PRACTICE TEACHING PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOURCES: REFLECTION OF YEMENI EFL STUDENT TEACHERS

The aim of this study is to investigate the major sources of EFL student teacher’s (STs’) problems of teaching practice (PT) and the main problems associated to the major sources. The target group consists of 50 STs majoring in English from the College of Education of Seiyun University, Yemen. The data of the study is collected using writing journals, questionnaire, and semi-structured interview. The problems included in the questionnaire are extracted from the entries of the writing journals and then classified into seven sources: 1) Student teachers, 2) pupils, 3) textbook, 4) school principal, 5) cooperating teacher, 6) school environment, and 7) gap between theory and practice. Results reveal that the first major source of the STs’ problems is the school environment, followed by gap between theory and practice. The third source of the problems is the pupils. The school environment, as revealed by the study, causes problems such as lack of teaching aids, large number of students, frequent cutoffs of electricity supply, and difficulty of arranging various activities in the classroom. On the other hand, the main problems related to the source of gap between theory and practice include difficulty of applying theories taught at the college, uselessness of literature courses taught at the college and feeling shock about the reality of teaching. Under the third source which is the pupils, the study asserts several main problems such as pupils’ heavy dependence on their teacher, their negative attitudes towards learning English, their weakness in English, and their habit of coming to the class unprepared.

Usability evaluation model for mobile e-book applications

Evaluation for mobile e-book applications are limited and did not address all the important usability measurements. Hence, this study aimed to identify the characteristics that affect user satisfaction on the usability of mobile e-book applications. Five characteristics that have a significant effect on the user satisfaction of mobile e-book applications have been identified namely readability, effectiveness, accessibility, efficiency, and navigation. A usability evaluation was conducted on three mobile e-book applications namely Adobe Acrobat Reader, Ebook Reader, and Amazon Kindle. 30 students from Universiti Utara Malaysia evaluated the mobile e-book applications and their satisfaction was measured using questionnaire. The outcomes discovered that the five characteristics (i.e., readability, effectiveness, accessibility, efficiency, and navigation) have a significant positive relationship with user satisfaction. This provides insights into the main characteristics that increase user satisfaction. It also designed a task scenario and a satisfaction questionnaire which help in evaluating mobile e-book applications

Some Optical Properties of (ZnTe) Thin Films Prepared by Thermal Evaporation Technique on a Glass Substrate

Thin films of Zinc telluride (ZnTe)were deposited by thermal evaporation technique on a glass substrate. The optical obtained data were analyzed using a numerical analysis program which showed that the transition mechanism involved indirectly allows transition since the best line dependence is obtained from a plot of 0.5 ( ) h versus photon energy ( ) h . The bandgap decreased from 1.15 to 0.96 eV as the substrate temperature varied from 410 to 510 K. Such behaviour is attributed to unsaturated defects, which are confirmed by XRD examinations. PACS:78.20.Ci, 71.30.+h, 72.90. +

A usability evaluation model for accessible mobile e-book applications for the visually impaired

Evaluation plays a critical role in assessing the usability of e-book applications in terms of their accessibility which allows the visually impaired to get the same benefits as ordinary people. However, current e-book usability evaluation models are not for evaluating accessible mobile e-book applications for the visually impaired as they did not sufficiently consider the accessibility issues of these applications. This study aims to develop a model that evaluates the usability of accessible mobile e-book applications for the visually impaired. Literature review and requirement-gathering methods were used to generate usability evaluation factors and metrics and later constructed as a usability evaluation model. This model was verified with 11 domain experts, and the data were analysed using the Fuzzy Delphi Method. Besides, the model was reviewed for consistency, ease of use, understandability, verifiability, and overall impression. Further, a series of online usability tests and interview sessions were conducted with 12 visually impaired participants to validate on data collection ability of the model. The descriptive analysis method was used to analyse objective metrics, and deductive thematic analysis was performed to analyse subjective metrics from interviews. This study initially proposed five evaluation factors: satisfaction, accessibility, efficiency, effectiveness, and learnability, with 35 metrics which were refined to 31 metrics after being verified. Besides, the model was validated, and the findings showed the ability to collect data and the reliability of this model in the actual context of use. The proposed model contributes to the knowledge of accessibility design, evaluation methods and human-computer interaction. Mobile application developers or usability researchers can use this model as one of the references for developing excellent and usable accessible mobile e-book applications for the visually impaired. By having a usable and satisfying accessible mobile e-book application, visually impaired learning and reading routines could be more accessible

