A sequential exploratory design for the e-learning maturity model in Middle Eastern countries

E-learning involves the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). It is transforming universities and has undergone immense change. Therefore, it has become the main tool for improving educational and training activities. Many universities are combining e-learning components with their conventional instruction in order to enhance the delivery of traditional courses. However, many models of e-learning initiatives fail to achieve desired learning and teaching outcomes, because of the selection of inappropriate technology, instructor characteristics, or failure to provide sufficient attention and support from the organization (Engelbrecht 2005; Selim 2007). Despite the potential models of e-learning as tools to enhance education and training, their values will not be realized if instructors, learners, and organizations do not accept them as efficient and effective learning tools. Yet, it seems that universities in the Middle East are still at a fundamental stage of adopting and implementing e-learning despite the plentiful factors that suggest e-learning as a support tool capable of enhancing the process of learning. The reason behind selecting Middle Eastern universities is that in Arab countries mostly focuses on the insertion of new technological features without taking into account psychopedagogical concerns that are likely to improve a student's cognitive process in this new educational category. Also, fragile strategies for e-learning have existed in most of the Middle Eastern universities. Consequently, describing strategy is serious to the successful deployment of e-learning initiatives in Middle East and Arab countries. The aim of this thesis is to explore the criteria affecting the introduction of a maturity model in the deployment of e-learning in Middle Eastern countries. Building on the extant literature review concerning the identification of critical success factors (CSFs) of e-learning, many factors (instructor characteristics, information technology infrastructure, and organizational and technical support) were examined and it was found that there is no complete model for e-learning. Also, this review concluded that the factors developed need modification to account for Middle Eastern status. These modifications resulted in the development of an e-learning maturity model affecting e-learning development in the Middle East. The thesis was mainly a sequential exploratory study that employed in-depth interviews, supplemented by questionnaires. Qualitative data was collected from interviews and analyzed using Grounded Theory. The results of the qualitative analysis were followed up by collecting quantitative data using online questionnaires. The quantitative data was analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. A total of 600 responses were used in the quantitative analysis, while a total of 150 interviews responses were used in the qualitative analysis. The results of this study provide an insight into six important dimensions. First, the results describe how learners’ perceive e-learning models in higher education institutions and sheds some light on learner attributes that may be prerequisites for benefiting from and accepting e-learning models. Second, they address the issue of higher education institutions’ strategies for e-learning initiatives. Third, the results describe how learners’ perceive e-learning features in higher education institutions. Fourth and fifth, they explain the criticality and importance of the instructor, and student attitudes towards e-learning environments. Sixth, they assess the effect of e-learning on students

Axial Load Capacity of Piles in Sand

The axial load capacity of individual piles in cohesionless soils can be estimated at design time using a variety of methods. Because of the difficulties in modeling the process of pile driving, set-up, and loading of piles, useful methods are based on case histories a load tests. Perhaps the most common approach in current use is to specify a soil/pile friction angle, an earth pressure coefficient, a tip bearing capacity factor, and appropriate limits on side shear and end bearing. The various parameters may be made functions of soil classification, relative density, depth, or whatever other variables the investigator thinks are important. In this paper, we compare several methods of analysis that have been in wide use, as well as a method based on continuous functions and a newer method developed by Jardine and coworkers, with measured capacities for untapered piles in tension and compression, in cohesion less soils, and try to draw conclusions about the relative merits of the methods

Many worlds and modality in the interpretation of quantum mechanics: an algebraic approach

Many worlds interpretations (MWI) of quantum mechanics avoid the measurement problem by considering every term in the quantum superposition as actual. A seemingly opposed solution is proposed by modal interpretations (MI) which state that quantum mechanics does not provide an account of what `actually is the case', but rather deals with what `might be the case', i.e. with possibilities. In this paper we provide an algebraic framework which allows us to analyze in depth the modal aspects of MWI. Within our general formal scheme we also provide a formal comparison between MWI and MI, in particular, we provide a formal understanding of why --even though both interpretations share the same formal structure-- MI fall pray of Kochen-Specker (KS) type contradictions while MWI escape them.Comment: submitted to the Journal of Mathematical Physic

Armament Items from The Bolgar-Tatar City of Juketau

The paper introduces into scientific discourse weapons of the 10th–14th centuries from the Bolgar-Tatar city of Juketau (referred to as “Zhukotin” in the Оld Russian chronicles), the archaeological remains of which were located near the city of Chistopol in the Republic of Tatarstan. The Juketau armament consists of ranged, melee, and defensive weapons. The weapons are subdivided into pre-Mongol (the 10th – first third of the 13th centuries) and Golden Horde (second third of the 13th – the early 15th centuries). The paper features an overview of the results of studying the manufacturing technology of the weapons (arrowheads, mostly) from Juketau on the basis of metallographic analyses

Spectroscopic photoacoustic imaging of radiofrequency ablation in the left atrium

Catheter-based radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation has long-term success in 60-70% of cases. A better assessment of lesion quality, depth, and continuity could improve the procedure’s outcome. We investigate here photoacoustic contrast between ablated and healthy atrial-wall tissue in vitro in wavelengths spanning from 410 nm to 1000 nm. We studied single-and multi-wavelength imaging of ablation lesions and we demonstrate that a two-wavelength technique yields precise detection of lesions, achieving a diagnostic accuracy of 97%. We compare this with a best single-wavelength (640 nm) analysis that correctly identifies 82% of lesions. We discuss the origin of relevant spectroscopic features and perspectives for translation to clinical imaging

Sérodiagnostic de l’anémie infectieuse des équidés par précipitation en gélose. II. Premiers résultats d’une enquête épidémiologique en France

Toma Bernard, Luka Iskander G. E., Goret Pierre. Sérodiagnostic de l’anémie infectieuse des équidés par précipitation en gélose. II. Premiers résultats d'une enquête épidémiologique en France. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 124 n°9, 1971. pp. 415-426

Sérodiagnostic de l’anémie infectieuse des équidés par précipitation en gélose. I. Mise au point de la technique

Toma Bernard, Luka Iskander G. E., Goret Pierre. Sérodiagnostic de l’anémie infectieuse des équidés par précipitation en gélose. I. Mise au point de la technique. In: Bulletin de l'Académie Vétérinaire de France tome 124 n°9, 1971. pp. 403-413