The Analysis of Two Esl/efl Websites: Englishclub and Activities for Esl Students

This study reviewed two well known ESL/EFL websites namely EnglishClub and Activities for ESL Students using the website evaluation framework proposed by Hasan and Abuelrub (2011). The writers found that Activities for ESL Students met 79.92% of the website evaluation criteria with 211 of the total score; while EnglishClub met 79.54% of the website evaluation criteria with 210 of the total score. Thus there was no significant difference between these two websites. Both EnglishClub and Activities for ESL Students are good for ESL/EFL learner

Evaluating collapse fragility curves for existing buildings retrofitted using seismic isolation

Few studies have investigated so far the collapse capacity of buildings with base-isolation. In such studies, preliminary considerations have been drawn based on a number of assumptions regarding: (i) the methodology used for assessing the collapse capacity, (ii) the collapse conditions and failure modes assumed for both superstructure and isolation system, and (iii) the numerical modeling assumptions. The main results pointed out that the collapse conditions of base-isolated buildings may occur for intensity levels slightly higher than those associated with the design earthquake. In this paper, further developments are made through the use of enhanced models for the description of the behavior of a rubber-based isolation system and the assumption of more rational collapse conditions. Collapse fragility functions, in terms of mean and dispersion values, are proposed for two archetypes representative of existing buildings retrofitted using the seismic isolation technique. The collapse margin ratio (median collapse capacity Sa, C, namely the spectral acceleration associated to a probability of exceedance equal to 50%, divided by the design spectral acceleration at the collapse prevention limit state) has been evaluated for each examined case-study. Values ranging from 1.10 to 1.45 were found

A simplified approach for the seismic loss assessment of rc buildings at urban scale: The case study of Potenza (Italy)

Comprehensive methodologies based on a fully probabilistic approach (i.e., the performance- based earthquake engineering approach, PBEE), represent a refined and accurate tool for the seismic performance assessment of structures. However, those procedures are suitable for building-specific evaluations, appearing extremely time-consuming if applied at the urban scale. In the proposed contribution, simplified loss assessment procedure will be applied at the urban scale with reference to the residential building stock of the center of Potenza. After the identification of the main reinforced concrete (RC) structural typologies and the definition of specific archetype building numerical models, the direct estimation of expected annual loss (DEAL) methodology will be applied to derive the EAL (i.e., expected annual loss) of RC buildings, deriving information on the effectively seismic quality (or seismic resilience) of the aforementioned built heritage at urban scale. Similarly, the monetary losses associated with downtime are evaluated. Preliminary considerations on the socio-economic effects of seismic scenarios on the territorial scale are also proposed

Integrated Application of Active Controls (IAAC) technology to an advanced subsonic transpot project-demonstration act system definition

The 1985 ACT airplane is the Final Active Controls Technology (ACT) Airplane with the addition of three-axis fly by wire. Thus it retains all the efficiency features of the full ACT system plus the weight and cost savings accruing from deletion of the mechanical control system. The control system implements the full IAAC spectrum of active controls except flutter-mode control, judged essentially nonbeneficial, and incorporates new control surfaces called flaperons to make the most of wing-load alleviation. This redundant electronic system is conservatively designed to preserve the extreme reliability required of crucial short-period pitch augmentation, which provides more than half of the fuel savings

Populasi dan Biomassa Cacing Tanah pada Berbagai Vegetasi di Setiap Kemiringan Lereng Serta Korelasinya terhadap Kesuburan Tanah di Laboratorium Lapang Terpadu Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Lampung

Laboratorium Lapangan Terpadu Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Lampung merupakan salah satu fasilitas yang disediakan untuk menunjang kegiatan perkuliahan, terdiri atas beberapa unit lahan dengan kemiringan lereng yang berbeda. Di Laboratorium Lapang Terpadu dapat ditemukan berbagai macam vegetasi yaitu sawah, pisang, singkong, kakao, tebu, alang-alang, karet, bambu. Beragamnya vegetasi yang tersebut akan berdampak pada kualitas bahan organik yang dihasilkan dan akan berpengaruh dengan keberagaman biota tanah termasuk cacing tanah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk untuk mengetahui pengaruh vegetasi pada kemiringan lereng yang berbeda terhadap populasi cacing tanah serta korelasinya dengan kesuburan tanah di Laboratorium Lapang Terpadu Unila. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan pengambilan sampel pada 15 titik dengan 3 ulangan pada masing- masing titik. Penentuan titik sampel berdasarkan 4 kemiringan lereng yaitu datar ( 0-3%), landai (3-8%), bergelombang (8-15%), dan berbukit (15-30%). Data yang diperoleh disajikan dalam bentuk diagramboxplotdan dilakukan uji korelasi antara populasi dan biomassa cacing tanah dengan sifat kimia tanah untuk mengetahui kesuburan kimia tanahnya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkanbahwa populasi cacing tanah dipengaruhi oleh vegetasi pada masing-masing kemiringan lereng dan populasi cacing tanah berkorelasi positif dengan kesuburan tanah di Laboratorium Lapang Terpadu. Uji korelasi menunjukkan bahwa populasi cacing tanah berkorelasi nyata dengan P-tersedia tanah dan kadar air tanah berpengaruh nyata terhadap populasi cacing tanah. Dari hasil identifikasi terdapat cacing tanah dari famili Glossoscolecidae yaitu genus Pontoscolex

