A descriptive study on ESL learners’ vocabulary knowledge through cognitive and metacognitive strategies

The present research was carried out to study the cognitive and metacognitive vocabulary learning strategies of 36 ESL learners’. Schmitt’s Vocabulary Learning Strategies questionnaire was used to conduct the study. The study revealed the subsequent array of cognitive and metacognitive strategies employed by ESL learners. Additionally, semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 10 ESL learners’ who completed the questionnaire to get more reliable information about learners’ strategies with vocabulary learning. The findings indicated that ‘Using English Language Media’, ‘Verbal repetition’, ‘Take notes in class’ were the most popular strategies, whereas ‘Skip or pass new word’ and ‘Put English labels on physical objects’ were least used. The results of this paper provide many implications for English language teaching. Detailed explanations of the participants’ cognitive and metacognitive strategies were given in the discussion

Neutrino oscillation probabilities: Sensitivity to parameters

We study in detail the sensitivity of neutrino oscillation probabilities to the fundamental neutrino parameters and their possible determination through experiments. The first part of the paper is devoted to the broad theme of isolating regions in the neutrino (and anti-neutrino) energy and propagation length that are sensitive to the oscillation parameters. Such a study is relevant to neutrinos both from the Earth's atmosphere or from a neutrino factory. For completeness we discuss the sensitivity, however small, to the parameters involved in a three-generation framework, and to the Earth matter density profile. We then study processes relevant to atmospheric neutrinos which are sensitive to and allow precision measurements of the mixing angle theta_23 and mass-squared difference delta_32 apart from the mixing angle theta_13. Crucial to this analysis is charge identification; detectors having this capability can isolate these matter effects. In particular, we address the issue of using matter effects to determine whether the mixing angle theta_23 is maximal, and, if not, to explore how well its octant can be determined. When realistic detector resolutions are included, we find that deviations of about 15% (20%) from a maximal value of sin^2 theta_23=1/2 can be measured at 95% (99%) CL provided theta_13 is non-zero, sin^2 theta_13 >= 0.015, and the neutrino mass ordering is normal, with fairly large exposures of 1000 kton-years.Comment: 37 pages Latex file, 30 eps figure files; minor typos fixe

DIAGNOSING ESL LEARNERS’ VOCABULARY KNOWLEDGE THROUGH MEMORY STRATEGIES

Purpose of the study: The present study diagnoses the vocabulary knowledge employed by ESL learners’ through memory strategies. Schmiit’s (1990) Taxonomy of Vocabulary Learning Strategies (VLS) questionnaire was adopted and administered to 93 ESL learners. In order to get authenticities about the ESL learners’ memory strategies with vocabulary learning, semi-structured interviews were also conducted with 30 participants who completed the questionnaire. The result exposed the subsequent array of memory strategies used by ESL learners from the most frequent to the least frequent strategies, particularly findings revealed that ‘Use new word in sentences’, ‘Study word with a pictorial representation of its Meaning’, ‘Connect word to a personal experience’ are most popular whereas ‘Use scales for gradable adjectives’, ‘Relating word to unrelated items (Peg method)’ were least used memory strategies. Methodology: Schmitt’s Vocabulary Learning Strategies Questionnaire (VLSQ) (1997) was favored to diagnose the vocabulary knowledge through memory strategies of 93 ESL learners. Initially the responses were collected through Google Forms. Additionally, 30 ESL learners were randomly selected for interviews in accordance to reassure participants’ comprehension of the subject matters. Main Findings: The study finds effective result among 93 ESL learners in acquiring vocabulary knowledge while using memory strategies with the assistance of technological modalities. It also listed the most frequent and least frequent use of memory strategies in Schmitt’s Vocabulary Learning Strategies Questionnaire (VLSQ) (1997). Applications of this study: The present study is conducted in English Language Laboratory, where ESL learners’ can be benefitted and the learners can use these memory strategies while learning a new vocabulary when encountering a word. Novelty/Originality of this study: The existing technological modalities will assist the learners to correlate more effectively. Subject and language experts in the field can design the instructional materials and tools to assist ESL learners to improve vocabulary knowledge through memory strategies

Technological modality to influence persuasive and argumentative vocabulary for effective communication with reference to selected TED talk videos

