Exploring EFL university learners’ acquisition of advanced reading skills in the Yemeni context

Reading is an essential language skill for enhancing learners’ performance at various levels of study. However, EFL learners at the tertiary level encounter reading difficulties, particularly in acquiring advanced reading skills, which have affected their reading comprehension and resulted in low academic performance achievement. This is probably attributed to various factors, including learners’ lack of effective reading strategies. A study that exclusively explores reading difficulties encountered by EFL university learners, reasons for the difficulties, and strategies adopted to overcome the difficulties and develop advanced reading skills seem to be scarce in the literature. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to explore the acquisition process of advanced reading skills in EFL tertiary context at a private university in Yemen from learners’ perspective. The study adopted a qualitative approach to gather data from EFL tertiary learners through a focus group discussion. The data were analyzed manually using the indexing approach. Findings revealed that learners face reading difficulties such as inference making, getting the gist of the text, and managing the reading tasks. These difficulties were attributed to linguistic and non-linguistic reasons, and metacognitive, cognitive, and social-affective strategies were used in reading. The study recommends engaging EFL learners in intensive and extensive reading to help them apply the strategies they learn and develop advanced reading skills and better academic performance. Future research studies may focus on strategies for reading fluency

Optimal workloop energetics of muscle-actuated systems

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2007.Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-122).Skeletal muscles are the primary actuators that power, stabilize and control locomotive and functional motor tasks in biological systems. It is well known that coordinated action and co-activation of multiple muscles give rise to desirable effects such as enhanced postural and dynamic stability. In this thesis, we study the role of muscle co-activation from an energetics perspective: Are there situations in which antagonist co-activation leads to enhanced power generation, and if so, what is the underlying mechanism? The mechanical energetics of muscles are traditionally characterized in terms of workloop measures where muscles are activated against oscillating, zero-admittance motion sources. We extend these measures to more natural, "mid-range" admittance loads, actuated by multiple muscles. Specifically, we set up the problem of a second-order mechanical system driven by a pair of antagonist muscles. This is the simplest problem where the influences of load dynamics and muscle co-activation on the output energetics may be investigated. To enable experimentation, a muscle testing apparatus capable of real-time servo emulation of the load is developed and utilized for identification and workloop measurements.(cont.) Using this apparatus, an experimentally identified model predicting muscle contractile force is proposed. Experimental data shows that with a simple Weiner structure, the model accounts for 74% (sigma = 5.6%) of the variance in muscle force, that force dependence on contraction velocity is minimal, and that a bilinear approximation of the output nonlinearity is warranted. Based on this model we investigate what electrical stimulation input gives rise to maximal power transfer for a particular load. This question is cast in an optimal control framework. Necessary conditions for optimality are derived and methods for computing solutions are presented. Solutions demonstrate that the optimal stimulation frequencies must include the effects of muscle impedances, and that optimal co-activation levels are indeed modulated to enable a pair of muscles to produce more work synergistically rather than individually. Pilot experimental data supporting these notions is presented. Finally, we interpret these results in the context of the familiar engineering notion of impedance matching. These results shed new light on the role of antagonist co-activation from an energetics perspective.by Walled A. Farahat.Ph.D

Simulation: Early Detection of Brain Vessels Stroke by Applying Electromagnetic Waves Non-Invasively

Introduction: Early recognition of stroke with its two types Ischemic and Hemorrhagic, is one of the most crucial research points, commonly used methods are CT- (computerized tomography), and MRI- (Magnetic resonance imaging). These techniques cause a delay in the detection of the condition, which causes permanent disability. The main reason behind the fatal consequences of stroke is the delay of detection. Therefore, this research paper aims to early detection of the type of stroke without delay until the appropriate diagnosis of each type is made, and then the appropriate treatment without delay. Method: Using a non-invasive and fast technique to determine the stroke type by wave, we simulate and design a vessel containing a liquid as a laminar flow with the same density and velocity of blood, and it was surrounded by a Homogenized multi-turn coil consisting of (n) turns to represent the magnetic field, using specific frequency (HZ) with Electrical field in coil current (A) to see the changing in magnetic flux density (MFD), Depending on the changes in MFD, the flow of blood in laminar flow can be affected by clotting (Ischemic) or Hemorrhagic (cutting) in our vessel designed. We have built three different scenarios to apply the technique which are: First: Normal Scenario (where the blood in vessel has no problem), second: clotting (ischemic, where the vessel blocked in specific three position) and Third: Cutting (Hemorrhagic, where the vessel cut in certain nine positions). Results: This paper presents-through our own design-the studying of applying the electromagnetic waves on blood inside the vessel to detect the stroke type in our three scenarios (normal, ischemic three positions or hemorrhagic nine positions), Studying the magnetic field and laminar flow. This study covered in three areas. First: coil geometry analysis, Second: stationary, and Third: frequency domain. through the changes in Magnetic Flux Density -MFD- waves. The results were promising and distinct for distinguishing between the three scenarios which are normal, ischemic (3 positions) and hemorrhagic (9 positions) the results of MFD are: 0.09 to 3.3*10^-3, 0.08 to 3.15*10^-4, 0.15 to 6.2*10^-3 respectively

