Cross-correlating CMB polarization with local large scale structures

We study heterogeneous quantities that efficiently cross-correlate the lensing information encoded in CMB polarization and large-scale structures recovered from weak lensing galaxy surveys. These quantities allow us to take advantage of the special features of weak lensing effect on CMB B-polarization and of the high (40%) cross-correlation between the two data sets. We show that these objects are robust to filtering effects, have a low intrinsic cosmic variance (around 8% for small 100 square degrees surveys) and can be used as an original constraint on the vacuum energy density.Comment: 4 pages, use moriond.sty, to appear in the proceedings of the XXXVth Rencontres de Moriond "Energy densities in the Universe

INVESTIGATING ESP PRESENT-DAY THORNY SHORTCOMINGS AT IBN KHALDOUN UNIVERSITY OF TIARET IN ALGERIA

The study investigates present-day situation of ESP teaching/ learning in four selected faculties at Ibn-Khaldun University namely science and technology, Electrical engineering, commercial sciences and Informatics and Mathematics. In these professional loci of pedagogical activity, most of the teachers who are in charge of ESP are EGP or ELT teachers. The ultimate objective of this investigation is to assess and/or measure the (in)effectiveness of the current system of teaching/learning English for specific purposes in the aforesaid faculties. To attain that, the four faculty deans and 8 teachers were interviewed, and 120 students were addressed a questionnaire. This would allow us to update and analyze a diversified set of data in terms of nurturing and structuring a rigorous educational engineering approach that results in a reasoned implementation. The results obtained revealed all stakeholders are fully aware of the importance of English language teaching, especially in the light of the current worldwide bets. The data also unveiled a set of thorny gaps characterizing the implementation of the subject such as less motivating syllabus content, teachers’ lack of theoretical insightful knowledge as regard ESP founding tenets supporting its teaching, the total absence of periodic training, lack of appropriate means and students’ indifference

Tubylczy ekofeminizm i literatura matrylinearności w powieści Lindy Hogan "Solar Storms"

This article focuses on indigenous ecofeminism and literature of matrilineage in Linda Hogan’s Solar Storms (1995), a novel of environmental protest and indigenous “survivance,” a portmanteau word from “survival” and “resistance.” It analyzes the ability of inter-female bonding in mending the protagonist’s broken connections with her communal and natural environment. It depicts a gynocratic community in which women enjoy a pivotal position as leaders, storytellers, and secret keepers of healing traditions. In this novel, indigenous feminism intersects with ecofeminism, highlighting woman–nature symbolic connections as well as woman’s role in ecological conservation.Artykuł dotyczy kwestii ekofeminizmu tubylczego i literatury matrylinearnej w powieści Lindy Hogan Solar Storms. Autorka analizuje zdolność tworzenia więzi między kobietami w kontekście naprawiania zerwanych więzi bohaterki z jej środowiskiem społecznym i naturalnym. Przedstawia gynokratyczną społeczność, w której kobiety zajmują kluczową pozycję jako przywódczynie, gawędziarki czy szamanki. W powieści feminizm tubylczy krzyżuje się z ekofeminizmem, podkreślając symboliczne powiązania kobieta–natura, a także rolę kobiety w ochronie środowiska

Semi-blind Bayesian inference of CMB map and power spectrum

We present a new blind formulation of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) inference problem. The approach relies on a phenomenological model of the multi-frequency microwave sky without the need for physical models of the individual components. For all-sky and high resolution data, it unifies parts of the analysis that have previously been treated separately, such as component separation and power spectrum inference. We describe an efficient sampling scheme that fully explores the component separation uncertainties on the inferred CMB products such as maps and/or power spectra. External information about individual components can be incorporated as a prior giving a flexible way to progressively and continuously introduce physical component separation from a maximally blind approach. We connect our Bayesian formalism to existing approaches such as Commander, SMICA and ILC, and discuss possible future extensions.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure

ALGERIAN THIRD YEAR ENGLISH COURSEBOOK SCRUTINY: ‘MY BOOK OF ENGLISH’ AS A SAMPLE

It is widely acknowledged that coursebooks can be a useful source of information and knowledge for both teachers and learners. They are frequently written by subject-matter experts and can provide a logical and exhaustive overview of the target topic. Referring to the 2022-2023 academic year and with respect to the integration of English in Algerian primary school education, it was noticed that the circumstances in which the decision has been taken might need much more time because the interval between the decision of English integration and coursebook design was too short for a well-thought teaching material. Therefore, the major issue that is being questioned is how well ‘My Book of English’ meets the learners’ age, interest, and attractiveness. The issue under investigation seeks to scrutinize the un/suitability of the current English coursebook content and its impact on 3rd-year primary school learners as regards their competency, needs, and preferences. To answer the research questions and dis/confirm its hypotheses, the study relies on a mixed method, ensuring credible and valid data. Consequently, one questionnaire was put online, and addressed to primary school English teachers, and only fifty-four (54) respondents willingly responded.  Besides, the coursebook evaluation grid was filled out by two experts, i.e., primary-school English teachers’ trainers. The results reveal that the coursebook content contains some shortcomings such as poor representation of the language culture, authentic material, grammar logical order, and glossary. In fact, these deficiencies should be palliated for high-quality instruction and successful achievement

Full-sky CMB lensing reconstruction in presence of sky-cuts

We consider the reconstruction of the CMB lensing potential and its power spectrum of the full sphere in presence of sky-cuts due to point sources and Galactic contaminations. Those two effects are treated separately. Small regions contaminated by point sources are filled in using Gaussian constrained realizations. The Galactic plane is simply masked using an apodized mask before lensing reconstruction. This algorithm recovers the power spectrum of the lensing potential with no significant bias.Comment: Submitted to A&

Investigating Algerian EFL Students’ Online Learning Readiness

Readiness is a critical factor to implement effective educational change. Accordingly, the present study aims to examine Algerian university EFL students’ online learning readiness. To reach this aim, a survey is conducted with 150 first year EFL students from Ibn Khaldoun University of Tiaret using an online questionnaire. The findings of this study highlight the correlation between EFL students’ readiness and willingness to online learning. It is found that due to technological constraints, the majority of EFL students demonstrate low level of online learning readiness which, in turn, affects their willingness to engage actively in this process. They rate themselves lower in terms of prior experience of online learning, time management, self directed learning, self efficacy, online communication and motivation. Hence, this study ends up with some suggestions and further practical implications