The findings from this research suggest that the dimensions stemming from technological innovation effectiveness such as system quality, information quality, service quality, user satisfaction and the performance objectives stemming from operational effectiveness such as cost, quality, reliability, flexibility and speed are important and significantly well-correlated factors. These factors promote the alignment between technological innovation effectiveness and operational effectiveness and should be the focus for managers in achieving effective implementation of technological innovations. In addition, there is a significant and direct influence of this alignment on the improvement of operational performance. The principal limitation of this study is that the findings are based on investigation of small sample size.
Low-Cost Treatments for Horizontal Curve Safety

Nearly 25% of fatal crashes occur at or near a horizontal curve. Hence, addressing the safety problem at horizontal curves is one of the 22 emphasis areas of the Strategic Highway Safety Plan prepared by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Also, crashes at horizontal curves are a big component of the road departure crash problem, which is one of Federal Highway Administration's three focus areas. This publication was prepared to provide practical information on low-cost treatments that can be applied at horizontal curves to address identified or potential safety problems. The publication concisely describes the treatment; shows examples; suggests when the treatment might be applicable; provides design features; and where available, provides information on the potential safety effectiveness and costs. The treatments include: Basic traffic signs and markings found in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD); Enhanced traffic control devices; Additional traffic control devices not found in the MUTCD; Rumble strips; Minor roadway improvements; and Innovative and experimental treatments. The publication concludes with a description of maintenance activities that should be conducted to keep the treatments effective.
Quality Examination Framework for Ethiopian Healthcare Websites

Website becomes an important tool for organizations to put their product online. Similarly, health care organizations allow to serve their patients online as well as to deliver information. In Ethiopia, healthcare providers have websites even though the usages of the website by end-users are not become familiar due to their interpretation on the standard of the existing website. The objective of this study is to develop a website quality evaluation framework for Ethiopian healthcare organizations which is used as guidelines for developers of healthcare website in Ethiopia. To develop the framework an extensive literature study was done on quality models, design guidelines, accessibility guidelines to identify characteristics, sub-characteristics and quality indicators. The proposed framework (HWebQE) was tested on three Ethiopian healthcare providers’ website as case study using questionnaire prepared from the quality indicators. The results of this study show that the overall qualities of the available Ethiopian healthcare provider’s website are in the moderate quality level.
Parents' and caregivers' perceptions of the use of live video recording in neonatal units: A focus group study.

To study the perceptions of parents and caregivers on the use of live video in neonatal clinical practice in order to better assess its suitability, limits and constraints.Methods: Nine focus group interviews were conducted in four neonatal units involving 20 caregivers and 19 parents. Data were triangulated using transcripts and field notes and analyzed using inductive and semantic thematic analysis.Results: The seven major themes that emerged from the caregiver focus groups were (i) the impact of video recording on caregiver’s behavior; (ii) the impact on parents; (iii) forensic issues ;(iv) guarantee of use; (v) benefits for the new-born; (vi) methodology of use; and (vii) technical considerations & feasibility. The five major themes emerge from parents focus groups were i) benefits for the new-born and care enhancement; (ii) impact on parents and potential benefits in case of newborn child/parent separation; (iii) informed consent and guarantee of use;(iv) concern about a possible disruptive impact on caregivers; and (v) data protection.Conclusion: Both parents and caregivers found the use of video in care useful and acceptable if measures were taken to protect the data and mitigate any negative impacts on caregivers.
Process modeling in innovative design using systems engineering

We develop a series of process models to comprehensively describe and effectively manage innovative design in order to achieve adequate balance between innovation and control, following the design research methodology (DRM). Firstly, we introduce a descriptive model of innovative design. This model reflects the actual process and pattern of innovative design, locates innovation opportunities in the process and supports a systematic perspective whose focus is the external and internal factors affecting the success of innovative design. Secondly, we perform an empirical study to investigate how control and flexibility can be balanced to manage uncertainty in innovative design. After identifying project practices that cope with these uncertainties in terms of control and flexibility, a case-study sample based on five innovative design projects from an automotive company is analyzed and shows that control and flexibility can coexist. Based on the managerial insights of the empirical study, we develop the procedural process model and the activity-based adaptive model of innovative design. The former one provides the conceptual framework to balance innovation and control by the process structuration at the project-level and the integration of flexible practices at the operation-level. The latter model considers innovative design as a complex adaptive system, and thereby proposes the method of process design that dynamically constructs the process architecture of innovative design. Finally, the two models are verified by supporting a number of process analysis and simulation within a series of innovative design projects.
A new thermoelastic source model for non-metals

This paper presents a source model for laser ultrasonic generation in non-metals in the thermoelastic regime. It is shown that the waveforms can be directly related to the optical absorption depth of the material. The longitudinal component due to the buried source is shown to be a bipolar pulse which can be modelled by convolving the temporal form of the laser pulse with the optical absorption profile and its time delayed inverted reflection from the free surface. The heated disc is surrounded by cold constraining material so the radial in-plane forces have Heaviside like time dependence whereas the vertical component only exists during the initial fast rise of the free surface and therefore can be modelled as a delta function. The predications of the model are compared for a TEA CO2 laser generation in a plastic, an Excimer laser in glass and a Nd:YAG laser in silicon. This model also explains difference between constrained and unconstrained surfaces for the first time, in the constrained case the vertical force is related to the integral of the laser pulse profile and has Heaviside like time dependence.
Device-level thermal analysis of GaN-based electronics

Gallium nitride (GaN)-based microelectronics are one of the most exciting semiconductor technologies for high power density and high frequency electronics. The excellent electrical properties of GaN and its related alloys (high critical electric field, carrier concentration, and carrier mobility) have enabled record-breaking performance of GaN-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) for radio-frequency (RF) applications. However, the very high power density in the active region of GaN HEMTs leads to significant degradation in performance as the device temperature increases. Thus, effective thermal management of GaN-based electronics is a key to enabling the technology to reach its full potential. Despite the vast amount of research into thermal issues in GaN-based electronics, including both modeling and experimental studies, there are a number of poorly understood issues. For instance, the heat source distribution in GaN HEMTs for RF applications has not been quantified nor have metrics been published for the heat flux in the near-junction region. Often, device engineers neglect the importance of thermal boundary conditions, which play a major role in shaping the temperature distribution in the device. Temperature rise in GaN HEMTs is typically modeled using computationally expensive numerical methods; analytical methods that are more computationally efficient are often quite limited. In this thesis, a literature review is given that discusses previous research in thermal issues in GaN-based electronics and that provides a perspective on the important factors to consider for thermal management. Electro-thermal modeling tools validated with test devices were used to derive quantitative information about the heat source distribution in GaN HEMTs. Both numerical and analytical thermal models were developed that provide helpful insight into the dominant factors in the formation of highly localized hotspots in the near-junction region. The Kirchhoff transformation, a technique for solving the heat conduction equation for situations in which the thermal conductivity of a material depends on temperature, was extended and applied to GaN HEMTs. The research described in this thesis provides critical information in understanding thermal issues in GaN-based electronics required to develop next generation nearjunction thermal management technologies. Thesis Supervisor: Evelyn N. Wang Title: Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Minimum impact house prototype for sustainable building

The Minihouse is a prototupe for a sustainable townhouse. On a site of only 29 sqm it offers 154 sqm of urban life. The project 'Minimum Impact House' adresses two important questions: How do we provide living space in the cities without distroying the landscape? How to improve sustainably the ecological, economical and socio-cultural performance of buildings?