Experimental Study Of Wind Effects On The Airflow Of Natural Draft Wet Cooling Towers

Natural draft cooling towers may enhance the overall performance of a thermal or a nuclear power station by providing coolant water to the condenser at a reduced temperature. The cooling tower thermal performance and its air flow inside the tower are influenced by the prevailing cross winds which in turn are amplified or damped by the flowconditioning characteristics of surrounding structures, building and terrains in the relative proximity and orientation to the tower. These characteristics were investigated in the No-1 cooling tower at the Mount Piper Power Station near Sydney in Australia. The tower was instrumented using thermocouples and directional anemometers to measure air velocities and temperatures both inside and outside of the tower over three months period. The test results have indicated that surrounding structures and their relative orientations to the tower and wind directions affect on the air flow rate inside a tower and should be considered at the design stage

TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE IN OMANI SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SMES)

Purpose of the study: The objective of the study was to examine the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in SMEs, by enabling them to benchmark their progress, overcome the barriers, and meet the challenges. In contrast to most previous studies, this research examined the TQM practices-performance relationships by investigating the effects of TQM practices on the performance of Omani SMEs. Methodology: A survey was performed on 200 respondents from selected SMEs in Oman. Statistical software, SPSS 15.0 was used to process the data, which consisted of chi-square test of independence for a contingency table and correspondence analysis. The hypotheses were examined at two significance levels: α = 0.01, 0.05. Other statistical tests (e.g., path analysis and structural equation modeling), which are inherently more powerful than those used in the present study, could not be used due to the small population size. Main Findings: It was revealed that leadership factor was the most critical strategic factor and was vital in ensuring a successful implementation of TQM in an organization. The other elements that were considered as critical are quality goals and policy, continuous improvement, and organizational culture. Implications of this study: The suggestions from the SMEs allow the relevant Omani agency to design an effective TQM policy to increase the performance. Novelty of this study: This study demonstrates the steps that need to be taken by the management of Omani Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to succeed. The findings enables the Omani SMEs’ management to plan the phases ahead of time to be familiar with the circumstances and take suitable action to rise above any obstacle that they would confront in their journey

L'Enseignement du langage dans les écoles maternelles au Sultanat d'Oman

The objective of this thesis is to provide an inventory of practices and teaching conditions to identify the effects of education on language acquisition and to evaluate the effectiveness of the Omani system for kindergartners. the first part of the thesis presents a theoretical reflection on teaching in nursery schools in the world and particularly in Oman. The second part includes two empirical studies : the first is a survey made a general analysis of the education system for Omani kindergartens, using questionnaires to teachers (n = 429 ) , supervisors (n = 34) and administrative staff(n = 100 ) in 100 kindergartens in 10 regions of the country; the second consists of observations of language teaching practices in Omani kindergartens. Observation grids were carried out to analyze the language-teaching activities (n = 50 classes in 50 schools in 6 regions). Students (n = 475 ) were evaluated in language by pre-and post - tests. The results show that the Omani preschool welcomes 3 years old children have features construction and development as well as a pupil / teacher ratio rather good but negative points are noteworthy. Kindergartens are private and charges, do not facilitate access to education. In schools , parent associations are either absent or inactive , linked perhaps with a low cultural and educational level of parents, despite their high socio -economic level. Moreover, two languages (Arabic and English) are teached, following a guide from the Ministry of Education, but there is no common program to all kindergarten schools. Most teachers have a low degree and lack of training. The results of the observation grid highlight ten types of activities that are defined from the point of view of their content in relation to language learning. The practice of language activities spends most of the time by lecturing and takes place in a collective fashion contrary. In addition, the results to pre-and post- test, show firstly the scores change more strongly in LAC (language comprehension skills) but also existing in LAS (phonological awareness skills) and LALE (reading-writing Skills) between the pre-and post –test. In the multilevel analysis, the relationship is not the same between the pre and post- test in all schools. Pretest explains very little of both inter-individual variations that variations between classes and there are many differences between schools and between students. It appears that there is no influence of the variables "gender and years of schooling" and "characteristics of teachers" (qualification and experience). As against, there is a «region " effect. It also appears that the influence of management type mode of conduct (TM, TCM) is stronger than the method (implicit, explicit and masterful), which is stronger than the manner of conduct (individual and collective). Note that in the method and mode of conduct, values relating to the activities of code are better than those relating to the meaning. Variables that have emerged as effective in language learning are implicit sense, code -TCM, TCM sense and collective sense and Omani preschool system would benefit from their inclusion. In addition the recent training has a significant effect (efficacy teachers is higher for those who have benefited).L'objectif de notre thèse, est de réaliser un état des lieux des pratiques et des conditions d'enseignement pour cerner les effets de l'enseignement sur l'acquisition de la langue et d'évaluer l'efficacité du système des écoles maternelles à Oman. La première partie de thèse a pour but de présenter une réflexion théorique concernant l'enseignement dans les écoles maternelles dans le monde et en particulier au sultanat d'Oman. La seconde partie est empirique et comprend deux études : la première est une enquête qui fait une analyse générale du système éducatif des écoles maternelles omanaises, en utilisant des questionnaires à destination des enseignantes (n=429), inspecteurs(n=34) et personnel administratif (n=100) dans 100 écoles maternelles en 10 régions du pays , la deuxième se compose d'observations des pratiques d'enseignement du langage dans les écoles maternelles omanaises. Des grilles d'observation ont été réalisées pour analyser les activités d'enseignement du langage (n= 50 classes dans 50 écoles en 6 régions). Les élèves (n=475) ont été évalués en langage par des pré et post-tests. Les résultats de l'enquête montrent que l'école maternelle omanaise accueille les enfants scolarisés dès l'âge de 3 ans et présentent des caractéristiques de construction et d'aménagement ainsi que d'un ratio élève/enseignant plutôt satisfaisant mais des points négatifs sont à relever. Les maternelles sont privées et payantes, ce qui ne facilite pas l'accès à l'éducation. Au sein des écoles, les associations de parents sont soit inexistantes, soit inactives, en lien peut-être avec un niveau culturel et éducatif bas des parents malgré leur niveau socio-économique élevé. Par ailleurs, il ressort deux langues (arabe et anglais) sont enseignées, suivant un guide du ministère de l'éducation, mais il n'y a pas de programme commun à toutes les écoles maternelles. La plupart des enseignantes ont un faible niveau de diplôme et manquent de formation. La grille d'observation fait apparaître dix types d'activités qui sont définies du point de vue de leur contenu par rapport à l'apprentissage du langage. La pratique des activités de langage passe la plupart du temps par l'enseignement magistral et se déroule dans un mode collectif. En outre, selon les résultats de pré et post-test, la variation de score constatée entre le pré et le post-test est plus forte pour les compétences de compréhension du langage mais existent également pour les compétences de conscience phonologique et de compétences lecture-écriture. Dans l'analyse multiniveau, la relation n'est pas la même entre le pré et le post-test dans toutes les écoles. Le prétest explique assez peu les variations inter-individuelles comme les variations inter-classes et qu'il y des différences entre les écoles et aussi entre les élèves. On n'observe pas d'influence des variables "genre et durée de scolarisation" et "caractéristiques des enseignantes" (qualification et expérience). Par contre, il y a un effet "région". le facteur influence du type d'interaction enseignant –élève, le mode de gestion de la classe (TM, TCM) est plus forte que celle de la méthode utilisée (implicite, explicite et magistrale), elle-même plus forte que le mode de déroulement (individuel et collectif). Notons que dans la méthode et le mode de gestion de classe, les valeurs afférentes aux activités de code sont meilleures que celles afférentes à celle de sens ce qui signifie que la méthode code est plus efficace que la méthode sens. Les variables qui sont ressorties comme efficaces pour l'apprentissage du langage : sens-implicite, code-TCM, sens-TCM et sens-collectif et le système préscolaire omanais gagnerait à leur prise en compte. En outre la formation continue récente a un effet significatif (l'efficacité des enseignantes est plus forte pour celles qui en ont bénéficié)

