The effect of hydrogen on the magnetic properties of FeV superlattice

The electronic and magnetic structures of a hydrogenated and hydrogen free superlattice of 3 iron monolayers and 9 vanadium monolayers are studied using the first principle full-potential augmented-plane-wave method as implemented in WIEN2k package. The volume, the total energy and the magnetic moments of the system are studied versus the hydrogen positions at the octahedral sites within the superlattice and also versus the filling of the vanadium octahedral location by hydrogen atoms. It is found that the hydrogen locations at the interior of vanadium layer are energetically more favourable. The local Fe magnetic moment and the average magnetic moment per supercell are found to increase as the H position moves towards the Fe-V interface. On the other hand, the average magnetic moment per supercell is found to initially decrease up to filling by 3 H atoms and then increases afterwards. To our knowledge, this is the first reporting on the increase in the computed magnetic moment with hydrogenation. These trends of magnetic moments are attributed to the volume changes resulting from hydrogenation and not to electronic hydrogen-metal interaction.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures and 2 table

Effective Debriefing Helps Achieve Learning Objectives in the Classroom

Learning involves making sense of whatever has been taught or experienced in the classroom (Watkins, 2009). Individual students may, in fact, interpret such experiences of learning differently and may apply this knowledge distinctly throughout their lives. Classroom activities in this regard may work as useful tools to enhance students' learning experiences through active involvement and reflective practices (Watkins, 2009). However, if whatever done in the class makes no sense to a student and is not integrated effectively with the content and students’ demographics both purpose and process of teaching and learning become ambiguous (Berman, 2004). One of the many reasons where studentslearning is said to be hampered is inadequate opportunity left for the teacher to debrief or review activities once they are done (Dennison, & Kirk, 1990). Thus, I believe, one of the ways to ensure student learning is adequate integration of pedagogy with learning objectives through reviewing and debriefing exercises

ASSESSING THE EFFECT OF OJT TRAINING QUALITY FACTORS ON TVET STUDENTS’ SATISFACTION IN PREPARING FOR EMPLOYMENT IN OMAN

The Job Training has been utilised to provide work skills to TVET students in order to meet the labour market in Oman. It is important to determine whether the quality of the training is meeting to what TVET students’ needs. Therefore, this study examines the effect of the On-the Job-Training (OJT) quality factors on TVET students’ satisfaction. The internship is financed by Ministry of Manpower for TVET candidates in Oman and is meant to obtain employability skills. The study looked at the OJT training quality factors in relation to Trainer Quality, Effective assessment, Clear expectation, Learning Stimulation, Training Relevancy, Competence Development, Training Resources, Effective Support and Active Learning as found to have a direct link to students’ satisfaction. The pilot study of 30 samples was carried out and a random sampling method was used. Nevertheless, this study used a quantitative method of research. In addition, a descriptive method was used to analyse the data and the study results are provided in the form of explanatory notes. However, the reliability test was done i.e. Alpha Cronbach’s shows the range between 0.80 to 0.9 and this confirms the study results. The instrument of the survey of this study used the Coates (2009) AQTF quality indicator; using a five-point Likert scale. The literature review focused on Total Quality Management (TQM model) associated with 5-C TQM Model of Academic Excellence and Service Quality (SERVQUAL Model). Finally, the OJT training quality was measured against students’ satisfaction and the P-value was found to be statistically highly significant.  Article visualizations

Community Engagement and Improved Language Proficiency: The Case of Service-Learning in Higher Education in Oman

It can be argued that as an effective teaching approach, service learning can contribute significantly to improvement of the proficiency of learners of English as a foreign Language. This paper reports on the findings of a quasi- experimental study on the effect of service learning on EFL student-teachers English language proficiency in pre-service teacher education program at Sultan Qaboos University. The findings of the study reveal that the student teachers in the experimental group outperformed those in the contrast group in all language components tested by the TOEFL and the Oral test. These findings clearly indicate an overall improvement in the language performance of the student teachers as a result of the service-learning intervention. Comparison of the experimental group results in both tests between pre and post intervention reveals a significant improvement which can be attributed to the service learning experience

End to end Multi-Objective Optimisation of H.264 and HEVC Codecs

All multimedia devices now incorporate video CODECs that comply with international video coding standards such as H.264 / MPEG4-AVC and the new High Efficiency Video Coding Standard (HEVC) otherwise known as H.265. Although the standard CODECs have been designed to include algorithms with optimal efficiency, large number of coding parameters can be used to fine tune their operation, within known constraints of for e.g., available computational power, bandwidth, consumer QoS requirements, etc. With large number of such parameters involved, determining which parameters will play a significant role in providing optimal quality of service within given constraints is a further challenge that needs to be met. Further how to select the values of the significant parameters so that the CODEC performs optimally under the given constraints is a further important question to be answered. This thesis proposes a framework that uses machine learning algorithms to model the performance of a video CODEC based on the significant coding parameters. Means of modelling both the Encoder and Decoder performance is proposed. We define objective functions that can be used to model the performance related properties of a CODEC, i.e., video quality, bit-rate and CPU time. We show that these objective functions can be practically utilised in video Encoder/Decoder designs, in particular in their performance optimisation within given operational and practical constraints. A Multi-objective Optimisation framework based on Genetic Algorithms is thus proposed to optimise the performance of a video codec. The framework is designed to jointly minimize the CPU Time, Bit-rate and to maximize the quality of the compressed video stream. The thesis presents the use of this framework in the performance modelling and multi-objective optimisation of the most widely used video coding standard in practice at present, H.264 and the latest video coding standard, H.265/HEVC. When a communication network is used to transmit video, performance related parameters of the communication channel will impact the end-to-end performance of the video CODEC. Network delays and packet loss will impact the quality of the video that is received at the decoder via the communication channel, i.e., even if a video CODEC is optimally configured network conditions will make the experience sub-optimal. Given the above the thesis proposes a design, integration and testing of a novel approach to simulating a wired network and the use of UDP protocol for the transmission of video data. This network is subsequently used to simulate the impact of packet loss and network delays on optimally coded video based on the framework previously proposed for the modelling and optimisation of video CODECs. The quality of received video under different levels of packet loss and network delay is simulated, concluding the impact on transmitted video based on their content and features

Characteristics of Energy Consumption by building type of a U.S. Navy Installation in Hot and Humid Climate

In fiscal year 2014, the facility energy consumption of the Department of Defense (DOD) amounted to 214,164 billion British thermal units (Btus), which was about 1.2 percent of the total U.S. commercial sector’s energy consumption. DOD spent $4.2 billion on facility energy, which included$4 billion to power, heat, and cool buildings. Several research works have been conducted to save energy and study the energy consumption of military installations in a general view. However, few research works discussed the characteristics of energy consumption by building type in a high temperature and high relative humidity climate. This paper will investigate the characteristics of energy consumption by building type under the specific hot and humid climate at a selected U.S. Navy installation. The building types comprise of office building, residential building, supermarket, data center, warehouse and supermarket. Utility bills of electricity and natural gas for each building will be analyzed to show the actual energy consumption status. Field tests on HVAC system operations and building envelope properties will be conducted to identify the characteristics of energy consumption for each building type. Weakness of current building operation in the selected military installation will be discussed. Based on measured data and walk-through inspection, energy conservation measures will be proposed

Late Corneal Thinning and Keratitis following Mitomycin-C use in Pterygium Surgery

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Endogenous indole-3-acetic acid concentrations during adventitious root formation in Eucalyptus globulus

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