English as the Second language learning recently gained attention in the field of research. The ESL (English as Second Language) learners need vocabulary enhancement and fluency for proficiency of the language which can be achieved through training. By learning and practicing a language with enhanced vocabulary will increase the vocabulary. TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) talks are a world’s biggest digital platform for public speaking. Vocabulary elements given in the TED talks can be defined as a lexicon of language which plays a significant role in communication. The aim of this research conveys the significant role of TED talk videos’ speaker and its influence towards its audiences. This can be achieved only by practical use of vocabulary by the ESL and EFL learners. In this research work, Persuasive and Argumentative vocabulary in the transcript of random 25 TED talk videos with time frame of 0-6mins, and sorted by ‘newest’ tab are analyzed. Also, in-depth analyses of both Persuasive and Augmentative keywords used and its frequencies are listed out from the 25 videos. This research significantly concludes that for effective communication, the learner has to be proficient in vocabulary acquisition

Novel frame model for mistuning analysis of bladed disc systems

The work investigates the application of a novel frame model to reduce the computational cost of the mistuning analysis of bladed disc systems. A full-scale finite element (FE) model of the bladed disc is considered as benchmark. The single blade frame configuration is identified via an optimization process. The individual blades are then assembled by 3D springs, whose parameters are determined via calibration process. The dynamics of the novel beam frame assembly is also compared to those obtained from three state-of-the-art FE-based reduced order models (ROMs): a lumped parameter approach; a Timoshenko beam assembly, and component mode synthesis (CMS) based techniques with free and fixed interfaces. The development of these classical ROMs to represent the bladed disc is also addressed in detail. A methodology to perform the mistuning analysis is then proposed and implemented. A comparison of the modal properties and forced response dynamics between the aforementioned ROMs and the full-scale FE model is presented. The case study demonstrates that the beam frame assembly can predict the variations of the blade amplitude factors with results being in agreement with the full-scale FE model. The CMS based ROMs underestimate the maximum amplitude factor, while the results obtained from beam frame assembly are generally conservative. The beam frame assembly is 4 times more computationally efficient than the CMS fixed-interface approach. This study proves that the beam frame assembly can efficiently predict the mistuning behavior of bladed discs when low order modes are of interest

Scaling of fluctuation for Directed polymers with random interaction

Using a finite size scaling form for reunion probability, we show numerically the existence of a binding-unbinding transition for Directed polymers with random interaction. The cases studied are (A1) two chains in 1+1 dimensions, (A2) two chains in 2+1 dimensions and (B) three chains in 1+1 dimensions. A similar finite size scaling form for fluctuation establishes a disorder induced transition with identical exponents for cases A2 and B. The length scale exponents in all the three cases are in agreement with previous exact renormalization group results.Comment: Revtex, 4 postscript figures available on request (email: [email protected]); To appear in J. Phys. A Letter

Antimicrobial silver coating using PVD-PECVD system

Physical Vapor Deposition - Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PVD-PECVD) systems are used exclusively for deposition and doping of carbonaceous films. However, this technique presents promising characteristics for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on textiles, which meet the industrial demand for a more versatile and efficient methodology than the Magnetron Sputtering (MS) technique. In this regard, cotton textiles were coated with Ag-NP films produced by PVD-PECVD, and compared in terms of technical Physical vapor deposition - plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PVD-PECVD) system has been used exclusively for deposition and doping of carbonaceous films [silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs)] on cotton fabrics and the findings are compared, in terms of technical efficiency and microbial inhibition, with those of the magnetron sputtering (MS) technique. It is found that the proposed technique presents promising characteristics for the deposition of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on textiles, which meet the industrial demand.efficiency and microbial inhibition, with findings in the literature for the MS technique

New Criticality of 1D Fermions

One-dimensional massive quantum particles (or 1+1-dimensional random walks) with short-ranged multi-particle interactions are studied by exact renormalization group methods. With repulsive pair forces, such particles are known to scale as free fermions. With finite $m$-body forces (m = 3,4,...), a critical instability is found, indicating the transition to a fermionic bound state. These unbinding transitions represent new universality classes of interacting fermions relevant to polymer and membrane systems. Implications for massless fermions, e.g. in the Hubbard model, are also noted. (to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett.)Comment: 10 pages (latex), with 2 figures (not included

Theory of tricriticality for miscut surfaces

We propose a theory for the observed tricriticality in the orientational phase diagram of Si(113) misoriented towards [001]. The systems seems to be at or close to a very special point for long range interactions.Comment: Revtex, 1 ps figur