Geometrical shock dynamics and engine unstart

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90703/1/AIAA-2011-3909-777.pd

Minjingu phosphate rock solubilization and potential for use of Klebsiella variicola-MdE4 and Klebsiella variicola-MdG1 as biofertilizer for maize production

Limited solubility of the Tanzania’s Minjingu phosphate rock (MPR) in non-acidic soil conditions has held back its potential for widespread use in agricultural production. This study was designed to isolate, characterize and test phosphate-solubilizing bacteria for their potential to increase solubility of MPR and enhance maize plant growth under field conditions. Ten out of 19 isolates showing greatest phosphate solubilization indices on a Pikovskaya agar medium were further characterized for other plant-growth promoting traits including production of IAA, siderophores and ammonia. Two of them, namely isolates-MdE4 and MdG1 substantially outperformed other isolates in phosphate solubilization and production of IAA, ammonia and siderophores. The two isolates molecularly identified as Klebsiella variicola-MdE4 and K. variicola-MdG1 produced up 701, 699 and 750, 680 µg/ml of soluble phosphate from tricalcium phosphate and hard Minjungu rock phosphate, respectively. Additionally, Biorock P- a biofertilizer formulation containing MdE4 and MdG1 co-cultured in a molasses-based modified broth medium retained most of the phosphate solubilizing potential and other plant-growth promoting traits of MdE4 and MdG1. Co-application of MdE1 and MdG1-containing “bio-rock P” and inorganic phosphate at 20 kg P/ha resulted in higher maize grain yield than that of positive control (40 kg P/ha) under field conditions. The two isolates- Klebsiella variicola-MdE4 and K. variicola-MdG1 have the potential for use in a biofertilizer formulation for commercial field applications

State-of-the-Art: Assessing Semantic Similarity in Automated Short-Answer Grading Systems

The use of semantic in Natural Language Processing (NLP) has sparked the interest of academics and businesses in various fields. One such field is Automated Short-answer Grading Systems (ASAGS) for automatically evaluating responses for similarity with the expected answer. ASAGS poses semantic challenges because the responses of a topic are in the responder’s own words. This study is providing an in-depth analysis of work to improve the assessment of semantic similarity between corpora in natural language in the context of ASAGS. Three popular semantic approaches are corpus- based, knowledge-based, and deep learning are used to evaluate against the conventional methods in ASAGS. Finally, the gaps in knowledge are identified and new research areas are proposed