Exploring cucumber extract for skin rejuvenation

This study was designed to develop a topical skin-care cream water in oil (w/o) emulsion of 3% cucumber extracts versus its vehicle (Base) as control and evaluates its effects on skin-melanin, skin erythema, skin moisture, skin sebum and transepidermal water loss (TEWL).  Hydroalcohol.c cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit extract was entrapped in the inner aqueous phase of w/o emulsion. Base containing no extract and a formulation containing 3% concentrated extract of C. sativus was formulated. The odour was adjusted with few drops of lemon oil. Both the base and formulation were stored at different storage conditions for a period of 4 weeks to predict their stability. Different stability parameters that is: Physical stability, centrifugation and pH were monitored at different time intervals. Both the base and formulation were applied to the cheeks of 21 healthy human volunteers for a period of 4 weeks. The expected pharmaceutical stability of creams was achieved from 4 weeks in vitro study period. Odour disappeared with passage of time due to volatilization of lemon oil. The base showed insignificant (p > 0.05) effects on all skin parameters except sebum that was not significant, whereas the formulation showed statistically significant (p.0.05) effects on skin sebum secretion. TEWL and erythema was increased while skin melanin and skin hydration level was decreased by formulation. However these effects were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). The results showed a good stability over 4 weeks of observation period of both base and formulation and the formulation has anti sebum secretion, bleaching and moisturizing effects.Key words: Cucumber extract, melanin, skin moisture, skin sebum, transepidermal water loss (TEWL)

Collective Interpretation of Seismic Reflection, Gravity, Magnetic, and Resistivity Data in the Salalah Plain, Oman, for Hydrogeologic Purposes

An interpretive geophysical study in the growing Salalah Plain, Dhofar Governate, Sultanate of Oman, was made during 1993 and part of 1994. This investigation stems from the need to develop the main and the only water resource in this region. It is aimed to make use of the combined geophysical tools (seismic rflection, gravity, magnetics and resistivity) and available surface and borehole data to assess the environmental impact of the geophysical results. Several seismic reflection lines were picked and interpreted; one on a horizon near the Taqah limestone (main aquifer), and the other on a horizon near the Mesozoic- Cenozoic boundary. Using appropriate algorithms, the 0.5 mGal Bouguer anomaly gravity map, and the 10 nT (gamma) total magnetic intesity maps of the Salalah Plain were processed. A least-sequares polynomial fitting program was used to remove the intensive gravity regional. A subsurface geologic model based on observed gravity and magnetic data was calculated down to the continental basement. Several gravity and magnetic profiles were constructed to evaluate the sedimentological and structural setup of the near surface section. The surface and borehole resistivity measurements were jointly interpreted with seismic, gravity, magnetic and borehole data. The time map at the Salalah aquifer confirmed the elongate trough already producing potable water and revealed an additional trough, in the eastern Salalah Plain (south of Wadi Sahalnout) of prospective ground water reservoir. In addition, the time maps on both shallow and deep levels showed few normal faults affecting the aquifer. Gravity and magnetic maps showed a major basement depression of E-W axis with gradients probably related to normal faulting associated with the epoch of Gulf of Aden extension during the Modelling of gravity and Oligocene and Miocene magnetic data indicate a heterogenous continental basement ovelain by more than 5.0 km of Mesozoic, Cenozoic and younger alluvial sediments. A residual gravity map suggests a shallow and significant upwarp near the main aquifer. Magnetic profiles showed shallow igneous bodies. Both seismic and potential field data suggest the existence of normal faulting which is significant in controlling the subsurface flow of ground water from wasting into the Arabian Sea. The seismic-inferred axis of the main aquifer, in the Salalah Plain, is known to posses sampled minimum salinity. The flanks of the delineated seismic trough roughly mark the brackish-potable water boundary. Single point borehole resistivity measurements are found to correlate inversely with seismic-inferred depth to the aquifer In that the highest resistivity values lie near the axis of the depression. This should add importance to the easterly-located seismic trough. The delineation of additional depression and the indication of structural control of this important area through the collective interpretation of seismic, potential field, and borehole data should add momentum in the development of the growing Salalah Plain. The addition (through this investigation) of prospective new acreage in the eastern part of the Salalah Plain to the already existing land use map is significant