Equalised Odds is not Equal Individual Odds: Post-processing for Group and Individual Fairness

Group fairness is achieved by equalising prediction distributions between protected sub-populations; individual fairness requires treating similar individuals alike. These two objectives, however, are incompatible when a scoring model is calibrated through discontinuous probability functions, where individuals can be randomly assigned an outcome determined by a fixed probability. This procedure may provide two similar individuals from the same protected group with classification odds that are disparately different -- a clear violation of individual fairness. Assigning unique odds to each protected sub-population may also prevent members of one sub-population from ever receiving equal chances of a positive outcome to another, which we argue is another type of unfairness called individual odds. We reconcile all this by constructing continuous probability functions between group thresholds that are constrained by their Lipschitz constant. Our solution preserves the model's predictive power, individual fairness and robustness while ensuring group fairness.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figures, 2 table

space and time resolved diagnostics of the enea euv discharge produced plasma source used for metrology and other applications

A discharge-produced-plasma (DPP) source emitting in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectral region is running at the ENEA Frascati Research Centre. The plasma is generated in low-pressure xenon gas and efficiently emits 100-ns duration radiation pulses in the 10–20-nm wavelength range, with an energy of $20~\text{mJ}/\text{shot}/\text{sr}$ at a 10-Hz repetition rate. The complex discharge evolution is constantly examined and controlled with electrical measurements, while a ns-gated CCD camera allowed observation of the discharge development in the visible, detection of time-resolved plasma-column pinching, and optimization of the pre-ionization timing. Accurately calibrated Zr-filtered PIN diodes are used to monitor the temporal behaviour and energy emission of the EUV pulses, while the calibration of a dosimetric film allows quantitative imaging of the emitted radiation. This comprehensive plasma diagnostics has demonstrated its effectiveness in suitably adjusting the source configuration for several applications, such as exposures of photonic materials and innovative photoresists

Dynamic centrifuge testing to assess liquefaction potential

A set of centrifuge tests has been carried out at ISMGEO (Italy) laboratory on models of a liquefiable soil. A natural sand from the Emilia-Romagna region in Italy was used in the tests, in order to reproduce typical ground conditions where liquefaction occurred during the seismic sequence of 2012. The models were instrumented with miniaturised accelerometers and with pore pressure and displacement transducers. Spectrum-compatible acceleration time histories were applied at the base of the model. In this way triggering of the liquefaction was detected and post-liquefaction settlements were evaluated. The paper describes with the tests carried out on free-field models. Further tests are currently ongoing to assess the seismic response of simple model structures lying on liquefiable ground. The testing programme, funded within the H2020 research project LIQUEFACT, is aimed at an experimental verification of ground improvement techniques used to mitigate the liquefaction susceptibility of fully saturated loose sands

PPARγ agonists negatively regulate αIIbβ3 integrin outside-in signalling and platelet function through upregulation of protein kinase A activity

BACKGROUND: Agonists for the peroxisome proliferator activated receptor PPARγ, have been shown to have inhibitory effects on platelet activity following stimulation by GPVI and GPCR agonists. OBJECTIVES: Profound effects on thrombus formation led us to suspect a role for PPARγ agonists in the regulation of integrin αIIbβ3 mediated signalling. Both GPVI and GPCR signalling pathways lead to αIIbβ3 activation, and signalling through αIIbβ3 plays a critical role in platelet function and normal haemostasis. METHODS: The effects of PPARγ agonists on the regulation of αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling was determined by monitoring the ability of platelets to adhere and spread on fibrinogen and undergo clot retraction. Effects on signalling components downstream of αIIbβ3 activation were also determined following adhesion to fibrinogen by western blotting. RESULTS: Treatment of platelets with PPARγ agonists inhibited platelet adhesion and spreading on fibrinogen and diminished clot retraction. A reduction in phosphorylation of several components of αIIbβ3 signalling, including the integrin β3 subunit, Syk, PLCγ2, FAK and Akt was also observed as a result of reduced interaction of the integrin β3 subunit with Gα13. Studies of VASP phosphorylation revealed that this was a due to an increase in PKA activity following treatment with PPARγ receptor agonists. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides further evidence for anti-platelet actions of PPARγ agonists, identifies a negative regulatory role for PPARγ agonists in the control of integrin αIIbβ3 outside-in signalling, and provides a molecular basis by which the PPARγ agonists negatively regulate platelet activation and thrombus formation