METHODS AND CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE REFORMER AND HIS OPPONENTS TALOUT STORY IS A MODEL الأساليب والمواجهة بين المصلح وخصومه قصة طالوت انموذجا

The battle of true destiny, which God Almighty has decided to remain raging until God inherits the earth and from it, is the battle of truth with falsehood, guidance with misguidance, and disbelief with faith. And that this battle in reality, is a good uprising before the arrival of evil in all its forms and colors, the study and knowledge of the Quranic stories of the past abundant benefits, and a great dearer, and great information, including that God Almighty through which prove the hearts of workers to the religion of God Almighty, The importance of the study of the methods of opponents of the reformers other than the prophets peace be upon them in explaining and explaining the methods and the confrontation in their war to destabilize the reformer in his call until it withers and is interrupted. As will be clarified to the modernists, the defender is present at all times and places, as God Almighty has said. Will study "methods and confrontation between the reformer and his opponents, Talout's Story: An Objective Study ", in which the researcher will attempt to add a contemporary Quranic vision by extrapolating the story of Talout, in which Talout's methods were mentioned in his practice of reform with his surrounding society. To connect the reader and the trainee and the search for the pearls that lighted by, To connect the events of the past, the realities of his life, to live the reader and live on the meanings of the words of God Almighty as if they descend on him today and at the same moment when the word of God in order to sink in the sea of science that has no coast, and the paper will address the summary and introduction, the definition of methods and methods of confrontation language and terminology, Then enter the story of Talout and the story of her history, and then we will talk about the methods of his people to repel Talout and his call for reform, and what methods of confrontation by Talout against the intransigence of his people

Synthesis and characterization of some new ruthenium (II) complexes as photosensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells

New ruthenium (II) complexes, [Ru(DHZ)2(bpy)], [Ru(SCN)2(bpy)(DMSO)2], [Ru(SCN)2(dmbpy)(DMSO)2] and [RuCl2(salen)]-2, where bpy = 2,2'- bipyridine, DHZ = 1,5-diphenylthiocarbazone, dmbpy = 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2' bipyridine and salen = 2,2'- ethylenebis(nitrilomethylidene)diphenol were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy and thermal analysis. From data of these investigations the structural formula and the mode of bonding were obtained. These complexes were successfully applied to sensitization of nano-crystalline TiO2 based solar cells (DSSCs). The photovoltaic efficiencies of the studied DSSCs increase in the following order [Ru(DHZ)2(bpy)]< [Ru(SCN)2(bpy)(DMSO)2]< [Ru(SCN)2(dmbpy)(DMSO)2]< [RuCl2(salen)]-2. This increase is in agreement with the light harvesting of these complexes as indicated from their absorption spectra. Ferrioxalate complex enhanced the performance of some investigated cells. Therefore, a mechanism of this improvement has been postulated. Polyaniline as well as iodine doped polyaniline modified FTO electrode has been tested as promising counter electrodes. The efficiencies of the cells using iodine doped polyaniline is higher than that of polyaniline, which is assignable to the high conductivity of iodine

A Study of the Number of Wavelengths Impact in the Optical Burst Switching Core Node

In Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), several wavelengths run on an optical fiber link that connects two optical switches. The multiple wavelengths are exploited that minimized the contention problem in the Optical Burst Switching (OBS) core node. Mathematical model is used in order to investigate the impact of the wavelengths numbers OBS core node. Two performance metrics are proposed such as the steady-state throughput and the probability of burst loss using steady- state occupancy probabilities and Poisson traffic model arrivals. Numerical results show that at different values of network traffic and some design parameters such as wavelength conversion capability and the mean arrival rate could reveal the OBS performance

USING CARBON FIBER STRIPS IN JOINTS STRENGTHING OF BOX SEGMENTAL SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE BEAMS

The main objective of this research is to study the effect of carbon fibers used to strengthen the joints of the box segmental beams. For this research, four beams were produced and tested. One of these beams, monolithically, was cast as a reference beam and the three others were segmental beams. All beams were produced with Self-Compact Concrete (SCC) and box cross section. Each segmental beam consisted of three precast concrete segments were connected by post tensioning tendons. The three segmental beams have same characteristics, but different in joint types between the segments. The types of joints used were (dried, epoxied and dried strengthen by CFRP sheets). All beams were tested under static two point loads up to failure. For each test, deflections at mid-span location were recorded for each (5kN). Also, first cracking, mode of failure and ultimate loads values were recorded as well as the concrete surface strains at the specified locations for both loadings