Vergleichende Untersuchungen zur Aufbereitung von Wurzelkanälen mit rotierenden Nickel- Titan- Instrumenten

Es wurden 120 Kanäle in Kunststoffblöckchen mit acht rotierenden NiTi-Systemen aufbereitet, die Ergebnisse hinsichtlich Kanalform und Behandlungsablauf verglichen und der Materialabtrag segmentbezogen morphometrisch ausgewertet. Außerdem wurden die Instrumente auf Beschädigungen untersucht. Für jeden Kanal erfolgten die Messung der Präparationsdauer und die Bestimmung des Lerneffekts für die Systeme. Für Instrumente aus martensitischem Material waren der beste Formerhalt, ein gleichmäßiger Materialabtrag und schnellste Präparation zu beobachten

DETECTION OF PNEUMONIA BY USING NINE PRE-TRAINED TRANSFER LEARNING MODELS BASED ON DEEP LEARNING TECHNIQUES

Pneumonia is a serious chest disease that affects the lungs. This disease has become an important issue that must be taken care of in the field of medicine due to its rapid and intense spread, especially among people who are addicted to smoking. This paper presents an efficient prediction system for detecting pneumonia using nine pre-trained transfer learning models based on deep learning technique (Inception v4, SeNet-154, Xception, PolyNet, ResNet-50, DenseNet-121, DenseNet-169, AlexNet, and SqueezeNet). The dataset in this study consisted of 5856 chest x-rays, which were divided into 5216 for training and 624 for the test. In the training phase, the images were pre-processed by resizing the input images to the same dimensions to reduce complexity and computation. The images are then forwarded to the proposed models (Inception v4, SeNet-154, Xception, PolyNet, ResNet-50, DenseNet-121, DenseNet-169, AlexNet, SqueezeNet) to extract features and classify the images as normal or pneumonia. The results of the proposed models (Inception v4, SeNet-154, Xception, PolyNet, ResNet-50, DenseNet-121 DenseNet-169, AlexNet and SqueezeNet) give accuracies (98.72%, 98.94%, 98.88%, 98.72%, 96.2%, 94.69%, 96.29%, 95.01% and 96.10%) respectively. We found that the SeNet-154 model gave the best result with an accuracy of 98.94% with a validation loss (0.018103). When comparing our results with older studies, it should be noted that the proposed method is superior to other methods

Evaluation of the knowledge and practices of pregnant Yemeni Women regarding teratogens

Purpose: To investigate the knowledge and practice of pregnant women with regards to teratogens.Methods: A month-long cross-sectional study was carried out among 150 pregnant women selected from four Motherhood and Child Healthcare Centers (MCHCs) in Mukalla District of Yemen. Data collection was conducted during face-to-face interviews using a questionnaire. Descriptive and simple regression analyses were used.Results: Of the 150 pregnant women who participated in the study, 95.3 % of the pregnant women were < 36 years old, 7.4 % had children with congenital malformations, 62 % indicated that they had heard about folic acid; however, only 16.6 % knew the significance of folic acid. Regarding toxoplasmosis, 94.7 % indicated that they had heard about toxoplasmosis, and 76 % knew about the serious consequences of the disease (congenital malformation and abortion) during pregnancy. Based on simple regression analysis, the results indicate that education and parity, irrespective of age or income level, were the major factors determining better knowledge and practices in pregnancy with regards to toxoplasmosis.Conclusion: Knowledge of folic acid deficiency among pregnant women in Mukalla District of Yemen is relatively low. Furthermore, preventive practices to avoid folic acid deficiency are minimal.Keywords: Knowledge, Practices, Teratogens, Pregnant Yemeni women, Folic acid deficienc